Route 1, Day 1 - Bodega Bay to Salt Point

We had no idea what we were going to experience going north on Route 1.  In fact we thought Salt Point looked like a hop, skip and a jump from Bodega Bay on the map.  We tried to stay at Doran another day but our spot was already reserved, so, rather than just fold up and move to another spot here, we opted for another experience.  Another experience it was!!!!!

Route 1 is a winding, up- and down- hill 2 lane highway that we took from Bodega Bay and will continue to take until it joins with 101 north of Ft. Bragg, CA.  It took us most of the day to get to Salt Point, but, imagine our excitement when every minute was spent exclaiming about the beauty, the wildness, the thrill of the ride!  The only reason the ride was a thrill was because I was driving.  Jim would not have been able to tolerate my whimpering, foot on the brake, hanging on for dear life self had he been driving.  We both knew that.  So, what could have been terrifying (oh, yes, I whimpered even sometimes while driving), was really beautiful and fun.  We have done Route 1 south and loved Big Sur and that area before, but this was even more spectacular (to us!).

This looks very gentle, I know--but, that part of the road
in the center was actually built into the mountain.  There are
many more of these and many more frightening road pictures
we could have taken, but, then--we wouldn't be here to tell
you about them!

When we arrived at Salt Point, we were a little disappointed that most of the sites were very heavily forested (and lovely) but there were no views of the ocean.  When we checked with the ranger, she said that we could use the area they usually reserve for overflow camping.  We checked it out and this is what we found:

Imagine!  We have this to ourselves!

Not a bad spot to wait for sunset!

We feel like we are in Scotland, walking the moors, with Heathcliff.  There are deer, ravens, pelicans, gulls, vultures and the most amazing flowers blooming (pictures of the wild calla lilies are on Jim's phone but I will try to access soon).  The waves are crashing, the sun is shining and we are alive and well.  We were alone, off the grid, and giddy!

Sorry to be leaving this incredible place.