Day 58 - Hugging the Coast of California

Day 58 – Monday: August 12, 2013, miles ridden today: 155.0

Totaled travelled to date 13, 686

Due to the high demand for the Motel 6 laundry facility last evening I had to defer till today this task. So, being the first one in the laundry room this morning, I had my pickings of the new similiar looking Washers & Dryers. I loaded the machine with my clothes and liquid soap, deposited the (8) quarters, and pressed the delicate button - GO. The digital display said to go away and come back in 32-minutes. Deal! I’ll have breakfast and then come back and put the clothes in the dryer and I’ll be good to go, be on the road by 9:00 AM. That was my plan!

Having finished my OM+T+C, and the waiter really went all out with the toppings, I proceeded to transfer my clothes to the dryer. However, as I was doing this I said to myself “these new front loading machines are great, not only do they use less water, but my clothes smell so good and feel so dry, is it really necessary to put them into the dryer?”… Yes folks, I am of Polish decent! This dummy loaded them into the dryer, not the washer! My road plan was immediately revised to a 10:00-10:30 departure, oh well…

 

Two Boats Leaving Fort Bragg Harbor Into The Fog

Typical California Coastal weather, fog, then partial clearing…beats rainJ I went back to the Albian Bridge and Flats Café to try the Fish & Chips I heard so much about from folks along the way. It was fantastic! These folks must have met my brother Richard, my fish was cooked just like he would had done it - Perfect!

 

Entering Fort Bragg Harbor 

Going Fishing 

Signage Under the Bridge - End of Road

Out of & In Business

Moving on down the coast I'm riding in & out of the Fog. Definitely needed the sunscreen.

CA Has It's Share of Road Construction Too
...but, look at the line of Honda S2000's ahead of me

Passing through Fort Ross, between Bodega Bay and Fort Bragg, I passed up this tourist attraction that's now a California State Historic. Walter and I visited it several years ago on a previous road trip. A historic Russian-era fort compound that displays the strong Russian influence upon this area, as it was in Sitka, AK, and has been designated National Historic Landmark status.

Fort Ross

St. Oires B&B

I began to search for campground early this afternoon so that I didn’t have to look at “We’re FULL" signs. I checked out Wrights Beach (no showers), Bodega Dunes (got it all), Olema, KOA, and decided to go find a coffee shop and think it over. While on the roadside I had cellular service and accessed someone’s Wi-Fi. I received an email from Monique stating she received a letter in the mail from Prudential Long-Term Care Customer Service today advising me that my premium was not paid when due. OH NO!!! I had set up an auto pay for this quarterly bill, but it didn’t process. Had to find a Coffee Shop with Wi-Fi quickly and attempt to resolve this issue.

 

Now This Name has Significance

1. A family name
2. Winnie's Sister's Married Name
3. Walter's Middle Name

Found a neat little place across the street from the Tomalas, CA Post Office. While I set up my laptop I ordered an ice coffee and apple pie. I called Monique and we discussed the issue and it appears I have (35) days to pay or else. Whew, I’ll be home next week and will resolve it one way or another. Why can’t life be simple & stress-free? BTW – the ice-coffee was fantastic and the pie was so yummy. The fellow explained to me it was his special expensive coffee beans and using a double shot of espresso; he was so glad I enjoyed it. It was good, but $5 for a 12oz cup of coffee that’s 50% ice???

After pursing various camping options using Google and camper reviews, I decided to go back up US-1 sixteen miles to Bodega Dunes Campground. After setting up my home for the night, I changed, and walked into town to a Mexican Restaurant. Had a simple Clam Chowder w/Modelo Especial. Walked back in the fog, and when I got back I did some laps of campground to work some of the food off.

This is it for Tonight

All Settled In - New Tent Has Been Great

So here I sit at my picnic table writing this blog for your consumption, culling the pictures so not to bore you with the same ‘ol thing day in and day out, and NO INTERNET! Everyone walking past me asks how I can be connected, I'm really not. So, it’s all the more reason to go look for another neat coffee shop with Wi-Fi in the morning. Maybe I'll go back to the little Tomalas Cafe'.

Goodnight, it’s getting chilly, getting dark, I must tuck in for the night, Lata’