Coastal Retreat

Color Photographs of Mendocino and Point Arena

Tina and I took our first road trip eighteen months into the pandemic. We drove three hours north of San Francisco, tracing the winding coastal route on Highway 1 to Mendocino. Our home base was 30 minutes away in a charming small town called Point Arena. Our no-frills cottage had the essential amenities: a modest kitchen and bedroom, along with a functional bathroom. What we did not expect was a gas fireplace in the living room—a delightful surprise! In the evenings, we would unwind on the couch, savoring the toasty atmosphere, entranced by the glowing amber flames. We intentionally set aside our iPhones. While Tina crocheted, I opted to journal about the day’s adventures or read a book on Kindle.

Throughout the week, we hiked the Mendocino bluffs, admired the diverse clusters of fungi at Russian Gulch State Park, took in the sunset at Stornetta Public Lands, and wandered the Main Streets of Point Arena and Mendocino.

The vast coastal landscape and its constant ever-shifting weather patterns were a refreshing break from the confines of our 900-square-foot home. It also offered awe-inspiring opportunities to capture the beauty and richness of its transitions with my camera.

At Pelican’s Bluff, we spotted a bench overlooking the ocean. We planned a day to return and enjoy our lunch there. We lucked out and had the location to ourselves. We relished our veggie sandwiches under clear blue skies, with soft, gentle waves curling in the distance. Turning around, I noticed a small plaque with the perfect inscription:

Sometimes I need only to stand wherever I am to be blessed. —Mary Oliver

Dear readers, these are just a tiny glimpse of what I saw during our trip. There are always more photographs to share but not enough space in this newsletter!

As always, let’s meet each other in the comments sections below. Where was your first venture out in the midst of the pandemic? Share a photo if you have one. Or, let me know if any of the photographs resonated with you.

See you all next Sunday!

MORE WAYS TO SUPPORT SUNDAYS WITH STELLA

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The Coffee Collage series is also available on my online shop. Each print purchase helps support Sundays with Stella. Have a look!

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