2026 The Sea Ranch Primum - Day #2

Just before 5 am, I started to hear some odd noise in the room near the windows. I thought that it might be a rat. I got up using my phone as a flashlight. As I checked the windows, the noise stopped. As soon as I got back in bed, the noise started again. I got up again without the light. Poking at the shade, something flew by my head.

Turning on a light, there was a fairly large bat flying around the high ceiled room. Sharon started screaming and pulled the covers over her head.

Almost 45 years ago, I had the same thing happen in the East View house. I grabbed a towel thinking that I would swat it out of the air.

Sharon insisted that we leave the room. Pulling on some clothes, we drove to the main lobby. There was a sign on the door sayinng that no one would be there until 7 am. Sharon called the number of the door but no one answered. She left them an obscenity laced message.

Driving back to the room, we sat in the car for awhile. Sharon kept calling every ten minutes, but no one answered. Eventually, I coaxed Sharon back into the bathroom of the room. I turned on all of the lights. At this point, I could see the bat wedged in a corner of the vaulted ceiling. We both took showers. I dragged all of the luggage into the entry way and started packing the car.

Someone finally called from the lobby about 6:45 am. We drove to the lobby, had some coffee and waited for the Gainsleys.

The restaurant for the hotel didn't serve breakfast until 8 am. With the plan for the day to play golf at the Link at Bodega Bay, the four of us decided to drive there and breakfast.

I had made a 9 am tee time. After getting breakfast burritos and hitting a few balls into a net, we ended up teeing off at about 8:30 am. It was a crisp, cold morning with temperatures in the high 30s. Unfortuantely, the course was cart path only. For the first time in all the years that we have played golf with the Gainsleys, I rode with Kevin.

Walking to my tee shot on the first hole, I slipped in the mud walking down the hillside. My bad knee on the leg that I had surgery on in October folded under me in a way that it probably hasn't been able to bend in 20 years. Kevin had to drag me up to my feet.

The rest of the day was brutal. With my knee wrenched, I struggled to find any consistency. Trying to be honest about my score, I took six penalty shots for lost balls. I was in seven bunkers; it took me four strokes to get out of one of them and two strokes to get out of two others. I would hit a good shot and then a bad shot. I couldn't string two shots together. I ended up with a fairly honestly scored 125. Ugly...

It warmed up nicely in the afternoon. It is a beautiful course.


After the round, we stopped at the Tides Market for fish, smoked salmon and oysters. Heading towards The Sea Ranch, Sharon and I took the Meyers Grade Road past the Fort Ross Winery that bypasses the cliff section of Highway 1.

We got to Gualala about 3:30 pm. We picked up the key and did some shopping at the market. We finally got to Monette just before 4 pm.

After getting settled in the house, Kevin barbecuded oysters and ling cod for dinner. We added a caesar salad.

The four of us finished the night watching the Olympics. We crashed early.

This is the fifth time that we have rented Monette since February 2022. We love this spot!

2026 The Sea Ranch Primum - Day #3

Our original plan was to hike on Saturday and play golf on Sunday. Sharon and I prefer not to play golf two days in a row. With the weather looking sketchy for Sunday, we decided to go ahead and play on Saturday.

We had a 9 am tee time at the Sea Ranch Golf Links. After being closed for almost eight momths, the course reopend in October. I rode with Sharon.

Getting a chance to hit on the driving range, I felt pretty good. Although stiff, my knee wasn't brothering me too much. Unfortunately, my inconsisteny from Friday continued. I would hit a good shot and then a bad shot.

We essentially had the course to ourselves. A grumpy old man single bypassed us on the 4th, but we didn't see anyone else for the rest of the day.

On the 8th hole, we played some tees over Salal Creek that I didn't know existed. There was a cart path to them so they obviously existed since the course opened...

My frustration with my inconsistency finally boiled over on the 11th hole. As Marvin the Martian would say "this makes me very angry. Very angry indeed." I had hit nice drive and then a solid second shot laying up in front of the marsh that protects the green. I duffed my third shot into the marsh. I lost my temper.

The wind picked up in the afternoon. We were hitting straight into a 20 plus mile an hour wind on the 14th and 15th holes.

I was really looking forward to playing the course again and was very discouraged with how I played. I ended up with a very liberally scored 118 with several mulligans. The only bright spot was my chipping actually started to improve.

Getting cleaned up, we drove to the Sea Ranch Lodge hoping to get a burger for a late lunch. Unfortunately, they don't start serving food until 5 pm. Rather than trying to drive into Gualala, we decided to head back to the house and have a snack.

We went back to the Lodge at 4 pm and sat at the bar. The bartender that we met four years ago, Trace, was still there. There was also a new bartender named Josh. The four of us had hamburgers for an early dinner.

