2025 Sea Ranch - Day #2

Moving slow, we had a lazy breakfast watching the ocean waves break on Black Point Beach.

After breakfast, Sharon and I hiked north along the bulffs. We covered 4.2 miles in just over an hour and a half. The weather was nice, not too windy. This is a beautiful section of the coast. I brought my running stuff with me; I need to find some time to run at least once while we are here!


After the hike, we headed into Gualala. Sharon had somehow not packed her underwear. She was able to buy some at the Gualala Sport and Tackle Shop!?!

After lunch at the house, I drove the car to the Sea Ranch Lodge. I walked back.

The Gainsleys rolled up about 2:10 pm. They unloaded and got settled in the house.

Eventually, the four of us walked to lodge for a cocktail. It was the same bartender [Trace] that we met three years. Trace said that he started working at the lodge in early February of 2022.

Driving back to Monette, we had lasagna, salad and bread for dinner. Sharon had made the lasagna on Wednesday.

We finished the night playing Mexican Train Dominoes. Sharon won... It was after 11 pm by the time we crashed.

Sea Ranch

Work in Progress

Travels

• January '25 - Monette - Gainsleys
• April '24 - Monette - Wongs; Gainsleys
• January/March/May 2023 - NOT
• July 2022 - Monette - Gainsleys; Coffins and Maynards
• February 2022 - Monette - Tomasins; Larkins
• June 2021 - Waveside; Father's Day - Drew had a separate house.
• May 2021 - Sea Haven - Wongs
• January 2021 - NOT
• October 2020 - Deerfield - Gainsleys
• August 2020 - Sculpture Point {36592 Sculpture Point Drive} - Tomasins; Jack, Morgan, Lee, Drew & Shannon
• January 2020 - Graham View
• January 2019 - Seascape {366 Wild Moor Reach} - Sanborns
• January 2018 - Kyuka - Sanborns
• February 2017 - Galleons Reach - Sanborns
• September 2016 - Kyuka and Vista Del Mar - 20th Wedding Anniversary - Larkins, Gainsleys, Sanborns, Renterias, Janie and Liz
• February 2016 - Serenity - Sanborns
• February 2014 - Crestview - Sanborns
• January 2013 - Living Roof - Janie
• ?????? 2011 - Arch Rock - Sharon and Janie
• January 2011 - Crestview - Jack
• September 2008 - {Carol's House} - Sharon, Mary, Janie and Pippen
• November 2003 - Sharon, Janie and Jeana
• August 2002 - Jack
• July 1999 - with Drew, Morgan and Jack
• November 1998 - Thanksgiving - with Jack
• January 1998 - Sharon pregnant
• June 1995

2024 Sea Ranch - Day #1

After I had an early morning dermatology appointment, Sharon and I headed towards Sea Ranch. We met Holly and Van at the Northwood Golf Course along the Russia River. This is a nine hole course. We teed off just after 1 pm.


I was pretty happy with how well I played. I ended up with an honestly scored 58. I played with the same ball all afternoon. I made a mess of the par five ninth. After not hitting driver all day on the tight short course, I took it out; I shouldn't have. I was striking the ball pretty well. I really enjoyed the golf course.

From there, Sharon and I headed to Gualala to pick up the key to the rental house. We are staying seven nights at Monette. We stayed at this Sea Ranch rental twice in 2022: February and July.

After getting the cars unloaded and settled in the house, Holly made a nice dinner of enchiladas. The four of us finished the night played Hygge.

July 2022 Sea Ranch - Day #9

Saturday morning, I went for a run along the bluffs. As I have said repeatedly over the years, Sea Ranch is my favorite place in the world to run. I ran north along the bluffs. I covered 4.2 miles in an hour. I am still struggling with my left heel.

Afterwards, we packed up and loaded up the cars. We rolled from the Monette about 10:30 am.

Sharon had made a wine tasting reservation at the Fort Ross Vineyard and Winery. We had stopped there on the way home in February. Everyone decided to join us.

We headed towards home about 1:00 pm. Waze routed us through Bodega Bay to 101 to 116 to 121 to 12 to 80 to 50. The traffic was bad at all of the usual points, but particularly bad at Fairfield and Davis. We made a quick stop for gas in Dixon. We pulled up to house just after 4:30 pm.

It was a great trip. Although we have already spent nineteen days at The Sea Ranch this year, Sharon talked about going back again on the way home.

