Bodega Bay

We moved from the wine country to the coastline near Bodega Bay. The locals call it "Blowdega" because it is so windy - disagreeable windy all day - and horrible in the late afternoon and evening! The fog rolls in and out to obscure the views so even though whales are migrating from the Baha to Alaska now it is hard to see them. We have seen seals in the water and lounging on the rocks.

Our first glimpse of the Pacific Coast

We found Petaluma Pie Company yesterday - had chicken pot pie for lunch and rhubarb for dinner!

Today we drove Highway 1, along the coast, up to Fort Ross. Luckily, it was clear and the views were stunning. It reminded us of Judy and Marilou, our trip to Ireland and our tour around the Dingle Peninsula - the same steep rock cliffs and blue ocean. Also the same wind!! Lunch at an inn with a great view was lovely. Dinner is fresh salmon from the local farmers market we checked out this morning.

Fort Ross is now a state park but was originally the first Russian settlement in the US. It was started in 1812 to provide food and supplies to the Russian-American Company in Alaska that provided all types of furs to Russia and other countries for warm clothing. Eventually the hunting and fishing in the area diminished and since it wasn't a good farming area they left and it was purchased by local ranchers.

Fort Ross, California

We are amazed at how many cyclists we see on the roads around here - they are all so steep and winding it is hard to imagine peddling a bicycle. Many have camping gear with them! It seems especially dangerous on the narrow Hwy 1 - all it would take is one driver looking at the scenery and not where he's going! We had a cyclist pass us, on the left, going downhill today - a blue blur in our peripheral vision!!