Santa Barbara

The final 100 miles and we're home after a quick stop in Pismo Beach for breakfast and the obligatory stop in Buellton at the classic car lot.

One of the many cars in the classic car lot this morning

Heading toward the fog bank at the beach just south of Buellton

Another great experience!

Morro Bay

We had a nice drive around Capitola this morning.   There was a vintage car show downtown but we couldn't find parking anywhere.

Not much sight-seeing today although we did stop in Paso Robles for lunch at the bowling alley where Norm's folks always went.

We thought we'd try Morro Bay State Park even though it said the campground was full.  But there was at least one disabled site available so we're here for the night.

Capitola

Beautiful drive on Highway 1 both north and south of San Francisco.  Getting through the mess In San Francisco wasn't too bad but a major cultural shock after the past couple of weeks.

We made a stop at Duncan's Cove and then stopped in Bodega Bay for breakfast where we discovered that the 1963 Alfred Hitchcock movie "The Birds" was filmed in Bodega Bay!

Duncan's Cove

Our table at the Tides Restaurant in Bodego Bay

Tippi Hedren on location of "The Birds" at The Tides Restaurant in Bodega Bay

Bodega Bay

Crossing the Golden Gate Bridge into San Francisco

We escaped the freeways and traffic as quickly as we could and got onto the road headed toward Half Moon Bay and the coast.  Major difference in temperature between San Francisco and Capitola today!!

Pescadero State Park

Pigeon Point Lighthouse (there is a hostel across the road to the right, how about that?)

Pigeon Point Historic State Park

Duncans Mills

This morning we took the drive to Black Sands Beach in Shelter Cove but didn't walk down the hiking trail to the actual beach.   Pretty nice looking coastline and the beach is really black. 

Then we had to make THAT drive again back to the 101 but somehow it was easier and didn't seem to take as long although it actually was the same amount of time.   Go figure.

We made the obligatory stop at the Legend Of Bigfoot and found a new display.

Beautifully carved!

Lovely carvings

We were going to stop in Cloverdale but it was 93 degrees there so we headed for the coast.

Great campsite in Duncans Mills

Russian River in front of our campsite

Shelter Cove

The Luck of the Irish continues , , ,

Started off this morning going to the Victorian Village of Ferndale to have breakfast at Pappa Joe's and then wander through the cemetery and downtown area.  Always a lovely stop for us.

Victorian Inn

Ferndale cemetery.  You can't see it too well in this shot but the cemetery goes up a very tall hill.

Ferndale B&B

Then we were off to drive through the Avenue of the Giants.

Trunk diameter is 14.5 feet

We have driven on many narrow, windy, hilly roads but nothing compares to the drive to Shelter Cove.  Who knew?  It took well over an hour to drive the 21 miles mostly at between 10 and 25 mph.  We ran into a car stopped on the side because of overheating.  The last two miles were brutal in terms of curves and elevation.  Still, once we got here we were really amazed.  It's a small town, mainly for fishing and it has a small airport with the runway beside the campground.  The boats are taken into the water by a tractor and then when they come back from fishing, they are pulled up the hill by a tractor.  Amazing!

Coastline at Shelter Cove

Road to where boats are launched

Cape Mendocino Lighthouse

Fish cleaning station

Fortuna

A very long driving day from Red Bluff to the coast along Highway 299.

The road was pretty good but so much road work being done which made for a lot of stops.   Still lovely forest,  rock formations and we followed the Trinity River for many miles.  The best part was the 35 degree temperature drop when we got to the coast!

Highway 299

Trinity River

River rafting on Trinity River

Red Bluff

Well,  the Luck of the Irish may have had a hiccup, or maybe not . . .

Yesterday we heard some funny noises but thought it was just the road.   Last night we looked at the tires and saw that the two back tires on the passenger side have major issues.   The inside tire has exposed steel belts and the outer tire is now totally bald.

Since today is Memorial Day nothing is open so we have stayed another day here and hopefully will get underway tomorrow.

The high temperature today is 100 and the low will be 68 at 6 am tomorrow, so we are hiding in the air conditioning as much as possible.  It's been a quiet day and that isn't a bad thing, especially when we see all the traffic nightmares everywhere.

Aviary at the Best Western

Koi pond at the Best Western

So now there's time to practice!

The birds in the aviary got quiet to listen to the ukulele