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.

JD House, Mendocino

I had never been to the Mendocino area and wanted to make our first trip a memorable one. I opted for a B&B rather than a hotel-motel. Yeah, it cost a few extra bob, but well-worth it.


JD House was a dream. I booked the Water Tower room because it looked funky, charming, had a fire place and NO PHONE OR TV! The white door on the left was the entrance of the room. It was separate from the main house because, well...it used to be the water tower for the house.


A close-up of the detail on the structure. I so wanted to climb up there, but they told me "no".


Kind of a weird angle to take a picture in a room, but I was trying to get in as many unique features this room had in one photo (mmm, high thread count...). One of my favorite things each night was to lie in bed, stare up at the water tower at the industrial fixtures, and look at the moon through the skylights (Okay, made that last part up--couldn't see any moon. This was foggy Mendocino after all)


A lovely large porch filled the backyard, but this intimate rickety old table and chairs is where I spent every morning with coffee.


"Hot beverages served at 8:00. Breakfast at 9:00." This was our instructions for breakfast and it became my mantra. I miss my "hot beverages" in the garden at 8:00.


A final shot from deeper into the garden, looking back towards the house. There were additional rooms in a separate building, making a total of 8, I believe. A terrific place, and I'd certainly go back.