After a long pause, let's get back to previous strolls down the coast.  Maybe even add something new?  Three posts for Sonoma County are numerically backwards -- the segments are numbered North to South but I walked them in reverse order.

January 18,2009                                                                                                    Sonoma # 6

Russian Gulch to Blind Beach

Rosanna intended to go to Fort Ross and since I was not sure about my next hike, I accompanied her. As we drove North out of Bodega Bay along Highway One we saw that the sandbar at the mouth of the Russian River was intact. We quickly decided that this was my golden opportunity to cross that sometime obstacle. (Which would be a 3 ½ mile detour.) Rosanna dropped me at Russian Gulch, the beginning of the trail segment leading to the Russian River. She went on to Fort Ross while I began my hike.


Opportunity knocks in the form of an intact sandbar on the Russian River.

Tangled under and overgrowth -- trail into Russian Gulch Beach.

I began with a quick side trip through tangled under and overgrowth to the beach at Russian Gulch. This is walled in with cliffs and there is no way south or north. So I went back to the parking lot, Highway 1 and the trail south. Picturesque views of various isolated beaches and surf-washed rocks.

Russian Gulch viewed from Highway One.

 A couple of miles down the road I came to a narrow, steep trail to the beach. I had to hunker down and waddle in a couple of places – the wind blowing out to sea (ie. toward the edge of the cliff) was rather brisk ! I finally came down to the beach on the wrong side of a rock but the saddle over it was decidedly easier than the trail down.



Trail down to the Russian River.



Which is, of course, perfectly safe.

 

I crossed the Russian River on its sandbar past innumerable seabirds and somewhat fewer (albeit larger) harbor seals. This segment ended at Blind beach just south of the River where I had my picnic lunch at the parking lot. Goat Rock to the west and Arch Rock to the South provided the scenic backdrop.

            


View North.



View South

Numerable sample of innumerable Seabirds.

Tide pool denizen, recently deceased.

Likely spot for a picnic.



Cliché, anyone?  Arch Rock viewed from Goat Rock parking lot.