It’s the last week of our two months in California during the winter of 2022. Sunday we attend the Unity of Santa Barbara service and learn the exciting news that a new team of ministers (Cathy Norman and Temple Hayes) are going to lead the church. It’s our spiritual home albeit three thousand miles from York, Maine.
Temple Hayes
That afternoon Hannah and I take part in a popular ritual of winter in this area – the Santa Barbara International Film Festival. We attended the showing of King Richard with Will Smith and Aunjanue Ellis (both up for Academy Awards) in the 2000 seat Arlington Theater on State Street in Santa Barbara. Loving the movie, we listen to the director after about the making of the film.
Starring Will Smith who reportedly earned $40M for his role
We are looking for one final warm weather hike into the mountains of the Front Country of Santa Barbara before we return to the snow and cold of Maine in March.
Starting at the San Ysidro Trailhead, we go a half mile and take the right on Old Pueblo Trail. Then a left on the Buena Vista Trail to a left on the Edison Catway. One final left on the San Ysidro Trail completes the 3.75 mile loop.
Choosing the San Ysidro Trailhead, after a half mile we turn east (right) on the Pueblo Trail immediately above some of the poshest estates in Montecito. Though we have been by this turn-off for years, we’ve never explored its trail until today.
Turning onto the Pueblo Trail
Meeting up with another hiker, we listen how he is surprised that the county has let this homeowner rebuild their house in this fire zone. Five years ago this very house burned to the ground in the Thomas Fire in 2018.
Wondering-why hiker and the rebuilding of this mansion in the fire zone
Hannah highlights the Pueblo Trail above the mansions
One of many in Monteciito
Soon we are on the Wiman Trails then hike along Park Lane to the Buena Vista Trailhead.
The trail steepens on another day of sun in Santa Barbara
There it is a steady climb on the driest of crumbly sandstone (there has been no rain during our nine weeks here during their January to March rainy season!). It’s quick turning switchbacks which has me breathing heavily.
The Monk is climbing on the Buena Vista Trail
The natural beauty of the trail (I’m sure you know what I’m talking about!
One mile straight up the Buena Vista Trail we hit the Edison Catway.
Looking back to the Pacific and the Channel Islands
Edison Catway
Descending rapidly on the Catway of crumbly dry on dry pebbly sandstone, we arrive in no time at the San Ysidro Trail a mile from the trailhead. It’s all downhill from there.
Steeper pebbly trail
With one thousand feet of elevation, Hannah and I have ourselves a wonderful two-hour workout just fifteen minutes from our condo at Carpinteria Shores.
Returning to the trailhead via the San Ysidro Trail
On a mid-February morning, Hannah and I return to the San Ysidro Trailhead just ten miles from the condo in Carpinteria where we escape the dark and cold of New England (2022).
Hannah at the trailhead. The turn for the McMenemy Trail is in a half mile.
We will go 0.5 of a mile on the San Ysidro Trail, turn left on the McMenemy Trail, a right onto the Girard Trail, return via the Catway to the San Ysidro Trail (partially obscured).
San Ysidro Trail through mansions of Montecito
For the first half mile, we hike along the San Ysidro Creek as if we were heading to the San Ysidro waterfalls.
But no! This morning we turn left crossing the creek to the clearly marked McMenemy Trail.
The McMenemy Trail veers left off the fire road to the San Ysidro falls
The rocky, sandstone-y trail is a workout as we climb above the uber-wealthy village of Montecito (Oprah and Ellen wealthy). Fortunately the trail builders have built switchbacks into the mountainside which makes for an enjoyable climb.
The McMenemy Trail along an estate in Montecito
Parched trailed in drought-stricken Santa Barbara County (2022)
Ever-sunny Hannah on the ever-sunny trail
We soon have views into the San Ysidro Canyon, up to the towering Santa Ynez coastal mountains, and then out to the Channel Islands of the Pacific Ocean. Strong winds are blowing out whatever smog has settled in after a winter weekend near 80F.
Looking out to the coastal low lands with the Pacific in the distance
One point four miles in (I can be so precise because our Strava app gives us mileage to the one hundredth of a mile), we have the Colonel Logan McMenemy Bench looking to the Pacific.
At this point, we climb single file further up a still rocky, gravelly, pebbly Girard Trail into the mountains.
