Point Arena Lighthouse Plus Horse Racing

On December 11, 2025December 10, 2025 By LToddIn California, Photography, Travel1 Comment

Point Arena Lighthouse

On our way home from Fort Bragg on October 3, 2024, we stopped at the Point Arena Lighthouse, one of about 40 still standing along the 800 miles of the California coastline. Not all of them allow visitors. Our timing didn’t align with the tour, so we wandered around outside and inside the gift shop and museum.

The first-order Fresnel lens wasn’t something anyone walking into the store and museum could miss. The imposing seven-foot diameter lens with nine eyes drew me in for a closer look, and I forgot all about the clothing, jewelry, books, and other items sold in the store.

Constructed in 1870, the first Point Arena Lighthouse included a large keepers’ residence. Additional housing nearby accommodated four lightkeepers and their families. The brick-and-mortar structure did not fare well during the 1906 San Francisco earthquake, even though the epicenter was 145 miles away.

Once condemned and torn down, the replacement lighthouse, standing 115 feet tall, began operations on September 1, 1908. To withstand an earthquake, the builder used steel reinforcement rods encased in concrete to build the new structure.

The lightkeepers had to adhere to a strict schedule to keep the first-order Fresnel lens in operation. The keepers had to hand crank a 160-pound weight up the center shaft every 75 minutes. The kerosene lamp needed refueling every four hours, and the wicks required regular trimming.

Naked Lady Lily (*Amaryllis belladonna),* poisonous to humans and pets

The keepers’ workload lessened when electricity arrived and replaced the lamp. I wonder how many keepers lost their jobs after the installation of the 1,000-watt electric lamp, powered by a 1/8 horsepower electric motor. As new products became available, so did more changes at the lighthouse. In 1977, a beacon replaced the electric lamp and the lens, and in 2015, an LED array replaced the beacon.

For a unique place to stay, reserve a cottage or studio at the lighthouse. All the refurbished keepers’ housing is available for reservations. The accommodations range from a one bedroom one bath for two people, up to a three bedroom two bath that accommodates up to six.

What I liked best about this lighthouse was the preservation that went into making it what it is today. It didn’t seem to have gone through decades of neglect as much as other lighthouses we have visited. Point Arena Lighthouse Keepers, Inc. has done a wonderful job of explaining the lighthouse’s history. Of special interest to me was how the early keepers kept the light on for the ships passing by at night.

We had wanted to stop at the Point Reyes Ligthouse too, but ran out of time. We’ll catch that one on a future trip. Another adventure awaited us at home.

Horse Racing at the Alameda County Fairgrounds

A few weeks later, we were off to the races. The Alameda County Fairgrounds is home to one of the first 1-mile horse racing tracks in the United States. Augustin Bernal is credited with building the racetrack many years before the founding of the current operators, the Alameda County Agricultural Fair Association.

Here are a few facts:

Originally built in 1858
Hosted horse racing for the Golden Gate Fair in 1902
The inaugural Pleasanton Fair and Races commenced in 1904
In 1912, the modern-day Alameda County Fair began, but the venture was not financially successful. This was due to competition from San Francisco’s 1915 Panama Pacific International Exhibition, and World War I
California legalized pari-mutuel wagering in 1933
Businessmen provided funds to repair the fairgrounds and revive the fair
The Alameda County Agricultural Fair Association was founded in 1939, and the fair returned
The horses arrived in 1941 during the fair for 9 days and continued through 2024

At the time, we had no idea that our day at the races would become a cherished memory. We watched the post parade as the trainers led the horses and their jockeys to the starting gate. It gave us a chance to see which horses we wanted to bet on. Then the announcer called, “And they’re off.”

I loved the sound of pounding hooves on the track as they raced by, and I loved the cheers of the people in the stands, and the announcements of which horses were ahead. My excitement increased with each race, even though the horses I bet on never placed.

Kevin was the lucky guy in our group for the day. Beginner’s luck or expert at picking winners? Who’s to know? As we walked out of the stands and back to our car, we looked forward to attending the promised future races and getting together for one or more of the races in 2025.

