Goodbye 06, Hello 07
Posted: Wed Jan 03, 2007 1:56 am
It’s become our New Year’s destination. The tiny hamlet of Gualala right on the coast of northern California. For three years now, my lady friend Shirley and I meet for 4 days and 3 nights of celebrating what is past and what is yet to come in our lives. We “meet†because I take the R – won’t waste those tempting coastal curves stuck in any cage - even in her bimmer convertible - which is black I might add…she too knows the classic beauty of a black BMW. 
We’d both go up on my bike but even with the system cases and top box, it’s not nearly enough to carry all of our stuff. (“Stuff†being important necessities like Napa and Russian River Valley wines, champagne for New Years Eve, cheese from the Cow Girl Creamery, sourdough bread, good coffee beans for the french press, books, binoculars, camera gear, etc)
The ride from my house to Gualala is about 160 miles. There are quicker ways for me to go but this weekend is about both the ride and the destination. So, I get to the coast as quickly as I can to enjoy more of the twisties it has to offer rather than the faster but oh so boring slab.
We stay at this fantastic place perched high on a cliff overlooking the Gualala River where it meets the ocean. From our picture window on the 2nd floor, we see nothing but river, ocean and sky – not another building, car, telephone pole, billboard – not even people unless they happen to be walking on the sandbar separating the river from the ocean. The place even has a hot tub and an intimate fireplace. Can’t ask for much more than that!
Our home away from home...
The view from our livingroom...
Anyway, enjoying photography as I do, I took a few photos as I explored the coastal beaches over the weekend. Hope you enjoy them.
Shadow play...
A stop along one of the many beaches...
A few seals soaking up the sun...
Morning dew on a spider web...
This snowy egret let me get quite close for a portrait...
Surf casting for salmon...
Another form of fishing...a pelican looking for fish at sunset....
The receding tide left beautiful patterns in the sand at sunset...
The wind and a little bird left their tracks in the sand...
The last sunset of 2006...
We’d both go up on my bike but even with the system cases and top box, it’s not nearly enough to carry all of our stuff. (“Stuff†being important necessities like Napa and Russian River Valley wines, champagne for New Years Eve, cheese from the Cow Girl Creamery, sourdough bread, good coffee beans for the french press, books, binoculars, camera gear, etc)
The ride from my house to Gualala is about 160 miles. There are quicker ways for me to go but this weekend is about both the ride and the destination. So, I get to the coast as quickly as I can to enjoy more of the twisties it has to offer rather than the faster but oh so boring slab.
We stay at this fantastic place perched high on a cliff overlooking the Gualala River where it meets the ocean. From our picture window on the 2nd floor, we see nothing but river, ocean and sky – not another building, car, telephone pole, billboard – not even people unless they happen to be walking on the sandbar separating the river from the ocean. The place even has a hot tub and an intimate fireplace. Can’t ask for much more than that!
Our home away from home...
The view from our livingroom...
Anyway, enjoying photography as I do, I took a few photos as I explored the coastal beaches over the weekend. Hope you enjoy them.
Shadow play...
A stop along one of the many beaches...
A few seals soaking up the sun...
Morning dew on a spider web...
This snowy egret let me get quite close for a portrait...
Surf casting for salmon...
Another form of fishing...a pelican looking for fish at sunset....
The receding tide left beautiful patterns in the sand at sunset...
The wind and a little bird left their tracks in the sand...
The last sunset of 2006...
Wow, Michael, exquisite photography, as we here have come to expect from you. You're gonna need your own coffee table book real soon.
Thank you again for the photos and the story. BTW, I like it better when you post the pictures in the message. Although I love your slide shows too. Okay - do both! Thanks.
Thanks for sharing the experience 
