• icon-facebook
  • icon-twitter
  • icon-linkedin
  • icon-pinterest
  • icon-youtube
  • icon-instagram

Angry Birds

We get more Northern California State Park campgrounds and run into a few angry birds!

Real angry. But that comes later.

When I am on the road I keep a sort of schedule. About once a week I process photos of all the campgrounds I have visited and write a blog post. I back up all the photos to portable hard drives just to be safe.

But I did things a little out of order while camping at MacKerricher last weekend. I organized all the campground photos on Saturday, but that afternoon I walked the park and took pictures. Then I wrote the blog on Sunday.

Here is MacKerricher.

Mac-Kerricher-Sign

A large campground with 143 sites, it sits just north of Fort Bragg. I stayed in site 90.

Mac-Kerricher_090

Most of the sites are like that. Number 87 was a big one.

Mac-Kerricher_087

The group area comprises sites 1 – 20.

I rode my bike down to the beach.

Mac-kerricher-Beach-2 Mac-Kerricher-Beach-1

Clouds were building on the western horizon but the weather had been great for the past couple of days. There is also a small lake next to the beach, Lake Leone I believe. It even had a boat ramp of sorts.

Mac-Kerricher-Boat-Ramp

Just paddle through the marsh to reach the lake.

The temperature dropped as the clouds became thicker. I made some comfort food and retired to my tent.

Macaroni-Dinner

Cheesy goodness with a dash of habanero sauce to keep me warm.

The plan for Sunday was to make a day trip to visit two more State Parks so after writing and posting the last blog I headed out.

I popped the flash card that I use for campsite photos into my camera. I formatted it like I always did when everything has been processed and backed up.

As I was driving south a sickening thought hit me. The MacKerricher photos were on that card. Rats!

I pulled over. I remembered that I had a free file recovery program on my laptop. I ran it and it said the flash card was empty. There was an option for a deep scan so I tried that. 20 minutes later it listed the files it had found. MacKerricher was all there.

The program is called Recuva. Get the free version. It can recover pictures from a formatted card as long as they are not overwritten, meaning that you have not taken new pictures with that card yet.

Anyway, I was feeling better as I made my first stop.

Russian-Gulch-Sign

A nifty little coastal park with 30 sites. I was digging number 25.

Russian-Gulch_025

That tree sort of drapes over the picnic table.

There is a beach next to the campground under a bridge. I walked out on the headlands to get this view.

Russian-Gulch-Bay

Looks cold. Turning around, this is what you see.

Russian-Gulch-Ocean-View

I think I will pass on the swim.

I continued south a few miles.

Van-Damme-Sign

Same deal. A campground in a canyon with a beach.

Van-Damme-Beach

There are 74 sites here like number 18.

Van-Damme_018

Along with a little creek and a visitor center.

Van-Damme-Creek Van-Damme-Visitor-Center

I headed back to my campsite as the rain began to fall. It was still raining in the morning. I kept hoping it would stop but I finally gave up and packed up soaking wet.

Mac-Kerricher-Campsite

I headed about 170 miles south to Bodega Bay with one stop on the way.

Manchester-Sign

There are 41 sites here. The loop closest to the beach had some good ones like number 40.

Manchester_040

The sun was trying to break through so I crossed my fingers and kept heading south.

Manchester-Beach

I arrived at Bodega Dunes and set up camp.

Bodega-Dunes-Sign

Sort of…

Drying-Out

Tuesday I awoke to the sun and as I write this on Monday it has been sunny ever since. Yippee!

I went for a short hike. There is a trail from my site, number 28, off into the dunes.

Bodega-Trail-1

I followed a deer.

Deer-Print

I heard the waves crashing all night so I figured the beach should not be to far away. After about a mile of twisty trail I topped a ridge.

Bodega-Dunes-View

The beach can wait. I want some breakfast. So I headed back.

Bodega-Dunes-Landscape Bodega-Trail-3 Bodega-Trail-4

I figured that pancakes would hit the spot.

Bodega-Breakfast

Even my tent was happy to be in the sun.

Bodega-Tent

There are 98 sites here and depending on your preference you can have sun, like my site number 28.

Bodega-Dunes_028

Or shade, like number 26.

Bodega-Dunes_026

It’s all good.

After walking Bodega Dunes I drove 3 miles north to Wrights Beach.

Wrights-Beach-Sign

This is a small park with only 27 spots. So why is it always full?

The beach.

Wrights-Beach

Several sites are right on the sand. Check out number 8.

Wrights-Beach_008

Here is another view.

Wrights-Beach-Campground-View

Beachfront property for $35 per night. Make your reservations early.

Wednesday I drove south a whopping 6 miles to Doran Park.

Doran-Sign

Following the State’s example they doubled their prices recently to $32 per night. Thanks.

Doran is located on the south end of Bodega Bay, actually on a spit of land that ends at the jetty.

There are 128 campsites here. I stayed in number 5 for two nights.

Doran_005

Roughly 10% of the sites are first come, first served. The rest you can reserve online or by phone.

I stayed topless.

