Petaluma, CA
Today I failed as a blogger and a photographer. But I survived so that makes me a great driver and proves I can put the priorities in the right place occasionally.
I have never been so challenged as a driver in my life. And I do a LOT of driving. Without hauling a trailer, the section of Hwy 101, Pacific Coast Highway (PCH) that I covered would have been challenging enough. But add towing a trailer, and it’s exhausting. The trailer handles really well but there were very few places to stop to take photos or catch my breath where the car and trailer would fit and which were flat enough.
For the first 22 miles, where Highway 1 branches off from Highway 101 at Leggett and heads west to the coast, it was two hands on the wheel, eyes totally focused on the yellow and white lines in front of me and total concentration. And those of you who know me know how difficult it is go get my total concentration.
I knew today would be challenging and long, so I got an early start (well, relatively) and I was glad that I had so that there was as little traffic as possible. The drive out to the coast was primarily through Redwood groves and there were lots of climbs and 7% grade downhills with frequent switchbacks. The road was only the width of the two lanes, with no shoulders and no guard rails. Of course, in this section, the giant redwoods would have stopped you from plummeting off the road anyway. At times the lines were literally painted on the very outside edges of the asphalt. And the asphalt was raised so not only were there no shoulders but the edges were quite a lot lower than the road surface. Thus the requirement for concentration. I think the fastest speed I go to on the road was 45 mph and 15 mph was sometimes too fast. Cruise control didn’t happen today at all.
Once out to the coast, the views were spectacular, ranging from headlands to beaches with rock croppings and “haystacks”. The road wound down the coast, following it or going over headlands, or across benches. There were infrequent small towns tucked into the coves along the coast, with the two major ones being Fort Bragg and Mendocino.
Mendocino was really interesting looking, and I took a quick drive down the main drag but I couldn’t easily find parking and I was more focused on getting on my voyage than shopping. There are lots of Victorian houses (some made into B&Bs), boutiques, restaurants, and local beers and wines to taste.
Of course, no coast would be complete without a lightouse! This one is the Point Arena Lighthouse. It sits on a high headland, and is an additional 115 feet high. It was originally constructed in 1870 but in 1906 an earthquake damaged both the lighthouse and the keepers home and they had to be reconstructed. It was lit again in 1908.
By time I reached Jenner I was running out of time, daylight and patience. I took an east-west connecting road to just north of Petaluma that took me through yet another redwood grove, through an interesting looking town called Sebastopol, and over yet more switchbacks out to Highway 101.
I arrived at the campground and was shocked when I got out to find that it was 28 degrees celsius. I set up camp and have been enjoying sitting outside at my picnic table to write this blog and enjoy my supper.
Lois' Adventures 