Before I talk about today's hike, I want to express my profound appreciation for our local parks during this pandemic. Being able to spend time outdoors at our parks hiking, biking or just hanging out has been the savior of my mental health during the pandemic. I am so grateful for all the beauty that surrounds us and the existence of public spaces where I can enjoy them. I am very grateful for all the stewards who support and protect these spaces and all the habitat that live within them. I've re-learned that being outdoors, particular in or near a forest or ocean is medicine for me.
This morning, I visited my current favorite place to walk: Bodega Head. Today, Jason said yes to my invitation to join me, so we took a hike at Bodega Head while the girls were at home doing school virtually. This was among the first views we took in on our hike.
Bodega head is so incredible. No matter what is going on in my life, it all feels better when I am there, and I feel energized afterwards. I love hiking on the trails that wind around the coast, and typically I do not start from the main parking lot. Instead, I take the turn off to the left, drive up a dirt road, and there is another parking lot on the side that is facing Doran Beach. At this parking lot, there are bathrooms and fewer people to contend with, and right now, this means no masks!
There is a very well-defined trail that winds through the coastal scrub while providing sweeping views of the ocean 100% of the time. Like this:
There is also lots of wildlife: On land, you will find deer everywhere along with signs of mountain lion (their main predator). There are many varieties of birds including many small birds that flit around in the coastal scrub along with quail running across the trails. Pelicans, cormorants, sea gulls, egrets, herons, coots in the water and on the rocks and cliffs. My favorite, though, is the abundance of life in the ocean including sea lions, harbor seals, dolphins and whales. I often sea harbor seals resting on the rocks below and sea lions swimming along in packs, porpoising in/out of the water. Its hard to not smile when I see this, it evokes such joy in me! I have also seen plenty of whales from Bodega head, especially in the winter months as they are migrating down to warmer waters. We did not see whales today.
Today, Jason and I enjoyed a sunny morning (note the squinty photo below) with just a hoody. We saw lots of sea lions and had great conversation. The hike included undulating hills with occasional stops to look over the cliff and see what was below... and marvel at its beauty. It was such a good hike, and I wished it could have been longer, but we needed to get home for an appointment. Although we did not do this today, at certain points the main trail meanders away from the edge of the cliffs, and there are always smaller footpaths that will lead you back to the edge, and there is a continuous small footpath along the edge. I often stay on the smaller footpath because I love the dramatic views of the cliffs and the crashing waves.
I tend to walk the same trail over and over, and it looks different every day because of the weather, wildlife and ocean. I love walking at the ocean for that reason. It looks different every time. I feel so lucky to live within 20 minutes of the Pacific Ocean! I did notice a coast trail going North that I would like to traverse, so I'll be back to do that.
The trails at Bodega Head are also considered mountain biking trails. I rarely see someone on a bike on these trails, but I think it is totally doable. The trails are quite smooth, packed down dirt with occasional rocks.
Have a lovely day, and if you leave nearby, I highly recommend taking a trip out to Bodega Head!
Awesome!
ReplyDelete