We were good Samaritans and paid our $18 for our campsite and got their ‘local’ recommendation for breakfast. We were excited to hit the road…only to hear the last CD of Shadow Divers…. But it helped fueled for our drive down the CA coast, Route 1. We saw humongous Redwood trees, wider then our car. Many of the garbage cans are both bear and Dermot proof. We stopped in Eureka for some Humboldt gear and to partake in one of the hundreds of cute drive up coffee shops.
After talking to Forest Rangers, we were on our way to shelter cove, to see the black sand beaches…. That Katie (and Sink) have been wanting to see for the last 4 years. After several switchback roads, and Katie needing to take the last of her Dramamine (and she was driving!), we arrive at the Lost Coast.
Our picture taking was QUICK due to the only other people in the parking lot were orange jump suited convicts on clean up duty. Katie did not like being the only women in the parking lot.
Back on the road, and through the tortuous switchbacks, we are back on track south towards Fort Bragg to visit the North Coast Brewery. We got the 13 beer sampler, and split a burger and salad. The ‘samplers’ are a great way to meet the locals….but are contributing to our seat cushions…
Luckily Katie’s Dramamine is ‘less drowsy’ ….she passed out through Dermot’s amateur race car driving. Coincidence…or her sense of smell woke Katie up right as we started to pass wineries in Mendocino County. Since it was already 5:30pm, we only tried one winery called Hanley. The tasting was free—which most are outside of Napa, and we picked up one bottle of the white table wine, very tasty. Dermot only tried one of their pinots and was pretty sure the bottle had gone bad, so Katie took the liberty of finishing the tasting.
We arrived at Liz’s cottage around 8:00pm, pleasantly surprised with home cooked Italian meal—including homemade pasta sauce, goat cheese and strawberry salad and delicious glasses of merlot from Liz’s winery Delectus. We had a fabulous night with great wine, conversion and company.