A multitude of landscapes

Yesterday morning we awoke to silence. The rain was over and the town of Grants Pass, Oregon was enveloped in fog.  Since then we’ve experienced two days of incredibly different—and beautiful—landscapes as we traveled over a mountain to the coast on highway 101 and then onward.

California 101 took us through the ethereal saltwater lagoons around Trinidad...

and then back into the hills and through the redwoods to Garberville, where we spent the night.



This morning there was more fog but as we drove over another mountain and down to the ocean again it dissipated...



and the day warmed up.  We spent the morning along the Mendocino coast looking at its amazing headlands and sea stacks.

This afternoon we took California 128 through Anderson Valley.  This is a peaceful backwater north of Santa Rosa that is winning attention with its Chardonnays.




The drive through this valley may be one the most beautiful I’ve ever taken.

We stopped for lunch in the little town of Booneville (that is it’s name; I kid you not)--and it was warm enough for these ladies to sit outside.

Tonight we’re in Healdsburg, another stop on the northern wine route, and tomorrow we’ll do a little exploring here.  It’s supposed to rain again tomorrow but the past two days have been just amazing.