A journey from Los Angeles to Seattle on Highway 101, seeking out view spots for picnics… and old car junk for Clark.
Day 11
May 28, 2014
Mendocino
A quiet day. Breakfast at the B&B, looking out over the waves and rocks, and then a 5 mile hike at Jug Handle State Natural Preserve, going from the shore up to the “Pygmy Forest.” Various geological this and that meant that you climb up the mountain and find yourself in a flat area of sand that’s been there for 500,000 years, and in which only acid-loving-lusting-devouring plants can survive: rhododendron, salal, evergreen huckleberries, and some coniferous trees of mostly small stature. It’s a rare sort of forest, that neither of us had ever seen before.
Clark, on the lookout for pygmies.
Why I chose to pose by the largest tree in the pygmy forest, I don’t know.
Back to Mendocino for lunch at Patterson’s Pub, then a stroll around town. We went into the old house flying the Visitor’s Information flag, and discovered that it was a small museum. The photos on the walls answered our question about the iron links embedded on the headland, and the remnants of piers. Turns out there was a sawmill out there, and that’s where the lumber was sent down to the waiting ships. Mendocino was one of many small “doghole” ports exporting lumber, at least until it because cheaper to get it from the bigger ports of the Pacific Northwest.
An interesting way to get from a ship to the headlands.
Part of the sawmill/lumber yard, from which they’d send lumber shooting down a slide to the ships below.
A typical Mendocino street scene.
This is more in our price range.
Picked up more fixings from the grocery store, and returned to the B&B for a repeat of last night. The B&B has a lot to recommend it, not least of which is the fantastic view and the Adirondack chairs and deck furniture scattered around, from which to enjoy it. And they put plates and silverware in your room, making it easy to picnic for dinner.
Clark, getting some work done. Really, I swear it.
Overall, a peaceful, restful stay.
