Monthly Archives: February 2016

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Craig Tooley was out with his camera and photographed some of the big waves that have been hitting the coast. The first two show the action at Hearn Gulch, which is found in Mendocino County at mile marker 10.0 just north of Iversen Road. As you can clearly see in the second photo, there is an impressive blowhole there.

A beautiful day on the Mendonoma Coast by Craig Tooley Big waves at Hearn Gulch by Craig Tooley

And Craig captured big waves and a rainbow - just lovely to see.

Big waves and rainbows by Craig Tooley

Thanks to Craig for allowing me to share his photos with you here. To see much more of Craig's nature photography, here is the link to his website: www.ruffimage.com

To learn more about Hearn Gulch, here is the link to the Redwood Coast Land Conservancy: http://www.rc-lc.org/ These fine folks have worked to bring us public access to Hearn Gulch, Cooks Beach and the Gualala Bluff Trail, and I, for one, am very grateful!

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On January 21st unusual clouds filled the sky. I had never seen anything like this before. Many coast residents photographed the event. These photos were taken by Don Spear,Pat Maxwell,  Michael Alexander and Shirley Mitchell respectively.

Unusual clouds by Don Spear

Unusual clouds by Pat Maxwell  Unusual clouds by Michael Alexander Unusual clouds by Shirley Mitchell

Here's what I wrote in my weekly column in the Independent Coast Observer:

Many people noticed the incredible clouds last Thursday. Justine Rosenthal’s class at Horicon School was amazed. One student said, “Look, we’re underwater!”

Michael Alexander saw them too. He wrote, “I looked up and saw these interesting cloud contours overhead. It looked almost like the surface of a very plush mattress.”

Pat Maxwell wrote, “The clouds were eerie and amazing. They reminded me of a Van Gogh painting. And for those of us who see faces in clouds, they were fascinating.”

Rick and I saw them over Gualala and we couldn’t believe our eyes. Shirley Mitchell was one of many to photograph the event. She wrote, “The clouds look like the ocean and/or sand dunes. I have never seen a sky like this. Wonders are always around us!”

Scott Gasparian knew what they were. He wrote, “They are pre-frontal strato-cumulus, with orographic forcing. In other words, the coast hills cause the waves. [There has] to be strong winds above the stratus layer to do that.”

It was an amazing sight to behold! Thanks to Pat, Don, Michael and Shirley for allowing me to share their photos with you here.

The wind has shifted this afternoon and the coast cooled off. Yesterday it was an unbelievable 81 degrees at our house. We may be headed back to winter soon, but no rain in this week's forecast.

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That's what Anne Mary Schaeffer did - she went to Manchester State Beach.

Storm tossed driftwood at Manchester Beach by Anne Mary Schaefer (Large)

Here's what Anny Mary said, “[Here is a photo of] storm tossed driftwood piled along the base of the bluff. I love the light’s last gleaming, the long low shadow of the log on the bluff, the color in the sky, the mist at the shore’s edge to the north – yes, natural untouched raw beauty.”

Thanks to Anne Mary for allowing me to share her photo with you here. To learn more about her pet photography, here is her website: http://www.pawpawrazzipetphotography.com/

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Richard Hansen photographed a big wave hitting Castle Rock, which is off Gualala. Castle Rock is perhaps seventy feet high.

Big wave hits Castle Rock 2.4.16 by Richard Hansen

Here's one of my favorite photos Richard has taken of waves at Castle Rock - here's a monster wave!

Monster Wave threatens Castle Rock by Richard Hansen (Medium)

Thanks to Richard for allowing me to share his photos with you here.

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Storm clouds bring a chance for beautiful sunrises and sunsets. Here's the sunset of January 31st, taken from our deck in Anchor Bay.

Last day of January by Jeanne Jackson

All you can say is "WOW!"

If you are thinking of a visit to the Mendonoma Coast, now would be a great time. Big surf, sunny days and warming temps - life is good.