Doran-Campsite

Loved it.

Here are some views of the beach and jetty.

Doran-Beach-View-2 Doran-Beach-View-1 Doran-Picnic-Area

After walking around the campground on Thursday I drove around the bay.

Element-at-Bay

And checked out the boats.

Bodega-Bay-Marina

I like fishing boats.

Fishing-Boats-1 Fishing-Boats-2

I even found one I could possibly afford.

Old-Boat

Perfect.

Be aware that it does get windy here. Some of the locals call it Blowdega Bay. The winds pick up in the afternoon and the two days I was there it reached about 35 mph.

The only real issue I had with the campground was the condition of the road.

Potholes

Yeah.

I used my charm and the next day they put up this sign.

Road-Sign

Good. I like it when people listen to me instead of running away with scared looks on their faces.

Friday morning I continued south another 150 miles.

Drove over this.

Golden-Gate

Passed through this.

Tunnel

And ended up on this.

Forest-Road

Big Basin State Park was full on Friday and Saturday nights so I found a county park that had an opening. For $35. Is that the new going rate to camp around here?

Anyway, I spent Saturday processing photos and arrived here at Big Basin on Sunday. But those pics are for the next blog.

But back to the Angry Birds. I ran into a pair of them at Doran.

They were circling around each other, flapping their wings and calling each other rude names. I decided to help.

I got them separated and had a talk.

The first one’s name was “Araack”. I think. It’s hard to tell.

Bird-1

The second one was “Squawk”.

Bird-2

They were fighting over who had first dib’s on the unused bait the fishing boats would toss over the side upon returning to port.

I said that there are a lot of fish in the sea, maybe they could share.

Araack told me to stop using such worn out clichés and Squawk just pooped.

I continued on, undaunted.

How about alternating who eats first, I told them. Alternate days.

They half-heartedly agreed. Good, I said, we are making progress. Now how about hopping up on those two rocks and acting like friends.

They did, but it was not what I was hoping for. They turned their backs on each other and Squawk hunched down his shoulders.

Angry-Birds

I had had enough of them. I started walking away but Squawk reached out.

He said he appreciated what I tried to do and invited me over for dinner.

“I am in space 107”, he said. “I’ve got a couple of half-full bags of chips and a few dead herring. You can’t miss my place. I even have a red kite flying out the back. But don’t take too long as I have a hot date tonight”.

I assured him I would be there as soon as I finished walking the campground, which only took another 20 minutes.

I found his place but was astonished to see him leaving already. He said I took too long and mumbled something about stupid humans.

I snapped a quick pic as he left.

Doran_107

Well, I learned my lesson. Never trust a gull with a hot date.

Regards, Park Ranger

One Reply to “Angry Birds”

  1. Wanda Summers Gardner says:

    I sense your trip is coming to an end? Excellent information! How is the foot you drilled a hole in?!?

Your Comment:

Your email address will not be published. Required fields marked *

Jay Cooke State Park

Minnesota

Jay Cooke State Park offers one of the best places for bikers, backpackers, horseback riders and skiers to hook up with the Willard Munger State Trail.

View Campground

Take the Family on a Perfect Road Trip!

Save up to 25% on your family travel costs in 2021 by booking an RV through RVshare

Find Cheap RV Rentals

Greenbrier State Park

Maryland

Outdoor recreation in the area includes boating, canoeing, kayaking, swimming, fishing, hiking, biking and picnicking.

View Campground

Unique RV Camping

Over 2,000 Wineries, Breweries, Farms and more!

Harvest Hosts is a special type of membership club for RVers, offering overnight RV camping accommodations at 2,365+ locations across North America!

Learn More

Experience RVing

Take the Family on a Perfect Road Trip! Rent an RV from RVshare

Find Cheap RV Rentals

Pawtuckaway State Park

New Hampshire

Pawtuckaway State Park Campground has 292 campsites and is located on the shores of beautiful Pawtuckaway Lake. Many having views of the lake.

View Campground

Fort De Soto Campground

Florida

Fort De Soto Park Campground has 238 single-family campsites and is located on an island in a beautiful 1,136-acre park in the Tampa Bay Area.

View Campground

Anastasia State Park

Florida

Anastasia State Park has 139 campsites that are close to the beach and can accommodate tents, trailers and RVs.

View Campground

Beverly Beach State Park

Oregon

Beverly Beach State Park is in forest-sheltered area right on the Oregon coast and is a very popular campground featuring a beautiful trail to and along miles of sandy beach.

View Campground

Great Deals on Top Rated Camping Gear

Find everything you need for camping, including hiking supplies, tents, coolers, sleeping bags, cots, survival & first aid, food processing, and more!

Shop Now

Henry Cowell State Park

California

Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park includes 4,650 acres of beautiful forest and open land. The 40-acre old-growth redwood grove is a 5 minute drive or a short hike from the campground.

View Campground

Essential Camping Gear and Equipment

Get everything you need to enjoy your outdoor adventures from bags and packs to air beds and sleeping bags, insect repellant, cooler bags, and 2-burner stoves.

Shop Now