Jug Handle State Reserve

Just north of Mendocino is a turn-off for Jug Handle. We passed the sign a few times and I would think "Big Giant Lady Boobies," for some reason (drrrr?). Who needs a better reason to stop and take a look?


Another stark beautiful location. Walking out to the cliff's edge through a wetlands, I couldn't help feel like I was on the moon. It seems so desolate, yet so alive.


Henri came along too, hogging the spotlight wherever he goes. This hole in the rock reminded me of the famous rock at the tip of Baja...only cooler.


It would have been nicer with the sun shining, but something about the gloom of the marine layer "fits" for this place. I love it.


Henri is a ham. While walking back to the car he wanted his picture taken. But the thicket of grasses were too high, so he needed a lift. Jeez...

Mendocino cove

Just before you reach Mendocino, there's a long bridge with a lovely cove underneath. We missed it upon arrival so on our way out, decided to take a peek.


No, that's not our shoes. Just some carefully placed flotsam and jetsam.


I was taken by the stillness of the place. Maybe it was that the marine layer hadn't lifted yet, or the fact it was only 10:00 a.m. But I found it lovely.


Jeez, like a scene from a movie...calm and serene.


So calm and serene, Henri took off his cap and jumped in!


I didn't want to forget to post these plants from the area. I'm sure they'd never grow in my garden and I wanted to take them along in pictures.


The leaves on this lovely were extraordinary.


As I stated in an earlier post, I'm a sucker for color and this purple beauty always caught my eye. If you could only touch it. It's fuzzy!

Westport & Glass Beach (Fort Bragg)

After the Skunk Train we spied a city on the map called Westport and wondered if it had any connection with the city of the same name on the west coast of Ireland? With curiosity as our guide, we drive north about 20 miles to city of Westport.

Blink -- Did you miss it? We did.


Yep, Westport, California isn't much more than a dot on a map -- a general store, a gas station, and some one-eyed townies that made me NOT want to stop. But we did a U-turn at the ocean and walked down to this empty beach.


Yes, it's foggy and a bit rugged, but I was in awe at it's beauty. Not quaint like Ireland, but still something worth of a few snaps.



Glass Beach in Fort Bragg? Yes, there's quite a bit of polished glass pieces on the shore to pick like seashells. But there's also gobs of seaweed, smelly ocean flies, and huge tourist asses everywhere bending over picking up that glass. Didn't stay long. Even Henri felt kinda icky.

Skunk Train @ Fort Bragg

I'd heard so much about the Skunk Train out of Fort Bragg that it was a must see for anyone going to the area. I thought it might be corny and not really my thing. But I was pleasantly mistaken. Yes, it was corny - the banjo singer reminded me of Steve Martin - but the real star was the train and the redwoods.


The weather was lovely and we rode the entire trip in the outdoor car, standing room only. We met the 2 blokes in the center of the pic - nice enough, yet pretentious.


Little Henri enjoyed waiting on the tracks for his Dudley Do-Right


Northspur is mid-point from Fort Bragg to Willits. The locomotive turns around here and visitors can buy lunch. Our tri-tip was so-so (too much damned sauce), but eating in the outdoors in the camp-like setting was wonderful.


Henri taking a picture with the Skunk logo. "Say, why can't it be the Henri train?"


This custom barbecue was a griller's wet dream.


Redwoods? Bigger than the average gnome, it seems.

Point Cabrillo Light Station, Mendocino

Seeing the sign off the road for a light station, I was expecting a light house. Well, not quite. I guess I thought it would be bigger. Didn't matter, the area was striking and the jaunt out to the station was a hoot.


We didn't follow the signs for the "1.5 Mile Walk on Paved Road", but rather through the wetlands. Yes, there was a path, but also a bunch of signs warning of ticks! I did the only thing appropriate, took off my shirt and walked bare-breasted to the light station.

Henri came along too.


I'll confess. I copied the below camera framing from a postcard I'd seen inside the light station. I thought, "I can do that..." So I did.


Cool cliffs, of course, at every turn.


Didn't see any whales here, but Henri got a giggle out of posing at this sign. I think it had to do with the fact I was shirtless. Bastard!


I'm a sucker for pretty flowers I've never seen. The coastal region had ample. This purple gem below was abundant.

Mendocino Headlands

Our first full day, we were fortunate to have full sun -- glorious sun in a usually foggy area. Heck, I even got a bit of a sunburn!


The Headlands were an easy walk from our B&B and about a mile and a half around. To our joy, it was ridiculously photogenic.


Come on! A fishing boat in a cove, framed in by jagged rocks and trees on a sunny day? Is someone shooting postcard pictures? (Click on the pics to make them full-size for nifty desktop pictures.)


Even this sea bird didn't move while I took this snap. Ok, out of frame is, what I suspected, the bird's babies. Um, she's not going anywhere while this fool is a snappin'.


Our travel companion, Henri, came out for some sun too. Hehe!


Okay, okay! We'll stay back! Don't want to get sucked in by the water!


Cove after cove...jeez, I couldn't have asked for more.


So blue I could see the rocks at the bottom!


I stopped to "smell the roses" and found color blooming!


As evidenced by flower pedals on the ground, a wedding must have taken place just before we arrived. And I don't blame the couple one bit. Just look at that lovely framed view!


Worn out from taking snaps, Henri takes a rest. Actually I wasn't sure how to pose the little guy and didn't want to fall over the cliff myself -- and especially I didn't want to lose Henri's hat!

Mendocino Cafe

First night in Mendocino was a Sunday. Not much open, but easily the best place around was the city's namesake, Mendocino Cafe.


You can't go wrong with chicken skewers as appetizer and the companion fresh cabbage & cucumber salad was delightful. Oops, I'd already eaten a skewer before I took this pic, hence the smear on the plate (tacky, tacky)


With a compact funky varied menu, we had some interesting choices. I opted for something warm and picked this Thai hot pot. Our server recommended the brown rice instead of noodles (good choice) and placed the order half shrimp / half tofu. Big winner!


Roast chicken was my companion's choice. I had a taste and it too was lovely.


Vacation simply translates to a dessert every night. And we were starting things off right with this fruit crumble. Mmmm, fresh REAL whipped cream...


The cafe was such a winner we went back 2 nights later. I usually try new places while on vacation but when we did, our choice was closed (on a Tuesday? huh?). No matter, the menu is varied enough that we were spoiled for choice devouring fish entrees. Unfortunately, there aren't any pictures. Have you ever been seated in a restaurant where every table is full on the perimeter and you are seated in the middle in the only table? Like eating in a fish bowl. I felt squeamish about pulling out my camera, so I didn't. The lack of pictures doesn't distract from the quality of the food, so this place is surely one I'd go back to.