Tag Archives: Gualala Bluff Trail

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Thursday was such a lovely day on the Mendonoma Coast. Rick and I, with Huckleberry, our Golden Retriever, walked the Gualala Bluff Trail. We were amazed to see the level of the river had dropped so low. It was, however, still open to the Pacific Ocean. And the river was so clear that Rick saw a Steelhead swimming towards the river opening.

 A couple was sitting on the sandbar when this squadron of Brown Pelicans approached.

 And "Debbie" is obviously loved! This is river bottom, usually covered with water.

 Some of the flowers currently blooming along the beautiful Gualala Bluff Trail.

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Even if Rick and I are pressed for time, a walk on the Gualala Bluff Trail is easy to fit in. And Huckleberry, our golden retriever, never turns down a walk. We parked along Highway One in front of the Shoreline Restaurant and accessed the trail between the restaurant and the Breaker's Inn. Spring has sprung along the trail and even in the foggy morning the trail was alive with color.

 Rick and Huckleberry are urging me to catch up!

 It looks like Huck is thinking, "So many poppies, so little time..."

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Always a welcome sight, Rick and I spotted the first California Poppy, Eschscholzia californica, blooming along the beautiful Gualala Bluff Trail. It is, of course, the official California state flower. Its petals close at night or in cold and cloudy weather.

And, yes, it has medicinal qualities, which Native Americans understood. It is said to reduce anxiety, stop muscle spasm and relieve pain.

As for me, I just enjoy their sunny faces when I encounter them on the Mendonoma Coast.

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We had nearly 3 and 3/4 inches of rain yesterday and that was enough to finally open the Gualala River. The river has been closed to the ocean all summer, fall and the first month of winter by a massive sandbar. This is the latest I know of for the river to open. A friend called - thank you, Bob! - and said the river was cresting the sandbar at 10:30 this morning. When Rick and I arrived at the Gualala Bluff Trail an hour or so later the river had opened. And what a sight it was!

 The picture below is our first look at the newly opened river. We entered the Gualala Bluff Trail by the Shoreline Restaurant and the Breakers Inn. Yes, it was raining hard and we got soaked!

 Halfway down the trail we got a better look at the opening, which is south of its usual opening.

We watched as large tree trunks were swept into the sea. The turbulence where the river hits the ocean was amazing to see and hear. Steelhead juveniles were making their first trip into the Pacific Ocean. They had been trapped in luxury in the Gualala River.

Until this morning this was a lagoon. Now it's an estuary. It was so thrilling to watch the river greet the sea.

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Just when it seems like the sunsets couldn't get any more beautiful, last night's proved we were wrong. Robert Scarola captured the sunset in all its glory and I thank him for allowing me to share it with you here.

We had some overnight rain, so perhaps the wild mushrooms will begin to pop. One Gray Whale was seen heading south from the Gualala Bluff Trail yesterday. And this morning there were rainbows...you know you are going to have a good day when you start if off with rainbows!