Day 28

Day 28: 6/14/15 (Redwood to Healdsburg)

280 miles

So the whole dry and warm camping lasted for one night.  The prairie was full of fog, our tent was covered in dew, and the night got pretty chilly as well.  We were up at 5:45 am to try and dry off the tent and pack it up as quickly and quietly as possible.  When we hit the road, we realized that the fog consumed the entire coast.  It made our drive a little less scenic, but enjoyable all the same.

The drive down US-1 was a twisting, curvy road, and we have yet to understand how the posted speed limit can be anywhere near 55mph.  The locals have somehow figured out how to speed around those corners and live to tell the tale – we on the other hand drive a comfortable 35mph on average.  About halfway through our drive, we stopped in Fort Bragg to take a break and get some breakfast.  Since we left so early, we arrived just in time for Sunday brunch.  We found the restaurant in one of our travel books and we figured they had to have good eggs.  The whole theme inside the restaurant is Wizard of Oz – menu items, wall décor, uniforms, and even the bathroom.  The bathroom was actually located outside and you followed a yellow brick road through the kitchen and out the back, and then there was the emerald city (a small shed with a toilet and a sink).  I guess we finally know what's behind the curtain.

During the rest of the drive, Jillian was trying to catch up on blog posts so we could post them once we got to the inn.  After a few more hours, we arrived in Healdsburg at our bed and breakfast.  We were the only ones at the inn aside from the maids, but we were welcomed with a note and some wine and that’s all we needed.  The house was decorated in a Victorian style with fainting couches and claw-foot bathtubs.  We were able to settle in for a couple of hours before the inn manager arrived for the check-in period.  We spent the time sipping wine and getting some information about the wineries and some of the local restaurants.  In the end, we decided to eat at Bear Republic, a brewery in walking distance.  The bar was packed for the Golden State game and there were lots of hoots and hollers when the buzzer went off.  We split a pitcher of the home-brewed brown ale and a brussel sprout appetizer then ordered a burger and a wrap.  Everything tasted great and we had quite a bit to take home for leftovers.  Once we were back to the inn, we went right to bed since we had to be up so early for the balloon ride the next day.

Fact:

Gas is expensive out here! We haven’t seen anything less than $3.00 since Wyoming

Lesson:
Don't visit northern California in June - it's chilly and a bit gloomy


Eat Well; Travel Often
Rico & Jillian