Our Spring Breaks didn't coincide this year, so we had to settle for a short weekend trip over B's break. Our original plan had been to backpack the Lost Coast but the weather forecast didn't comply. Instead, we drove up and camped one night in Humboldt Redwoods State Park, where the really big redwoods are. They were incredible. We got our tent set up at around 10:30 pm and as we zipped it up it started to rain in earnest. It didn't stop! We drove over to the Lost Coast with hopes of doing a hike, but the road was washed out about a mile from the coast. We parked there and just walked to the Coast. The wind and rain were whipping around us and were so loud that we could hardly hear each other speak. When we got to the coast, we were alone with a flock of seagulls and a couple of seals who were hanging out in a tidal pool and occasionally glancing at us. We unfortunately have no photos of this day because the rain was unrelenting.
That night, we drove to Mendocino where we had reserved a "European style" hotel room in an historic hotel. For the record, European style means you get to walk into the hallway to use the bathroom and you might get Athlete's Foot.
The first night we went out to an Irish Pub to watch UVA play in the Sweet 16. When we left for the two block walk, it was kind of raining but not too bad. When, dejected, we headed home, it was absolutely pouring. We squealed...ok, I squealed...and ran through the streets of Mendocino and ended up completely soaked by the time we got back. On second thought, maybe that's where the Athlete's Foot came from.
We woke up to a birthday and started the day early in the hotel lobby.
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| Waiting for him to deal with birthday texts |
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| Dealing with birthday texts |
After having a lovely cup of coffee and tea, we took B's birthday chair picture, reminiscent of last year in the Dome House.
We walked around town getting a feel for the very small, adorable town of Mendocino.
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| We had stopped for our hiking essentials -- a baguette and some cheese and salami |
We went for a birthday hike in Russian Gulch State Park. Look how cool this tree is! It grew on top of a stump and had to grow roots way down!
We walked to this waterfall and had a lovely picnic next to it!
B took this picture to show me how best to take the photo. See below.
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| There he is! |
After our hike, we went to check out a lighthouse near the park. You can tell I didn't pack appropriately because I'm wearing B's sweater. Sometimes living in RWC I forget that it's not always sunny and in the 70's everywhere.
My favorite tree! They are all over the coast. I will miss these trees. I believe they are Cyprus.
A third thought is that the Athlete's Foot could have come from the entire day spent hiking in my rain boots.
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| I actually remembered to have us take not one but TWO pictures together on this trip! |
After a birthday dinner, we headed back to our hotel for drinks. B met a birthday twin who was turning 62. He bought our drinks! B set a reminder in his phone to pay it forward in 2045. The next day we headed home but stopped in Petaluma at Laguintas and met a good friend of mine from the Peace Corps and her husband. We then headed to a couple wineries in Sonoma County and got some ice cream in Sonoma. Of course we forgot to get a photo of the group, but I think my friend got one so I'll have to get it and add it later!
All in all a fantastic trip. One that could have been a whole week if we had had the time.
