A Trip To The Sea Ranch

My Italian niece, Annie, and her daughter Emma, are in California for the summer from their home it Italy. They have been visiting Annie's mother who lives in Sea Ranch, a rather famous community on the Sonoma coast. It is a planned community designed by William Turnbull and landscape architect Lawrence Halprin. The weathered wood houses are strictly regulated as to design, materials and landscaping, and blend into the stunning coastline along a ten mile stretch. A picture of Annie's mom's house is the second extra.

The drive to The Sea Ranch along the Russian River to its mouth at the Pacific Ocean turns at Jenner north along Highway 1, a narrow winding road with spectacular views of the rugged coastline. We were fortunate to have clear skies and breathtaking views (when we dared to take our eyes off the road), for it a notoriously foggy place. 

We stopped off at Fort Ross, the southernmost settlement in the Russian colonization of the North American continent, and was established in 1812  as an agricultural base to supply Alaska. Its uniquely coastal/Russian design is reflected in the homes scattered along the coast, including The Sea Ranch. My first extra picture is of the Russian Orthodox chapel in Fort Ross.

We drove back the way we came with Annie and Emma and a stop at the Stewart's Point store for an excellent sandwich, handmade by one guy struggling to keep up with an unexpected rush of motorcyclists who congregated in the dirt parking lot and sat with their backs to the view talking about their bike parts and the last time they did this trip….

It was a singularly lovely day, and we were happy to get back to chez Wildwood, despite the 20 degree rise in temperature. Ozzie was happy that we turned the air conditioning on for awhile….

I am postponing comments for the next couple of days…I'll catch up with everyone soon