Page 19 - Sonoma County Gazette - June 2018

BACKYARD cont’d from page 18
before Jenner. We then went back up the rivers opposite bank to Willow Creek Environmental Campground. Willow Creek is part of the Sonoma Coast State Park’s many sites. It has primitive sites with picnic tables, and fire rings, and not much else. No water, but there are pit toilets a short hike away. The sites are all located on the south shore of the Russian river and at this point in the river’s journey to the sea it is wide and slow.
It is remote and often empty. We again decided to stay an extra day and enjoyed time by the river as well as day hikes. We also decided to have a meal at the Russian House on Highway 1 just south of Jenner and at the south side of the bridge that spans the river at its widest point, is one of the most unique and delightful places you could find. There are no prices and no menu. They have bowls and plates of traditional and untraditional Russian food. At the end of an “all you care to eat” meal you simply pay what you want. Vegetarian options are available, and your hosts are happy go lucky Russian Buddhists. If you are having trouble getting your mind around all this, you are not alone.
Did I mention the View? From their deck you look north at a wide expanse of the Russian river. Beautiful green hillsides with Pine and Oak and Bay surround. Birds in the air and on the shore as well. We were treated to a pair of fox cubs that were playfully enjoying the deck as well. This is a do not miss spot for any traveler in our county.
After Willow Creek we began our final day home. We worked our way
down the coast to Bodega Bay. This section of Highway 1 is one of the most spectacular, with natural arches over the sea, rugged cliffs, and sand blown beaches. In Bodega Bay we stopped for a meal and enjoyed looking at the bay, teaming with fishing boats and day trippers. The fog lifted in the early morning and a mild tail wind helped propel us towards home.
We turned in on Bodega Hwy/12, then turned in again towards Freestone. The Wildflour bakery (a favorite spot for many) was closed, but we stopped in for tea at the Osmosis Spa in Freestone. We also took some time to enjoy their gardens and meditation pond. After the spa we had our two most challenging climbs of the ride. First from Freestone to Occidental, and then from Occidental to Graton. The roads are narrow with no shoulder, lined with Redwoods and small creeks...and steep. Although lovely to look at, this is not a bike-friendly route with so many blind curves. We really had to give it our all to get home.
After all was said and done we had accomplished
two major goals. We had gone on an amazing adventure, and we didn’t have to go far to do it. We also created wonderful family memories with our backyard as the backdrop. We learned much more about the place we lived. We saw geographic features, rivers, mountains, and lakes. We saw birds of the land and sea. We saw deer, and fox, and squirrel. We saw falling stars and the milky way. We cooked outside, hiked, pedaled, paddled, and swam.
We never had a forty-mile day and I’m grateful for that. My initial plan was probably more than my family could have enjoyed. Instead we let serendipity and spontaneity lead
the way. There are so many places in Sonoma that I will never look at in the same way. It was the best stray-cation ever (a stray-cation is like a staycation but you don’t stray too far)!
Brettt Roncelli (yes Brettt with three t’s) is
the owner operator of Bicycle Journeys at 21
Bloomfield Road at Hwy 116/Gravenstein Hwy
South (Hardcore Coffee corner) Sebastopol.
A bicycle rental repair and touring business. He has bicycled around the globe. He is a certified naturalist and registered nurse and a pretty good wrench to boot.
6/18 - www.sonomacountygazette.com - 19