Bailey and Kevin show off Kevin’s winnings

It was a sad day when the Alameda County Fairgrounds announced the cancellation of horse racing at the fairgrounds on March 25, 2025, along with the closing of the stabling facilities. The future of horse racing in Pleasanton had ended.

Two main events led to the closure. First, the California Authority of Racing Fairs (CARF) stopped issuing wagering licenses to fairs for live races. The second was the cost of upgrading the wastewater treatment system at the fairgrounds.

Jon enjoys a beverage while watching the race

Stable guards, maintenance workers, groomers, and other racetrack employees lost their jobs. Many of the workers lived in RVs on the property, and they had to scramble to find new stables for their horses and places to live.

Mt. Diablo in the background and the 9-hole golf course in the center of the track.

I wondered how the annual Alameda County Fair, held in late June and early July, and all the other county fairs would fare without the horse racing events. Based on attendance numbers during 2025 compared to 2024, the Alameda County fair enjoyed an increase of 13%. Of course, weather plays a big part in attendance, and 2025 experienced milder weather than in 2024. New programs and activities introduced to replace the horseracing event can also account for some of the increase.

Although the Tri-Valley area may no longer be known for horse racing, it still has a lot to offer. Dublin, Livermore, Pleasanton, and San Ramon offer small hometown amenities for families. Farmers’ markets, parades, outdoor concerts, restaurants offering cuisine from around the world, shopping, history museums, galleries, the Bankhead and Firehouse theaters, parks, trails, hiking, golfing, medical care, and plenty more.

After all our travels so far over the past few years, Jon and I have yet to find a place we would rather live. With or without horse racing, we’re here to stay for now.

Up Next: Unfortunately, 2025 did not see us on the road much. We’re hoping to travel during the second quarter of 2026, if all goes well. Over the next few posts, we’ll share the rest of our 2024 adventures and the few we slipped in during 2025. Then we’ll be on hiatus for a few months.

See you then.

Safe Travels

2024 Short Trip to Fort Bragg, California

On November 20, 2025November 19, 2025 By LToddIn California, Photography, Travel4 Comments

After our trip to Wisconsin, we settled in at home for a few weeks and caught up on chores. One chore we weren’t ready for was the purchase of a new car. I loved my 18-year-old Acura MDX and wasn’t eager to give it up. “We’ll just look,” I said when we left to visit the Toyota and Hyundai dealers.

Ha, ha, ha. We didn’t know how impossible it would be to walk away without leaving a deposit after a test drive in a Hyundai Santa Fe. As owners of our new car, we couldn’t just park it in the garage. We needed a place to take it. “Fort Bragg, California, here we come, and a ride on the Skunk Train will be fun.” That was something I’d wanted to do for years.

We stayed two nights at the North Cliff Hotel, which sits upon a bluff with views of waves crashing against boulders and cliffs below. We arrived with plenty of time to check in and watch the sun dip into the ocean while eating dinner.

View of Noyo River Bridge from the Wharf Restaurant, Lounge, and Bar

The next day, October 2, 2024, we started our day with breakfast at the Home Style Cafe. Then we rode the Pudding Creek Express, otherwise known as the Skunk Train. The 7-mile round-trip excursion to Pudding Creek Estuary stops at Glen Blair Junction.

A US Army Air Corps vehicle parked outside the cafe

The Skunk Train

At Glen Blair Junction, the conductor encouraged us to stretch our legs, play yard games, and explore the path through the redwood forest for 45 minutes.

Glen Blair Junction shelter, firepit, heaters, and games

Other adventures are available from Fort Bragg. Ride the train up to Glen Blair Junction and take about a 1-hour walk back to town, or walk up, catch the train, and ride back. Railbikes for two are also a popular way to get to Glen Blair.

The railbikes arrived before us and went on a guided hike

We moseyed along the path, enjoying the sights punctuated with earthy bark and pine aromas.

The Skunk Train and the railbikes operate year-round, rain or shine. Be sure to check the schedule before going because weekend and holiday schedules may apply during the winter months.

