Tag Archives: Rick Jackson

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This old-growth Redwood grew in a twisted fashion. That's what save it from the logging activity that went on here on the Mendonoma Coast in the 1800's. Thank goodness! It stands like a forest god, over two thousand years old. It is on a neighbor's property but we are able to hike down to visit it.

Craig Tooley recently photographed this magnificent tree. You will see that Rick, Huckleberry and I are dwarfed by it. The first time I saw it my heart raced. What a treasure to find in the forest.

To see more of Craig's Coast photography, here's the link to his web site: http://ruffimage.com/

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Rick and I always purchase a Sonoma County Parks annual pass. The place we use the pass the most is by far Gualala Point Regional Park. Recently we hit a perfect day with no wind.

 Here is our golden retriever, Huckleberry, and Rick at the start of the trail.

 We walked out to the bluffs and were rewarded with views like this one. Gualala Point Island is on the right.

And we returned an hour later to where we parked my car, a 1971 Mercedes-Benz 280SL. It's a great car for curvy Highway One but it's a tight fit for Huckleberry behind the seats.

To see a sunset photographed at this park, here's the link: http://www.mendonomasightings.com/2011/08/01/beautiful-sunset-at-gualala-point-regional-park/

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The wild Gualala River did finally close to the Pacific and is now full. You can see from the photo below that the river is particularly beautiful right now. What a nice place to put a bench! When you enter Gualala Point Regional Park you will come to a parking area on the left. Park, cross the road and walk towards the river to find this bench.

Rick and I, with our golden retriever, Huckleberry, on leash walked down to the beach and all the way to the north end to see what it looked like. This is where the river usually is open but you can see the sandbar has built up enough to close the river. It won't open again until there are enough winter rains.

Rick is looking at the river from the sandbar. Once closed the river is extremely safe for kayaking and other water sports.

Here's a photo of the river on the left and the Pacific Ocean on the right - and a glimpse of Huckleberry's back.

It's very windy today but this weekend is suppose to be fantastic weather-wise. It would be a great time to visit and see some of these places for yourself.

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Even if Rick and I are pressed for time, a walk on the Gualala Bluff Trail is easy to fit in. And Huckleberry, our golden retriever, never turns down a walk. We parked along Highway One in front of the Shoreline Restaurant and accessed the trail between the restaurant and the Breaker's Inn. Spring has sprung along the trail and even in the foggy morning the trail was alive with color.

 Rick and Huckleberry are urging me to catch up!

 It looks like Huck is thinking, "So many poppies, so little time..."

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In less than 24 hours we had 4.9 inches of rain at our house in Anchor Bay. That's enough to cause flooding and, indeed, the Garcia River has flooded Highway One this morning. The seasonal creek the crosses our property was doing its best imitation of a mighty river and was running dangerously fast and very muddy. We were afraid that our golden retriever, Huckleberry, might get too close to the stream so we leashed him up.

I took these photos late yesterday afternoon after 4.2 inches had fallen. Here's Rick and Huck next to the spot on the creek where we usually can jump across - not yesterday and still not today!

 In the upper left is the path we usually take to get down to the forest floor. It was a river too!

Here Quinliven Creek rushes underneath the bridge Rick built with his son, Ron, so we could get across in times like these. This is about as close to the bridge as we've seen the creek. It was a little scary going across the bridge!

 And below you can see the creek as it looks this morning. It's lower and not so muddy but still running strong.

 And amidst all this winter-like weather, a wonderful sign of spring - a Red Clintonia emerges.