Some sunsets are over in a few minutes and some last a good long while, unfolding before our delighted eyes. The latter was the case last night as the sunset evolved for what seemed like forever. Red and oranges transformed into blue and purples - it was simply magnificent.
The first photo was taken at 5:30 pm, just after the sun had set.
And the next at 5:44 pm
And look what happened at 5:53 pm - even the Pacific Ocean appears to be purple!
It's a privilege to watch a Mendonoma Coast sunset.
Irene had her video camera in hand when the Gualala River opened up on Jan. 20th. The river had been closed for months. As you watch her video you will see a large tree shoot through the new opening. It was an amazing spectacle to see the river meet the Pacific Ocean.
http://leidnerpics.shutterfly.com/pictures/9
Bob Rutemoeller photographed the moment when the river finally spilled over the big sandbar. The photo below was taken at 10:24 am.
And the photo below was taken at 11:09 am.
Thanks to Bob for allowing me to share his photos with you here.
To see my photos of that day, here's the link on this site: http://www.mendonomasightings.com/2012/01/20/the-gualala-river-finally-opened-late-this-morning-and-it-was-an-awesome-sight/
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.
David Wayne Floyd captured a beautiful wave approaching Anchor Bay Beach in Mendocino County. Storms to our north are generating big waves. Our weather is soon to change as those storms begin hitting the Mendonoma Coast by Wednesday morning. Today we bask in the sun but we look forward to some nice big storms real soon.
Thanks to David for allowing me to share his photo with you here.
To see David's beautiful sunset pictures at Anchor Bay Beach, here is the link: http://www.mendonomasightings.com/2011/12/18/a-great-place-to-watch-the-sunset-is-anchor-bay-beach/
and to learn more about Anchor Bay Beach, here is their web site: http://www.abcamp.com/
And before the weather closes down our view of the ocean, I want to tell you that Gray Whales have been seen most days migrating south. What a string of calm, clear weather days we've had to observe the great migration!
At The Sea Ranch there is a rock that looks like a Gorilla sitting on the bluffs. It appears to be gazing out over the Pacific Ocean. To find this unique rock Linda Frye advises, "Gorilla Rock is on TSR coast near the White Barn. The silhouette of the gorilla is more prevalent in late afternoon during the late fall or winter months when the sun is setting in the southwest sky. The casual walker may notice it as he/she walks north on the trail."