July 2022 Sea Ranch - Day #8

After breakfast, we took everyone (Jim, Debi, Greg, Michele, Sharon and I) on a hike along the bluffs. We hiked to the seal observation spot. Along the way, we took a detour to check out the house of one of Jim's clients. In total, we covered 3.8 miles in just over an hour and forty-five minutes.

We went to play pickleball after lunch. When Sharon and I played on Monday, I had reserved a court at Moonraker from 1 pm to 3 pm. We ended up playing in various combinations for more than an hour and a half.

When we got back to the house, Sharon led a subset (Jim, Debi and Michele) into a Gualala. The girls did some shopping at Red Stella.

The group had dinner at The Sea Ranch Lodge. Sharon and I split Tempura Black Cod [yuzu & sesame ponzu, aioli, lemon, sea salt] as an appetizer and both had a Pork Chop [flageolet beans, baby carrots, broccolini, smoked bacon, napa cabbage, caramelized onion & whole grain mustard sauce] for the entree.

Back at house, the group ended up listening to music and dancing. While Greg and Jim are much more into music than I am, I ended up playing a number of songs from the Soundtrack for My Life. It was after 11:30 pm before we crashed.

July 2022 Sea Ranch - Day #7

For the third time this trip, we played golf at the Sea Ranch Golf Links. Jim, Debi, Sharon and I had a 9:30 am time.

Struggling on the range, I was bad on the front nine. I settled down and played a lot better on the back nine. I continue to struggle with keeping my head down. I ended up with a liberally scored 108.

It was a slow round. Waiting more than half an hour for some sandwiches, it took us more than five hours and fifteen minutes to play eighteen.

Greg and Michele rolled up about 4 pm. After they got settled in, Michele made clam linguine for dinner.

The six of us ended the day playing Codenames. It was almost midnight by the time we crashed.

July 2022 Sea Ranch - Day #6

I pushed Sharon to hike the Bobcat Trail; you can do hard stuff. This is a trail that we had never hiked before. It included several parts marked as steep. It turned out to be a nice hike with several sections along fern covered ravines and through a redwood grove. We covered 3.7 miles in just under two hours. A map is here. A Relive! is here.

After the hike, we headed into Gualala for groceries for dinner.

After lunch, we cleaned up the house. After a couple of days by ourselves, we have some neighbors coming for the rest of the week.

I drove the Volvo up to the lodge and ran back.

Jim and Debbie rolled up about 3 pm. After they got settled, the four of us walked up to the Lodge for a cocktail. We had a nice time visiting with our new favorite bartender [Ren].

Sharon made lingcod, rice and aspargus for dinner. The four of us finished the night playing Codenames. We had played Codenames with Holly and Van at Sea Ranch last year.

July 2022 Sea Ranch - Day #5

Sharon and I decided to slip in nine holes of golf on Tuesday morning. We had a 9:30 am tee time.

I felt pretty solid on the range and got off to a great start. I hit three good shots and was on the green in regulation on the par five first hole. Over the course of the morning, I was better than Saturday, but still wildly inconsistent. On the par three eighth over the ravine, I hit my first shot into the ravine, but then dropped a six iron about ten feet behind the flag with a mulligan. Sharon hit safely on the eighth to the right edge. I ended up with a very liberally scored 52.

It was a beautiful morning. The only problem was that we were behind a couple of foursomes of the women's league. They were playing very slowly. On the greens, some of them wanted the flag in and some wanted the flag out. They would put the flag in for someone to putt and then take it out for the next person to putt and then put it back in. I have never sat and waited as much in my life.

After golf, we went to Trinks for lunch. Sharon had a B B L T (Smoked Bacon, Blue Cheese, Lettuce, Tomato, Mayo, On a Sourdough Baguette), while I had a MOMS TURKEY (Turkey, Cranberry, Lettuce, Honey Mustard, Mayo, On Ciabatta).

On the way back to the house, we made a stop to look for several Sea Ranch architectural markers. Sharon also wanted to stop at the gift shop at the lodge.

Drew, Jack and I played played Catan in the afternoon. Over the course of two hours, we played three games. Drew won them all! While we were playing, Sharon finished her puzzle.

