Beach Bliss

Our Pacific Coast adventure leads us to the quaint little town of Gualala where we find an amazing place to stop and really enjoy the magnificent scenery offered in this region. After leaving Mendocino and opting not to stop because it was too early in the day, we are just beginning to wonder if we have made a mistake. Pickings have been slim until here. But, Seacliff on the Bluff provides us with a comfortable, spacious room, an amazing view with a price that doesn't make us pause.



Located directly on the water, next to a beautiful state park and, yes, those are whales right off the beach! We are quite happy indeed!






The sleepy little town offers all we find truly important. A great hike, a gorgeous beach, and comfortable accommodations with superior service. We even are guided to an amazing dining experience 3 miles away in Anchor Bay at the Redwood Grill. Truly a delicious and delightful experience. The owner/hostess welcoms us warmly and the brand new menu lists almost too many tempting possibilities. We opt for a tasting approach and are quite satisfied. Truffle fries are cooked and seasoned to perfection. The tuna equally attended to by the chef. A roasted beet salad with arugula proves absolutely amazing. Slow cooked short ribs literally melt and accompanied with a great red wine complete a truly wonderful experience. Thank you again to Kathy, who not only took incredible care of us upon our check in at the Seacliff but also is responsible for leading us to the Redwood. These two experiences alone make a stop in Gualala a must. The bonus of whales literally put it over the top!



The morning hike at Gualala Point Regional Park provides access to the beautiful cliffs and beach, as well as the Gualala River. It's quite fun meandering between the Pacific and River along the little strip of beach. Perched on one of the rocks, watching the tide roll in provides a trance like moment. Watching the whales frolicking in the wake take us to new heights. The California coast truly is an unrivaled event!









We, of course, find the perfect picnic spot, perched high on a cliff, taking in all we've witnessed this morning. The afternoon spent in complete tranquility.

Several more short hikes continue to provide special findings. Our day so full of wonder and beauty, peace and serenity. It's hard to create a more perfect time than this!

Coast

Just about 10 miles south of Newport, we discover another little jewel at Ona Beach State Park. As we embark upon the park's trail toward the beach, we have shades of Cumberland Island at many points. The lush tree forest transports us to a wide beautiful beach via a bridge over a sand dune.
Our first sight through the fog are a couple of lone horseback riders along the surf's rim. It is a truly beautiful sight and a flood of familiarity rings at once.

This beach has both the dramatic cliffs and soft white sand with only a spattering of other guests. Walking along the shoreline, in and out of the fog is one of those truly magical moments.

An attempted dip of the toes in the water reminds quickly we are not in the south, however. This water is COLD!!! Yes, mid summer and we're still in coats. Honestly, not missing the heat back east at all....

The little detour at the end of our travel day has been more than rewarding - ths completely unplanned stop at Ona Beach rewards us with one of our most special beach walks ever! And, once again confirms how gorgeous this Oregon coast is. (Is it clear yet how much we like it here?!)

Beach Fun

After a good night's sleep in our little beach cottage and a slow wake up this morning, a beach hike seems to be a grand idea. Though chilly and foggy, the coastline is spectacular and we enjoy an amazing journey along the shore.


The beach is easy to walk on once we pass the deep white sand at the entrance, the low tide brings hard packed sand and a very wide walking path. Exposed rocks toward the cliff area provides a fun and good workout, as well as a discovery spot for interesting marine life.

Horseback riders saunter down the dune area as we head back toward the little city's town core. The quaint town has a wonderful little book store where we spend a good amount of time finding new reads and make some great purchases for future escapes. It is well past noon by the time we finish our walk and book tour and the sun has still not peeked through. As we have several days in this area, we opt to stay close to home this afternoon, reading and enjoying the sleepy town's energy.

Later in the day, dune buggies traverse the pretty beach and kites easily float in the windy skies. With all the beauty surrounding, we don't even miss the sun. We throrougly enjoy our lazy day and the comforts provided by our little beach cottage. Resting up for a big excursion tomorrow seems to be the perfect decison. The quiet we experience here is very welcomed!