The View From The Gulch

This has to be the coolest arrival at the inn yet

2010-10-12T15:49:00.000-07:00

It takes something pretty unusual to get me excited. This one did. We had a very nice couple arrive from Lake Tahoe to celebrate their 25th anniversary today. They are the first guests of the inn to fly in on their own helicopter and land on our meadow. Wow! I had a grin on from ear to ear.

THE Bingo Event of the Year!

2010-03-01T20:31:00.001-08:00

Well, last Saturday I attended my third Soroptimist Bingo Bash. Unlike your grandmother's church bingo, this one features appetizers, free-flowing wine, dinner, raffle prizes and 10 bingo games with the value of each game's prize package being between $ 800-$ 1000. As you can see, some people found the evening shocking.

Estates Gallery in Fort Bragg

2010-03-01T20:05:00.000-08:00

Life on the North Coast is like a treasure hunt. I have been here almost 3 years now and I am still finding new and interesting places. With over 20 inches of rain in the last few weeks, the challenge has been finding places to explore in the rain.

Recently, I found Estates Gallery in Fort Bragg. It is a warren of stacks and small rooms filled with books and great places to sit and browse.

The store is owned by Richard Lina. He opened it in 1983 and through his diligence and knowledge, has filled it with the most interesting and amazing collection imaginable. It is the perfect place to spend a rainy afternoon.

The Calm After The Storms

2010-01-27T17:41:00.000-08:00

1 week and 10 inches of rain later, the Mendocino Coast shakes off the bluster and reveals the heart-stopping beauty of the North Coast.

Choosing This Year's Heirloom Tomato Varieties

2010-01-12T11:30:00.000-08:00

This year, we've decided to plant only heirloom tomatoes in the inn's Anderson Valley Heritage Garden. We traveled down to the Seed Bank in Petaluma to select our seeds.

This store, part of the Baker Seed Company out of Missouri, is a nirvana for gardeners.

This is one of the 30+ varieties we chose.

The Annual Chestnut Harvest

2009-11-10T08:53:00.000-08:00

Last Saturday was the annual Permaculture Festival and Potluck at the Zeni Ranch. Located 15 miles down Fish Rock Road and high up on a ridgetop between Mendocino and Sonoma Counties, the Zenis have been working this land for well over 100 years. One of the great things about this continuity is that a discussion with any Zeni about sustainable farming and perennial agricultural systems is usually bolstered by stories of moonshining and revenuers.

But the true stars of this day are the dry-farmed chestnut trees brought to this country from Italy over 100 years ago. Tall and majestic, their branches stretch across 100 feet and more. The chestnuts themselves actually grow inside of prickly seed pods, so it is important to wear boots (to squash them out of the pods) and gloves to avoid getting stuck. Along with three friends that went with me, we were able to harvest almost 20 pounds!

Friends Come To Vist

2009-10-26T10:34:00.001-07:00

A couple of friends from San Diego, Marshall and Lois, came up to visit this past weekend. I had a great time showing them around Mendocino and the Anderson Valley because they are both very visual people. Lois is in graphic design and Marshall is a photographer. I saw things I would normally never notice when I looked at things through their eyes.

What's The Best Thing On Our Menu?

2009-10-25T07:30:00.000-07:00

That has to be the BAAT!

What's a BAAT you ask? It is bacon, avocado, arugula and grilled BGI Heritage Garden heirloom tomato over a thick slice of fresh sourdough bread. The combination of sweet and peppery Millionaire's Bacon, with the flavor of a garden-fresh heirloom tomato can't be beat. Of course, I may be a little partial since we grew those tomatoes from seed, so I guess you will just have to come and try for yourself.

Fall in the Anderson Valley

2009-10-22T16:50:00.000-07:00

Fall is a beautiful time of the year in the Anderson Valley. Trees changing colors and the vineyards turning a flaming red. The last of the grapes waiting to be picked are syrah.

Meadowview Suite Back In Service

2009-10-20T19:46:00.000-07:00

After being out of service for more than 2 years, Brewery Gulch Inn's 2-room Meadowview Suite is now back in service. And it's first guest was a gentleman who was part of the ensemble cast of a long-running, ground-breaking television show.