We got a build your pizza from Upper Crust Pizzeria in Gualala. We finished the night watching Love Story. In real life, Ali MacGraw was married to Bob Evans, head of Paramount Studios, in the early 1970s. As fictional characters, they both appeared in The Offer and there was a lot of discussion about the film.

July 2022 Sea Ranch - Day #4

A very active day!

After Sharon made a great aspargus, goat cheese and smoked salmon omelette for breakfast, the day included:

• a Peloton core workout;
• a Peloton lower body stretch;
• a five mile run along the bluffs;
• an hour of pickle ball at Moonraker, and;
• a mile and half hike to Black Point Beach and back for cocktails and hors d'oeuvres on the beach.

We cooked salmon for dinner. We finished the day watching the last two episodes (nine and ten) of The Offer.

July 2022 Sea Ranch - Day #3

The Gainsleys rolled early. Donna was scheduled to fly to Las Vegas early Monday morning. After they left, Sharon and I watched the end of the British Open. Cameron Smith edged out Cameron Young and Rory McIlroy to win the Claret Jug.

After the tournament ended, Sharon and I headed into Gualala to get for some provisions for the week. Sharon did some shopping at Red Stella.

Back at house, I eventually got Sharon to go out for hike north along the buffs. We stopped and took a break just beyond Kyuka. In total, we covered 5.8 miles in just over two hours.

For dinner, I barbecued a spatchcocked chicken. I was pleasantly surprised at how well it turned out. We finished the night watching episodes seven and eight of The Offer.

July 2022 Sea Ranch - Day #2

The plan for the day was golf at the Sea Ranch Golf Links course. Kevin, Donna, Sharon and I rolled from the house about 8:45 am. We hit a bucket of balls and then teed off about 9:45 am.

Although I haven't played in two months, I felt pretty good on the driving range. I started the first hole (a par five) with two solid shots. Unfortunately, I really struggled off the tee for the rest of the round. The one positive note was the chipper that I bought; I was using it very effective around the greens.

I ended up with a fairly honestly scored 113. I was frankly surprised my score wasn't higher. I had 9s on the back to back par 5 on the back nine... While Kevin was in the sand often, I spent a lot of time in the trees. It was a slow round; it took five hours and fifteen minutes.

After golf, we relaxed at the house. Getting cleaned up, we headed to the Sea Ranch Lodge for a drink and early dinner. We split Seared Scallops, Lingcod and Bread & Olive Oil for appetizers. For entrees, Kevin had lamb, Donna had mushroom fettuccine, Sharon had salmon and I had duck. I rarely order duck.

For the second night in a row, we finished the day in the hot tub.

July 2022 Sea Ranch - Day #1

Sharon and I rolled from Carmichael about 8:15 am. We met the Gainsleys at Donum Estates for a tasting. Although it feels longer, we have been wine club members at Donum since 2017. The four of us did an experience tasting that includes a walk around the property.


We stopped for lunch in Bodega Bay. Sharon and I brought sandwiches that we picked up at Whole Foods. We shopped for oysters and smoked salmon at the Tides Wharf Fish Market.

We rolled in Gualala just before 3 pm to pick up the key. We are spending eight nights at Monette. We stayed in the same house in February.

After unloading and settling into the house, the four of us walked to the Sea Ranch Lodge and had a drink at the bar. It was very windy on the walk back to the house. Sharon has always talked about how windy it is at Sea Ranch in the summer.

For dinner, Kevin barbecued oysters and steaks. Donna baked a couple of potatoes and Sharon made a salad. We finished the night in the hot tub. When we were here in February, Sharon never went into the hot tub...

2022 Sea Ranch - Day #10

Moving Day. We spent the morning packing up the house. After we had everything packed, Sharon and I went for a thirty minute walk north on the bluff trail. I loaded up the Volvo. We pulled away from the house about 10:10 am.

Dropping the key in Gualala, we headed to the Fort Ross Winery. Sharon made a noon appointment for a Wine Tasting and Small Bites Pairing. When we got to Fort Ross Historical Park, we turned off of Highway 1 on to Fort Ross Road. This quickly turned into a narrow winding one lane road. The tasting room is located off of Meyers Grade Road. Interestingly, this route avoids the cliff section of Highway 1. It took an hour and ten minutes to get to the winery.

Leaving the winery, we headed to the Tomasin's house in Windsor. Julie had left her jacket on Thursday. This leg took an hour and fifteen minutes. We made a quick stop there.

