THE CAZADERO CHRONICLE

Welcome to my Cazadero site, located in the beautiful suburbs of Greater downtown Cazadero, California. To get here go 80 miles or so north of San Francisco and take a hard left at Santa Rosa, when you reach the ocean (Pacific) just ask around. This address is inhabited by myself, Gene Whited, and an assortment of creatures including raccoons,deer,foxes,squirrels, and many birds particularly of the Humming type. I am a transplant to this area since March of 1998 although it has been our summer home for almost half a century. My working years were devoted to the construction industry as a heavy equipment operator and general engineering contractor. Yearning to get away from the hectic lifestyle of the San Francisco bay area, I opted to retire and move to the country. My home is situated on the edge of a lovely stream (in truly bad winters I have been situated IN the stream). Surrounded by towering redwoods and bay trees and a myriad of ferns and wild flowers it may not be Nirvana but it couldn't more than a mile away from it! It's a clean place, but then with an average rainfall of 80 + inches a year it figures. This was a busy logging area in the late 1800s with many giant trees harvested over a decade or so. One stump in my yard measures 15 to 18 feet across. The second growth off of it exceed 100 or more feet in height. My home was originally a mess hall, more than likely, for loggers at first and later for the Boy Scouts who used the site in the 1930s. The building consisted of four rooms. The main room was a large dining area about twenty five by forty feet. To the left was a small room with galvanized sinks to wash the dishes and utensils. A pantry was in the middle of the house and the cooking area (which is now my bedroom) was located on the right side of the structure. It must have worked well since the dishes would have been brought from the pantry to the kitchen (cooking room) thence to the dining room, from there into the wash room and finally back to the pantry ready for the next meal. It was known as Camp Thayer at that time although I have been unable to garner much history concerning this area as of yet. This photo shows what the place looked like in 1951 when my dad acquired it. The railroad ran directly in front of the place in the late 1800s and early 1900s and was the normal mode of transportation to get to this camp since the only other road into the area was on the opposite side of the creek. Besides other Boy Scout and Girl Scout camps, the region was a very popular summer resort and church retreat destination. Although the area was inhabited by Indians at one point in history there are few artifacts to be found. We had a very learned author and historian located in Cazadero. Unfortunately, he passed away in 2007, but his legacy lives on with his website! For some great local history, photos and interesting lore check out Gary Rodgers Cazadero website just click here! Life in this area can be a bit stressful during the winter season with frequent power outtages, threat of flooding and an occasional falling giant redwood tree. Nevertheless, the beauty and tranquility after the storm makes it all worthwhile. Jenner by the sea is a scant six miles down the road and offers some of the most outstanding sunsets one could imagine. Jazz on the river comes a couple of times a year and folks gather on the beach or float lazily on the river enjoying some of the greats of the jazz scene. As for me, put a beer in my hand and sit me down by the edge of the creek and I am a happy camper. Ahh, life in the wilderness.

CREEK WATCH. Thought it would be interesting to chronicle the winter changes in Austin Creek, on the banks of which I live.

Austin Creek, first winter rain on Oct. 28, 2005.

Austin Creek on March 19,2005