Getting Crabby in Bodega Bay

Journey End,

Thu, 01 Dec 2022 13:10:00 -0800

The last day belonged to Neptune and his rain nymphs. The sea took to the skies and poured rain from the heavens beginning around 2:30am. There was just a tiny reprieve to hitch up the campers late morning for our return to the real world. When I arrived at Bella's House (StoreInside), I treated a couple of Bella's uncles to fresh crab. Those guys take such good care of her (and me), it was really nice to be able to treat them with some of our catch from yesterday. You'd think I had given them bars of gold - one planned for crab risotto and another called his wife and she was picking out wine. It's so nice when people are so appreciative of something so simple. We'll look forward to doing this again in January, hopefully with warmer weather and the same beautiful fellowship in Cava Robles, south of the Bay Area near Paso Robles. Can't wait to see my peeps 💕... and for Bella to stretch her legs.🦩

Ugggh… most of the last hour of the drive home looked like this.

Bodega Bay, United States

Wed, 30 Nov 2022 13:10:00 -0800

Leaving for a fishing trip at 37-degrees is not for the faint of heart... but seeing the sunrise from the ocean is worth the chilled hands and cold noses. One of our Airstream crew asked what the highlight of the day was and I didn't have a good answer. I've fished on the ocean a dozen times and nothing struck me as particularly noteworthy. I thought about it later and realized that the experience is something I'm very fortunate to get to do. I'm truly grounded in gratitude for: __ Seeing the sunrise from the Pacific Ocean on a cold almost-December morning. __ The thrill of breaking past the "no wake" zone into deep blue water. __ Living in a country and during a time when being the only woman on a boat with seven men is not an issue. __ Seeing that first crab hoop rise out of the water, hearing the winch strain against the weight, and seeing those giant four-pound monster crabs! (Pulling crabs out of the ocean was a first for me.) __ As we returned to the marina, our peeps waving from our little Airstream camp at the jetty was super special. It really is a family. 🦩 💕

Chipper in the 37-degree start to our day of crabbing. 🦀

Sunrise.

My first fish of the day!

One of the first batches of 🦀… these guys were monsters of the deep!

Steve with one if his many prize fish

Tony caught a few “doubles”

Our Airstream basecamp at the Jetty Camprground, Doran Park

We figured the price of the crab we caught would have been a break-even with buying it at the store… so basically, the fish and trip were a “bonus”

Capt Ryan cooked the crab right there on the dock

Dinner Guests at the crab and fish cleaning (so cute!)

Caught doing my Nat Geo super secret project work 🤭 📸: Tony Eichers

The spoils of our labors…. Bouillabaisse with fresh crab and fish from the day’s catch, prepared by Cathy. Family meals are the best. 📸: Diane Gilcrest

Sonoma Coast State Park, United States

Tue, 29 Nov 2022 10:50:00 -0800

Bodega Bay, United States

Mon, 28 Nov 2022 13:10:00 -0800

The coastline of Sonoma County is exceptionally beautiful. My college geology professor taught me that the winter beach is the most beautiful (and not just because there are fewer tourists!). You can see so much more of the details of the terrain in the wintertime… and Sonoma is splendid.

Russian Gulch Beach, California, United States

Mon, 28 Nov 2022 13:10:00 -0800

I didn’t know if I would find it… but it was important, and I did. A friend of mine recently passed away. We'd hiked this little trail back to this beach cove barely over a year ago. I spent nearly 45 minutes there today. It was a cold harsh surf, but a beautiful day with not another soul on the beach. It was a good memory to visit, a good meditation, and just as I was leaving… 30 seals swam into the water in the cove. They never left, so I finally had to move on. Stephen always did love a good party. 💕

Love Foolishly. Always capture your love’s initials on that silly tree. You’ll be glad you saved that moment in time.

Bodega Bay, United States

Mon, 28 Nov 2022 13:10:00 -0800

And I picked up some bling for Bella at a local gift shop…

My unofficial camp role: Dog Whisperer (photo credit: Diane Gilcrest)

Doran Regional Park

Sun, 27 Nov 2022 09:00:00 -0800

I blame it on Covid…. Everything takes soooo much longer than it used to. But finally, packed and loaded and on the road we were. And then Oakland. Oakland traffic. When I left, my drive time was two hours… while I was sitting in Oakland, my remaining drive was two hours. Oy! But then we arrived at Doran Beach. What a little slice of Heaven…. And can you believe this is a *County Park*? We arrived at the magic hour, that hour just before dusk when photographs are lit beautifully. It was painful to not stop along the drive and take photos. I grabbed these few just as I was driving through the park to our campsite. Tomorrow should make for some beautiful photos. 💕

The drive in to Doran County Park… hard to believe this is a county park, it looks like Heaven.

Beautissimo. (Bella agrees.)

Good thing I was in a hurry to get Bella to her spot and settled in. This place is so beautiful… could have taken 100 photos, had to stop with a few.

I must be improving… only ONE camper strolled over and asked if I need any help backing in. (After 20 minutes. 🫣). But doesn’t Bella look swanky with her new rock guards?