With no set itinerary, we are now pootling down the West Coast towards San Francisco. This gives us the opportunity of stopping when we see something nice or asking locals where we should go.
Yesterday we got both these chances. We had just decided not to pay the entrance fee for Patrick’s Point State Park and carried on past down the scenic coastal road. Suddenly we were on a headland and could hear a colony of seals. We pulled over into the layby and could see a whole load of huge seals on the rocks just beneath us. With the binoculars we could see them jostling for position, balancing on some precarious rocks and frolicking in the water. This was great entertainment while we ate our lunch. And while looking for whales I spotted two dolphins also playing in around the rocks. How stunning!
Next we stopped in the town of Trinidad to buy some chicken and the ice cream caught our eye. We headed down to the scenic seafront to enjoy our recently purchased treat and started chatting to a lovely couple who were from the next town, Eureka.
Michael and Annette were very knowledgeable about global warming and recommended some books that may scare the sh1t out of us but confirm why it is right to travel now and not wait until we retire. They then told us all their favourite places in California. We made a note of them, gave then a tour of our little home and waved goodbye.
Our first stop was their local park in Eureka, called Sequoia Park. What a lovely huge space filled with huge trees, a grove filled with rhododendron flowers, a duck pond (with very cute chicks) and several play areas for kids. No wonder they love it here. Apart from Janet falling down into a gorge after crossing a tree bridge (not hurt just covered in mud), it was rather idyllic.
We love days like this …. no plan, no expectations ….. just amazing nature and friendly people.
