Bodega Dunes Campground
South Salmon Creek Beach
It was not easy to find a substitute for our trip to Emerald Bay SP. There was nothing available anymore of course. Luckily we found a few campgrounds with still available sites and we even booked at Anchor Bay but…I’ve found out that our potential site is between huge RV’s! Not really my style of going camping. Finally we’ve ended up at the Bodega Dunes like a couple of weeks ago. Unfortunately also there it was already full for the weekend so our short vacation could start on Sunday afternoon. Our departure was not very promising. Yet in our street the car started to make loud unhealthy noise. It turned out to be a long piece of tape stuck on the one of the tires. And just before the city line of San Ramon we realized we forgot to turn of the computer….should I go on?
Afterwards we had a wonderful time at the Sonoma Coast again even though there was obviously ‘different kind of campers’ this time because of the 4th of July celebration. Call me asocial but I really don’t appreciate loud music coming from the speakers of the neighbor’s truck doors. Luckily there were just very few moments like that!
On Sunday we just relaxed at the beach next to our campground.
July 2nd
Vista Point
Russian Gulch Beach
The beautiful Sonoma Coast actually consists of series of beaches that are separated by rocky bluffs. On Monday we finally could explore it. We drove some 17 miles to the Sonoma Coast most northern point and took the Vista Point Trail.
The view was great we could even spot the Point Reyes seashore in the far-away distance. Driving back I insisted on making a stop at the Russian Gulch Beach which looked so desolated from the highway. Already by taking the exit to the gravel road I understood why. It was not that easy accessible like the other beaches.
You have to walk some hundred meters (109,4 yards) through a long green dark tunnel of brush and trees and then take another hundred meter down the gravel bed of a dried up creek and finally over the sand dune you’ll get to the water. It was kind of adventurous.
The beach was stunning nestled between two rocky headlands and indeed there was nobody there. I would say keep it so ;-)
PS: Our treasure we’ve found at the Russian Gulch beach.
July 3rd
Arched Rock
Goat Rock Beach
Russian River mouth
Shell Beach
Maarten wanted to see the seals so our first stop today was at the Goat Rock Beach. We had to walk to the mouth of the Russian River where the defenseless seal pups are waiting for their feeding mothers. Till now we were lucky with the weather. It was breezy but plenty of sunshine. Watching the seals we noticed a dark fog line on the sea horizon and within a few minutes a thick fog rose from the sea and was penetrating further inland.
Within seconds we couldn’t see much from the beautiful rocky shore. Being a bit disappointed we jumped into the car and drove to our next stop at the Shell Beach. It was still very foggy but we were surprised how warm it was there. And unbelievable it was no wind there at all!
We were lucky to arrive during the low tide and could observe the life in the tide pools.
Also this beach was almost abandoned. This sea otter was not afraid to come so close to eat his catch.
It is actually not much of sandy beach there just a lot of rocks which gives it a dramatic look.
Within less than an hour the fog was gone again and without the breeze it turned to be even too hot in the sun.
Well we got enough wind the night afterwards. The wind was freezing and really howling the whole night.
July 4rd
Time to leave for home again. The beach was very busy with a lot of partying people and a lot of colorful kites.
It was pleasant to cool down at the seashore since there is above 100 °F (38 °C) in San Ramon these days!
These heats can make you really tired. In the evening we hardly made it to see the fireworks from our backyard ;-) This was actually the first time we’ve noticed something of the 4th of July celebration since last year we were somewhere deep in the quiet woods…