The only rooms at the inn to overlook the meadow that hosts many of the deer, turkeys and other wildlife that visit Brewery Gulch, Meadowview is equipped with a mini-refrigerator, a microwave, a Keurig coffemaker, two televisions (one a large flat panel tuned to the DISH Network) and a stereo system. In the main room, a couch, two leather club chairs and a fireplace make for a comfortable area to watch television, or visit with family and friends. A queen feather bed rounds out this room.

In the bedroom, a splittable king featherbed, leather club chair and a large flat panel television make this a quiet and restful room for sleeping.

Pressing Apples In The Anderson Valley

2009-10-19T15:11:00.001-07:00

Last Saturday, I went up to Sarah's family's vineyard to press the fall apples into juice. Norm, the vineyard manager, found a machine that grinds the apples into pulp and a hand-turned apple press to extract the juice from the pulp. We started with a lot of boxes of apples from their trees and those of neighboring farms. First we would grind them up:

Then we would take the pulp over to the press where we'd crank the mashed up apples down until all the juice came out:

It took most of the day, but we filled 40 half-gallon containers with the best apple juice I've ever had.

Paris Flea Market--2009

2009-10-09T13:15:00.001-07:00

The annual Paris Flea Market at Sallie Mac in Mendocino started today. A truly unique shop with a wide variety of merchandise, Sallie Mac has been a touchstone in Mendocino for a decade. Recently featured in Oprah magazine, customers travel from across the state to Mendocino for Sallie's three-day event.

Great Day In Elk -- 2009

2009-08-31T09:29:00.000-07:00

It's a small community, just a little over 200 people, but they do things in a big way. Every year in August, they host one of the North Coast's best celebrations-Great Day In Elk. The day begins with a parade...not a large one, but one where quality is definitely emphasized over quantity. Everyone falls in behind the last of the parade and follows it down to the Greenwood Community Center. There, music, food, a greased pole climbing contest, a cake raffle and a myraid of other events run into the late afternoon and lead up to a community-wide dance that evening.

It has been a "don't miss" event since I moved here three years ago.

Great For Lunch or Dinner

2009-08-14T11:09:00.000-07:00

Now that I've been up here a couple of years, I've developed a few favorite places I like to go. And I have learned that what makes a restaurant a favorite is more than just the food. It is a combination of the food, the atmosphere and here in Mendocino, the owners.

Moosse Cafe is one of my favorites. The owners, Carolyn and Misha, are hands-on. They have imbued the restaurant with their personality. And it flows from them on through their staff. Professional, accommodating, friendly.

And the food is creative without being overdone. Organic, fresh and seasonal, half of the menu changes daily. But my "don't miss" item on their menu is the Belgian chocolate dessert.

So if you are up in Mendocino, be sure to stop in for lunch or dinner at the Moosse and tell Misha and Carolyn that Guy says hi.

Garden Setting, Food, Wine, Music -- Winesong! 2009

2009-08-05T09:14:00.000-07:00

One of the best events on the Mendocino coast will be taking place this year on Friday, September 11 and Saturday, September 12. Winesong! is a nationally-recognized charity wine auction and tasting attended by more than 1,000 guests from across the country and around the world. They gather in the Mendocino Coast Botanical Gardens for wine and food tastings, music, and both silent and live auctions featuring rare vintages, special bottles and hard to find vertical collections from cult wineries. And the word is out among wine-loving bidders that Winesong’s vacation packages to leading wine regions offer unbeatable experiences. Trips to France, Italy and New Zealand all feature visits to world-famous wine producers, tastings of older vintages and meetings with the winemakers.

Around The Inn

2009-08-04T22:02:00.000-07:00

Sometimes I forget just how zen the inn is. From the temple bells and the herb garden out front, to the flowers and beautiful view of Smuggler's Cove off the back deck, there is just a peaceful and relaxing energy that surround you when you are here.

Dogs Have Birthdays Too!