View of Glen Blair Junction from the trail

The train from Fort Bragg traveled to Willits, California, until 2015, when a tunnel collapse in 2015 cut the route in two. From Willits, the Wolf Tree Turn tour takes passengers on a 2-hour, 16-mile, round trip over a 1,740-foot summit, through Tunnel #2, and down into the Noyo River Canyon. The trip includes a brief stop at one of the oldest trees on the route. This train operates only from early spring through December.

So, why is it called the Skunk Train? I found two possible reasons. The first is that its name comes from the skunk cabbage, which is a plant that grows along the train’s route in the wetlands and blooms during spring. It’s said the plants have a pungent odor when disturbed, like a skunk.

The second reason is that the name came from the motorcars that replaced the steam locomotives. Apparently, the new locomotives reeked of gasoline and oil burning, so passengers called them Skunks. I think I like the skunk cabbage story best. I’m sure the railroad workers disturbed the plants while laying tracks. Thus, setting off the plants’ protective odor, and impregnating the workers’ clothes.

Other Skunk Train adventures from Fort Bragg include a guided redwood forest tour and a tour of the roundhouse. And for a late-night adventure, board the train to Glen Blair Junction, where firepits, heaters, group games, live music, and a world-class bar await. Check the schedule online for select Friday and Saturday nights.

The Depot Mall & Museum is up the street from the Skunk Train Depot. There, visitors will find the Laurel Deli & Desserts restaurant, shopping opportunities, restrooms, and Daisy. Daisy is a steam locomotive built by Burnham, Parry, Williams in 1885, according to the steamlocomotive.com website.

Guest House Museum

After our train ride, we walked up the hill to the Guest House Museum. Fort Bragg Redwood Company built this home in 1892 for the Johnson Family who owned the company.

Constructed with 67,000 board feet of lumber, the home served as a showcase to exhibit the ornate woodwork, decorative moldings, and door and window trims. The spool-spindle banister and stain glass windows added extra design features.

Examples of the architectural woodwork used in the home

The company also used the house for guests from their San Francisco office, and for people visiting the mill and logging areas in Fort Bragg. All bedrooms included hot and cold running water and electric lights, the first home with such amenities on the Mendocino coast.

The museum is organized by theme. To name a few, they are: marine room, Pomo exhibit, train room, mill/loom room, and timber room.

Quilt designed and made by Our Town Ocean Wave Quilters in 1999

After a few ownership changes, Georgia-Pacific Corp. became the owners and used it as a department store and later a museum. They donated the property to the City of Fort Bragg in 1985 with the understanding it would remain a museum for Fort Bragg, Mendocino County, and the community.

Reminds me of the light fixtures in my grandparents’ home during the 1950s

Redwood trees were used to make
the first water pipes in Fort Bragg

Jon admires a section of the largest known redwood tree in Mendocino County.
It stands as a memorial dated in 1943 and dedicated to Charles Russell Johnson, who founded the city in 1889.

Section of largest known redwood in Mendocino County

I like to capture a few buildings around town. Below are the city hall, a mural, the former Union Lumber Company Store, and the First Baptist Church.

I can’t figure out what I’m looking through. Do the circles represent a camera lens, a locomotive headlight, a first-order Fresnel lens, or . . .?

The former Union Lumber Company Store is now
a collection of various stores and restaurants.

Whew! What a full day we had in Fort Bragg. As always happens during our visits, I wouldn’t mind coming back again someday. There are plenty more sights to see and things to do. And I would also like to visit Willits and take the train going the other direction. Then I can imagine what it was like to travel the entire route.

Next up: we make a stop at Point Arena Lighthouse on our way home.

Safe Travels

2024 Pacific Northwest Adventure Episode 12: Eureka, California, Sequoia Park Zoo and Redwood Sky Walk

On September 25, 2025September 22, 2025 By LToddIn California, Photography, RV Travel, Travel1 Comment

Sequoia Park Zoo and Redwood Sky Walk

Located on land of the Wiyot people, a federally recognized tribe in California, the Sequoia Park Zoo was established in 1907. The oldest California zoo is also the smallest accredited zoo in the country. Many zoos we visit spread out over acres of vast open spaces. Not so Sequoia. It sits along the edge of the City of Eureka’s 67-acre Sequoia Park, which is home to old-growth redwood trees. Finding shade was not a problem among the giants.

