After a fun-filled few days in Lake Tahoe, it was time to return to the California coast. Our destination was Pomo Campground in Fort Bragg, California, a small beach town north of Mendocino. The drive was a long one—over six hours, and we were ready to relax during the two full days of this leg of our trip.
Helen and I camped at Pomo last summer and had a great experience. For a small town, Fort Bragg offered much to the summer tourist population. Nevertheless, we were ready for some downtime. We planned to do little except visit the Botanical Garden, catch up on laundry, and stroll casually on the bluffs overlooking the Pacific Ocean while waiting for the laundry to dry. I don’t know how we could make things more exciting.
When we visited the Botanical Garden last summer, the Dahlias and summer annuals were in full bloom. Unfortunately, this year, we arrived too early to get a repeat performance of that dazzling display, but the incredible roses put on a show almost as spectacular. The garden covers several acres above the ocean and offers visitors many trails lined with colorful blooms on each side. The highlight of the visit was the number and varieties of Rhododendrons that thrived in the cool spray coming off the Pacific.
We used the rest of Day One to pour through our email, organize the ever-growing volume of photographs I had on my MacBook, and deep-clean Dora—details that we placed on hold until now. We needed this break. Day Two was laundry day, and Pomo Campground has an excellent laundry facility. The weather was too pretty to wait for the dryer to finish. Instead, we used the time to walk on the trail above the ocean.
Waves crashing on the rocks fascinate me, and I love trying to capture the image with my camera. I pushed the shutter speed to 1/1000th sec to freeze the action and managed to record several big splashes. In addition to the waves, the ice plant growing wild on the bluff added plenty of color to the scene.
I don’t have much more to add to this post—this is an R&R stop, after all. Thanks for Easin’ Along with us and helping with our laundry. Please come back next week as we visit Klamath, California, and Redwood National Park. The massive Redwoods are something to see.
So pretty, the vivid magenta ice plant against the icy blue of the waves! The botanical garden in Fort Bragg is a sweet one. We’ve also visited when the rhododendron are in bloom and enjoyed it. Getting laundry done on the road is always a big accomplishment. 🙂
Hi, Laurel,
It was time to chill, and we found a great place to do it. Last summer we were blown away by the Dahlias–too early for that this year. Thanks for checking in, and have a great week! Joe
Thanks for the beautiful photos of the area, Joe. I never made it up there, but would like to someday. Sounds like a lovely time for catching up, we all need days like that on the road. Enjoy!
Terri, being a flower lover you would delight in the Botanical Garden. We were a little early for sunflowers, but I remember seeing them last year and they were spectacular! Thanks for checking in. Please stay in touch! Joe
Beautiful photos, Joe!
I’m glad that you are taking R & R (at least semi-) seriously!
Enjoy!
Hi, Donna,
Just a short break to regroup. So glad you like my photos! Have a great week and please stay in touch!
Hi, Joe! R&R days sprinkled throughout an extended journey can keep the trip running like a well-oiled machine. As difficult as it is to take a break from sightseeing and the fun-filled activities that accompany it, ya gotta fit those chores in sometime. Glad you and Helen had a relaxing and productive break!
Good morning, Mary,
We needed a little downtime , and Fort Bragg was an excellent place for it. Glad you stopped by! We have two months to go and still having a great time. Joe
I’m interested in this Pomo campground. Is it private or state?? I like that you’re mentioning where youre staying as I’m always on the hunt for new campgrounds. I havent read your Tahoe post but you must have been lucky to get a spot. We’re booked for September and hopefully Tahoe will be less busy. We never go in the summer because of tourists.
Good morning, Christina,
Pomo Campground is a commercial (public) campground, not a state park. We like it because the sites are very private and the facilities are clean. They take cash only–no credit cards, and you have to mail them a check for a deposit, so, book early.
Thankfully, I booked our campground in Tahoe many months ahead of our trip. When we arrived at Tahoe Valley Campground, the crowds were very light. By Memorial Day weekend, the place was packed. Thanks for checking in! Have a great week! Joe
Such beautiful photos! I’m also fascinated by waves crashing against rocks. Your capture is lovely – fast shutter speeds on waves should be used more!
Good morning, Susanne,
Thanks for the kind words, and thanks for stopping by! I visited your website and definitely go back when I can spend more time. Your photographs are awesome and your writing is excellent. Please come back! Joe
Wow, thank you so much for those words! I needed to hear something like that today. I’ll be back to explore your blog a bit more too!