Comments | whitetail: Cape Mendocino, 1982 / 2012

whitetail

Cape Mendocino, 1982 / 2012

Jan 24, 2012 11:13

I took bob_bunny on one of my favorite scenic drives yesterday: the old stagecoach road known locally as "The Wildcat." Our destination was Cape Mendocino, which is the westernmost point of land on the coast of California. When we got there, I took a photo of the Cape from the same spot as one I took 30 years previously. Here is the "then-and-now" view.

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then & now, real life

Comments 28

skawinski January 24 2012, 19:32:03 UTC

Wow, that's one scenic view! I always find it bizarre to visit places I haven't seen in ages. Even though physically it's still the same place, there's always something that's changed.

In the two pics you snapped I see that the yellow-blooming shrubs on the sides of the road have been cleared. And new-ish road sings too!

Heh, it does look like a Scotland, or much of England for that matter. Same grey and dull sky :P

whitetail January 24 2012, 23:18:08 UTC

The terrain and climate there are uncannily similar to the Western Highlands. If we hadn't had so little rainfall this winter, those hills would be green as green can be right now...

spottyfawn January 24 2012, 20:12:37 UTC

What a dreamy place....

How long was your drive?

whitetail January 24 2012, 23:09:52 UTC

It's about a hundred miles, round trip, but the Wildcat is an awfully curvy and poorly-maintained road. Very slow going along that stretch. The scenery is so lovely, though, you don't really mind the slowness. ^^

spottyfawn January 24 2012, 23:12:27 UTC

Sounds magical...I want to see someday.

stinkygoat January 24 2012, 20:15:31 UTC

is that a sheepie in that bottom pic?

whitetail January 24 2012, 23:06:53 UTC

No sheeps in that particular region. Beef cattle only. :)

sabotlours January 24 2012, 20:48:06 UTC

It looks like you did the same thing I did in Skagway,AK. We both had the right spot but were just off by a few feet. I'm looking at the fence and see that there are 8 posts from the point near the telephone pole where there are 3 posts. In the new photo there are 9 posts. So you needed to be about 5-10' further up the road. Yeah yeah. I'm picking nits. Both are beautiful pics. I love roads like that.

whitetail January 24 2012, 23:24:20 UTC

The different focal lengths of the camera lenses can probably account for that. I was using a Canon AE-1 with the stock lens in the older photo; Bob's Nikon digital has a fancy-pants telephoto lens. Considering I had not-too-much time to frame and take the shot lest I be run down by a speeding local yokel in a monster pickup, I think I did alright. ^^

(The comment has been removed)

whitetail January 24 2012, 23:25:49 UTC

If you ever get back here and have the time, the Wildcat is definitely worth the diversion! Provided the fog doesn't totally obscure the ocean view, that is. ^^