Highway 101 south of Eureka is a four lane divided road, easy, fast, not a whole lot of traffic. When I turned off onto Highway 1 at Leggett to head over to the coast,  things changed dramatically.

There was almost no traffic  along Highway 1 which contributed to a feeling of isolation but also of peace. The two-lane road is beautiful, shaded by huge trees, very twisty turny. Kept me alert to be sure.

In spite of the feeling of isolation and peace, the legend of Big Foot made itself known. Even Santa seemed to buy into it. This shop was the one glaring oddity along the 17 miles of beautiful forested road. There were a few other small shops but they were tastefully snuggled into the surrounding forest.

What a shock it was, then, to emerge from this peaceful haven into the bright light and spectacular scenery of the Mendocino coast! What amazing, rugged and fantastically beautiful seascapes. I could barely drive a few miles without having to stop and take photos.

Things are a little more open in California than they are in Oregon. The parks and day use areas are open which is a blessing for drivers who need the use of a convenient washroom! Restaurants are open too, though with crowding restrictions. Masks are required whenever anyone is outside, and to a great extent, people are wearing them. In Oregon, there is no self service at gas stations. Today I wore my mask and used my disposable gloves while gassing up. I have developed quite a distate for masks but being a Canadian who has been raised with an appreciation for the rules, I am compliant.

I finally reached Gualala where I am staying at The Breakers Hotel. I haven’t talked about my accommodations on this trip, but The Breakers deserves a mention. This is one of their ordinary rooms. Deluxe and luxury suites are also available.

I have a ground floor room with a balcony facing the ocean, perfect for taking late in the day water photos.

And there are all kinds of aids for the handicapped besides the ground floor entrance – an enormous bathroom with a large shower equipped with folding chair, and bars the edges of the bathtub. Did someone leak my age to the owners?

I will leave you with – at last! – a couple of sunset photos taken from my balcony at The Breakers Hotel. Tomorrow, the end of my COVID road trip! 😍