Bodega Bay California
Bodega Bay is our current location.
I check in here and there to keep you abreast of our travels.
Bodega Bay sits along the breathtaking Sonoma Coast. Anytime I heard the word “Sonoma”, I pictured khakis or wine before arriving at our current haunt in Sereno Del Mar. But the coast looks different. The coast feels different.
Imagine the Pacific Northwest. Fog rolls in consistently. But the sun peaks through too.
As the brutal inland heat subsides the coastal fog follows suit. September and October are the two sunny months along the coast in this region of California.
Bodega Bay California
The temperature remains mild year round. We experienced the mid 60’s to lower 50’s over the prior week. Some nights dipped into the upper 40’s.
The sun gradually revealed itself after a moody stretch marked by heavy fog. Toss in light winds to mild gales for the genuine Pac North West feel.
Marine Life
The Sonoma Coast boasts one of the most diverse marine ecosystems on the planet.
Whales, sharks, seals, sea lions, pelicans and cormorants call this place home. We observed breaching humpback whales going gaga on anchovies for a two day gorge fest. Killer whales and blue whales commute through Bodega Bay. Great white sharks hunt seals, sea lions and elephant seals whose colonies dot the coast.
Bodega Bay California
Land mammals include:
- mountain lions
- bobcats
- coyotes
- mule deer
- foxes
Turkey vultures and various birds of prey fly the skies, on the lookout for small woodland creatures.
Transition Zone
Bodega Bay feels like a transition zone from the hustle and bustle of San Francisco to the sleepy Mendocino region.
San Francisco is gorgeous but hectic. Silicon Valley is a heavily developed region on the West Bay. Crossing the Golden Gate Bridge into Marin increases natural beauty yet the southern county is populous. However, transitioning into Sonoma County creates a new experience. The new experience would be: nobody lives here.
The Sonoma Coast is highly rural. Head north from here and things get even more remote.
Basically, San Francisco is the last coastal urban center heading north until….well….it IS the last urban center if you consider Portland and Seattle to be well inland from the Pacific Coast.
Sonoma County is the turning point, especially as you trend outside of the Marin bedroom communities like Mill Valley and Novato.
Bodega Bay feels a bit remote because it is highly rural. Sereno Del Mar is a tiny enclave of homes across Route 1 from the Pacific Ocean. Nothing but cattle farms and pure wilderness surround the tight neighborhood.
Route 1
Route 1 is a winding country road spoiling motorists with dazzling views of the Pacific Ocean. Mountains tease your peepers to the east.
Bodega Bay California
Fog is the star of the show but one cannot predict its entrance. The sun turns into a smoke machine with blinding speed. Should you apply sun block or wear a wind breaker? Gaze out onto the Pacific Ocean. Look for the impending marine layer. Let it guide you; online forecasts seem undependable with an ever-changing micro climate.
That’s it for today guys.
Time to catch some sun, fog and sea.
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