We decided to head north for Memorial Day Weekend and explore the Mendocino Coast and Fort Bragg, CA, home of the Skunk Train.
We stopped at lovely
Navarro Vineyards on the way up, where Will got to do some "wine"-tasting (that's Pinot Noir grape juice to the rest of us!). We enjoyed it so much that, at Will's request, we stopped in again on the way back for a picnic. We thought that the word of the trip would be "Train." It turned out to be "Winery!"
Our first stop was the tide pools at
MacKerricher State Park, where we saw hermit crabs and anemones.
Will liked touching the anemones and having them "kiss" him! We had fun checking out the boardwalk and climbing and jumping off rocks.
Next up was the
Skunk Train. Built as a logging railroad, the Skunk line was launched in 1885 to move massive redwood logs to Mendocino Coast sawmills from the rugged back country. Steam passenger service was started in 1904, extended to the town of Willits in 1911, and discontinued in 1925 when the self-powered, yellow "Skunk" rail cars were inaugurated. The little trains were quickly nicknamed for their original gas engines, which prompted folks to say, "You can smell 'em before you can see 'em."
California Western welcomed more "modern" equipment in later years. The vintage 1925 M-100 motorcar -- the only remaining train of its kind in use anywhere today -- runs the line year-round, as does the 1935 M-300 motorcar. Our train was pulled by the famous Old No. 45, a majestic 1924 Baldwin steam engine, with assistance from a 1950's diesel-powered engine.
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| Riding the rails |
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| Checking out the tall redwoods outside our window |
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| The midway point at Northspur, where we turned around |
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Our engine and engineer, with a 1920s
self-powered motorcar heading
to Willits in the background |
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| Engine No. 45! |
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Refilling the steam engine's tender
from the water tank (see black hose
going into tender) |
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| Enjoying some time in the open air car |
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After returning to Fort Bragg, we took
some time to watch them unhook our
freight engine up close |
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Later that afternoon, we played at Glass Beach, named for the sea glass that washes up on the shore (below, left).
The next morning, Will biked along the
MacKerricher Beach Haul Road Trail before heading home.
He's getting really good at balancing on his balance bike!
So long, Fort Bragg!