Abbot’s Lagoon is a great place for bird watchers. Or people watchers. This great blue heron with its neck stretched out like a rubber band had a wary eye on Peggy. Wisely so. She was stalking it with her camera. (Photo by Peggy Mekemson.)
It’s a wrap on my Pt. Reyes series today. Peggy and I will take you for a hike out to Abbot’s Lagoon and a visit to Pt. Reyes Station, a favorite town of mine.
The hike is suitable for almost anyone. We even watched a mom and dad pushing their baby along in a stroller. How much easier can it get? The baby seemed quite happy as did the parents. Visitors can turn around whenever they want, hike out to the Lagoon, or go on a leisurely stroll all the way to the ocean. We chose the latter.
The Abbot’s Lagoon trailhead leading out from the parking lot. The Lagoon can be seen in the distance. The Pacific Ocean is out beyond the Lagoon. The narrow strip you can see on the left is the continuation of the trail.
The red marker shows the location of Abbot’s Lagoon on the Google map. Down to the right you can see Pt. Reyes Station next to the Highway 1 marker. Highway 1, BTW, follows the San Andreas fault through this area. The 1906 San Francisco Earthquake shot what is now the National Seashore over 20 feet northward. San Francisco is 30 miles to the south.
Another photo of Peggy’s great blue heron. This time he was back at work catching fish. I liked the slight hint of a reflection. (Photo by Peggy Mekemson.)
I was impressed with the red eye on this coot. (Photo by Peggy Mekemson.)
We crossed a small bridge and looked back up the Lagoon toward the parking lot.
There was a drift wood structure along the trail on the beach out near the ocean. It had been cleverly woven together with kelp.
Finally we arrived at the Pacific Ocean.
The North Pacific Coast Railroad had arrived in the area 146 years earlier in 1875 and let passengers off in a cow pasture to make their way to nearby Olema and dairy ranches out on the peninsula. The cow pasture soon added a hotel and the town of Pt. Reyes station was born. It’s a story told over and over in the West. The railroad arrives and a community springs up, making land barons/developers happy and rich. This time it was a dentist in San Francisco. The railroad was making its way north to retrieve redwoods that were being cut down to build the city. Many a giant redwood gave its life to the cause.
I first arrived at Pt. Reyes Station in the late 1960s and I’ve returned again and again. The town has become somewhat yuppified and more expensive since then due to its close vicinity to San Francisco, but it still retains much of its charm. The following photos reflect some of what makes it charming.
The Pt. Reyes Book Store is one of the best small, independent bookstores we have ever been in, and we’ve been in a lot. Peggy told me to go in and spend $200 for my birthday. Boy, does she know me…
The Bovine Bakery is on one side of the book store. The buttermilk scones are to die for! I never leave town without one, or two, or three, or four.
Feeling Horsey? A saddlery is on the other side of the bookstore.
If your horse is hungry, Toby’s Feed Barn is across the street.
But what feed barn do you know that also serves gourmet coffee and freshly baked, large chocolate chip cookies. Now, that’s what I call charm!
A walk behind the the bookstore building brought us to the Cowgirl Creamery, famous for its cheeses, and I might add, its grilled cheese sandwiches. I’ve never been a fan of grilled cheese, but one bite of its aged white cheddar on sourdough bread and I was hooked. Peggy and I were back for another one the next day, which we took out and ate at the Abbot’s Lagoon parking lot.
Our view from where we chowed down on our grilled cheese sandwiches in the Abbot’s Lagoon parking lot.
A bit of living history. Cheda’s Garage is the oldest contract Triple A garage in the nation.
This was the view inside Cheda’s Garage. Putting two and two together and thinking roadside pickup of wrecked cars, I couldn’t help but irreverently think “Roadkill.” Just kidding. Old Cheda must have been one heck of a hunter.
A photo of early Pt. Reyes Station…
The building today.
The mural on the front of the building capturing some of the activities and wildlife of the area.
Just around the corner we found a sign that made us smile. A No Parking Sign had been cleverly modified to become a No Barking sign. Several cars were lined up in the no parking zone. Not one had a barking dog. A law-abiding town, for sure.
I’ll conclude my Pt. Reyes series with a historic photo of the train that gave the town its name. Join me next Friday on my travel blog as I take you on a spring walk around our property.
