Music Together with Daddy
Russian Gulch SP
Thursday means the ‘Tori-day’ for Maarten. So before our next trip to the North Coast we didn’t want him to miss his favorite music teacher. This time his dad accompanied him in the class. It’s a shame Rob can’t do it more often since they both had such a great time together.
According to the MapQuest.com (for the driving direction) we took the longer but the fastest route. But after exiting the highway 101 in Willits and taking the CA-20 through the Jackson State Forest we were just turning around and around in the never ending twisting curves without making any progress. Despite of that the woods are just beautiful out there.
Anyway we arrived safely at the campground of the Russian Gulch SP. I was a bit concerned about the possible disturbing noise from the Highway 1 because the campground supposed to be just under the concrete bridge that spans the gulch. Luckily this information was not right.
The campground is nestled in a heavily forested quiet canyon at the bank of the Russian Gulch Creek.
The big ferns and even bigger redwoods, blackberry and raspberry shrubs and the bubbling creek made our secluded site a very green and natural setting. And what a wildlife! The colourfull birds are everywhere and next to the chipmunks there are many little rabbits frolicking around the shrubs.
The creek was of course very tempting to our Maarten who couldn’t stay away from it for a second. Luckily only his mug with Gold Fishes ended up down there (I had to jump in and get it out of course...).
What I love so much at the north coast is that here you have it both: the mysterious ancient forest next to the rough coastline with abandoned beaches.
From the campground you can walk to the beach just across the stream under the bridge. This beach is very calm and safe for our watergreedy son.
Friday July 13th
Fern Canyon and Waterfall Trail
A nice hike through the redwoods took us to the Russian Gulch Falls, a waterfall falling into a rock basin.
Maarten can already manage to walk by himself at least 2 miles but he understands that the back carrier is also a good option when he gets tired. So he is quite satisfied to be carried and does not protest like he used to a few months ago.
While having a picnic at the falls a little chipmunk kept us company. It was a challenge to keep Maarten away from the steep walls of the waterfall since he wanted to chase after this little fellow everywhere.
Saturday July 14th
Birthday at Mendocino
Mendocino Headlands
I should have been at my best today but!...besides that Maarten woke up at 4.30 this morning, there was a couple of raccoons playing/hunting/splashing at the creek which kept me awake almost the whole night.
Anyway...according to the Frog ( Maartens favorite from the book of Max Velthuis, Kikker en een heel bijzondere dag) a cake is a necessity at someone’s birhtday. Maarten would sing for me in the morning and straight afterwards he asked about the cake!
I guess the only place where to get it is the town of Mendocino.
Maarten above the sandy home of the bumblebee colony at the Mendocino Headlands.
Getting enough hungry after a nice walk at the foggy Mendocino Headlands we were searching the Lansing Street for the Meno Burgers to try the recommended veggie burger.
And afterwards just next door a cake at the bakery!
About Mendocino: I liked the wooden houses and the blossoming colorfull cottage gardens. But the most remarkable? I’ve never seen so many flower-power-people together. O.K. except for our family vacations to the past DDR (East Germany) in the early 70’s. To see them in their late sixties with the grey braids wearing the tie dyed clothing was pretty exceptional and interesting. I believe it belongs to the far north since we’ve already noticed some Hippies last summer at the Redwood Coast.
Sunday July 15th
Russian Gulch Headlands
From the Russian Gulch Headlands you get fine views of the Mendocino Headlands. In my opinion the headlands of the Russian Gulch SP are even more spectacular than those of Mendocino. The rock formations are fantastic, the flowers are ubiquitous and there are the sea caves and blowholes everywhere. The path of the Headland Trail does follow the cliffs very closely so I was very much concerned about the safety of our little rascal. Sometimes I had problems myself having high anxiety at the bluffs.
The highlight here is the Devils Punchbowl. This large collapsed sea cave with whirling water acts as a blowhole which is especially spectacular at the high tide.
It was partly foggy which made the whole scenery even more dramatic.
Sum up our big weekend couldn’t end up better!
PS: Back home there was a mysterious package at the door. It was traveling more than one month and it contains all kinds of the yummy Dutch stuff. Unfortunately there is no note at all so we don’t really know where and from who it is coming. Anyway it is a nice surprise and we will enjoy it. Thanks!
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