To Eureka, California

We left Sacramento the morning after I flew in from Vegas and headed for Eureka, California. Now the easy way is drive to the bay area and go straight up 101 but I wanted the more rural route of CA 16 out of Sacramento to CA 20 through to Clear Lake and then to 101.

Hwy 16 follows between the coastal mountains and the mountains just to the west of the Sacramento Valley. Still beautifully green and wildflowers galore. 

There were many vineyards and orchards along the way. We stopped here at a almond orchard to let the dogs walk around a bit.

We stopped again for the dogs in the town of Rumsey, California but when I say the "town of Rumsey"... that is quite a stretch as we only saw two or three buildings. This town hall was erected in 1903 and inside there was supposed to be some 100 year old murals...but the widows were too high.

Near the backroad junction of Hwy 16 and Hwy 20 was Cowboy Camp, Cache Creek Wildlife Area. As we pulled into the parking area there were three or four horse trailers and trucks parked and empty so I assume people are out riding their favorite steed.

As we used our binoculars to search the grass hills, we stumbled upon a few Tule Elk... one was laying under the tree.

Further up the hill were 15 or so elk. This is the only wild herd in California... there are other herds but these Tule elk are not confined and allowed to roam free. In the early 1800's there were 1/2 million elk in California but by the gold rush years they were decimated to just 30 in 1885 when the government finally stepped in to protect the herd.

Just about three miles away on Hwy 20 was this rather large and healthy looking coyote in a field of wildflowers hunting? We watched for a while, trying to photograph him jumping head first into the flowers grabbing a morsel of food but it never worked out in our favor.

We soon drove along the shore of Clear Lake which is thought to be one of the oldest lakes in North America. 

The first town we drove through on Hwy 101 was Willits, California. The traffic was really backed up because it is mostly one lane... but there is a new route being built that will bypass the town. 

North of Willits we start driving through some of the Redwoods that are so spectacular to see but equally interesting trying to thread the large motorhome through the tight curves.

Our stop for the night or two is in Eureka at the Shoreline RV park. We have a great spot at the end of a row and look out over an estuary right next to us...should be good birding!