Climbing further into the Front Range (coastal mountains)
Girard Trail to the Catway
At the two mile point in our hike (actually 1.99 by Strava), we meet the Edison Catway. Catway? I first think mountain cats (i.e. lions). Then it dawns on me that the cat- of catamounts is a possibly origin of catway. Whatever its origins, it’s a fire road that narrows to a single track. Though there is nary a cat, we have a quite steep track of pebbly sandstone. It’s nothing as slippery as our recent hiking descent on the West Fork of the Cold Spring Trail from Gibraltar Road back down the mountain. Click here for that blog with pictures of that descent.
The descent on the Catway
At 2.71 miles into our hike (gotta love our Strava hiking app), we have the steady downhill on the San Ysidro Trail that is just so suitable for easy walking and talking.
It’s an enjoyable hour and a half in the Front Country of Santa Barbara into our sixth week in California without a bit of rain. I mean zero. And that is not a good thing, even for us winter sunbirds. If I could, each week I’d give up a full day of sunshine for a day of rain to help out the locals. You gotta be thinking, he’s a helluva guy.
Though Carpinteria has but one trail into the mountains (the popular Franklin Trail. click here for that 2022 blog), nearby Montecito has many. This morning we drive ten miles from our condo, and eventually up Romero Canyon Road to “Road Closed” signs. We are not surprised as the bridge at the trailhead has been washed out regularly since we began coming here in 2017. Heavy rains and debris flows are the culprits.
That’s a strong “no” to vehicles but not to hikers looking for the Romero Canyon trailhead.
Walking closer to the trailhead of Romero Canyon (February 2022)
This morning the Santa Barbara Highway Department is not making it easy for us to get to the trailhead.
Where there is a will there’s a way and we found the way up the side of the mountain to the left around the chain link fence
We cross a little dry creek bed crossing around the massive culvert
Undeterred, we make it the trailhead for our two-mile hike up the canyon itself and then switchbacking up the mountainside to Old Romero Road.
The “trail” begins on a wide fire road of gravelly and pebbly rocks amid larger angular ones. In fact, it’s charmless. But wait, it gets better. After a half mile of the fire road, we cross the creek and take the trail left into the mountains, not the fire road up to the right towards the ocean views.
The single file trail left into the Santa Ynez Mountains of Montecito
The dirt, sharp rock trail follows above the Romero Creek. At times, we are thirty feet above the creek bed, hiking within feet of the steep cliffs but never do we feel in peril. Well, never do I feel in peril. Hannah? On such trails, Hannah walks close to the mountainside, memories of her fall down such a cliff five years at the next canyon over. (Click here for that fateful San Ysidro blog.)
The trail is mostly shaded and for a mile we follow the creek easily fording it as we steadily climb. It’s a good workout with nearly 1400’ of elevation gain to the Old Romero Road.
The size of rock that tumbled down this canyon in January 2018 when 23 Montecito residents died
After a mile and a half on the trail, we cross the Romero Creek for the last time and head into the mountains towards the Old Romero Road. The trail is more dirt than rocks and switchbacks make the climb enjoyable.
Creek crossing
Precious water in an area that has not got close to its 16″ average annual rainfall in years!
Our turn around point but the trails into the mountains continue
All of sudden, we are at junction of the Old Romero Road, our turn around point after an hour of hiking. Lunching on pbj and pb for Hannah, we cool our jets trailside pleased with an hour of California coastal hiking.
Looking back towards the Pacific Ocean
On the way down, we come to a creek crossing as another couple approaches from the opposite side. The husband calls out “Go ahead.” I smile and say, “You must be Canadians!” That gets just the reaction I want (i.e. laughter, but laughter of truth!) and sets us four up for a moment on the trail.
Descending the Romero Canyon Trail
We learn that they are, in fact, from Kentucky. We talk about trails that they have hiked and learn that finding housing for two months in the Santa Barbara area has been a challenge for them. It seems people are coming to California in the winter of 2022 to work remotely.
Unprompted, she brings up that they are from the “blue” city of Lexington, Kentucky. I quickly let them know that we are from the blue coastal part of Maine and come to California to be with kindred spirits for two months in the winter.
We smile all the way back to the trailhead. Kentucky? Who knew? Blue!
