Fall Road Trip (CA Hwy 1)
Been lurking and posting in some of the challenges for a few weeks. This is my first foray into the Shots > Journeys forum. I'm a hobbyist (my wife would say obsessive hobbyist) with a day job in public education. Been shooting since I got a Minolta SRT-101 for Christmas in 1972. Even had a real darkroom in the garage that my dad and I built.
So here's my latest Journey...
In late September, my beautiful bride and I took a 2,000 mile road trip north on Hwy 1 from San Diego to the Avenue of the Giant Redwoods. First stop was Paso Robles for some tasting at our favorite wineries. Click on any of the photos to see the full gallery from this trip. While you're there, take a look around at some of my other galleries and give a thumbs up for any you particularly like.
1. Here's a shot taken right outside the tasting room (Opolo Vineyards):
<a href="http://billseye.smugmug.com/Travel/CA-Road-Trip-Sept-2010/14006468_GDxWN#1030233565_8rPb9-A-LB" title="Getting close to harvest time"><img src="http://billseye.smugmug.com/Travel/CA-Road-Trip-Sept-2010/0922-Road-Trip012/1030233565_8rPb9-L-1.jpg" title="Getting close to harvest time" alt="Getting close to harvest time"></a>
Day two was dedicated to the portion of Highway 1 from Cambria north to San Francisco.
2. This this is the east side of the highway across from the Piedras Blancas Elephant Seal Reserve:
3. There were mostly sleeping adolescent seals when we were there. Not too much to photograph, but I liked this perspective enough to include it here:
4. The winding road along the coast is certainly one of the most scenic drives in the world. Here's a view from south of Big Sur (quasi-polaroid color processing courtesy of Nik Color Effects in Aperture):
5. Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park:
Day Three started north of San Francisco with breakfast at the Paradise Cafe at Stinson Beach.
6. Here's the view from our table:
7. Then a walk on the beach at Stinson Beach:
8. A stop at the Cowgirl Creamery at Point Reyes Station where we watched the process of making their Red Hawk cheese.
9 Passed through Bodega where the church and schoolhouse from The Birds still stand:
10. Then on to Mendocino along more of this spectacular highway:
Day four was in and around Mendocino County.
11. At Glass Beach in Fort Bragg we came across this group who were saying goodbye to a friend be scattering ashes and floating messages of love tied to balloons:
12. We happened along to the Point Cabrillo Lighthouse on one of three days a year that they offer tours to the lighthouse lens. Here's the lighthouse and the lens up close:
Day four took us north from Mendocino to the Redwoods, then south to the northern end of Napa Valley.
13. It was the only day of anything other than spectacular weather - and that was nothing more than some misty wind and big surf:
14. By the time we got over the coastal mountains, the weather was incredible again. Here are a couple of shots at the Avenue of the Giants:
So here's my latest Journey...
In late September, my beautiful bride and I took a 2,000 mile road trip north on Hwy 1 from San Diego to the Avenue of the Giant Redwoods. First stop was Paso Robles for some tasting at our favorite wineries. Click on any of the photos to see the full gallery from this trip. While you're there, take a look around at some of my other galleries and give a thumbs up for any you particularly like.
1. Here's a shot taken right outside the tasting room (Opolo Vineyards):
<a href="http://billseye.smugmug.com/Travel/CA-Road-Trip-Sept-2010/14006468_GDxWN#1030233565_8rPb9-A-LB" title="Getting close to harvest time"><img src="http://billseye.smugmug.com/Travel/CA-Road-Trip-Sept-2010/0922-Road-Trip012/1030233565_8rPb9-L-1.jpg" title="Getting close to harvest time" alt="Getting close to harvest time"></a>
![http://billseye.smugmug.com/Travel/CA-Road-Trip-Sept-2010/0922-Road-Trip012/1030233565_8rPb9-L-1.jpg"](http://billseye.smugmug.com/Travel/CA-Road-Trip-Sept-2010/0922-Road-Trip012/1030233565_8rPb9-L-1.jpg"){kind=link}
Day two was dedicated to the portion of Highway 1 from Cambria north to San Francisco.
2. This this is the east side of the highway across from the Piedras Blancas Elephant Seal Reserve:
3. There were mostly sleeping adolescent seals when we were there. Not too much to photograph, but I liked this perspective enough to include it here:
4. The winding road along the coast is certainly one of the most scenic drives in the world. Here's a view from south of Big Sur (quasi-polaroid color processing courtesy of Nik Color Effects in Aperture):
5. Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park:
Day Three started north of San Francisco with breakfast at the Paradise Cafe at Stinson Beach.
6. Here's the view from our table:
7. Then a walk on the beach at Stinson Beach:
8. A stop at the Cowgirl Creamery at Point Reyes Station where we watched the process of making their Red Hawk cheese.
9 Passed through Bodega where the church and schoolhouse from The Birds still stand:
10. Then on to Mendocino along more of this spectacular highway:
Day four was in and around Mendocino County.
11. At Glass Beach in Fort Bragg we came across this group who were saying goodbye to a friend be scattering ashes and floating messages of love tied to balloons:
12. We happened along to the Point Cabrillo Lighthouse on one of three days a year that they offer tours to the lighthouse lens. Here's the lighthouse and the lens up close:
Day four took us north from Mendocino to the Redwoods, then south to the northern end of Napa Valley.
13. It was the only day of anything other than spectacular weather - and that was nothing more than some misty wind and big surf:
14. By the time we got over the coastal mountains, the weather was incredible again. Here are a couple of shots at the Avenue of the Giants:
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Comments
If you find yourself in Point Reyes Station again, try the Bovine Cafe for morning pastries and coffee or maybe the Pine Cone for breakfast. Both places are excellent.
Thanks for taking us along!
Photos that don't suck / 365 / Film & Lomography
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I've lived in Southern CA my whole life and been up 101 to Puget Sound. I've driven and riden (Harley) Hwy 1 south of San Francisco. Can't believe I'd never been on Hwy 1 north of SF. What a great road! Point Reyes Station was a highlight. I wish we'd had more time at every corner!
Thanks for the tip. I'd love to do this again and spend more time on the northern half. And I can't believe what a perfect time of year (late Sept, early Oct) was for this area!
Check out billseye photos on SmugMug
Thanks for the feedback. I was really touched by this group of people (#11) scattering ashes and floating balloons in honor of a friend. I kept my distance out of respect, but spoke with them as they were leaving. Think I've found the way I'd like to be remembered when the time comes.
Check out billseye photos on SmugMug
As you head north on hwy 1, there are so many little communities to see. Once you get North of Mendocino, even the small communities yield to the land--it's beautiful. On a motorcycle, doubly so.
Bill Barr
6x7, 35mm, m4/3
Lovely images....I am jealous of your visit to both Opolo and Cowgirl Creamery. We didn't stop in Paso or Pt. Reyes....
I've traveled pretty extensively and my very favorite is California North from Los Angeles to Santa Barbara to Cambria/Big Sur - Monterey and Carmel to San Francisco, Mendocino, Napa and Back.
We did that a month ago...images are here:
http://www.flashfrozenphotography.com/Travel/Monterey-Mendocino-Napa/14365608_2LW5H#1104130560_8D8cZ
Flash Frozen Photography, Inc.
http://flashfrozenphotography.com
www.adamstravelphotography.com
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