When it comes to water towers, Mendocino might just be the capital of the world. They serve a very specific purpose there: the town sits on a headland out over the Pacific, and the water table there is extremely low. So for the past 150 years or so, residents have had small wooden water towers on their properties, in case of drought during the summer. A handful are still in use, but many others have been converted into cottages, artist studios, spare rooms or storage sheds.
And a very few have become guest rooms—and I got to stay in one.
It was just about the best overnight I’ve ever had on a road trip; it felt like I was eight years old again, and had discovered some sort of secret hideout. I called a friend that night and told her where I was, and she laughed and said, “That’s so you. It’s just about the most ‘Chandler-y’ place you could have found.” Yep.
The downside, though? It’s pretty much ruined regular hotel rooms for me forever.
Ghost domes 
Twists and turns 
The Loneliest Road 
Soon as I saw the small little preview of these sketches on Twitter I had flashbacks to summers as a kid in Mendocino. Beautiful place, and with such distinctive buildings. Didn’t know the history of the water towers, though, cheers for that.
Anyway, you nailed it! And I love the blog, always fun to see where you’ll end up.
Love the sketches. I lived in a water tower (the only one left in town) in the nearby town of Fort Bragg for the better part of a year. Watching the seasons change, the tides rise and fall, storms moving in and out – WOW. The whole tower sways when a big storm moves in and it’s an incredible experience. I do miss my top deck and Adirondack chairs and the view westward to Japan sometimes – but Mendocino county is pretty special.
I recently found your website and I love your sketches! These are especially fun – we had a great vacation a couple years ago in Mendocino and there are a lot of water towers. Thanks for sharing your life on the road.