The weather forecast for Bodega Bay this weekend was cloudy skies. This would be perfect for me to go see multiple waterfalls. It was going to be a great day. Of course the stupid forecaster was wrong again. It was a sunny day. At least I was able to see three waterfalls in good lighting conditions.
I was not planning to take Journey on this trip because it is a very long drive and she would not be able to go on all the hikes I had planned. Then it occurred to me I should invite my wife to come along. She is not able to go on any hikes right now but she loves the ocean and she would not mind waiting for Journey and myself to hike, and afterwards we could go to the beach and then have lunch in Bodega Bay. It was a good plan.
The main hike I wanted to do was 6 miles in Sonoma Coast State Park. There are two waterfalls here that I have not been to before. Journey and I set off down the trail leaving mom at the car to read her book. It was a very nice trail, a little muddy but not bad at all. It was a gorgeous morning.
We went to the upper falls first. Most people have no clue that an upper falls even exists. Thanks to my friend Mike for telling me about this one. The trail is difficult with a lot of fallen logs to negotiate but it is much better than I expected. Journey had no troubles with it. I think she had a lot of fun jumping over and crawling under all the logs. The last part is very steep and we had to take our photos on the side of a very steep hill. Journey had no place to sit down. I did not spend much time here though. I had to hurry and get to the other waterfall before the sun found it.
Willow Creek Falls is 76 ft. high. It is a real beauty hidden off the main path. It was flowing quite well after all the recent rains and we were the only ones here to enjoy it. Journey ate her snack while I took photos. Then we climbed back up the mountain to find mom waiting for us. Journey was so tired she did not even greet mom back at the car before flopping down on the seat (that is very strange because she loves her mom so much). However, she found a lot more energy to play fetch when we got to the beach in Bodega Bay. It was a wonderful day on the Sonoma Coast.
