A four day odyssey to the north for food from the Blue Bird Diner to a stop for the Oyster Crossing… Sea Ranch wanderings and celebrations tucked in between. And there was so much more… a rare visit by Eric and Alison to the Bay Area and a chance for us Rectors — at least the MCEA Division — to cook together. So here’s how it went down on day two…
saturday morning
What does one do on a spectacular morning at Sea Ranch? The first thing we did was leave to go to the Gualala Farmers Market. We’re crazy for farmers markets — Eric sells his cheese, eggs and yogurt at the Belfast, Maine farmers market and I shop every Saturday at the Ferry Plaza in San Francisco.
I believe I'm negotiating for potatoes here.
Gualala borders the northern end of Sea Ranch at the Sonoma Mendocino county line. Don’t blink, or you’ll miss it. The market is not large, but it had some nice stuff, fresh and local. We also found some nice mustard, made locally and bought three jars.
the mustard and bracelet lady
Here's what we bought. I especially like the spicy titles: Hone Hotflash, Dijon Delight and Sunny Sensation.
On the way back from Gualala we did some auto exploring. Leslie had told us to pay a visit to the chapel, for sure, and right beside it, another public building, the fire house.
The Sea Ranch nondenominational chapel sits well off the road, but is visible and accessible.
The benches are sculpted for comfort.
The Fire House may be the biggest building at Sea Ranch, but it is situated and designed so that it doesn't impose.
Back at the Ranch, there was tennis to play, saunas to take, pools to swim, exploring to do, the Bluff Trail to walk and before long, a wedding to attend; but first, some lunch.
lunch on the deck
The Farmers Market mustards made me long for a hot dog, so we picked up some hot dogs and buns at the Surf Supermarket in Gualala, just across the street from the Farmers Market. You will recognize the vegetables. Note the abalone shell with river rocks in it. Those are used to hold down newspapers, magazines, napkins or whatever in the wind… although it’s not windy now.
After — while others went for the pool and tennis courts — Carol and I went for a walk on the Bluff Trail.
We cleaned and freshened and assembled at the Lodge for the wedding that brought us to this incredible place.
Procession to the barn by the sea.
Tomorrow we explore more and grill a leg of lamb. Yum.
eats for one 