After exploring the 'old town' in Florence yesterday we drove a few miles northwards to visit the Sea Lion Cave. You descend 208 feet in a lift from the cliff top to emerge in a short tunnel to a sort of galleria overlooking the world's largest ocean cave, which is a rookery (remember that for the next quiz!) for hundred's of Steller's sea lions. The atmosphere is very fishy! Oh yes ... and we also spotted another whale from the cliff top there! We drove on up t...

Discovered those decapitated windmills were actually water towers! We started Thursday by visiting a pygmy forest in the Van Damme State Park. Very acid soil stunts the growth of the trees. The California Rhododendron grow 5 times taller in the Redwood forests. Then on up the coast, pausing to admire 'Seaside Beach'. We drove along the Avenue of the Giants (22 miles of Redwoods), picnicing at the roadside. Further on, at the southern edge of the Redwood National...

Landed safely at SFO yesterday after ten and a half hour flight. No sea mist over the Golden Gate this time. Cloudless blue skies! A bit weary by the time we reached Sonoma, but cheered by lovely hotel and good food on the patio of a friendly trattoria. Today visited fabulous Betzinger's Winery, then on to Botega Bay and the Pacific Ocean. Many hawks circling above, a multitude of colourful wildflowers, and at Jenner a huge colony of grey harbour seals. Now at q...