We finished the night playing Oh Hell. Kevin won. Sharon and I got massacred.

2026 The Sea Ranch Primum - Day #7

This is the most golf I have ever played: four times in six days!

Holly, Van, Sharon and I drove to Sea Ranch Golf Links after breakfast. With the heavy rain on Wednesday, they weren't allowing any carts on the course, only walkers. After some hand wringing and debate, Holly and Sharon decided that they wouldn't play. Van and I decided to give it a go.

Van and I ended up playing eigthteen. The weather was very nice; there was no wind. While the course was wet in a number of spots, I swear that I have played the course when it was wetter with the Sanborns.

After two brutal days on Friday and Saturday, I was very happy with how I played. I have been working hard to take Kevin's advice to slow down my swing. I was thrilled to bogey the Par 5 1st hole. I made a mess on the 4th and used a mulligan on the 8th.

The 11th continues to be my nemesis. All three rounds that we played this week, I made two good shots to the front of the marsh that protects the green and then duffed my ball in the marsh.

While I didn't score as well on the back nine, I was striking the ball consistently. Three putting the 14th, 17th and 18th hurt.

I had a fairly honestly scored 111. I didn't lose a ball until the 11th... My chipping is continuing to improve.

While Van and I played golf, Holly and Sharon explored Gualala and then hiked about four miles along the bluffs. The hiked from Monette to the lodge and then from Monette to Sculpture Point.

For dinner, Sharon had made a reservation at The Sea Ranch Lodge. It was the Locals dinner. Takinig place on the fourth Wednesday of each month, we did this family style meal with the Wongs when we were here in April of '24.

The menu included :Winter Panzanella [apple, mandarine fennel, pomegranate, and orange ginger vinaigrette], Roasted Pork Loin [pepper jam]; Roasted Brussels [carmelized onion]; Mashed Potatoes [green garlic]; and Profiteroles [orange cream].

We visited with three local home owners. They lived on Wild Iris. We stayed at Wild Iris at Wavside on Father's day 2021. Sharon got Tommy's contact information.

2026 To The Sea Ranch Primum - Day #1

Rolling from the house at 9 am, we started towards the coast. We are heading to Sea Ranch with the Gainsleys. It is going to be interesting to see how the weather plays out. We have had good luck with nice weather in January and February at Sea Ranch for the last fifteen years. Right now, the forecast for the next week doesn't look favorable.

Sharon made a wine tasing appointment for 11:30 am at Autuer Wines. We met the Gainsleys there and had a nice wine tasting with a great view.


From there, we headed to Bodega Bay. Last year, Sharon and I played nine at the Links at Bodega Bay. This year, we decided to play eighteen and stay for the night before heading to Sea Ranch. We rolled up to the Inn at the Tides about 2:30 pm. We were able to get into the room.

The four of us had an earlyl dinner at Rocker Oysterfeller's at the Wharf in Bodega Bay. Sharon and I shared Rocker Oysterfeller [oysters topped with applewood bacon, creamed arugula, garlic butter and toasted cornbread] and Ocean Clam Chowder [ocean clams, fennel, applewood smoked bacon, yukon gold potatoes, dry sherry and a touch of cream]. We both ordered Pan Roasted Local Fish Fillet [house spice blend, andouille sausage jambalaya rice, black eyed pea and green tomato chow-chow with fresh buttered dungeness crabmeat]. The waitress said that the fish was swordfish. Unfortunately, when it came, it was petite sole. Sharon sent her's back and got a crab.

The four of us finished the night visiting in our room at the hotel.

Falling asleep, I never expected what the next day would bring...

2026 The Sea Ranch Primum - Day #8

The excitement for the morning was that Van had a tick that he picked up while we were golfing yesterday. Sharon and Holly spent some time on the Internet and with the AIs researching what to do. Holly successfully removed it.

Holly and Van ended up leaving a little after 9 am heading towards Sausolito.

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Getting organized, Sharon and I drove to One Eye Jack's and parked. We hiked about 5.8 miles in three hours along the bluffs. The weather was gorgeous. We spotted few whales offshore. The weather was so nice that I didn't even consider suggesting that we hike anywhere except along the bluffs.

In the late afternoon, we went to The Sea Ranch Lodge for a farewell drink at the bar with Trace. Back at the house, we sat on the deck and watched the sunset.


We had leftovers for dinner, including pork loin, brussels sprouts and mash potatoes that we brought home from the Locals dinner last night at The Sea Ranch Lodge. We finished the night watching the first episode of season 50 of Survivor on Paramount+ on the Apple TV.

2026 The Sea Ranch Primum - Day #6

Over the years, we have had very good luck with the weather at The Sea Ranch in January and February. Only once, in February of 2017, did we get a day of steady rain.