2009-07-30T20:47:00.000-07:00

There is always a reason to celebrate here in Mendocino. Last week, the occasion was the birthday of Blair's twin Springer Spaniels. All of the dogs brothers and sisters, as well as their parents, attended with their owners. An important tip I learned the hard way -- at a dog party, those things that look like brownies may well not be!

The Maltese Falcon

2009-07-16T15:13:00.000-07:00

Last fall, a friend of mine invited a few of us to travel down to San Francisco and go aboard the Maltese Falcon. At 289', the Falcon is the largest privately owned sailboat in the world. Its construction called for the biggest private purchase of carbon fiber ever made. The sails can be unfurled and the ship steered from a touchscreen at the helm. It was an amazing experience.

Seldom Scene a hit at Mendocino's Music Festival

2009-07-15T23:54:00.000-07:00

Since its inception in 1971, the Seldom Scene has thrived on playing bluegrass a little differently than everyone else. If other bands used a fiddler, the Seldom Scene used a Dobro; if others relied on old standards, the Seldom Scene played rock classics like J.J. Cale's "After Midnight." Through skilled musicianship and an urban approach to bluegrass, the Seldom Scene has become one of the most influential -- if not the most influential -- bluegrass band of their time.

They played tonight to a sold out crowd at the Mendocino Music Festival. More than 2 1/2 hours of incredible music (and two encores). What a show.

The Music Festival continues through July 25th.

Our first harvest

2009-07-13T22:33:00.000-07:00

Thanks to help from the Schoenemans and their vineyard manager, Norm Kobler, vegetables were ready to be picked from BGI's Anderson Valley Heritage Garden. Zucchini, squash and beets were the first veggies that will reach the plates of inn guests tomorrow!

Lucky Lulu The Pug

2009-07-10T12:00:00.000-07:00

Have you ever met a dog that was just too funny for words? Taylor and I met Lucky Lulu outside of Queenie's Roadhouse Cafe in Elk.

BGI's Anderson Valley Heirloom Vegetable Garden Taking Shape

2009-07-10T11:10:00.000-07:00

This past spring, the Schoeneman family (owners of Ferrington Vineyards) was kind enough to offer us some space on their Anderson Valley property to plant an heirloom vegetable garden for Brewery Gulch.

All the plants were started from seeds in the greenhouse and when they became large enough, we moved them out to the garden beds. We planted 12 varieties of heirloom tomatoes, squash, carrots, brussell sprouts, cabbage, swiss chard, zucchini, cucmubers, beets, cress, eggplant, pimiento peppers, leeks, spinach, bell peppers, and kale.

We are just ready to start harvesting the squash, beets and zucchini.

Our amazing chef!

2009-07-08T14:46:00.001-07:00

I like to cook. I really like to cook, but I need a recipe to follow. I'm not the kind of person that can look at a few ingredients and create a dish.

Here at the inn we were fortunate to find an extraordinarily talented chef, Rick Anderson, to oversee our kitchen. Rick is a graduate of the New England Culinary Institute. He served as the executive chef at several East Coast restaurants and as a private chef on a yacht before opening Kendricks at the Quaker House on Nantucket, a restaurant he ran for 8 years. He walked in our door two years ago and elevated the food we offer to guests to new heights.

It has been educational for me to watch Rick practice his craft. I have learned quite a few things that I practice in the kitchen once he has left for the day.

Not Bad For a Surfer

2008-10-17T00:01:00.000-07:00

Taylor's got a pretty good stroke for a surfer. Last month, when she came up to visit, we had the chance to go kayaking on Big River. Together we slipped silently up the river in the early morning mist and watched the harbor seals sun themselves and the otters fish.

Our Flower Wizard

2008-10-15T00:01:00.000-07:00

Many of our guests marvel at the flowers on display at the inn. Most think that we have a florist that brings in the fresh flowers on a regular basis. But the truth is, we have our own in-house resident flower magician, Margi Gomez.

In addition to being a talented horticulturist, Margi is also an accomplished painter and a founding member of Pura Vida, a 7-piece Afro-Caribbean group (http://www.puravidamendo.com). In her spare time, Margi anchors our Guest Services desk weekday mornings.