Driving north from Carpinteria on The 101, we exit at Salinas Road in Santa Barbara and weave our among the seven- and eight-figure homes into the hills. Returning to a favorite hike of ours, Hannah and I have a rare overcast day for our trail hiking. You see, we are ending our first winter month in California and have had, to paraphrase Brian Wilson of the Beach Boys, sun, sun, sun… but alas we have no T-Bird.
On the last Monday in January 2022 we park at Skofield Park with a few others.
Two hundred yards to the trailhead on what passes for a chilly winter morning in Santa Barbara
The trailhead begins with the creek to the right
Thanks to December rains there is some flowing water.
Hannah leads as we head to the distant mountains
The sandstone trail is easy on our feet
Hannah is as much fun on the trail as this picture suggests.
Hiking along the Rattlesnake Creek with its boulders and rock strewn sandstone trail, we very quickly passed by an athletic twenty-something woman who smiles our way. I ask Hannah what is the first thing you think of when you see her? Ever the wit, Hannah says, Where is her dog? OMG, there are dogs everywhere in our part of California.
I think, Great parenting. Let me explain. Here is a young woman hiking on her own on this challenging trail. It’s not a stretch to think that her parents let her know that there are many things that she can do with her life. That she is much more than a pretty face. She’s out her proving that! Job well done, mom and dad, wherever you are.
Rattlesnake Creek
At the half mile point of the trail, watch out. There is a seductive spur trail to our right. Don’t take it unless you like high-wire hiking and gravelly trails on steep cliffs. Two years ago, Hannah and I hiked to the Rattlesnake Meadow with Molly’s family, including then five-year-old Max and seven-year-old Owen. Inadvertently, I took them up this sometimes, harrowing cliff hanging trail. Click here for that February 2020 adventure.
The shady, well-maintained, relatively easy, gentle trail that we take is why the Rattlesnake Trail has the reputation as the most popular trail in Santa Barbara.
Doesn’t this trail look like it makes for happy feet!
Joy on the trail
Bear left, for a steady climb along the creek bed along trails of green grasses and verdant bushes thanks to December’s rain. We pass three fit women about our age coming down from the meadow joyful in their hiking success and long-term friendships. Yes, I’m just guessing, but I have a sense about people of a certain age. They mentioned they touched the meadow rock before descending. We have a new goal!
After two miles we come to the meadow!
Thanks to the December rains our meadow is lush
Nearly two miles into our hike, we arrive at the meadow to celebrate our hour on the trail with peanut butter and jam sandwiches (no jam for Hannah) on a cool winter day in the upper fifties on the central coast of California.
The aforementioned meadow rock
On the way down the hill I guip to hikers, No rattlesnakes today. It gets just the reaction I am hoping for – laughter. Could it be that the rattlers in winter are sleeping off all the mice and chipmunks they’ve eaten in the past year and only in the warmth of the summer sun will they return to the trail?
Two hours after first leaving the trailhead we are strolling to our rental Nissan Sentra, pleased with another “excellent” hike in the Front Country of Santa Barbara.
The beauty of the Santa Barbara area for hikers is that they can climb into the mountains on so many trail as well as walk the beaches and the bluffs of the Pacific Ocean. Twenty minutes from Carpinteria, this morning Hannah and I take The 101 to the Los Positas exit for the bluff trails of the Douglas Preserve within the city limits of Santa Barbara.
14+ plus miles in ~20 minutes
Parking at Hendry’s Beach (officially Arroyo Burro Beach) at the trailhead of the Douglas Preserve can be a challenge, especially on this late Saturday morning when we arrive. So leave early you two!
Well, we are not about to mess with up our morning routine of walking the Carpinteria Beach, breakfast on our condo patio, watching Sports Center (moi), writing postcards (Hannah), and deciphering Wordle (five-letter word game) just to get a parking spot. Fact is, there is parking on the side streets in a nearby neighborhood, if we must. Fortunately, parking spots are still to be had this late February at 11:20 AM.
The trail up to the Douglas Preserve
The 70-acre Douglas Family Preserve is a public park of undeveloped ocean-front land that represents the largest area of coastal open space within the city limits of Santa Barbara. In 1996 Santa Barbara residents raised millions of dollars including a $600K contribution by Michael Douglas, the actor.
