Along for the ride: Lord's Land CA

It's getting later in the afternoon by the time we cross back into California and we still have not located a campsite for the night. So we drive inland On Hwy 199 to Jedediah Smith Redwoods State Park (which shares administration with the National Park Service). Luck is with us as our National Parks geezer card gets us in free with half price camping. You gotta love these senior passes - best deal for surviving into retirement. Plus we score a pleasant large campsite close to some interesting hiking.

Hummm - where should we go next to find a camp?

Late afternoon light through the redwoods on Hwy 199

Our luck continues the next day with beautiful weather for late August. In fact, it's so nice we buy sandwiches in Trinidad and park down at the beach. Although we have been through Trinidad many times, this is best weather we have ever encountered. It's so nice many locals are also hanging out at the beach.

Trinidad beach

Harbor in Trinidad

Cove beach off of 101

Another beautiful cove beach

Later in the afternoon, we look for a camp site at MacKerricher State Park just north of Fort Bragg. Again our luck holds and we land in a nice site close to the beach. Since there's still lots of light left in the day, we take the dogs for a long walk along the beaches. Thank you Cork and Cathy for introducing us to MacKerricher, it's becoming one of our regular stops.

Hwy 1 heading south just north of Fort Bragg

Almost to the park entrance

Nice afternoon for a dog walk

I especially love this part of the coast

David has gone ahead of us to visit with his brother Nathan who's the Director at Lord's Land a little further south on the Mendocino coast. David's promised us a personal tour once we arrive.

The town of Mendocino across from the Big River Estuary

A little south of Albion, we turn east on Navarro Ridge Road and drive for several miles until we get to Lord's Land. This property has an interesting history starting with Sabine Ball. She was born in 1925 in Germany and at age 15 survived the devastating firebombing of Dresden during February of 1945. In her twenties, she moved to the United States where she met and married a wealthy man. After 10 years, she divorced her alcoholic husband and moved to Santa Barbara, California. She became fascinated by stories of the flower children in San Francisco during the Summer of Love and ended up buying this beautiful piece of land for artists and people pursuing alternative lifestyles. Soon a commune of 50 hippies were living on "The Land" in teepees and handmade cottages.

In 1970, a young couple of Jesus followers found their way to the Land and started to share their faith with others in the community. Eventually even Sabine surrendered her life to Jesus. Drugs were discarded and couples married. Many former residents became pastors and missionaries. Other Christians found their way to Lord's Land seeking spiritual renewal in this lovely natural setting. In 1990, the Lord's Land Ministries incorporated. Then in 2006, the Board of Directors voted to give the land to Youth With a Mission (YWAM) where it remains today.

Almost to Lord's Land

We're here

Inspirational bench

David meets us at the main office. I grab a camera and we are off on a tour. We start at Big House, which is where many visiting groups are headquartered during their retreats.

Handmade gazebo

Entering the Big House

Large spacious kitchen to feed a crowd

Comfortable living room

Stained glass from an old Church

Inside dinning room

We then move on to the most famous of the handmade structures at Lord's Land, the "Wood Butchers" cabin. It was built entirely from a single old-growth redwood log without using power tools, nails or even hinges. For many years, this cabin was Sabine's home.

Girls must love this doll house

Trail to Wood Butchers cabin

Wood Butchers Cabin

Door pull on entry

Comfy living room

Master bedroom

Deck off master bedroom

"Desire the sincere meat of the word"

Window from living room onto deck

Although I would love to stay longer and explore the other cabins, the day is wearing on and we hope to get through San Francisco before the afternoon rush hour traffic, so we saddle up the camper and continue southward.