I am forever adventuring. Looking for back roads and new vistas; crisscrossing this golden state. On our way back from Shelter Cove, my husband, Mike, and I decided to take Hwy. 162 towards Covelo. We knew it would take us over Mendocino Pass, a road I had never traveled and Mike hadn’t been that way in about 20 years. We traveled 162, FH7, and Alder Springs Road before finally making our way to the other side of the valley near Newville and across the valley back to Chico. That’s the short story!

Here’s the colorful version:  The roads are narrow and winding from Humboldt County’s Shelter Cove to Garberville. We eventually turned south onto Hwy. 101 and then 87 miles later we turned left onto Hwy. 162. Amazingly, several cars were going that way. We immediately hit a glitch. The road was being repaved (which didn’t show up on GPS) and for many miles, we were either behind a lead car or came to one-lane paving where we waited for traffic lights to turn green. Eventually, this ended and we found ourselves sailing along on a quiet road. When three other cars came up behind us, we quickly pulled over and let them pass. That was the last we saw of them.

We knew where the pavement ends was coming. And it did. We bumped along on gravel and graded roads. Humps and bumps. In some places, the road was actually in good condition. Yes, driving through acres and acres of a burn scar takes your breath away. But, along the way, there are also deep mountains and views of golden hills. The angry gray and blue sky made those views more exciting. At the summit, Mendocino Pass (5,006 feet) we were in the clouds and mist, but it never rained.

I had set my GPS to guide us on this journey. All was going well and then GPS told us to take a left, which we did. That was a mistake. The app immediately started that rerouting spin and it appeared as if there was no more connection. We hadn’t gone very far when I said to Mike, “I’m not sure we’re going the right way.” Still, we continued on. This road had many more uplifts, burned trees we had to get around (most have been recently sawed to allow passage), and a couple of really treacherous ditches. This is where a good driver is important! We were traveling at less than 15mph.

Then the gods smiled on us. Up ahead was a white pick-up stopped in the road – a man and two black labs. Pulling over we inquired, “Are we going in the right direction to reach Chico?” The answer was a resounding “No!” The left turn was taking us back towards Covelo. The man (wished we had asked his name) must have been laughing to himself as we turned around. A few miles back, we saw the sign for FH7 which is the way we should have gone.

So, GPS ain’t all it’s cracked up to be. I have maps in the car, but certainly nothing that would have provided what we needed. Thankfully we made it home – a little late and a little tired for all the extra work. This drive is not for the faint of heart or seasoned travelers.

It was an adventure and one we will cherish.

FYI – A US Forest Service pick-up passed us, driving entirely too fast (we thought). Mike finger-wagged at him.