Today turned out to be another exception. It rained very hard all day. I think that it rained a lot hardier than it did in 2017. The weather app showed a precipitation total of 2.5 inches.

After a lazy breakfast, Sharon and I drove in Gualala. We did some shopping at the Surf Market. We checked out a couple of spots for dinner.

In the early afternoon, we watched a couple of Youtube videos about how to play Mahjong. We played three games. Holly, Van and I each won one game. [Note to self], I need to order a Mahjong reference card.

In the late afternoon, I did a 10 minute Peloton bodyweight workout and a 13 minute Peloton Strength+ bodyweight workout that I designed. Afterwards, I took advantage of the hot tub.

Ten years ago, I would have probably tried to go for a run in the rain. With my knee still stiff from slipping on Friday and it raining buckets, I just couldn't talk myself into going out. Van actually hiked to the Lodge and back earlier in the day; he got soaked...

After getting cleaned up, we headed to Cove Azul in Gualala. We ate lunch there once before with the Sanborns in 2014. I had crab cakes, while Sharon had salmon fish and chips.

The four of us finished the night watching MSNow's comments about the State of the Union Address.

2026 The Sea Ranch Primum - Day #5

Changing of the guard. The Gainsleys packed up and headed home before 9:30 pm.

I did a ten minute Peloton core. Afterwards, I hiked along the bluffs to The Sea Ranch Lodge and back.

Holly and Van rolled up to Monette about 11:30 am. After getting settled in the house, the four of us headed to The Sea Ranch Golf Links. Originally, we had planned to plan on Tuesday, but with heavy rain forecasted for Tuesday, we decided to squeeze in a round on Monday afternoon.

While we were playing on Saturday, Kevin noted that I make a nice easy practice swing and then speed up my swing when I am hitting the ball. This was not the first time someone has told me this. Although slowing down my swing was already part of my swing matra, I decided to really commit to a slow swing.

After warming up on the driving range, we teed off at 12:48 pm. It rained a little on us on the 4th and 5th holes, but didn't rain for the rest of the round.

After two brutal rounds on Friday and Saturday, I was very happy with how I played. Using a couple of mulligans, I ended up with a liberally scored 107. This included four putting the second hole! I feel like my chipping is continuing to improve. I just need to get a better feel for the distance with my chipping.

After golf, we headed back to Monette to get cleaned up. Holly brought a lasagna for dinner. We added a ceasar salad. We had a leisurely dinner.

We finished the night watching Jon Stewart on The Daily Show.

2026 The Sea Ranch Primum - Day #4

After two straight days of golf, we had a lazy morning. Eventually, I rallied everyone for a morning hike. I love hiking and running along the bluffs.


The Gainsleys hiked with us as far as Sculpture Point before turning back. Sharon and I ended up hiking 4.2 miles in an hour and fifty minutes. It sprinkled a little on us during the hike, but the wind and the temperature weren't too bad.

The rain moved in after lunch. We spent the afternoon playing Oh Hell. Kevin beat Donna and I in a very close game: Kevin-151; Donna-150; and me-149. Afterwards, the four of us played one game of Azul. Sharon won.


We had an early dinner at The Sea Ranch Lodge. There was a new bartender named Violet. Although younger than Trace, Ren and Josh, she also grew up in Point Arena.

I had carrot coconut soup and Diver Scallops [onion soubise, asian pear, beluga lentils, purple frilly mustard]. Sharon had the TSRL Farm Lettuces Salad [carrot, cucumber, watermelon radish, “Sea” Ranch dressing] and Uni Carbonara [sea urchin].

Back at the house, we finished the night playing another game of Azul. Sharon won...

2026 The Sea Ranch Primum - Day #9

Up and moving early, the plan was to be on the road by 9 am. We spent the morning packing up and loading the car.

Although we hiked twice and played golf three times, I am disappointed that I didn't get a chance to go out for a run. As I have said repeatedly over the years, this is probably my favorite place in the world to run.

Avoiding the cliff section, we took Timber Cove Road to Seaview Road to Fort Ross Road to Meyers Grade Road. We made a quick stop for gas in Bodega Bay. Waze kept trying to route us away from Valley Ford Road; it thought the road was flooded.

We met Sharon's brother Tom in Cordelia at 11:45 am. Sharon and Tom are spending the weekend at the Jesuit Retreat House in Los Altos.

Hitting some traffic in Davis, I was home about 1:30 pm.

It was a great nine days! This is the fifth time that we have rented Monette. One random comment. I was very pleased that they replaced all of the windows on the south side of the house. The windows were really starting to get clouded and it spoiled some of the experience.

It looks like Drew and Carmen are going to rent the house in July.