MONDAY’s BLOG-A-BOOK POST from Its 4 AM and a Bear Is Standing on Top of Me: I decide that doing an inventory of the local skunk population is ever so much better than being conked on the head by a Little League hardball. But have you ever faced a skunk standing on its front legs with its tail pointed toward you— ready to spray?
That was another interesting tour. I couldn’t help noticing that at some point, the owners of the old building filled in the arches of the colonnade to make more interior space while leaving pedestrians exposed to the vagaries of the weather. But at least it made a nice “canvas” for the mural.
I really do need to learn more about the history of that building, Gunta. I’d noticed that as well. Looks like there may have been shops. Possibly it was the old hotel. The station was across the road where the Station House Cafe now stands. Yummy hamburgers. –Curt
Sorry Ray. I was thinking about a comment that Gunta had made. 🙂
A great town maintaining its classic history – you KNOW I’ll enjoy that! I’d also join you for that grilled cheese! But waking up with a skunk’s butt in my face? I’ll pass!!!!!
Grin… I came out with several great books. And I made sure Peggy bought a couple as well! Bookstores are definitely a weakness/highlight of our travels. 🙂 –Curt
When I came to the photo after the coot, with the reeds and grasses, I thought for a minute I was looking at a pair of furry mammals: not skunks, but maybe porcupine-like creatures. The only problem I have with these posts, Curt, is that I want to be there. NOW. I’m going to work on my transporter, and see if I can get myself beamed up to California.
We could all use one of those transporters, Linda! I’m in Klamath Falls, Oregon now. planning to camp out and visit some lakes for kayaking. It’s cold out, however, and I was heading to higher elevations. The camping out may have to wait…
I’ve been known to judge a town strictly by its bookstore, Gerard. I like mine to come with a cat, but it isn’t a requirement. 🙂 I was totally surprised by the grilled cheese. I grew up with white bread and velveeta cheese. And was happy to leave it behind. Now Peggy and I are having a grilled sourdough and sharp white cheddar cheese sandwich once a week!
Wandering through Time and Place 
A charming tour of one of many quirky features of California. Roadkill was my thought, too. 😉
Great minds (or is that twisted) minds think alike, Gunta. 🙂 Thanks. –Curt
That was another interesting tour. I couldn’t help noticing that at some point, the owners of the old building filled in the arches of the colonnade to make more interior space while leaving pedestrians exposed to the vagaries of the weather. But at least it made a nice “canvas” for the mural.
I really do need to learn more about the history of that building, Gunta. I’d noticed that as well. Looks like there may have been shops. Possibly it was the old hotel. The station was across the road where the Station House Cafe now stands. Yummy hamburgers. –Curt
Sorry Ray. I was thinking about a comment that Gunta had made. 🙂
A great town maintaining its classic history – you KNOW I’ll enjoy that! I’d also join you for that grilled cheese! But waking up with a skunk’s butt in my face? I’ll pass!!!!!
Good choice on the town and the cheese, G, but everyone should have the opportunity to face down a skunk. Grin. –Curt
😣
Oh wow, $200 to spend in a bookstore. Way to go.
Grin… I came out with several great books. And I made sure Peggy bought a couple as well! Bookstores are definitely a weakness/highlight of our travels. 🙂 –Curt
That looks like such a lovely place to spend a day. Such character! I suspect that someday I’ll get down that way. 🙂
It’s definitely worth it D. –Curt
Lovely jaunt through my old neighborhood.
I usually think of you when I head over into that area, A.
When I came to the photo after the coot, with the reeds and grasses, I thought for a minute I was looking at a pair of furry mammals: not skunks, but maybe porcupine-like creatures. The only problem I have with these posts, Curt, is that I want to be there. NOW. I’m going to work on my transporter, and see if I can get myself beamed up to California.
We could all use one of those transporters, Linda! I’m in Klamath Falls, Oregon now. planning to camp out and visit some lakes for kayaking. It’s cold out, however, and I was heading to higher elevations. The camping out may have to wait…
Any town with a book shop has my blessing and of course with a grilled cheese sourdough roll.
I’ve been known to judge a town strictly by its bookstore, Gerard. I like mine to come with a cat, but it isn’t a requirement. 🙂 I was totally surprised by the grilled cheese. I grew up with white bread and velveeta cheese. And was happy to leave it behind. Now Peggy and I are having a grilled sourdough and sharp white cheddar cheese sandwich once a week!