Lynn Bailey

Welcome! I am not a professional or even a very accomplished photographer, but I love to observe the northern California coastal region with its breathtaking vistas around every curve and its omnipresent, abundant, and richly varied flora and fauna. Welcome to my world!

A note about the banner image — it is the famous Mount Edgecumbe, which lies 13 miles off the coast of Sitka, Alaska on Kruzof Island. It is visible at any moment that the skies clear from everywhere in Sitka and the name appears on streets, schools, and other important anchor points of this beautiful little town which I visit every opportunity I get. It’s like a second hometown to me!

The summer Chamber Music Festival is incredible and the Sitka Fine Arts Camp is a precious and unique institution that impacts the lives of youths in a profound and memorable way!

I am fortunate enough to live on the “Mendonoma” Coast of northern California.

This is the breathtaking stretch of rugged coastline that stretches from The Sea Ranch in Sonoma County, just south of the Gualala River bridge and estuary to Gualala, Anchor Bay, Point Arena, Manchester, Irish Beach, and Elk in Mendocino County whose crossing point from Sonoma County is right in the middle of the Gualala River bridge.

Mendonoma is a rugged, unspoiled, clean-air, naturally air-conditioned paradise where there is always green to be seen, flowers are always in bloom, cool winds prevail onshore from the cold north Pacific Ocean, and wildlife abounds, including coyotes, mountain lions, and the occasional black bear.

It’s a quiet, contemplative place where life moves more slowly, the modern (and often burdensome) conveniences are largely limited and often lacking altogether, and a person can live as close to “at peace” as is possible in this contemporary, frantic world. Politics are very liberal, so be forewarned, and pets are always considered family members.

Visitors often ask “isn’t there an easy way to get back to the main highway inland?” and we always laugh. Getting here is an adventure — a slow, winding, rugged, scenic drive up the Pacific Coast Highway where you might as well take your time, pull off at scenic overlooks, and watch for fallen rock on the high bluffs overlooking the ocean.

A wise friend is fond of saying, “if you are lucky enough to live here, you are lucky enough.”

Do you love marine mammals? Want to stand or sit quietly on the high ocean bluff and watch the gray whale and Orca pods migrate north or south according to the season or simply stop to feed for a while at an appetizing food source just off-shore? This is the place to be! You may also be lucky enough to see dolphins, sea otters, brown pelicans, osprey, bald eagles, oyster catchers, and a host of other species of fauna in the water, on the land, or in the air.

lbailey2@aol.com