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We arrive in Fort Bragg at what we consider to be one of the best motels at which we have stayed: The Columbi Motel on Oak Street. The Columbi is very quiet - several blocks up from Hwy 1, small garages separate each of the rooms, heater makes hardly any noise. It comes with a full kitchen (stove, refrigerator, microwave, full sink, plates, utensils, etc). And for Fort Bragg, it is cheap, about the same as Motel 6, only 1000% better. Finally, the owners have a grocery store across the street and a laundromat up the street. Here is Shirley posing outside our room:
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Unrelated to the motel, this ferocious cat is guarding the stairway entrance to a restaurant at which we did not eat. The cat allowed Bob to scratch under its chin. |
Shirley and Bob, demonstrating the maturity and wisdom that comes with years of experience.
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Fort Bragg includes the Mendocino Coast Botanical Gardens. These gardens were a major reason for visiting Fort Bragg and they are well worth the trip. Not only are the gardens beautiful, but their location along the sea coast is spectacular. The gardens also include a nursery where it is possible to purchase otherwise hard-to-find plants.
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When building your ideal gopher hole, it is nice to be protected under a bench. Location, location, location. |
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If you look closely, you will see that there are actually quite a few seals (sea lions?) resting on the rocks below. |
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On our third day we drove down the coast to Mendocino. At first we thought perhaps we should someday stay in Mendocino, rather than Fort Bragg. But our motel was within 10 miles of Mendocino and far cheaper.
It was easy to park along the main street in Mendocino and walk around the town, which is small and in a very pretty location. We also visited the beaches and shoreline, which of course are beautiful. At one beach we actually took off our shoes and waded in the very cold water, as this short video of Shirley demonstrates.
We saw one amazing sight: a rainbow that circled the sun, along with a larger rainbow that partially circled the sun. We heard people getting on their phones and telling friends and relatives to go outdoors to see this incredible sight. There is a photo below and a short video here.
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We were very surprised to find at many of the beaches so many small jelly fish washed ashore. As you can see below, the beach is covered with nearly a solid layer of them for quite an area.  |
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We spent our last morning walking the streets of Ft. Bragg, primarily visiting small art galleries. Then we took our last look at the beautiful seacoast and returned home to the much warmer inland weather.
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By The Author:
UC Berkeley in the '60's
Civil War Diaries
Mostly pre-WWII
