Tripometer – 8910 mi
Gas Gauge – 689.177 gal
Location – Samuel P. Taylor State Park, Lagunitas, CA
Lodging – $35
Cans of OFF – 4
As soon as Kelly finished work today we were on the road. We continued our slow drive down the Coastal Highway enjoying the sunshine for much of the afternoon. The temperatures are still cool on the coast but the sun is much stronger here than in WA & OR. It may not be much warmer, but our attitudes are beginning to thaw. A quick detour to Point Arena Lighthouse afforded more than a few picture opportunities. The Pacific Coast is still stunning us on an hourly basis.
In the early evening the fog began rolling in off of the ocean giving everything the look and feel of Ireland. With the steep cliffs to our right and visibly flowing fog coming up the cliffs and out over green pasture land we couldn’t get ‘O’ Danny Boy’ out of our heads (thanks to Paul). Somewhere during the drive south with Samuel P. Taylor State Park as a destination, we drove away from the coast onto some less twisting and smoother roads. The drive was easier and Kelly had a chance to relax a bit behind the wheel.
Pulling into Samuel P. Taylor tonight we were all exhausted. Not feeling like cooking we again dropped the trailer and headed to nearby Lagunitas, CA to a little Indian restaurant for dinner. We were amply rewarded with the best Indian food we’ve had since Maryland. We think our proximity to San Francisco has improved the quality of food tremendously.
Trip Note: The wind is forecasted to be 30mph with gusts to 50mph on Pacific Coast Highway below San Francisco tomorrow. Having driven this stretch of highway on a previous trip to California, neither of us relished the idea of towing this trailer on those roads in that wind. We’ve decided that if we put in two more days of driving we can likely be at our next destination near L.A. Once we arrive outside of L.A. we plan to make a basecamp in a nearby canyon for several days while we recoup from this drive and do trips into the city to see the big tourist attractions. No one wants to be on the road anymore right now.