High above Hendry’s Beach on the Douglas Preserve
Climbing the dirt trail to the mesa above Hendry’s Beach, we’ll circumnavigate it with its bluffs some 70-80’ above the Pacific Ocean. If you love dogs, you will have found Nirvana here as our four-legged friends can be off leash everywhere, and are!
Once descending from the Douglas Preserve, dogs must be leashed
The dogs we encounter are not the annoying and threatening sort. There’s canine peace and love on the bluff. Note the dog washing station in the parking lot for both beach and mesa dogs.
Self-served dog washing
Thinking we are just a little ways down the beach from Santa Barbara’s Famous One Thousand Step Staircase, we set our sights on the climb from the beach to the bluff. With just enough room to skirt the incoming waves at high tide, we use our iPhones to confirm that we are heading to the One Thousand Steps.
Hendry Beach as high tide approaches on our way to the “1000” Steps of Stairway
Looking back to Hendry’s Beach on the way to the ‘1000’ step staircase
Half-mile down the beach, we ask a young couple if we are close to the 1000 step stairway. The guy assures us that it’s just beyond the eucalyptus trees ahead. Hallelujah. This is going to be closer than we thought.
The staircase from the beach to the suburban street above
Our “1000” steps begin.
Stepping on first concrete, then metal steps, we begin counting steps, wouldn’t you? It’s known for 1000 steps, could there be just 995? Relentlessly we climb and count. Soon we see the top of the stairs though we’ve only gone 200 steps. WTF!
It seems we have not arrived at the 1000 Steps Stairway, This is the Mesa Drive Stairway
Stopping mid-staircase, we ask a basking senior citizen if they are messing with us about 1000 steps? He says that this stairway has about 250 (later we count 243) steps. The 1000 foot step stairway is further down the beach, maybe a mile.
Beautiful Mesa Drive staircase just not 1000 steps long
We’ve had enough hiking fun today, but the 1000 steps is close enough for us to return to later next week. We wonder how cool it would be for our grandsons, Owen (9) and Max (7), when they come to visit us in California during their school vacation week, to climb 1000 steps.
…eight days later Hannah return to scope the legendary steps.
14 miles in ~20 minutes
Arriving at 11 AM on a mid-February Monday at Santa Cruz Street, we go right to the steps, counting by twos we are pumped to get so many Fitbit steps.
The first of the “1000” steps
Descending the first 100 of the “1000” steps
Then, too soon, within say ten seconds, we see the bottom of the steps at the beach. There are no 1000 steps! In fact, we meticulously count 186! Even seventy less than the stairway at Mesa Drive!
At the last of the 186 steps of the “1000” Hannah is in disbelief
We are dumbfounded. Perhaps, it’s a secret the locals know that 1000 is placeholder for a ton of steps. It’s like me saying the hyperbolic “I could eat a horse.” Now we are in on the “1000 Step” secret. We just need to learn the secret handshake.
We do make lemonade out of this numerical fantasy by walking a mile and a half on the beach at mid-tide to the marina in Santa Barbara.
Foggy February morn in Santa Barbara
The beach beneath the bluffs
Upon our return, we pass two surfers climbing down a third stairway to the beach, this one of 86 steps.
A third stairway from the bluffs to the beach
It’s a cool morning finding out the mythology of the 1000 steps!
No, no, no, I’m not talking about the retirement opportunity of a lifetime for Hannah and me dealing Mary Jane to the locals in Santa Barbara County or back in Maine. I’m just trying to better understand the conflict between the marijuana growers in Carpinteria and their nearby homeowners ever since California passed It’s Marijuana for the Masses (i.e. for recreational use in 2016). With its temperate climate, Carpinteria is ground zero for legal cannabis.
With our winter of 2022 in Carpinteria coming to an end, Hannah and I choose the local Franklin Trail for our hike today. The sweet thing about the Franklin is that we can ride our cruiser bikes to the trailhead.
1.7 miles away (Santa Barbara is to the left on Routes 101/1
At the trailhead, we are dismayed to see the lack of care in dealing with the garden dedicated to our friend Susan. As a Carpinteria High School English teacher, she gave her students an environmental focus to their education. The neglect of landscaping is in stark contrast to her dedication to her students. We would not let that stand. Check out the plaque below.
Before
And then check out the plaque once Hannah and I removed, cleaned, and returned the plate to its rightful condition.
Click here for the story of the plaque transformation.
