Guerneville

Further up the road was the larger town of Guerneville, which we strolled around for a bit. We learned that the name of the town is two syllables, not three. The rain was on and off that day but thankfully we found a bookstore / coffee shop (Coffee Bazaar) to pass the rainy part in.

Lightwave Coffee

It was decided to drive a bit further and have coffee at the notably quirky Lightwave Coffee & Kitchen. It felt like the middle of the woods but in fact we were on the edge of a town called Monte Rio. That also seemed obscure until I realized this area is home to the famous Bohemian Grove, the men's club and camp where California's movers and shakers - along with quite a few U.S. presidents - have congregated since the 1870s.

Howard Station Cafe

Plunging further into the unknown, we drove through the woods till we reached a town called Occidental, where a decent lunch was found at a place called Howard Station Cafe (although it seemed to also go by the name Howard's Cafe).

Potter School

The old 1873 school building Alfred Hitchcock used in "The Birds". Curiously nowadays it's a private residence. Supposedly the church next to it - St. Teresa of Avila - also appeared in the film, although I don't remember that. I'm glad these buildings are still here as they are both striking historic landmarks.

Bodega

One thing you learn spending time here is that whereas Bodega Bay is on the coast, the equally tiny village of Bodega is a few miles inland. Obscure as that sounds, this is where Alfred Hitchcock filmed the school scenes in "The Birds".

Patrick's Salt Water Taffy

I guess we saw this while leaving Bodega Bay in a light rain. The village is tiny and from what I saw doesn't seem to have a center - just a handful of scattered establishments.

Bodega Bay geography

Driving back from Bodega Head you get a good view of the area's geography. First you see Bodega Harbor (above), looking so low it verges on marshland. Then you turn the corner and get a view of the channel connecting the harbor with the bay. Finally you get a glimpse of Campbell Cove Beach near the channel at the bottom of the hill.