Sonoma Part IV: boon, Redwoods, and the Sonoma Coast
Our third day in wine country once again began late. We requested a much-needed late check-out the night before (noon instead of 11am), which gave Andreas and I some time to sleep in. And sleep well we did, especially after our fantastic dinner at Barndiva.
Orange chairs at boon eat + drink
We decided to return to Guerneville for lunch, particularly to eat at boon eat + drink. The orange seats were out in the front along with several lounging dogs waiting for their owners to finish their lunches. boon did not disappoint. We were seated promptly by a friendly server in the outdoor front patio area. It was nice to see a healthy mix of gay and straight people in the restaurant. Andreas ordered the organic mixed salad with grilled chicken, which he thought, “very fresh and good.” I opted for the grilled organic chicken, mozzarella, wild arugula, red pepper, and pesto mayo panini, which came with homemade lightly salted chips. The ingredients danced together beautifully. Many of the dishes at boon are priced very reasonably, with most being under $15 and with many others priced under $10. For the quality of the food offered, boon’s name describes it very well.
Beautiful redwoods at the Armstrong Redwood State Reserve
About ten minutes north of Guerneville, following Anderson Road to its end, is the awe-inspiring Armstrong Redwood State Reserve. We didn’t quite know whether we should take our car into the park, so we asked the friendly park ranger at the gate her recommendation. “What is it you want to see?” the ranger asked. “Big redwood trees,” I answered. “It’s better if you walked the trail,” she said, looking at me like I had just said something so obvious. And with that, she directed us to the visitor parking lot next to the park’s entrance. Once on the trail, I immediately realized how weird my answer to the ranger must have sounded since all around us stood gigantic old growth redwoods. Andreas and I were floored. We walked a little over a mile of the trail, stopping often to absorb the splendor of the trees that towered above us. The trail is very easy, as we saw all sorts of people there: older folks, children, and everything in between. Being among the redwoods, many more than 1000 years old, really calls attention to the need of better environmental practices by all of us as well as our continued support of state and national parks.
Mountain clouds taken on Fort Ross Road
After our lovely stroll, we got back on the road to check out the Sonoma coast. We decided to take the Cazadero Highway from River Road (Highway 116), a highway that passes through thick wooded areas and the sleepy interior town of Cazadero. From the Cazadero Highway, we got onto Fort Ross Road that led us high into the mountains. Fort Ross Road winds up the mountains on a road that often looks wide enough to fit just one lane. What we thought was a 10 mile trip to the coast, lasted over half an hour mostly due to the curves and turns Andreas carefully navigated. The views of the drop-offs on the passenger side would have sent most people who feared heights into an uncomfortable place – my hands were quite clammy throughout the whole ride up. But once at the top, the views of the valley were gorgeous, and the weather shifted from warm to cool, blanketing us with clouds in an instance.
Sonoma coast near Jenner
We finally got onto Highway 1 near Timber Cove. Highway 1 offers drivers fantastic views of the coastline, with precipitous cliffs and many gulches to drive by. Again, those fearful of heights might feel their hearts racing a bit faster, but the views are breathtaking. Our last stop was a pit stop in the coastal town of Jenner to stretch and pee (the Russian River flows into the Pacific at Jenner). By the time we reached Jenner, we were pooped and ready to drive back home via the Bodega Bay Highway, Highway 12, and ultimately back on Highway 128, which brought us home to Davis.
Our three-day adventure in Sonoma wine country has been a treat for Andreas and I. While three days is hardly enough time to scratch the surface, our fantastic food and drink experiences have inspired serious consideration for our next visit. Perhaps we’ll even venture into Napa next time. I can’t wait!
