Tuesday, July 28, 2009

A Long Awaited Update July 28, 2009


Same ocean, same kids, different beach.


Wow! And Wow again! I don't know where the time goes. we have been active every minute of every day. The best laid plan was to blog and post pictures as we travel, but there is either no internet connection or no time or both! Since the last update, we have gone from Los Angeles area of California up to San Francisco. We spent a couple of days there, then moved North to redwood country and stayed with friends in Humboldt County. We left there yesterday and came back to San Francisco. That's where we are now, waiting for the van to get new brakes, rotors and calipers. The van is running great and we're delighted to have the air conditioning as we were inland from the ocean and temperatures went up to 105 degrees. But when the brakes started to grind, we knew we had to get those fixed before heading home over the mountains. As soon as the repairs are complete, we'll be heading up I-5 towards Ashland, Oregon and then East across Idaho, Montana and North Dakota.


Little Gracie Jayne and a big tree.

My daughter and son-in-law, along with two year old Gracie, joined us in L.A. They flew out last night on the red eye and are safely back home waiting for us, (and hopefully watering our plants).

In San Francisco, we shopped a little. The kids had money to spend on souvenirs. We rode the cable car and the streetcar. It was just too cold and foggy for a boat ride. We all donned sweatshirts and jackets. When we returned yesterday, the skies were sunny and it was hot. As soon as we got to the Golden Gate Bridge, it was socked in and cool. That's when we heard the first screeching from the brake shoes. We went back to the same motel we stayed at last week and across the street was a Good Year tire and auto center. We're waiting right now for our repairs to be done. Then, we'll head out on the road.


A foggy Golden Gate Bridge.

Up North, we visited friends. On our way through Mendocino, we met Aiko Annie who writes the "Cozy Shack" blog. and shared a cup of coffee from Moody's, the local coffee shop. Very nice to see her again and have her meet my family. Once in Humboldt County, we checked in to a three bedroom mobile home my friend has on his property and stayed there. It was very comfortable. We swam in the Van Duzen River right across the pasture from their house. We went to the ocean at three different places and collected driftwood and rock treasures. The rocks added a few extra pounds to the trip home I'm sure.


Yoody in her new skater hat with Papa.

We enjoyed the views of the ocean and the coastal mountain ranges as we returned to a place very dear to us, the grandkids and son-in-law seeing the area for the very first time. We hiked around and climbed sand hills and steep grades along rocky beaches, visiting old places where we used to live and camp in years past.

Before leaving the Southern part of California, we went to Disneyland. We spent the day there and see where we could easily spend many days. The waiting times for the rides was long, so we picked and chose as wisely as we could. It felt like everyone had a great time except my pocketbook which emptied faster than water draining from a broken levee!

I'm posting some pictures from Disneyland, the redwoods and the ocean. I have hundreds more pictures to download. This trip is of epic proportions. I'm making some debt, but that's okay. This trip is creating memories for us all. We are so blessed to be able to do this and spend this great time together and with friends.

I recall saying to the kids yesterday as we carried ice from a convenience store back to the freshen up the Coleman cooler, "I've been with you day and night for over two weeks straight and I'm not even sick of you."


Lilly riding Dumbo.

More later. After we get the van repaired, ($858.00 brake job, pads, rotors, calipers, oil change), we're on the road and heading for some hot springs, a place in Idaho called craters of the Moon and some camping. In the meantime, enjoy the pictures.


On Jan and Ron's boat, The Janine Marie, while in Redondo Beach.


Rasta Queen and the Sorcerer ala Mickey motif.


Seal on a buoy

3 comments:

  1. What a bunch of cuties! And what a smart plan to have working brakes in the mountains. LOL

    Two weeks, day in day out and you're not tired of 'em?
    Whoa....so THAT'S what happens when you get to be a granddad, huh?

    Amazing......

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  2. great post with lovely lines and beautiful photographs....
    thanks for sharing!

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  3. Makes my photo of a seal's nose poking out of the water a little tame.

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