My rural travelogue (Part XXIX): Western Marin County, California

I spent the last few days in Sonoma and Marin County, California, including my first trip in about two decades to Point Reyes Station, population 848.  I found that so little had changed since my last visit (and to be clear, I've visited Sonoma County, in particular Bodega Bay, regularly for the past two decades).  Here are some photos from the area, which seems to subsist on tourism, including at the nearby Point Reyes National Seashore, and oyster production in Tomales Bay, home of Hog Island Oyster Company. 

Tomales Bay, Marin County, California
(c) Lisa R. Pruitt, July 2021 

This area is also home to Cowgirl Creamery, which is quite famous in northern California.  The local social distancing sign in wide use invokes a cow as the unit of measure, thus reflecting the familiar. 

Point Reyes Station, Western Marin County, 
July, 2021

I took photos of post offices, including in tiny locations like Tomales, where the counter hours are not long (closing at 2:30 pm, after a half hour lunch break).  

U.S. Post Office, Tomales, CA, on Highway 1 
through the left door, you can see the postal worker
(c) Lisa R. Pruitt 2021

Also in Tomales was this sign at the Catholic Church--a protest of state mandated pandemic church closures in the way we tend to associate with evangelical churches, like the one that successfully sued the State of California over its mandate.  

Tomales, California, July 2021
(c) Lisa R. Pruitt 2021

Also attention getting was a kiosk set up outside the Point Reyes Station Post Office advertising jobs at other rural post offices in the region, Marshall and Olema.  The sign says "starts $18.69 per hour, will increase salary range up to $28.00, paid Bi-Weekly."   On the little desk was a paper where interested folks could sign up to get more information.  I saw one entry on it at early afternoon on July 14.  

U.S. Post Office, Point Reyes Station, CA
(c) Lisa R. Pruitt 2021

At US Post Office, Point Reyes Station, CA, July 2021
Advertising for Post Office jobs
(c) Lisa R. Pruitt 2021

Other observations from my visit to Point Reyes Station:  Cowgirl Creamery is closed on Wednesdays.  Had a great lunch, though, at Sidestreet Kitchen across the way from Cowgirl.  Lots of Bay Area hipsters also dining there, along with locals and other tourists.  I was struck that the local government (county) offices, including the library and area social services, are housed in what is called The Creamery and The Creamery Annex. Also nearby is a local radio station--increasingly rare these days.   

Thrift store, Western Marin County, California

Services available in western Marin County

Local Radio, Western Marin County, California 
(c) Lisa R. Pruitt 2021