From New York's Garment Industry to Mendocino Burger Maestros

2008-10-13T00:00:00.000-07:00

Thank god Jeff and Barbara left the garment industry in New York and found their way to Mendocino. In fact, I try to go in at least once a week to thank them. And as long as I am there, I have one of their burgers.

Actually, I think burger may be too common a term to describe the incredible creation Jeff prepares. Using only Roundman's grass-fed beef (or for a dollar more, you can have natural beef from the John Ford ranch), Jeff char-grills the burger over an open flame (it looks just like the wood-carved sign pictured here). Smothered in sauteed onions, crisp lettuce, tomatoes and cheese, you think you've died and gone to burger heaven.

Along with the burgers, they make some amazing fries (fresh-cut while you wait), and thick malts. Gigantic all-beef dogs, split down the middle, grilled and served up on a hamburger bun; fish and chips; grilled chicken; and steaks are all also found on the menu.

A visit to Mendocino is not complete until you've visited Mendo Burgers.

Diavola in Geyserville

2008-10-10T00:01:00.000-07:00

If you are heading up to the Brewery Gulch Inn from the Bay area, you will pass by Geyserville. Two exits on Highway 101; be careful, don't sneeze or you'll miss it.

Over the past few years, this sleepy Alexander Valley town has slowly begun unfolding its wings. Several galleries, a couple of tasting rooms, and an amazing Italian restaurant, Santi, now draw visitors down it's main street. This past summer, Santi's chef-owner Dino Bugica opened Diavola just a few doors down the street from its big brother.

Dino's latest venture is a pizzeria/salumeria housed in a century old, brick-walled/hardwood-floored building. Here Dino practices the time-honored tradition of using the most basic locally-available ingredients, combined with recipes passed down through the centuries. From the house-cured salumis and sausages, to the thin-crust, wood-fired pizzas, Diavola's cuisine is truly amazing.

Open for lunch and dinner Wednesday through Monday, Diavola is located at 21021 Geyserville Ave.

Sallie Mac's Paris Flea Market: An Annual Tradition

2008-10-07T09:00:00.000-07:00

Sallie Mac will once again transform their garden into a Paris Flea Market for Columbus Day Weekend, Friday, October 10 through Sunday, October 12. Early birds in line on Friday will be treated to hot coffee and French goodies. Unique items from the European countryside and one-of-a-kind vintage pieces will be marked down up to 50%. It's a great opportunity to browse, Parisian-style, and find a great accent piece for your home, or just get a jump on your holiday shopping.

Just an amazing evening

2008-10-06T19:37:00.000-07:00

Last week, I had the chance to hear one of my all-time favorite musicians, Ottmar Liebert, play in a setting you could only find here in Mendocino.

Greg Gorman, a photographer who splits his time between Los Angeles and Mendocino, had held a photography workshop for a small group of students during the week prior. At the end of the week, he had a small dinner to showcase the work the students had done (really amazing; it made me want to toss my camera in the trash). I was lucky enough to be invited. His friend, Ottmar, was there.

In the studio housed in a converted barn perched on the cliffs above the ocean, after an incredible dinner highlighted by a Pinot from the 25 acre Ampelos Vineyards in Los Olivos, I heard flamenco guitar the way it was meant to be played: acoustic and intimate. It was the first time I have had the opportunity to see, up close, the passion in the face of an accomplished musician as he played. It was an experience I will never forget.

Pressing Wine

2008-09-18T16:40:00.001-07:00

A new experience! Today I had the chance to press grapes and help create wine. My friend, Barry, has been doing this as a hobby for over 30 years and he has all of the equipment. A wine press, a pump, 4 wine barrels, a wine cellar.

I learned it is a lot of work making wine like this. It's nothing like the I Love Lucy show.

Nelson Family Vineyards

2008-08-13T12:00:00.000-07:00

The Nelson family settled in the hills between Ukiah and Hopland back in the 1950s. Today, their 2000 acre ranch runs from the Russian River up over the hills and across Highway 101. On it, they grow pears, Christmas trees and amazing grapes.

