We feel so fortunate that these lands are now in the public domain. Allen Vinson recently hiked part of the lands and took these photos.
This last photo shows the Point Arena Lighthouse in the distance. What a beautiful place!
Thanks to Allen for allowing me to share his photos with you here.
We have received a lot of blessed rain here on the Mendonoma Coast. Every drop is welcome. On Tuesday a wild and windy storm hit the Coast.
It is fun to watch showers over the ocean. Several of these showers reached us as they headed east.
Thunderstorms sweeping over the coast.
The next day, yesterday, the swells were big, creating big waves. Rick and I went to the Point Arena Lighthouse to watch for Gray Whales with friends and I photographed some of the beautiful wave action. You will have to imagine the sound of the crashing waves. And, yes, we did see some Grays!
Swell after swell rolled in. It can be mesmerizing to watch the Pacific Ocean!
Today we await a smaller storm. The weekend is to be clear and warm. I'm wondering if abalone divers will be able to go on their first hunt for red treasure this year!
The Point Arena Lighthouse is on a strip of land that is the closest land on the continental United States to the Hawaiian Islands. It is surrounded by the Pacific Ocean on three sides. Kris Paden recently visited and took this photo of the lighthouse.
If you climb to the top of the lighthouse, you can look down on an interesting crater, called Devil's Punchbowl. Carolyn André recently took this photo.
This was once a small sinkhole that has steadily been enlarged by weather and the surging tides over the years.
The lighthouse is a great place to whale watch, see birds and other wildlife. To learn more about the lighthouse, here is a link to their website: http://www.pointarenalighthouse.com/index.html
Thanks to Kris and Carolyn for allowing me to share their photos with you here.
Ron Bolander was working at the Point Arena Lighthouse when he saw this raptor coming in from the west. He had his long lens on his camera and captured this photo.
You can see the distinctive white patch at the base of its tail. This hawk has an owl-like face that helps it hear its favorite food - mice and voles. Its facial feathers direct sound to its ears, just as an Owl's. Add this hawk's sharp eyesight and you will see why they are successful hunters of small mammals.
To hear the sound of a Northern Harrier, here is the link to the Cornell Lab of Ornithology: http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/northern_harrier/sounds
To see a photo of a female Northern Harrier, here is the link: http://www.mendonomasightings.com/2013/02/21/a-female-northern-harrier-as-photographed-by-craig-tooley/
Thanks to Ron for allowing me to share his photo with you here.
Carol Hofer enjoyed a recent visit to the Point Arena Lighthouse. Locals, like Carol, and visitors climb the Lighthouse tower for unparalleled views. Carol took a photo from a different viewpoint, however. Her photo shows a sea of yellow flowers, members of the Aster family, and the Lighthouse behind. Just beautiful, almost like a painting.
Thanks to Carol for allowing me to share her photo with you here. To learn more about the Lighthouse, here's the link: http://www.pointarenalighthouse.com/