Saving Liz

Bowling Ball Beach (shown at left) south of Point Arena in Mendocino County has been a goal of Helen's for several years.  She and I hiked down there one early morning a couple of years ago, only to be thwarted at the last fifteen feet by an unscalable, it seemed, section of rock.  Liz and I decided to try it once again today, hoping that Helen and I had not found the proper descent area.  I thought about taking a rope, but didn't.

The day was early, and a minus tide at 5 a.m. provided for beautiful scenery as we headed south, passing coves where the tide exposed rocks normally covered by the sea.  

These low minus tides are unusual, and we chose the day because the early low tides would nearly guarantee that the balls would be visible if we reached the beach early enough.  We were parking at Schooner Gulch a little before 7 a.m. at the trailhead. 

We had researched the recent (2011 and 2012) web info for the trail, and people reported that they could climb down the remnants of a ladder.  Well, we ended up at the same point that Helen and I had two years earlier.  The last fifteen feet were marked by an eroded set of steps, dropping to a smooth and steep sandstone slab.  If I were twenty years younger, I would have started down.  If I had brought a rope, I might have given it a try.  Instead, after a close examination, we both said:  "We need Laura."  Our plan is to send the much younger Laura scrambling down the last part and she can see if we can make it.  I will also bring a rope.

We continued down the road to Sea Ranch since the morning was early and we had all the time in the world.  It was near Gualala that I had to save Liz from an attacking Tyrannosaurus rex.  Lucky I was with her, or she might have been a tasty morsel for those sharp teeth.

These metal monsters (more T. Rex, plus two other types along with a giant King Kong-like ape) were interesting, and probably for sale by the metal sculptor who operates the place.  Also interesting were the deer-resistent plants that graced the trail in front of the T. Rex.  Several are lovely, and I will take them to the Botanical Gardens and hopefully one of their master gardeners can help me find out their name so I can get them for my own garden.  Here are two:

We also spotted birdlife along the way--varying from some perched turkey vultures staring out at the low tide as if seeking a stranded fish...

...to a huge flock of Canada geese grazing in the distance amid the dried grass of a dairy pasture:

They were wary, and moved away from me as I took the pictures, but the telephoto lens showed their beautiful markings clearly:

Back at the ranch well before noon, we took a nap....or at least I did.  Lizzie worked the puzzle.