We were lucky to discover Nelson Family Vineyards shortly after I bought Brewery Gulch Inn in 2007. Since then, I have gotten the chance to know not only their wines, but Greg and his family as well. Recently, Greg and his wife visited us at the inn and poured a tasting of their Cab, Zin and several other wines. If you are up in the area, take the opportunity to stop by Nelson Family Vineyards .(http://www.nelsonfamilyvineyards.com/)

Art In The Gardens

2008-08-09T15:06:00.000-07:00

As the primary fundraiser for the Mendocino Coast Botanical Gardens, Art In The Gardens features local artists and winemakers showcasing their works in vignettes and venues spread throughout the 47 acre coastal botanical gardens.

Today's event enjoyed a sunny day and a dahlia garden at its peak. I found a great Adirondak chair painted by local artist, Lynne Prentice (http://www.prenticefineart.com/prentice/lynne-prentice.html), for the back deck of the inn. Once it is delivered, I'll put a post of it up so you all can see an example of the talented artists living in the area.

Our Furry Friend

2008-08-04T10:53:00.000-07:00

It's a menagerie here at the inn. In addition to the wild turkeys, the deer, the otters in the pond and the occasional mountain lion, this little guy has adopted our back deck as his home. He loves to hang out with the birds. He drinks out of the bird bath, he hangs upside down so he can get the seeds out of the feeder. Before he showed up, the Stellar Jays were the bullies of the neighborhood. But now the squirrel rules the roost.

The World's Largest Salmon Babecue

2008-07-30T11:43:00.000-07:00

Well, I can't attest to the fact that it was the World's Largest, but it sure was big.

I heard that more than 4,000 people were there, but it seemed to me that there were 40,000! They had several large barbecues going and chefs from every walk of life, in cluding local congressman Mike Thompson, manning them.

First held in 1970, the proceeds from the event go to restore and preserve the wild Pacific salmon resources. There was corn on the cob, salad, garlic bread and more slamon than you could shake a stick at. Live music was playing and everyone was having a good time. Set in picturesque Noyo Harbor, the day couldn't have been nicer.

Taylor's Balloon Ride

2008-07-23T15:05:00.001-07:00

Everyone has a bucket list. On my daughter's list, there was both a balloon ride and sky diving. For her birthday, a balloon ride in the skies over San Diego seemed the safer bet. Happy 20th, Taylor!

Fourth of July in Mendocino

2008-07-23T11:11:00.000-07:00

Fourth of July in Mendocino and the place to be was on Main Street. More than 5,000 people, locals and visitors alike, lined both Main and Lansing Streets to watch the parade of cars, floats, bands, circus performers and anyone else that wanted to get in on the act. The Kelley House Museum had a big barbecue that ran from the morning through the parade and then the big after-parade bash was held in Friendship Park.

This event never fails to entertain young and old alike. Sometimes, if it isn't too long, it even goes around twice!

The Coast Is Clear!

2008-06-26T15:02:00.000-07:00

With the numerous fires burning in Northern California (1088) and Mendocino County (87), we have received calls from many guests asking if we have been affected. Fortunately, with the brisk ocean breeze we receive, we have had little noticeable impact from the fires. The air has remained clear, the weather sunny. Our thoughts are with our friends and neighbors throughout the county that continue to battle the fires sparked by a lightning storm last week.

A Favorite Winery in the Anderson Valley

2008-05-24T19:40:00.000-07:00

One of the tedious tasks of being an innkeeper is selecting the wines to pour during the evening wine hour. This involves sampling countless wines at numerous tastings. It's a tough job, but someone has to do it.

During this process, I have had a chance to meet many of the local wine makers. One of my favorite wineries, both for the wines it produces and for the people who own and operate it, is Londer Vineyards in Philo. This small winery was started in 2001 by Shirlee and Larry Londer. They produce an amazing Pinot Noir, a beautiful Syrah and a very dry Gewurtztraminer. Shirlee and Larry were kind enough to pour a tasting for guests at the inn tonight. Just how nice are they? They came to pour in spite of the fact it was Larry's birthday.

Bachelorette Parties Welcome!

