Great time with Cliff after the long drive back from
Eureka,
the
day
beginning
back
on
101,
up
into
the
Redwood
country
of
the
South Fork
Eel River,
eventually
Garberville,
Benbow
and
Richardson
leaving
Humboldt
into
Mendocino,
winding
around
and
ever
upward
to
Leggett
and
Summit
Grade,
still
within
the
northly
realm,
even
to
Moss Cove,
approaching Willits --
but
at
last
the Upper
Russian River
Valley,
Ukiah,
greater
Hopland,
past
Squaw /
Frog
Woman
Rock
again
to Sonoma,
Santa Rosa,
over Meachum Hill
towards
Petaluma.
From here, eastward on Frates /
116
down into Champlin Canyon,
views
toward the
Mayacamas Mountains,
12
over
into
Napa,
Border Barns
Valley (gone! as is the old Stornetta Time Dairy!),
Domaine
Carneros,
Eucalypti Row,
over the Bridge,
o'erlooked by the Wine Guy,
the incline of Jameson, a last look at redwoods before the
Solano border's
heroic
retaining
walls.
Junction 80 northeast,
fairly
familiar
Fairfield territory
contouring around
the
east side of the
Lagoons,
and
home, hallelujah!
After a brief respite,
out again to Contra Costa to catch up with Cliff and
take him back to
Marin as we listen to Cliff Variations, Op. 287, before dropping him off in San Anselmo, What a day! 42nd of fall, high down 2 to 55, locally and in Santa Rosa...
Eureka, 49
Garberville, 46
Ukiah, 50
Fairfield / Martinez, 58
Pleasant Hill, 60
Moraga, 57
San Rafael, 53
... the first 3 experiencing their lowest highs for the month...
