August. Respected and impressive. Distinguished, venerable, illustrious, prestigious, exalted even! These are just some of the adjectives that are synonymous with August. Oh, there's one more...hot. Fortunately while most of California is sweltering in the withering dry heat of August, west Sonoma County is pleasantly warm. The water of the lower Russian River is sublimely warm and the coastal weather is nearing the best of the year, first place going to September. Go west young man! Or woman! But I wouldn't recommend east...too hot. Stay west of Sebastopol and you will be rewarded with very fine temperatures quite well suited for dining outside say in Occidental or Duncans Mills or Graton, AKA my favorite towns. I would say Freestone but they don't do dinner. Bodega Bay is an excellent call if you happen to be there in a hot all over spell. Dinner in Jenner! Yeah, Rivers End restaurant if it's super warm everywhere. I could go on...just ask me.
Update: 7/6/14 Just got back from a stay at the redwood house. The meadow is full of dandelions and the creek is low but still running. Went wine tasting at Dutton Estates winery which was very aesthetic. Rented canoes at Johnsons Beach on the Russian river and went upstream a ways before bailing into the river and just floating around for an hour or so. I think the best time of day is around 3-6pm as there is a tailwind up the river and little or no wind coming back after 5 pm. Biked down Willow Creek road and the Willow Creek canyon is superbly beautiful right now. Trekked upstream a bit through sword ferns that were five feet tall! A lot of baby steelhead in the creek with prisitine clear water. Ate dinner outside at the Union Hotel in Occidental and the chicken parmesan was superb. Opened the windows in the house at night and closed them in the morning and the temp was perfect. All these outings are mentioned in my Things To Do page. Make sure to walk down to the meadow by the road in August as there will be a really fine crop of black berries that you can put on your cereal or make a blackberry pie. Cant wait to go back!!
Update: August 13th: Just got back from a four day stay. While it was 100F at my home in SLO county, the temps were in the 70's at the house. The blackberries are in full swing down in the field by the road. The Russian river is low for this time of year but still easily navigated in a canoe. Burke's canoe rentals are the way to go. You would start just upstream of Forestville which is about 15 minutes from the house and canoe several miles downstream. Bring sunscreen. This is a one way trip. Willow creek road continues to be a good hike with great views of the ocean and prefect temps. Grapes are being picked as we speak which is a couple of weeks early and will continue for eight weeks.
Occidental Weather:
August 2nd: Occidental Center for the Arts: Planet B: Follow the links and read about this band. Sounds like fun to me.
August 1-3: West of the West Wine Festival: That would be WOW. For you wine enthusiasts this sounds like an opportunity to visit many west Sonoma County wineries without having to drive further than the Barlow in Sebastopol.
Hopmonk Lineup:
August 23-24: Bodega Bay Festival: Bodega bay will be cool and nice!
Gravenstein Apple Fair: August 10-11 in Sebastopol: This is a fun event. Live music, art, old farm equipment, food. Ragle park is a pretty spot about six minutes from the house.
Freestone! August 14th: Celtic harp at Osmosis spa: This sounds like a winner. Osmosis spa is a beautiful spot in a beautiful little town.
The Barlow street fair: Every Thursday from July-October. I have not gone to this but the Barlow is in Sebastopol and it sounds like fun. Check it out!
Will scout it out!
Update: 7/6/14 Just got back from a stay at the redwood house. The meadow is full of dandelions and the creek is low but still running. Went wine tasting at Dutton Estates winery which was very aesthetic. Rented canoes at Johnsons Beach on the Russian river and went upstream a ways before bailing into the river and just floating around for an hour or so. I think the best time of day is around 3-6pm as there is a tailwind up the river and little or no wind coming back after 5 pm. Biked down Willow Creek road and the Willow Creek canyon is superbly beautiful right now. Trekked upstream a bit through sword ferns that were five feet tall! A lot of baby steelhead in the creek with prisitine clear water. Ate dinner outside at the Union Hotel in Occidental and the chicken parmesan was superb. Opened the windows in the house at night and closed them in the morning and the temp was perfect. All these outings are mentioned in my Things To Do page. Make sure to walk down to the meadow by the road in August as there will be a really fine crop of black berries that you can put on your cereal or make a blackberry pie. Cant wait to go back!!
Update: August 13th: Just got back from a four day stay. While it was 100F at my home in SLO county, the temps were in the 70's at the house. The blackberries are in full swing down in the field by the road. The Russian river is low for this time of year but still easily navigated in a canoe. Burke's canoe rentals are the way to go. You would start just upstream of Forestville which is about 15 minutes from the house and canoe several miles downstream. Bring sunscreen. This is a one way trip. Willow creek road continues to be a good hike with great views of the ocean and prefect temps. Grapes are being picked as we speak which is a couple of weeks early and will continue for eight weeks.
Occidental Weather:
August 2nd: Occidental Center for the Arts: Planet B: Follow the links and read about this band. Sounds like fun to me.
August 1-3: West of the West Wine Festival: That would be WOW. For you wine enthusiasts this sounds like an opportunity to visit many west Sonoma County wineries without having to drive further than the Barlow in Sebastopol.
Hopmonk Lineup:
August 23-24: Bodega Bay Festival: Bodega bay will be cool and nice!
Gravenstein Apple Fair: August 10-11 in Sebastopol: This is a fun event. Live music, art, old farm equipment, food. Ragle park is a pretty spot about six minutes from the house.
Freestone! August 14th: Celtic harp at Osmosis spa: This sounds like a winner. Osmosis spa is a beautiful spot in a beautiful little town.
The Barlow street fair: Every Thursday from July-October. I have not gone to this but the Barlow is in Sebastopol and it sounds like fun. Check it out!
Will scout it out!
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