2008-05-22T01:00:00.000-07:00

One of the small benefits of being an innkeeper are unplanned things that happen. A friend of mine booked a weekend stay for her sister, her niece, her daughter and two friends to celebrate her neice's upcoming wedding. They made friends with everyone at the inn and I think they had a pretty good time. I know the innkeeper did.

Anderson Valley Pinot Festival

2008-05-19T10:11:00.000-07:00

This past weekend, the 11th annual Pinot Noir festival was held in the Anderson Valley. The only festival of its kind to celebrate a single varietal from a single appellation, the event kicked off with a technical conference and a barbecue at Standish Vineyards on Friday. On Saturday, a Grand Tasting featuring over 30 wineries was held at Goldenye. Following that event, 6 separate winemaker dinners were held at venues throughout the region. The festival concluded on Sunday with open houses at most of the vineyards throughout the valley.

The spectacular weather, combined withe the opportunity to sample close to 100 different pinots, made this a memorable weekend. I thought it was interesting that there were winemakers from not just Anderson Valley, but from Napa, Sonoma and other regions pouring wines they produced from grapes grown in our valley. In talking with a number of these wineries, I learned that Anderson Valley yields some of the finest pinot grapes in the world.

Friends Make The Difference

2008-05-19T09:46:00.000-07:00

It's tough leaving a field you have been in for 20 years and embarking on a totally new career. It's even more challenging uprooting yourself from friends, family and a large city where you have spent your entire life and moving to a small town of 1,000 people where you know no one. But sometimes you get lucky and make new friends right away.

I got lucky. One of the first friends I made was another guy who closed escrow on an inn in Mendocino the day after I became the owner of Brewery Gulch. It's been great knowing someone else that is going through the learning curve of inn ownership at the same time. John's friendship, sense of humor and llamas have really helped to make this transition an easy one. Here's a picture of John with the newest addition to his family (John is the one on the left).

The Falls at Russian Gulch

2008-05-01T22:41:00.000-07:00

My friends Brad and Cheryl came to visit this week. It was the first time they had spent any time in Mendocino, so I wanted to make sure to take them to my favorite places. At the top of that list has to be the falls at Russian Gulch.

The falls are located just a couple of miles north of town. An incredibly cool arched bridge carries Highway 1 over the river as it spills out onto the beach at Russian Gulch. Just east of the bridge, a trail begins. For the first mile or so, it is a wide path that follows the meandering river upstream. Then the path narrows and heads up into the forest for another 7/10 of a mile. All along the way, wildflowers and ferns crowd the path, while birds and butterflies compete for your attention.

Pretty soon you can hear the sound of the rushing stream grow louder and around the next bend, you see the falls spilling 35 feet over rocks, ferns and logs into a small pool below. The picture I've posted here doesn't even begin to do this place justice.

Just How Many People Live in Mendocino?

2008-04-25T11:58:00.001-07:00

It really depends if you are heading north on Highway 1 or south. It appears the town loses about 99 people somewhere in between.

Room Renovations Completed

2008-04-18T15:22:00.000-07:00

Last week, the final touches were put on the renovation of our 2 loft rooms. After 7 months of work, all 10 rooms at the inn have been renovated from top to bottom. Each room now has new carpeting, eco-spec paint, closets, lighted makeup mirrors, 700 gram organic cotton towels, Sferra bed linens imported from Italy, iHome clock radios and flat-panel televisions with DVD players. A much-needed ventilation system has been installed in our loft rooms; and the jacuzzi/soaking tubs in Manzanita, Pine, Madrone and Raven have been wrapped in travertine and glass.

Wi-fi service has now been pulled throughout the inn and extended to our rear deck area. A guest computer has been installed in the lobby so that guests can access e-mail, print boarding passes, and visit websites for local vineyards, restaurants and other area attractions. And recognizing that we are in a "cell hole" here with no service available, guests may now make complimentary local and long distance calls from their rooms.

An ever-expanding DVD collection accessible to guests in our lobby area currently contains 300 contemporary, classic and foreign titles. Beneath that collection also can be found a large assortment of games.

