Sunday Drive: Sebastopol, Valley Ford, & points south

Outcropping of grey rock on Valley Ford-Franklin School Road, just north of Dillon Beach Road

Same spot, looking NNE. Notice the thunderstorms rolling across central Sonoma County and parts north towards Napa, Vallejo and the East Bay. A few minutes later, as we headed back east towards Novato on the Marshall-Petaluma Road (which is mostly untouched wilderness, an amazing back road) we'd be driving through the moderate rains ourselves. Thunderstorms are extremely rare on the West Coast, I think this is something like the 3rd or 4th one I've experienced here.

Same spot, looking just south of due east.

Looking north down the road, Valley Ford in the distance, with Freestone & Sebastopol beyond.

South down the road. Winds were starting to really pick up.

Light in the trees in the Peace Park in Sebastopol, across the street from the Sunday Farmer's Market.

We thought about going to Occidental, but we both just wanted to head down roads we hadn't been on, and first stop out of Sebastopol was Wildflour Bakery in Freestone. Most of their breads were sold out by the time (4pm) we got there, but there were still a few excellent choices. This is a cheese bread they make there called Fougasse--gouda, mozz, scallion and red bell pepper--it was still warm as we greedily tore into it.

Above and below: Bodega/Tomales Bay in the distance, Dillon Beach below.

Above & below: Tomales Bay. The wind was mighty & strong here.