Point Reyes NP and Its Environs (Including San Francisco)

     

     Tuesday night we dined at Osteria Stellina, a very good Italian restaurant which we always visit at least once when we are in the area. Before we left, we had made reservations to return on Saturday evening.

    
     Wednesday morning's high winds, gusting out of the northwest and strafing the spit that would have taken us to Tomales Point, our planned destination, persuaded us to opt for a shorter inland walk along the Tomales Bay's eastern shore. After crossing fields of grazing cattle and abundant wild flowers, we threaded our way along a narrow isthmus until we were forced back to whence we started by an unfordable channel of rushing water.

Wild Flowers and a Glimpse of Tomales Bay

     The drive to the walk was on the way to Nick's Cove in Marshall, California. So, when the walk was over (about 1:00), we continued on to Nick's for lunch. Nick's had been recommended to us by Jared Lee, the winemaker at the Maas' Pear Valley Vineyard, who grew up nearby. He did not lead us astray. The local seafood--rock cod and chips; Dungeness crab Louis; mussels with chorizo, jalapenos, and onions--were all excellent. A wide selection of good local brews on draft enabled three of us to each try a different style of beer. Best of all, perhaps, was the New England Clam Chowder, made with real milk, bacon, thyme, potato and lots of clams.

View from Nick's Dining Room

    

      The Terracotta Warriors exhibit at San Francisco's Asian Art Museum was scheduled to end on Monday, the 27th, so we took advantage of our proximity to the city to visit it on Thursday.