Renovations to the grounds of the inn have included the installation of new landscaping at the entrance and new furniture on the deck overlooking the Pacific.

It has been a very busy 7 months!

A Mendocino Institution

2008-04-18T12:50:00.000-07:00

One of the great things about living in a town like Mendocino is getting to know the people that make this place special. One of those people, and someone that has taken me under her wing since I arrived here last July, is Sallie McConnell.

Sallie left her career in New York's fashion industry 20 years ago to move to Mendocino. For the next seven years, she ran Agate Cove Inn in the north part of town before opening what has become a Mendocino institution, Sallie Mac.

Featuring a wide range of gifts and home accessories from the European countryside, Sallie Mac has enabled its owner to combine her intuitive sense of style with her love of people. Celebrating its 10th anniversary this year and frequented just as often by locals as by visitors, Sallie Mac has become a true touchstone for the community. No visit to Mendocino can be considered complete without a stop at Sallie Mac to browse their selection and meet the proprietor.

Pines Come Down

2008-04-18T12:05:00.000-07:00

Today we started the process of removing 40+ Bishop pines that have been ravaged by the Western Bark Beetle. These trees will be slowly removed over the next two years and replaced with other native trees that are resistant to this pest. It has been interesting watching the logger scale the two trees we are taking down today, remove the branches and carefully fall them.

Kayaking the Big River

2008-04-12T23:08:00.000-07:00

Today was an incredibly nice day. The temperature was in the mid-70s, there was a nice breeze blowing off the ocean and the sky was crystal clear. It was a great day for kayaking.

Just south of Mendocino lies the Big River. It was down this river, in the mid-1800s, that the timber used to build the Brewery Gulch Inn was floated. Today, thanks to an unprecedented community effort in 2002 that generated over $ 25 million in private and public funds, 7,334 acres of the Big River estuary and surrounding forestland have been purchased and are now permanently protected. Over 22 species of fish and 131 species of birds can be found here.

Catch-A-Canoe and Kayak Too is a great place to gear up for exploring the Big River. Here, it is possible to rent single person kayaks, tandem kayaks, as well as outrigger canoes built from local redwood. A Class 1 river, Big River is well-suited for novice paddlers and provides a great way to interact with nature on the most elemental level.

I took a friend's son, Patrick, with me on this adventure. We had a great time paddling about 3 miles up river. Along the way, we found a harbor seal sunning on a sand spit and a family of three otters that were as curious about us as we were about them. Hawks soared overhead, ducks took off and landed along the way, and fish occasionally broke the surface.

Van Damme State Park and the Fern Canyon Trail

2008-03-21T19:20:00.000-07:00

The Mendocino coast is blessed with an abundance of spectacular scenery and natural beauty. Nowhere is this more evident than in Van Damme State Park located just south of Mendocino in the town of Little River. The history of this area is intimately tied to the rise and fall of the redwood lumbering industry in northern California.

From its early beginnings in the mid-1800s, Little River grew from a small milltown to a thriving community boasting a shipyard, a wharf, a lumber mill and several chutes for loading lumber into ships anchored off the coast. But a stand of timber, logged, does not last forever. Eventually, activity in the port disappeared; the school, which at one time had over 100 pupils, closed; and the weekly steamship service to the Bay area ended. Little River eventually reverted to its natural state and upon the demise of Charles Van Damme, the property now known as Van Damme State Park was acquired by the state park system in 1934. How lucky for visitors to Mendocino!

I had the chance to explore Van Damme with my daughter, Taylor, earlier this week. In addition to 70 campsites, the park features a lush trail system that meanders for 10 miles along the fern-carpeted banks of the Little River; and a pygmy forest of mature cypress and pine trees standing only 6 inches to 8 feet tall! Adventure-seekers can get a unique perspective of the coastline along Van Damme by joining a sea kayaking tour from a concession stand located in the parking lot on the west side of Highway 1.