From Windsor, Waze routed us down Highway 101 to Lakeview Highway to Highway 37 to Highway 80 to Highway 50 and Watt Avenue. We breezed throught the gore point at the junction of Highways 37 and 121. Except for short slow downs on the one lane section of 37 and in Fairfield on 80, it was a very easy drive. It took us about two hours and twenty minutes. We were home in Carmichael at 4:15 pm.

I expect that we will be back to Sea Ranch again this year...

2022 Sea Ranch - Day #9

When we were planning the trip, Sharon and I talked about playing golf twice: eighteen holes one day and nine holes another. I pestered Larkin in playing with us on Saturday morning before he and Cindy took off.

Larkin, Sharon and I had a 8:30 am tee time. It was cold; the temperature was in the high 30s. After hitting a few balls on the range, we teed off with one group in front of us. I was very happy with how I played. I struggled on the second hole, but parred the par four fourth and ninth holes.

I hit safely over the ravine on the par three eighth. From the back of the white tees, I hit a soft hybrid five to the right of the green.

I ended up with an honestly scored 49. The scorecard is here. I don't believe that I have ever broke 50 on the front nine before. It took us about two hours and ten minutes to play nine holes.


The Larkins packed up their SUV and rolled towards Napa before noon. Sharon and I headed into Gualala. We had lunch at Trinks. Sharon had a BBLT and I had a Turkey Melt. Afterwards, we stopped at surf market and picked up something for dinner.

We had a lazy afternoon. We took a nap. I did a Peleton twenty minute upper body strength workout. Eventually, we walked south on the bluff trail. We looped around the old barn below the lodge and back. As we were just getting back to the house, Sharon spotted a bobcat! I was surprised how big it looked.

We spent some time before dinner making a list of possible trips for the rest of the year. Sharon is focused on Road Scholars and Viking trips.

Sharon made chicken, green beans and cauliflower mash for dinner. We finished the night watching episodes nine and ten of season two of Yellowstone. My thoughts on season two of Yellowstone are here. We also watched Real Time with Bill Maher.

2022 Sea Ranch - Day #8

After I finished my morning meetings, Cindy, Joe, Sharon and I took off for a hike. We did a variation of the hike that Sharon and I did with Drew and Jack in August of 2020. We explored the San Andreas Fault Interpretive Trail. We had lunch along the Spring Meadow Trail with a great view of the coast. Looping by the TSRA Marine Preserve, we stopped by the seals and saw a couple of whales.

In total, we covered more than six miles. A map is here. A Relive video of the hike is here.


We had an early dinner in the Dining Room at the Sea Ranch Lodge. We split Seared Diver Scallops [celery root, miso broth, di ciccio broccoli, bishop farms seaweedst] and halibut ceviche. For mains, Sharon and I both had Local Halibut [grilled with lemon and rosemary, yukon gold mash with sour cream & chives green beans, caper and dijon vinaigrette, while the Cindy and Joe had Sonoma Duck Breast [wild rice with duck leg confit, roasted beets & gravenstein apple, huckleberries duck skin & herb croutons].

We finished night with more blueberry cobbler back at the house. Wallen called from T0dos Santos. We spent some time Facetiming with them and catching up.

We started to watch Tick, Tick... Boom!, but punted after about 15 minutes and watched a rerun of Bill Maher.

2022 Sea Ranch - Day #7

The Tomasins took off in the middle of the morning.

I spent the loin share of the day in meetings.

Sharon and I ran into to Gualala at lunchtime. We shopped for dinner and got sandwiches at the Seafood Shack. I had a tuna melt [SPICY TUNA SALAD - MAYO - CHEESE - SHACK ROLL - FRIES], while Sharon had a fish sandwich.

The Larkins rolled up in the late afternoon. After they unload the car and with some debate, we ended taking the bikes out. We rode for a short distance to the north before we looped back and headed to the Sea Ranch Lodge. We stopped for a drink at the bar. Racing to get back before the sunset, we headed back to the house. We ended up riding only about five miles.
It was a great sunset. We finished the night with a late dinner. I barbecued steaks on charcoal. I honestly can't remember the last time I cooked on charcoal. Almanor?. For dessert, we had a blueberry cobbler that the Larkins brought.

Larkin and I watched the end of the Sacramento Kings versus Denver Nuggets game. Denver buried the Kings in the fourth quarter and won by the score of 128 to 110.