The park is open daily from 10:00 am to 6:00 pm (or 10 am to 5 pm Tuesday – Sunday during winter) and attracts folks of all ages and abilities. Be sure to check their website in case of adverse conditions that may require them to close.

Flamingos are a popular draw at many zoos.

Their mission is to “inspire conservation of the natural world by instilling wonder, respect, and passion for wildlife.”

The zoo offers student field trips; age-appropriate zoo camps from ages five to fifteen; and conservation-related programs, projects, and initiatives.

Circle time led by one of the Keeper Aides.

Kids can experience life in an eagle’s nest.

The zoo cares for over 150 animals, representing over 50 species. Among these are animals that cannot return to their natural habitat because of injuries they’ve sustained or from too much human contact. The zoo’s website includes stories of survival for some of these animals that I found interesting to read about.

A broken wing prevents this eagle from enjoying freedom in the wild.

The California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) places abandoned or injured animals assessed as unfit for release in the wild in zoos. Sequoia Park Zoo is one zoo that cares for such animals. On their website are stories about Tule, Ishǔng, and Nabu, the bears that cannot return to the wild, as well as others, like the eagle above.

Black bear, not likely to regain his fur, calls the zoo its home

Other Animals Seen at the Zoo

The Barnyard

Besides the animals, two other exhibits are a draw for visitors. Guests can connect hands-on with domestic animals such as miniature horses, guinea pigs, chickens, and donkeys at the Barnyard. Learning about the animals, practicing farm skills, and brushing goats and sheep are activities to enjoy. There’s also a dedicated butterfly research lab at the Barnyard.

Redwood Sky Walk

The other big draw is the Redwood Sky Walk, opened in 2021. We loved our leisurely walk up the ramp along with the views of the zoo below from a height of 100 feet. One resource listed the Sky Walk as the longest in the Western United States. I wonder whether that claim still stands.

The sturdy wood structure with non-slip walkable treads felt safe and secure, especially with thick posts and 3.5- to 4-foot guardrails on each side of the ramp. It took me a few seconds to get used to the “adventure leg” though because it swayed and bounced when other people navigated across in front or behind me.

It’s amazing how these trees can survive.

We found the zoo’s compact size easy to navigate and a respite among the giant sequoias and would definitely visit there again.

Once we left Eureka, we made one more overnight stop at the Cloverdale/Healdsburg KOA in Alexander Valley, California. The RV park was about six miles south of Cloverdale in an oak-covered, hilly canyon. One of its inviting features was the fishing lake. Families came out in the late afternoon with fishing rods and reels to try their luck catching fish for the night’s dinner.

We ended our adventure after thirty-six days when we pulled in front of our house on July 26, 2024. To say we enjoyed every bit of the trip is an understatement. While unpacking and washing piles of laundry, I reminisced about where we had been and what we had seen, and was grateful we had returned home safe and sound.

Next Up: We leave the RV at home while we fly and drive to Egg Harbor in Door County, Wisconsin.

Safe Travels

2024 Pacific Northwest Adventure Episode 11: Sleeping with Elk and the Sights in Eureka, California

On September 18, 2025September 17, 2025 By LToddIn California, Photography, RV Travel, Travel2 Comments

We left Florence, Oregon, on July 22, 2024. While driving through Oregon, we noticed quite a few glassblowing studios. Perhaps influenced by Dale Chihuly’s artwork? The Gilded & Ethereal Blue Chandelier is located at Global Aviation in Hillsboro Airport, Hillsboro, Oregon. Other creations have been or are displayed at Willamette University, the Portland Art Museum, and in various galleries.

For the first time this trip, we had no reservations. I noted two casinos and a KOA where we might find accommodations for a night or maybe two. The first casino we pulled into was too sketchy for our taste. The first thumbs down was its location in the middle of a residential area. The second was the junky motorhome a few spaces down the row that was running its outdoor open-frame generator. We certainly didn’t want to listen to it all afternoon and night.

