Occidental Oriented By Gino Gaffney - May 2019
Help a tourist, be a tourist. This refrain, or others similar to it have been cycling through my mind recently. As we leave the rainy winter behind tourists start to flock to our lovely home area and us locals emerge from our cocoons and fly out on adventures near and far.
My Mom rents out my old bedroom through Air BnB and as soon as the sun comes out her weekend calendar starts to fill up with guests. I really get a kick out of having a new batch of people regularly coming through who have chosen for whatever reason to make the trek out to West County. They are excited to see the house and property and to explore the surrounding environs. It is fun for me to provide recommendations of places to see, restaurants and shops to go to, and general advice and background info to this wonderful area I get to call home. It also helps to be reminded as a local what is out there that might be a different place to go to or way to get there.
Last weekend we had a couple of friends here to celebrate a 40th birthday. They brought bikes and wanted to ride to the coast but were a bit intimidated by the hills getting there or back. I helped them formulate a plan that involved driving down to Freestone, leaving their car there and biking from that point. They got a little morning energy boost at WildFlour, rode all the way out the road at Doran Beach and had lunch at the Birds Cafe in Bodega Bay. They got a nice ride with only minimal hills involved, patronized numerous businesses along the way and had an excellent adventure. I was able to help a tourist, and also reminded myself that I haven’t been on my road bike in too long and that route or some variation thereof sounds like a wonderful way to spend a beautiful day. Not too hard, lots of spectacular scenery and good food on both ends – count me in!
In a rather large piece of good news for Occidental no matter where you reside, it appears that the Farmer’s Market is going to happen this year after all! I kinda had a feeling it wouldn’t be allowed to just fade away. I know that the name is changing, a volunteer board has been formed to steer the ship and there will be some changes but it seems that the general details of timing, location and awesomeness will stay the same.
The Occidental Community Choir spring concert series is in the beginning of May, and they are celebrating their 40th anniversary. Check out their website at www.occidentalchoir.org for tickets & info.
The annual Harmony Ark Fundraiser takes place on May 19th from 3-7 at the CYO. This is always a fun event and I’m looking forward to checking out the CYO property for the first time. For more info or to purchase tickets go to www.harmonyark.org.
Also on May 19th is the next meeting of the Fire Safe Occidental group. The time is 3-5, location TBD. Check out their website at www.firesafeoccidental.org for details.
The Camp Meeker Fire Department Pancake Breakfast is on Sunday, May 26th from 8-12 at the firehouse. This is also always a fun event for all ages – bouncy house for the kids, mimosas for the adults, and the raffle grand prize is $1,000 of tree work and a cord of wood from Fine Tree Care. I bet just about every one of us around here could use one or both of those prizes.
On the being a tourist side of things I just last weekend hiked up to Gunsight rock in Hood Mtn. Regional Park for the very first time. Between the views from Gunsight, the rushing water in the creeks and the wildflowers along the way it was absolutely amazing! I took advantage of the SugarHood Shuttle bus that allows you to leave your car at either Hood Mtn. Regional or Sugarloaf Ridge State Parks and ride to the other end. This allows you to do a one way hike of approximately 7.5 miles rather than a 15 mile out and back (or awkward and unknown amount of hitch-hiking). It is a great option to see two parks for the (exercise) price of one and for a $10 donation a good deal as well. The shuttle only runs on weekends and not every one (May 4th & 5th is next) so go to www.sugarloafpark.org to find out more.
Goodbye for now friends, get out there and explore, smile & say hi to those you see out and about – we’ll all be better for it.