2022 Sea Ranch - Day #6

I spent most of the day working.

At lunch, Sharon and I walked north on the bluff trail. We ended going a little over four miles. We walked past the seal observation area.

Just offshore from the seals, we saw two whales. I am always amazed at how close whales come into the shore.

The Tomasins rolled up in the late afternoon. We spent some time catching up.

Eventually, we headed for dinner at the Vue Coastal Kitchen in Gualala. I had braised Burgundy-Braised Beef Short Ribs [garlic-whipped potatoes, mushroom jus, blue cheese mousse], Tomasin had Tipsy Sardinian [seasonal fish, manilla clams, and tiger prawns simmered in spicy vodka sauce with sun-dried tomatoes and saffron cream linguini] and Julie and Sharon both had Rock Cod Ceviche [local Pacific rock cod, lemon, serrano chile, smoked salt, tortilla chips].

Wandering back to the house, we visited until late. I always enjoy Tomasin's company. It was the latest we have gone to bed since we have been here.

2022 Sea Ranch - Day #5

Up early, I had a light breakfast. I spent most of the day in meetings, including attending most of a five hour nurse call vendor presentation. Sharon finished her butterfly puzzle and then ran into Gaulala for some groceries.

I went for a six mile run at lunch. The wind was worse than Sunday with gusts up to 25 mph. I ran just beyond Vista Del Mar and back. A map is here.

For dinner, we got curbside takeout from The Black Door in Gualala. We both got chicken enchilada plates.

We finished night watching episodes six, seven and eight of season two of Yellowstone on the AppleTv!?! The show continues to jump the shark in almost every episode.

2022 Sea Ranch - Day #4

Up early, I had a light breakfast. I spent most of the morning in meetings for work.

In the late morning, Sharon and I took off for Mendocino. The plan for the day was to hike, wander around the town and then have dinner. We haven't been to Mendocino since summer of 1999 when we were at Sea Ranch with Drew, Morgan and Jack. [Note to self], I have got to find some pictures from that 1999 trip.

We originally planned to hike the fern trail at Russian Gulch. Googling the park web site in the car, Sharon realized that the trail was closed. We pivoted to the fern trail in the Von Damme State Park south of Mendocino. I had preloaded both trails into the Alltrails app before we left.

We ended up hiking just over five miles in two hours. We stopped and had a late lunch at the half way point. A map is here. It was a nice hike.

Afterwards, we headed in Mendocino and wandered around the town. Sharon shopped in a number of stores. I walked to the Mendocino Presbyterian Church (California Historical Landmark #714). Looking for somewhere to have a glass of wine, we eventually stopped at Patterson's Pub.

We had a dinner reservation at Trillium Cafe and Inn. With it starting to rain, we decided to head south. We ended up stopping for dinner at the Chowder House and Tap Room at the pier in Point Arena. We both had chowder, a ceasar salad and cod fish tacos.

Driving home, Sharon said "I am done with Maui and Mendocino."

We finished the night watching episode five of The Gilded Age and Bill Maher on HBOMax on the AppleTV.

2022 Sea Ranch - Day #3

We planned Sunday as a lazy day. We walked to the Sea Ranch Lodge and had breakfast at the cafe. I had a frittata [local cheeses, autumn vegetables, arugula], while Sharon had a avocado toast [lemon aioli, medium boiled farm egg, crunchy salt].

Afterwards, I went for a five mile run north along the coast. I ran to Kyuka and back. A map is here. As I have said repeatedly over the years, this is my favorite place in the world to run.

After getting cleaned up, we headed into Gualala. We browsed a number of shops and checked out a couple of restaurants. We stopped at the Surf Market and bought some groceries for the next several days.

We ate lunch watching the surf on Black Point Beach. I finished a book that Carmen gave me for Christmas [Station Eleven]. We relaxed, did a short Peleton strength workout together and took a nap.

About 3:30 pm, we walked back to the Sea Ranch Lodge and had a drink at the bar. Compared to Saturday night, the place was empty. With the wind gusting into the 30s, it was very windy walk back. From Monette, it is almost exactly a mile to the lodge.

When we got back to the house, Sharon made a nice dinner of chicken, green beans and cauliflower mash. We finished the night watching Nightmare Alley. This is one of the best picture nominees. Thoughts about the movie are here.