Trip 9 - California Dreamin'

On this trip we set out to immerse ourselves in the culture and the nature of California. To discover its textures and see some of its natural wonders. We discover that California is very big. It is not a state that you can just pass through, it is, more than any other place we have visited, more like another country. It is a land dominated by mountains, the spaces between and like nowhere else, water.
Our start in the heavily populated area to the East of Los Angeles, known as the Inland Empire, is crowded into the lowlands surrounded by magnificent mountains. The feeling is of a cauldron which is trying to boil over the mountains to the fresh air of the rest of the state.
To the South is a band of Desert, which is the buffer to Mexico, which we did not explore on this trip.
We travelled North through the mountains (everywhere in California you can see mountains) to the desert, and on again to the huge Central Valley, mile after mile of intensive agriculture. Culture here is dominated by food, flatness, low income and trying to impact on the 'sameness' of the flat lands through music and festival. It is the communication and administrative corridor that links all other areas of California.
To the East is the huge mountain chain of the Sierra Nevada which clearly demonstrates the magnificence of the natural world, both in its geology and nature, reflected in the pysche and pride of most Californians. It is Eldorado, dominated by Gold!
To the West of the Central Valley are the coastal mountains, San Francisco and the magnificent coast. More isolated cultures, from mixed resources, communities seperated by mountains.
To the North of the Central Valley more mountains and a culture which looks more North towards Oregon than South to Sacremento.
This blog details our journey through California, where we pick and choose, or just scratch the surface, of this diverse and beautiful state.

Tuesday, November 8, 2011

Mendocino and More


Today was as unswervingly sunny as it has been most of the previous weeks. As though the fact that it had rained and been miserable the previous three days was a trick of your own mind. We packed a picnic and we set off the the 'must see' town of Mendocino, which is described in the tour guides as 'an eclectic' collection of Victorian houses, art boutiques, coffee house and cafes nestling in the protection of the southerns slopes of a hill, on a cliff top above a blue water bay.
Unfortunately we drove straight past it on the road, as it was so small, however that gave us the chance to see the town from the South, as well as some surfers in the bay. The town is very pretty and comprises almost completely New England Style clapperboard houses, mostly because the first settlers were lumber people from New England, who had to sail all the way round Cape Horn to find a rocky coast like theirs back home. It is so New England that the U.S. T.V. Series of Murder She Wrote was filmed here. As was parts of Karate Kid III.
We had a lovely time wandering round just looking, then we stopped off a the Mendocino Cafe for lunch. Sally had a Beef Pot Roast, while I had mussels and a burger, very nice. Very Eclectic.
After lunch we ran into our next door neighbours and stood and chatted, also watching a very friendly hummingbird.

We drove slowly back along the coast to the Point Cabrillo Light Station, this is a fascinating light station built in 1909 to protect this rocky coast for the lumber ships. Lovely view of the sea and coast in either direction.
Posted by fastrak at 7:47 AM

1 comment:

  1. PetalpatchNovember 9, 2011 at 11:03 PM

    Hello Terry and Sally! This is Debra from Cloverdale. I so enjoyed meeting you both today and sharing the excitement for photography and the many beautiful places we have both experienced! You certainly enriched my visit to the McDonald mansion… I believe I have found two lovely kindred spirits! I am quite enjoying your blog… both the wonderful photos and your personal insights and experiences at each location. I shall be looking forward to your future travels as well as doing some backlog exploring. Go safely, friends! BTW, if your are on Facebook, I have quite a bit of my own photos there. I would be happy to 'friend' you. Debra Vassar-Hufnagel

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