We next drove through the KOA, but of course they had no space. Our third try was the charm at Elk Valley Casino, owned and operated by the Elk Valley Rancheria. It sat up on a hill overlooking the valley, where a herd of elk grazed. The casino had plenty of parking designated for RVs, a restaurant, and other amenities inside. All we had to do was sign in with security and dine on a pair of awesome hamburgers at the Warriors Bar & Grill.

Plenty of vegetation and water nearby for the elk

Redwood Coast Cabins and RV Park in Eureka, California, was our next destination, where we planned to stay for four nights. We arrived early enough to get our laundry cleaned. When I saw the one washer with a coat of dark sandy dirt all over it, I walked out and hoped we’d find a decent laundromat somewhere in town. I sure didn’t want my clothes coming out dirtier than when they went in. Fortunately, we found a laundromat in Arcata. I gladly paid the extra cost for clean machines and an attendant on duty.

City of Eureka Street Scenes

I never tire of the Victorian styled buildings in these historic towns, so they often end up in these posts. No need to peruse them if they’re not your jam. If they are, you’re welcome.

Historic Mansions

One of the most iconic buildings in Eureka is the Carson Mansion, completed in 1885 by William Carson, who made his fortune in lumber. Its tower is visible in many places throughout town. In the late 1940s, after the last of his heirs abandoned the property and could not find a buyer, the mansion faced destruction.

Local business owners J.H. Crothers and Carl Gustafson, along with other residents, formed the Ingomar Club. The group took over the property and began maintenance and improvements. In 1988, the club initiated an extensive renovation that included replacing replicas of 1889 architectural details where needed.

The Queen Anne style Pinc Lady Mansion (formerly known as the Pink Lady) was built in 1889. New owners still offer the B&B experience and can accommodate wedding and special event rentals. William Carson built this home as a wedding gift for his son and his wife.

At the end of M Street, across Second Street from the Pinc Lady Mansion, stands a newer styled building. Its style is reminiscent of architecture used in the 1940s or 1950s with its sleek, clean lines and lack of ornamentation. This building houses the Mathews, Kluck, Walsh, & Wykle law firm.

Other Buildings and Sites Around Town

A search revealed two independent bookstores in Eureka: Eureka Books Historic Bookstore (selling new, used, and antiquarian books) and Booklegger (selling used books).

In addition, on the second floor of the city’s library is Serendipity Bookstore. Operated by Friends of the Redwood Libraries, the bookstore sells used books, magazines, and videos. That’s a lot of options for a city with a population of 25,000.

My allergy to wool limited my time in the Irish Shop.

The Historic Eagle House Inn and Phatsy Kline’s
Restaurant and Bar

A sample of the many murals around town.

Dedicated to seafaring men of Humboldt past, present, and future, this dolos weighs 42 tons. Structures made of these concrete blocks are used to dissipate waves. They usually weigh around 8 tons.

Dick Taylor Craft Chocolate Factory and Store had yummy-tasting chocolate bars.
No tours on the day we visited.

The Zombie Trains

I took photos of these locomotives in the spring of 2014. In December of that year, the City of Eureka declared them a public nuisance. Legal actions, changes in responsibility, and the decline in scrap metal prices prevented their removal until September 2024.

The owner tried to appease the city by painting them gray in 2015. As the photo below shows, the paint didn’t last. Although not everyone will agree, I prefer the look of the graffiti to the blotches of rust and paint.

A September 11, 2024, article by the Lost Coast Outpost reported on the status of the Zombie Trains removal piece by piece on site, using heavy machinery. Thus ending the debate between paint, rust, and graffiti. I’m sure the City of Eureka cheered at the removal of the locomotives. Our next trip through Eureka won’t be quite the same without seeing the rusty, graffiti-sprayed hunks of metal. I’ll be watching to see what will take their place.

Next up: More in Eureka, California, including the Sequoia Park Zoo and Redwood Sky Walk

Safe Travels

The Traveling Todds

Category: California

Point Arena Lighthouse Plus Horse Racing

2024 Short Trip to Fort Bragg, California

2024 Pacific Northwest Adventure Episode 12: Eureka, California, Sequoia Park Zoo and Redwood Sky Walk

2024 Pacific Northwest Adventure Episode 11: Sleeping with Elk and the Sights in Eureka, California

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