Pacific

June 27
Mendocino County, CA

I saw another ocean. To be specific the Pacific. Saturday morning I left the ranch and began my drive to the coast. There's definitely more in CA as well as some smog too. I'd heard
tell via the internet that there would be a contra dance in Sebastopol that evening. I went to mass at St. Sebastion, then stopped by Safeway to restock my larder with some fruit, and then proceeded to contra. It was an opportunity to socialize with the natives, and a chance to show the California ladies what a barefoot hoosier boy can do. I wanted so to gypsy the hippie girls there, but no gypsy was called. The dance was over at 11, and not yet having found a place to stay, I drove out to the coast and up Hwy. 1. There are some beautiful views from the cliffs overlooking the ocean, but my timing was a bit off. I was able though to see the nearly full moon shimmering off the waves below from time to time. I found a campground, but it was full so I continued up the coast. Around 1 am I found a narrow road that headed inland through the middle of a redwood forest. There were no houses, and a sign said "No Services For 47 Miles". I deduced there would be no traffic, drove a couple of miles, found a pull-off, parked the car, threw down my air pad and sleeping bag behind a fallen log, and called it good. I could here the sound of water, and thought there must be a waterfall or rushing stream nearby, but in the morning I decided it must be the sound of the ocean waves pounding against the shore. I was relieved to find that no unwanted critters ( or wanted ones for that matter ) had occupied my sleeping bag with me. I packed up and drove up the coast a ways, found a beach access, and viewed the ocean in daylight.