Day 42 - Manchester, CA

Since this is Sunday, we treated ourselves to ham, eggs, fried tomatoes and toast for breakfast. Got dishes done, teeth brushed and we're on our way by 10 am. We actually managed to Skype with Andréa and phoned Miche briefly which was a surprise to us as we didn't realize we had internet. After all that, our computer wouldn't shut down. Ross finally solved the problem by removing the battery..et voilà!!
Back driving along the coast. Many State Beaches and all of them have turn outs, parking areas and paths down to the beach. We take advantage of many of them. Beautiful vistas. A heron flying by with his long legs stretched straight back. Some beautiful cottages, mostly cubic with angles, bleached wood exterior, lots of glass and balconies.
Sonoma Coast. Duncan's Landing, Shell Beach. We crossed the Russian River, Jenner (pop. 107)
Another one of those incredible zigzag rides.
Fort Ross State Historic Park – Lunch and visit. This fort was built in 1812 by the Russian American Co. to supply their posts in Alaska (Sitka) with mammal furs (otter), food produce, meat and lumber.
By 1841, they had exhausted the furs, so they decided to move on. The fort was sold and eventually in 1906 became one of the first parks in the California State Park System.The buildings are very interesting containing lots of artifacts from the Russian period. They were built of squared off lumber. I met a Russian tourist who now lives in California and he observed that buildings are still built in this manner in Russia today, the kit type that you can assemble. There was a chapel, very quaint. It has been rebuilt a couple of times because of earthquakes.
2 pm - we are back on the road. Salt Point State Park. Stewart Point, Sea Ranch. We are beginning to see a lot of homes. Roads after roads heading to homes on both sides. This is a very popular area. Again they are all built of gray bleached wood on the exterior.
Gualala Point, Mendocino County (pop. 585). A very touristy town. People milling about.
Anchor Bay, Point Arena (more of a Western town look). The wind is getting very strong.
3 pm – Manchester KOA. They have a spot for us but no water and no electricity but that's OK.
A busy busy campground. After having our beer, chips & dip, we dress up warmly (it is only 13.9), we follow a path thru a field bordered by wild flowers, lupines, iris and many others. I made myself a bouquet on the way back. There is a lot of mist. The beach has a few people huddled down. The sea is very turbulent, boiling away. The sun has come out a little more as we walk back.
After dinner, we walk thru the campground. It is buzzing with Memorial Day activities. Large groups have gathered for dinner. Children all around. Tomorrow everyone heads home! Time for us to hunker down for the night.