Though the Franklin Trail goes five plus miles into the mountains, today we’ll hike 3.1 miles to the Duca Bench high above the valley floor. We will test our will and lung capacity as we have a sun and clouds 1400′ of elevation gain into the coastal Santa Ynez Mountains.
The trailhead with our cruiser bikes behind the information board
Taking the corridor trails along the west boundary of Carpinteria High School past the avocado orchards and later the greenhouses for orchids and cut flowers, we do not see or smell any weed. We are just high on life!
For a while, the trail parallels the athletic fields of Carpinteria High School
The avocado orchards are opposite the ball fields of CHS
Cut flowers possibly but no smell of weed. This part of the trail is within 200 yards of the high school
But our hike is far from over. The bracketed fences of the trail soon rise above the playing fields of the high school.
Sweet climbing switchbacks greet us as we scale the mountain. Under filtered sun that makes for a hazy view out to the Pacific Ocean, we steadily climb.
Switchbacks of the Franklin Trail
At the two-mile mark, we legally slip to the side of a trail blocking metal gate which leads us to a steady assent along a one-time fire road.
The “no vehicles” gate at the top of the rise
It’s been three months since the beneficial rains of December 2021 have fallen. The cracked dirt trail is testament to the lack of rain, especially during the eight weeks that Hannah and I have been here.
1400’ of elevation gain is no joke as we plod into the mountains.
Prickly pear cactus line the Franklin Trail
A dry dusty trail in drought-stricken Santa Barbara County
No bears and no weed so far!
After one final turn, we settle in for pbj (pb for Hannah) on the Duca Bench three trail miles above the valley.
The Duca Bench
Turning to the Santa Ynez Mountains beyond the Duca Bench
Soon local musicians, Keith and Frank arrive. I call out, We have room on the bench for you. Frank shares his homegrown orange slices and Keith invites us to the Lucky Llama, a local coffee shop Saturday morning for their music making. Locals, Ashton Kutcher and Mila Kunis, have been known to get their morning cup of joe there.
Mission accomplished as we head for our Carpinteria home away from home
Back to the trail, sadly, we never smell or see any weed, be it as the growing plant or smoked by the local pot heads. Nor do we find a jay discarded on the trail. You’ll be happy to know, Hannah and I remain pot-free and high as a kite (that is when we are on the mountaintop).
Postscript: Two days later, Hannah and I walk down to the Lucky Llama on Carpinteria Avenue to listen to Keith and Frank’s Americana Cats band. After one set, Keith calls out a welcome us by name. Anonymous no more, we put $ in their guitar case and come back later with five of Hannah’s monster cookies, one for each band member.
For one morning, there is peace in our part of the world.
This mid-February 2022 morning Hannah and I drive to a trailhead with two possible hikes: the uber-popular Inspiration Point Trail as well as the mysterious Seven Pools, Three Falls Trail, which we have been unable to find since we first came to Santa Barbara in 2014. Perhaps today…
Parking on Tunnel Road among the mansions of Santa Barbara, we are well aware that our car will be towed if it strays beyond the white lines on this winding narrow road into the mountains.
Cars toeing the line on Tunnel Road to avoid the hefty fines
Safely parked, we pass around a rusted metal cattle gate onto the ¾ of a mile of cracked paved road to the trailhead.
Southern California Edison “paved” road to the trailhead
The cracked road continues above Hannah’s head into the Santa Ynez Mountains
Once at the trailhead for both trails, we have a steep climb on a wide fire road until the turn-off to the left for Inspiration Point as well as the Seven Pools, Three Falls Trail.
Figuring we will just hike to Inspiration Point, since we’ve been stymied in the past from finding the Seven Pools Trail, we fortunately meet up with an agreeable twenty-something hiker who gives us directions to the Seven Pools Trail.
On the concurrent Seven Pools and Inspiration Point Trails
And find it we do. But, and there is a big But.
Hannah begins ascending among the boulders
This trail is not for hiking; it is for bouldering. Bouldering is climbing over and around boulders in the creek bed. This past December of 2021, the Santa Barbara area got three weeks of off-and-on rain. A windfall for this parched, drought-ravaged area. That is the reason for the green hills and mountainsides that we see for the first time in years. Fortunately, the rain has filled the pools which helps us identify the trail.
