So there was a song in the late sixties by the Sir Douglas Quintet (sounds like a '60s British band, but they were actually from San Antonio, Texas) called "Mendocino". That may be the first time I remember hearing about that town. Later a wine commercial on TV touted the NapaSonomaMendocino (pronounced like one word) area as the best wine growing region in California. There was that name again ... curiosity ignited. Some time after Ted and I were married, we had a dreamlike desire to travel to Mendocino. We planned a trip, but life took us elsewhere and we never made it.
This past March, on the momentous occasion of our fortieth anniversary (no, we can't possibly be that old ... it was an arranged marriage and we were married at birth ... right?), we decided to finally realize the Mendocino dream. Despite wind and rain and deep grey sky, we hopped in the car and took off to explore new territory.
All that lovely dreaminess we held for Mendocino was in full tilt. Driving on a two-lane highway through redwood forests and impish small towns with names like Boonville (they had their own language in the "old" days), Philo (named for the founder's favorite female cousin ... ahem!) and tons of Anderson Valley boutique wineries, the road ends at the coast where the Navarro River spills into the sea. Breathtaking — when Buddha was looking for Nirvana, he could have come here!
On a recommendation by Samantha and Rudy (niece and nephew) we stayed at the Glendeven Inn in their Garret room. The mighty "Q" began to form for us here ... Quintessentially Quaint, but elegantly so. Our room as at the top of the renovated Farmhouse with a view overlooking pasture lands (complete with llamas) out to the ocean. (http://www.glendeven.com/architecture.html)
Dare I say it? We fell in love with CHICKENS! No, not the garlicky ones roasted with thyme and glazed with orange honey, but the fully feathered kind that scratch and peck and make warbly clucking noises. OMG! Chickens are just gorgeous creatures! Their feathers are landscapes of color, almost fur-like and we delighted in feeding them the (owner-approved) grains provided in a bag in our room.
Strangely though, some of those guys bypassed the grains and went straight for my feet! Did they recognize a chicken-eater in their midsts?
One of the llamas taking a dirt bath. Was it Dolly? They all had names, and of course there had to be a Dolly Llama!
The Farmhouse:
The Grounds:
Peggy caught eating the entire jar of Rice Krispie Treats left for all the guests:
From these photos it looks like we never made it out of the Inn, but venture out we did. The town of Mendocino itself is Gingerbread By The Sea blended with a dose of Uptown, old and new Hippy charm, and "Qute" as all get-out. We did our share of dining (of course), and shopping and cruising up the coast.
Food glorious food. This yellow house, The MacCallum House, (http://www.maccallumhouse.com/) is home to a lovely hotel and restaurant that made a super delicious Manhattan cocktail. Ahhhhhhh ... what could be better than sipping a Manhattan on a warm enclosed patio on a blustery seaside evening?
Our favorite eatery was Café Beaujolais recommended by our Mendocino-savvy cousin Jeffrey. http://www.cafebeaujolais.com/ Quite the Qulinary delight! (Sorry ... gone "Q" Qrazy!) Of course, I waaay over-ordered (should have stopped with the foie gras), so couldn't eat but a forkful of my entrée (potato gnocci). Ted had outta-dis-world Sturgeon, and I am wondering why one or the other of us doesn't have The Gout from so much rich food, but then let's not plant that seed okay?
One of our most favorite wanderings was walking out to the old Point Cabrillo Light Station on a promontory overlooking crashing waves below. (http://www.pointcabrillo.org/) We'd hoped to see some migratory whales since this is the season, but they didn't appear that day. Still, the roughness of the coast and the rugged weather and thrilling sting of salt air was more than enough to fill our senses with the spirit of the place. A Mendocino dream come true ...
"I love you so, please don't go
Please stay here with me in Mendocino.
Mendocino, Mendocino ..." — Sir Douglas Quintet
