Winter on the Sonoma Coast

I'm currently up in Sonoma county, staying with friends who rented a house at the Sea Ranch.  The dry winter continues, with high clouds, sun, light wind, and strong surf...ideal winter weather, I reckon.  This pic was taken near the mouth of the Russian River, near Jenner.

Big surf and soft, filtered winter sunshine are a good combination.

The Sonoma coast is made up largely of sandstone, which erodes into neat forms.

Winter surf at Walk on Beach.

Driftwood, Sea Ranch homes, redwoods in the background.  Viewed from Walk on Beach.  Conditions were perfect on this day...bright sun, no wind, big surf, no people.

It wasn't windy on this day, but it usually is, as this cypress tree shows.

A heron patrols the shore in late afternoon.

The trees above Gualala beach are sculpted by the wind just a little bit.

The coastal sandstone is fashioned into exotic shapes by wind and water.  Another spot with similar rock patterns is on the southeastern coast near Cape Otway, near Melbourne.

Looking through a hole in the sandstone reveals...more eroded sandstone!

Sunset at the Sea Ranch.