I wanted to go to my favorite place in the whole wide world, that stretch of the northern California coast that is like no other. Right at the Sonoma/Mendocino County line is Sea Ranch, a very special place where Adrienne and I have made some of our best memories. We did our first Sea Grant Fellow reunion here; we got married here; our parents got to know each other for the first time here; and now we celebrated my 40th here. I asked family and a few friends nearby to join us in an ocean-front home where the sound of the waves were in the background of every conversation.
A storm of epic proportions met us along the coast, and Sea Ranch was stirred up - it wasn't the idyllic, sunny and placid place we've come to know. Instead, it was raw - grey, pounding 20 foot waves, torrential downpours, punctuated by clouds that parted at sunset throwing out stunning color. It was great to see a moodier Sea Ranch.
Needless to say we had a ball. We took long blufftop walks. We stayed up late. We watched the waves from the comfort of our living room. We drank. We ate. And good grief, we managed to laugh a lot too. Shocking, I know...
If you don't know the history of Sea Ranch, here's some good reading. It is truly a special place.
Utopia by the Sea - New York Times
Sea Ranch - Wikipedia
The trip began in wine country where we met up with some folks before we converged on the coast. This is the Dry Creek Valley, one of Adrienne's and my favorites.
Preston Winery all dudded up for the season.
J and A at Preston.
AJ and JT doing what they do. Which is this.
Inside Preston.