One of the seven pools
The boulders we must straddle
Bouldering up the creek, past a pool here and there, sometimes we stretch between rocks (see Hannah below) and most of the time we are use handholds to get up and over the rocks.
That’s one agile 74-year-old
Then a barrier of boulders presents itself and we skirt to a creekside trail that looks like it was made by others who couldn’t handle the boulders either. In time this quote trail narrows and we are fully content wrapping up our Seven Pools Trail experience. We make a quick 180. And, let me tell you, we will never go abouldering again. It’s not a lot of fun. We’ll take hiking instead.
Along the creekside trail
Retracing our steps down the boulder creek, Hannah and I return to the Inspiration Point Trail into the mountains. The trail is easy to negotiate and there is very little chance of getting lost. The switchbacks take us to the top for a 180 degree view of the coastline out to the Pacific and the Channel Islands.
It can’t be a surprise to the regular readers of this blog that Hannah and I come to California in the winter to be active in the great warm outdoors. Mornings before breakfast, we walk the beach or bluffs in Carpinteria. Then it’s often a hike or pickleballing. After Dan’s nap and Hannah’s post card writing in the sun, we then have a late afternoon bike ride on our one-speed cruisers through the coastal village of Carpinteria.
Sea Ranch, 150 miles north of San Francisco
Taking advantage of every minute we are in California and not in the cold of winter on the coast of Maine, we plan a road trip 500 miles north of Carpinteria to Gualala to visit our friends, Tree and Scott. There, too, we will keep up our uber-activeness by walking their neighborhood before breakfast, hiking mid-day at Sea Ranch, and take in the Pelican Bluffs for our late afternoon hike along the Pacific.
Just four miles north of their home in Gualala, the trailhead is smack dab on The 101 north (truly a country road at this point in the lightly populated Mendocino County) to hike its spectacular bluffs.
The 73-acre preserve is home to the endangered Point Arena Mountain Beaver as well as to a creek that is recovering from tons of crapola from cattle grazing. Click here for a two-minute video of the park.
With a parking lot for ten, we meet up with Cliff, a neighbor of Scott and Tree’s, who gives us the low down on the two-and-a-half mile hike. We have choices for a shorter or longer hike. See the map below. No surprise, we choose longer.
We choose to go straight from the trailhead to the ocean and then turn south.
Cliff makes me wonder why people move to this remote area. The nearest big city is nearly three hours away. Santa Rosa and Ukiah are two hours for a Target and Costco. It makes sense that folks want to get away from the congestion and hectic-ness of the cities. They do have a chance to become an important member of a small community. It never snows here. There is outdoor beauty that is a 10 of 10.
Alas for us, it is Carole King “So far away.” With family in New England, we will spring, summer, and fall in York, Maine where we have lived for the past 40 years.
From the trailhead through the coastal forest to the fields above the bluffs
Before arriving at the bluffs, we traverse the coastal fields
Ever see a monk from St Joe’s (Maine)? Now you have.
We leave the forest of redwoods and Bishop pines for the fields before we arrive at the bluff trail.
Along the Pelican Trail
Doubling back we take the field trail which is 0.9 of a mile to the trailhead.
Sunset hikes are just the best for picture taking
With the weather unseasonably warm, we could be in southern California. Our Strava app has the final word(s).
Hannah and I have four big draws in Gualala that make us want to drive 500 miles from Carpinteria to this village 150 miles north of San Francisco. First is Scott and Tree, our friends from York; they knock themselves out to make our time together filled with breakfasts out, hiking, and time to chill each evening.
Staff Photo by Herb Swanson, Sun, Oct 28, 2001: Scott and Tree (Theresa) Mercer run near their home in Cape Neddick Sunday. The couple will run the New York City marathon to raise money for the Firefighters World Trade Center Fund. Theresa’s cousin, John Crisci, was a member of squad 288 died in the WTC attacks.
The other two draws to the area are Mark and Peggy of KGUA radio in Gualala. Peggy built a public service radio station from the ground up and was open to Mark’s idea to create a regular weekly segment for KGUA writers. That decision has fueled my creative instincts since the spring of 2020 when Covid shut down my world.
Hannah with Tree at the KGUA studios
Peggy and Mark in their KGUA studio
Over lunch at the KGUA studios, Hannah and I meet our inspirations. By the way, did you know that Hannah is also a KGUA writer? While I submit my KGUA free write by a voice memo and later publish it in my blog on Mondays, Hannah has our daughter Molly, with the occasional pinch-hitting by her brother Will, to read her free write onto a voice memo, then send it on to Mark.
