Fishing Boat Runs Aground on Sonoma Coast

beached-boat_s

Last weekend while driving up the Pacific Coast Highway, I spotted a fishing boat that had run aground south of Salmon Creek. While I braved walking across the hot sand, my wife stayed at the car and overheard two men talking about the incident.

Apparently, the captain of the boat was drunk when he grounded the 54-foot fishing vessel called the “Verna A II.”A surfer spotted the boat At 2:30 in the morning and helped the captain ashore.

When the authorities arrived, the captain was arrested because of a previous warrant for his arrest. But the man escaped while making a trip to the restroom.

A few hours later, the police found the captain buying more booze at a local store.

The World Famous Hamburger Ranch

Hamburger Ranch_sThe World Famous Hamburger Ranch in Cloverdale, CA has long been a popular spot for travelers along Hwys 101 and 128. The ever popular brisket, baby back ribs, pulled pork sandwiches, and BBQ chicken is slow cooked in a giant wood-fired smoker and tastes so good, it begs for repeat visits. But what makes this Road House ‘World Famous’? There are hundreds of postcards decorating walls from all over the world reminiscing of the food and fun times.

I too have had some great memories here including today with my friend Phil. We both had pulled pork sandwiches with onion rings and sweet potato fries, then we headed out for an afternoon of sketching under the shade of an oak tree.

IMG_8774

Cape Fear Café at Duncans Mills

Cape Fear Cafe Sans borders_s

Cape Fear Cafe, located in the tiny town of Duncans Mills, California, has been a local hot spot for 20 years. The food is great and includes sandwiches, omelettes, soups, salads and much more. Although the café is a destination unto it’s self, there are many shops to purchase souvenirs, gifts, and house hold items. I spent my time sketching, of course, until the smell of grilling meats lured me indoors for a grilled chicken sandwich and a pile of fries.

Studio Neuveau Duncans Mills_s

A quick second sketch done of Studio Nouveau in Duncans Mills.

IMG_8761.JPG

Luther Burbank Center for the Arts

Luther Burbank Center for the Arts_nb_sLuther Burbank Center for the Arts, located on the north side of Santa Rosa, is ranked among world’s top 100 performing arts presenters hosting performances in music, theater, dance, comedy, family programming and renowned speaker events. It is one of two major performing arts centers here in Sonoma County, the other being the Green Center at Sonoma State University. We’re lucky to have both of these great venues to showcase world class entertainment. Most recently we saw Lilly Tomlin perform here and we regularly see performances by the North Bay Stage Company.

Dormer at Cornerstone Sonoma

Dormer from carnegie hall_s

Sunset magazine now owns Cornerstone Sonoma (town of Sonoma, CA) and they plan on using it for their test gardens. The Cornerstone Gardens showcase an ever-changing series of gardens with innovative designs from international and local landscape architects and designers. It’s a wonderful place to visit and is free to the general public. I sketched this dormer that was originally from Carnegie Hall. How it made it here is any body’s guess.

Urban Sketcher Correspondent

Screen Shot 2016-05-23 at 10.44.25 AMI’m thrilled to announce that I’ve been invited to be a full correspondent for Urban Sketchers! I’ve been a Bay Area chapter member for a number of years but now I’ll be posting on their main website. I’m looking forward to contributing my stories and sketches to this unique group founded by Gabi Campanario. Thanks to all who made this happen!!!

What is Urban Sketchers, you ask?
Urban Sketchers, also referred to as USk, is a 501c3 nonprofit organization, supporting and representing a grassroots global community of sketchers. Our mission as a nonprofit is to raise the artistic, storytelling and educational value of location drawing; promoting its practice and connecting people around the world who draw on location where they live and travel. We aim to show the world, one drawing at a time.