9-6-2016 Petaluma, CA

We had a 2-day stopover in Benbow, CA, not because there were landmarks not to be missed but because it was a reasonable driving distance.  At least that was the assumption up front.  It was a slow 6-hour slog of 245 miles on the twisty narrow road south and the KOA park sign was a welcome sight.  Again, we have driven tens of thousands of miles on America’s roads and we vote California’s the worst.  They rattle your fillings.  No telling what they do to B2’s underpinnings.  Moonbeam could redirect some of that welfare money to road jobs.  Just sayin.’

As it happens, we did find a wonderful landmark in Benbow, the Benbow Historic  Inn, tucked in among the majestic redwoods.  It was the brainchild of the Benbow family who apparently were LO-O-O-OADED, since the historic bridge, inn and town are named “Benbow.” 

Benbow Inn back patio

Originally constructed in 1926, the Benbows experienced hard times immediately thereafter when the crash and the depression dealt a blow to the country’s economy. 

Parlor at Benbow Inn

The inn has since changed ownership a few times.  It is beautiful, done in rich dark wood, with a fireplace and overstuffed furniture in the parlor, flowers everywhere and a large patio near the old bridge where brunch is served. 

Benbow Inn patio
and the old bridge

We requested a look at the rooms but it was not possible because they are booked!  If you have a boatload of money to burn, this would be a beautiful getaway.  Order lox benedict and a half liter of champagne with a strawberry in it!

Because it is Labor Day Week, the last holiday of the Summer, many of the parks were full and so I investigated the Elks Lodge in Petaluma.  Indeed, they have 20 sites with full hook-ups available to Elks members and we reserved a site.  Maybe not such a good idea because, alas, the lodge itself is closed for the holiday weekend and we were secretly hoping for a walleye dinner.  But it was a good enough place to land, better than the Walmart parking lot, for sure. 

Sears Point aka Sonoma Raceway

My gearhead said, “I know!  Since it’s only 12 miles away, we could go to Sears Point for the day!  The drags are going on this weekend!”  (I knew this.  I was going to surprise him with tickets to the Indy cars but they will be here in 2 weeks.  Timing is everything.)  Sears Point is now known as Sonoma Raceway for those of you who care.  Four of you?  OK, so now we all know this and on the plus side, gosh, we went to the drags this afternoon.  In fairness, there were a few very cool 55, 56 and 57 Chevys.

The Happy Gearhead

Petaluma was established because of the gold rush as was most everything on the west coast, but there wasn’t any gold to be found here.  The pioneers got into ranching, particularly chicken ranching, and before anybody knew it, it became “The Egg Capital of the World.”  Who knew?  Everywhere in the town, there are chickens and eggs, eggs and chickens.  Chicken statues, chicken signs, chicken awards, chicken ornaments.  The locals brag:  on one particular building, there is a Coca Cola sign which has been restored including the original chicken and egg logo of Petaluma.  Being a chicken person myself, I really enjoyed this particular aspect of the town.  Also, add this to your bucket list:  every year in April, they have the Butter and Egg Parade and festivities.

Note the chicken in the egg

Petaluma is nearly intact with the original structures based upon the fact that Petaluma was built upon bedrock and so it survived the many catastrophies in the West that swept other townships away.  It is heavily populated with well-cared-for Victorian and Queen Anne homes and beautiful churches. 

St. Vencent Catholic Church

The Abraham Ward family arrived here by wagon train to establish a dairy farm in the early 1800s. 

There are hundreds of
homes like this one!

Abraham’s artistic daughter, Hannah Ward Stewart, is responsible for the design of some of the homes and lived in one for 49 years. 

Hannah Ward Stewart's
 home for 49 years

The Petaluma River flows through town and restaurants and shops abound on its banks as does the train trestle which in its time, was one of the busiest in the west carrying people and products back and forth between here and neighboring towns.  The river flows into San Pablo Bay which empties into the Pacific Ocean.  So you can put a kayak in the Petaluma River and paddle all the way to Japan!  If it weren’t in CA, I think we could easily live in Petaluma!  What a pretty town!

The foot bridge across the Petaluma

The old trolley trestle on the Petaluma River