We left Napa overcast with the hope that the forecast for the cloud cover breaking in the afternoon proved true. It didn’t, and we did not care, although a warm sun makes for a better day to explore.
I had wanted to take the perilous Highway 1 to Stinson Beach to view the Pacific as it should be – from high above rocky cliffs. Traffic through Marin County was not quite as bad as Napa, but there really are too many people living here and too many tourists. It’s like the Amalfi Coast – nothing I can do about it, so why complain?
Highway 1 to the coast from the 101 was recently repaved, but still too narrow and winding, and everyone thinks they are driving a F-1 race car. Finally the populated areas diminish and we are alone on the highway. There is some blue sky way off in the Pacific. It’s a cool ride in this new Camaro.
The plan was to stop in Stinson Beach for lunch, but there seemed too many people at both of the small diners, so we continued on to Olema, then turning back East through the Samuel P. Taylor State Park – traveling though a dense forest of monstrous Cypress trees.
I was low on gas and happy to arrive in Fairfax only to be overwhelmed by gridlock again – from shear isolation to too many people calling Marin their home.
Nothing caught our eye for now a very late lunch, so I drove on through San Rafael as school was letting out trying to get back on the 101. Finally there, traffic was already pouring out of San Francisco, thankfully in the other direction.
The Sausalito exit is the last before the bridge. I forgot that it is a hairpin curve to exit. The Camero proved to have brakes well matching its horsepower!
Sausalito is just too cool! Tourists everywhere, of course, but since we fall into that category I’ll just stop. Too many damn people on bikes hogging the too narrow roads anyway – damn locals!
We found a seafood place with easy parking and a bay side view. A bottle of a good Chardonnay and a fishman’s dozen (14) of fresh oysters and all was fine. We split the seafood pasta, which was great, but not quite authentic. It was good, as we were very hungry.
Then coffee and a walk near the bridge with that great view of the city. We were not compelled to stay after dark. Back in the city, it is a night of rest. Tomorrow it ends – way too soon.