First Signs of Spring

2008-03-04T15:59:00.000-08:00

The first signs of spring are here. The daffodils and bulbs planted last year are starting to sprout by the hundreds. Driving into town, you can see lilys poking their heads up through the tall grasses and trees beginning to flower. The days are crisp and clear with a stiff breeze raising white caps out in the cove. And during the last few moonless nights, the stars have been spectacular. Last Friday, the northern lights made a rare appearance and were visible from the north coast all the way down to the Bay area.

2008 has been wet and windy so far. The year kicked off with a major storm on January 4th that saw winds gusting up to 70 miles per hour and 25-30' waves exploding in Smuggler's Cove like a series of cannons going off. For a southern Californian, the 8" of rain we received during the two day storm was the equivalent of about 4 years worth of rain in San Diego. Along with our guests, I stared out the windows of the great room transfixed by the maelstrom taking place outside. For two days, Mendocino was an island: Highway 1 was closed at Westport to the north and to the south just past the Glendeven Inn; Highway 20 was closed between Fort Bragg and Ukiah; and Highway 128 (the route through the redwoods and the Anderson Valley) was closed 2 miles in from the coast. Power to residences and businesses in the area was lost. For some, service took more than 2 weeks to restore. Since I have never lived in an area where water comes from wells and not from the Department of Water and Power, I didn't realize that a loss of power in Mendocino also means a loss of water! Apparently, you need electricity to pump that water up from the well. Fortunately, our inn has a backup generator tied into our propane tank. This provides us with more than a week of emergency power before needing a refill, so our guests had both power and water. Unfortunately, most of our staff was not so lucky. It's good to be living in the inn!

Taylor's First Abalone

2008-03-02T22:40:00.000-08:00

One of the best abalone diving areas in California is Smuggler's Cove, located just across the street from the inn. Strictly regulated by the state, abalone divers can't use any scuba equipment and the maximum limit is 3 per day. Last fall, my daughter, Taylor, came up to visit. One of our guests went out diving and brought back his limit. He was kind enough to give one of them to us and our chef prepared it. It was the first seafood Taylor had ever eaten and she liked it. I hated to be the one to tell her that abalone was a rare treat and quite expensive in restaurants.

Life in Mendocino...

2008-03-02T16:29:00.000-08:00

I thought I'd start a blog to keep our guests up to date on what's happening at the inn and in Mendocino; and to share my experiences as a first-time innkeeper with others that are thinking about choosing this career. I'm sure that as time goes by, what's posted on this blog may expand beyond this initial concept, but that's it for starters.

I started my search for an inn in 2006. Over a little more than a year, I looked at 29 different properties from the northeastern-most part of the U.S., all the way down to the southwestern corner. After 12 months, I had started to think I was pretty pathetic because I couldn't find one that felt right. But then I found Brewery Gulch up here in Mendocino and I realized that finding the right inn was like choosing a college. A number of places met the criteria I had listed, but none felt right. When I walked in the door at Brewery Gulch, I knew this was the place I had been searching for. I liked the location (on a bluff, surrounded by pine and fir, overlooking the ocean); I liked the architecture (a clean arts and crafts style lodge fashioned from eco-salvaged, old growth redwood); I liked the staff (an amazing general manager, a great chef, a dedicated maintenance guy, a great group of front desk staff and the nicest housekeepers); and I loved the community of Mendocino.

Moving from a city of 2,000,000 people to a town of 1,000 wasn't as challenging as I had imagined. Sure, the nearest Home Depot or Target is more than 2 hours away; but the ocean and the redwoods are just a stone's throw from my front door. I don't have to worry anymore if I need to run to the store at 5:00 that there will be gridlock traffic, or that a parking space in town will be hard to find. And it's nice to run into people you know every day everywhere you go. I guess the experience that best sums up what life in Mendocino is like took place at the DMV. I had applied for some new license plates for my car (ones with the name of the inn on them) and when they arrived, the DMV took the time to call me on my cell phone to tell me they had come in. I went in to pick them up and there was no line. Not only was there no line, but the clerk had me pull up a chair and chat for a while. I can't remember ever having an experience like that in any DMV office before.

Every morning, I wake up and realize how lucky I am to live in such a beautiful part of the country and to be working in such a rewarding field. I hope that through this blog, I can share some of my experiences with you.