Bodega Bay has always been a favorite place for our family and I am sure it will be on the list for the Twins and the Boys! It is only an hour and a half north of San Francisco and has so many beautiful areas to explore! Stacy read about finding sand dollars on Doran Regional Park south of town so we had to visit. I absolutely LOVE these happy smiles!

We all loved the hunt for sand dollars!

“Look, I found one!”

It was a blustery day and a little chilly but Vaughan didn’t mind at all!

The family enjoys a walk along the beach. What a wonderful family moment!

I’m pointing to a pelican in the bay.

An old wharf at low tide. In 2018 I spread some of my Mom’s ashes nearby as this was a favorite spot for her!

“Lo” thought she saw a seal!

Looking out over “Shell Beach” north of Bodega Bay.

“Come on everybody!”

“We’re waiting Papa!”

Some areas of the trail were a little slippery!

Part of the “Tidepool Team.”

The Girls loved looking for tidepools.

Owen spotted something interesting.

Sea anemones!

An array of starfish.

Stacy takes a closer look.

Stacy took this shot of a seal on a nearby rock. When I went over to look it had gone.

Exploring the beach and rocks.

I love this memory of the family at Shell Beach!

I am an inveterate beachcomber! I found some jade pebbles, jasper, and some Serpentine. I added a little limpet shell as well.

We stopped for a great lunch at “Gourmet au Bay.”

I had some very nice salmon and a wine flight.

Love my Girls!

It was very windy and chilly on top of “Bodega Head.” Marla was not feeling very well so she stayed in the car.

Amaryllis Belladonna, or Belladonna Lily, near our home rental.

Marla bundles up from the wind on our deck.

The first leg of our “9-year-old” trip was wonderful!

Everything changed when Marla woke up feeling chest pains and was having trouble breathing around 1 AM! Mar said “I need to go to the emergency room.” I did my best not to panic and with a weak Wi-Fi signal I found Sutter hospital close to our rental in Santa Rosa, about 45 minutes away. With Stacy as our rock for coordination and organization for the kids, I headed out on the inky dark and winding roads toward the hospital, all the while trying to calm Marla down and keep the Yukon on the narrow roads! Stacy called the ER in advance so they were waiting outside for our arrival. No visitors were allowed because of COVID so I couldn’t even check her in! The story continues next week.

Photos: Dick Gentry. Not to be used without permission.