Mark, Dan, Hannah, and Peggy at the KGUA studios
Peggy and Mark are as gracious and welcoming as I had imagined. KGUA is a public station which airs news, science, politics, and music. It is a project of the Native Media Resource Center whose mission is to produce educational materials about Native American and Indigenous communities in order to promote harmony and cross-cultural understanding.
After lunch, Hannah and I drive a simple mile south on The 101 from Mendocino County into northern Sonoma County to the Gualala Point Regional Park. There we have access to the bluff trail of the exclusive (and by that I mean uber-pricey) Sea Ranch.
As a community developed in the 1960s as a getaway for city-bound Californians, Sea Ranch, of late, has been a refuge for upscale IT folks who can work remotely. The community includes swimming pools, tennis courts, and, yes, pickleball courts.
On an unseasonably warm (mid-60s) early February afternoon on the northern California coast, Hannah hike four plus miles round trip high above the Pacific Ocean. Let my pictures take you there.
The bluffs of Sea Ranch
An example of one of the 2000 Sea Ranch domiciles; this one along the bluff trail
The bluffs above the rocky northern California coast
Sea Ranch houses along the bluff trail
Crashing waves
The afternoon sun
Thoroughly satisfied, Hannah and I return to our “Tree and Scott B&B” to rest up and chill with Wordle, the five-letter word game recently bought by the New York Times for $2 million. Playing Wordle daily, we love the challenge and that the game is not a time suck. There is only one word game per day. Try Wordle here and be a part of the Hannah and Dan daily word challenge community.
North of San Francisco on the Pacific Coast Highway
The Pacific Coast Highway north of Bodega Bay is a cliff hanging, side-of-the-mountain-hugging serpentine thrill ride. That said, it’s a grind for the driver who can’t take in the breathtaking views as the 72 miles takes nearly two hours. There’s 15-mph hairpins when the coves meet the mountain canyons. All of this at the end of our 500-mile, twelve hour day from Carpinteria.
Arriving at the home of Tree and Scott, friends from York who have relocated to Gualala on the north coast of California, we have a couple who know how to do happy hour right. By that I mean Dan and Hannah right with free flowing wine, crackers, and chips and salsa.
Scott, Hannah, and Tree at the primo Rollerville Cafe in Point Arena
The following morning Tree and Scott take us to their favorite local breakfast place, the Rollerville Café in Point Arena just north of their home in Gualala. The Rollerville delivers! It’s signature Monkey Omelet with tomatoes, mushrooms, onions, avocado, cheese, and sour cream along with hash browns and an amazing grilled biscuit will make a grown man cry, or at least blubber in appreciation.
St Joe’s College (Maine) comes to California with our friend Tree
Pleasingly fueled, Hannah and I are joined by our lady of the house, Tree, (short for Theresa) for our hike up the Fern Canyon Trail in Van Damme State Park just south of Mendocino. Seven years ago when we were last here, Hannah and I hiked this very trail of towering redwoods along a rain forest trail paralleling the Fern Canyon Creek. Today we can do it with new eyes and with our friend Tree.
The trail begins. Notice something by Hannah’s right hiking shoe?
California’s own banana slug. We named it Hannah. Yes, the slug is Hannah Banana!
We have the trail to ourselves as February is the off-season for northern California coastal tourism; the campgrounds are closed and just us retired folks are in the area.
The trail gets very little sunlight, hence moss reigns on river rocks, shaded trees, and fallen logs.
The canyon is shaded most of the day with 100’ second growth redwoods keeping the area damp with a hint of rain forest. The trail along the creek rises gently as the moss covers the river rocks and the shade keeps us in pants and light jackets.
Ten bridges cross the creek as we hike the two and half miles inland with a easy elevation gain. Let us take you through the redwoods with pictures.
Hannah and Tree lead the way
Redwood glory!
The trail hugs the creek for two miles. Gurgling water is our companion.
The majesty of the redwoods
A cool day in early February 2022
I’m slacking with these two energetic women in the lead
Tree and Hannah
On the 45 minute ride back to Gualala, we pass the Sacred Rocks on the California coast
over60hiker 