Bodega Bay - January 2022

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Blackbird Pie

 

It came in an email: a spur of the moment invitation from our friends The Teds. They had two nights available for a short getaway, had secured a campsite reservation at Bodega Bay, and would we like to join them? I answered, "Julie really really really wants to go. She is working really really really hard to talk me into it. Will she have success?"

 

 

We met our friends at noon Sunday at the Bodega Head parking area.

 

 

 

 

 

They had arrived first and had their chairs and spotting scope set up in front of their Tiger. Mrs. Ted had already spotted whale spouts out on the Pacific. Bodega Head was living up to its nickname, Blowdega - the wind howled.

 

 

But the wind brought clear skies and vivid vistas making for a beautiful afternoon to wander the head.

 

 

 

 

 

There was a large group of volunteers working to remove the invasive ice plant from plots of ground to restore healthy populations of native plants to this area. I did not know the story of the invasive South African ice plant that is so dominate along the coast. A short quote from the linked article -

"Ice plant's heavy leaves and shallow roots can actually destabilize coastal soil and increase the chance of landslides, according to the Office of National Marine Sanctuaries, which likens the plant to 'invading aliens.'”

 

The photo below shows ice plants and the view south down Bodega Bay to Tomales Point.

 

 

 

 

 

From the top we looked east at the long Doran Beach and our campsite at the Sonoma County Park.

 

 

 

 

 

Also along our walk was the Hole in the Head, the abandoned site of a proposed PG&E nuclear power plant right on top of the San Andreas Fault.

Thank god for Rose Gaffney.

 

 

This is, indeed, a spectacular place.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

We rejoined Ted at our chairs on the lee side of our vehicles. As we sat and chatted, blackbirds joined us.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Lady handed me a one of her famous peanut butter cookies and the attack was on. Blackbirds landed on my knees and hand and pecked the cookie apart. Those that could not find space to land on me hovered in the air and darted in to move their brethren away for their turn. I looked about for Alfred Hitchcock's ghost. He had to be here, his spirit still directing his classic, "The Birds" filmed here in the early 1960's. I could not shake the idea of an appropriate retaliation - Four and twenty blackbirds baked in a pie as in "Sing a Song of Sixpence."

 

Later in the afternoon we settled into our campsite in the Jetty Campground at Doran. In the morning Ted surprised us with fresh baked - Omnia Stovetop Oven - homemade cinnamon rolls! We were not at all disappointed it was not blackbird pie.

 

Monday Mrs. Ted joined us for a long wander along Doran Beach.

 

 

 

 

 

The girls delighted in finding dollars on the beach.

 

 

 

 

 

We explored the coves beyond the beach.

 

 

 

 

 

The wind was much calmer this day.

 

 

 

 

 

We watched fishing boats work the bay.

 

 

 

 

 

I must mention that one reason the Lady was so excited to join The Teds, was the desire to see something besides snow. There was no snow here.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I decided it was best not to mention much of this water used to be snow.

 

 

The Lady and Mrs. Ted had a great day walking the coast.

 

 

 

 

 

Note - this is a non motorized beach. The tracks in the above photo are from a UTV belonging to a California Department of Fish & Wildlife tech working on a project.

 

Of course the two girls were busy with their see mores scanning the water. Mrs. Ted announced, "Spouts!" Not whales but dolphins.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Teds have shown an interest in Scrabble.  We joined them each of the two nights in their spacious Tiger and played. Ted whooped us all the first night. I managed to squeak out a victory the second night. Although the campsites were close, the campground was quiet and peaceful, and our stay was pleasant and relaxing.

 

 

 

 

 

The Lady and I woke well before dawn Tuesday morning. We walked the beach as morning light came. It was one of the most beautiful mornings we have experienced on the coast. One we will remember. I will let these following photos tell the story.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

We thank The Teds for their kind invitation to join them and the wonderful opportunity to see where melted snow goes. Next time Ted, let's bring some makings for pie crust.