The TRIP!

Before Dave started NP school, we knew we wanted to do a big vacation/trip at the end of it to celebrate and be together for the first time in in years. There was much debate and deliberation-but I knew if I mentioned the word "RV" he'd be in.

Well, on July 28th Dave turned in his last assignment! The rest of the week we began our preparations and on Friday the 2nd we did the big pack up. The day was actually really crazy-we had had attempted 3 different RV trips to make sure things we were working-and each trip things we not working. It was SO hot, and I came down with a terrible cold. We were on track to leaving at 6am. But at 3pm the truck wouldn't turn on in the Home Deport parking lot. And our RV was blocking our driveway. I didn't know what to do, so continued to pack like normal and boy did I start saying some prayers. Dave struggled in the heat all day trying to figure out what was wrong. His Dad towed the truck to my parents garage. at 9pm I was afraid to ask Dave what our status was-but still he told me he didn't know what was wrong-and I cried.  We all went to bed. Dave came home at 10:30 and told me the truck was fixed! Nothing short of a miracle, prayers answered!

We didn't leave at 6am-but as we drove away I cried again! Dave and I were both so nervous and we couldn't believe what we had planned for so long was actually happening-and we were so nervous. The first day we traveled to Redland CA, and just stayed the night at a Rock Gym parking lot. I had blew the generator fuse popping pop corn and we had no AC! It was sooooooooo hot!!! We were so glad to get out of there! 

Monterey CA was were were made it to next-and miraculously the AC was fixed! More prayers answered! But the weather was perfect and it was right by the ocean! We explored Cannery Row/Downtown and made the kids try crab. Even Allie didn't think it was that offensive.

Monday the 5th we went to Point Lobos State Park. SO beautiful! There were tons of coves and bright blue water. We then miraculously found parking at Carmel beach, the sand was white! It's right next to Pebble beach and the town of Carmel was just gorgeous!

When we arrived in San Francisco-it was foggy, windy, and so cold! I thought of my friend Beth every moment we were in San Fran! We went from sweating, to perfect, to freezing! Our RV park was right by the beach and you could see the white caps! The worst of my cold was behind me-thank goodness. We had a half day so headed to Golden Gate Park. We explored the Japanese Garden because I wanted to, Dave and  Will looked like they were board out of their minds! But the girls and I loved the short stroll through.

We rented bikes and after the girls got used to breaking and shift gears with their hands-we were off. We almost had bike tears but thankfully the girls pressed through it. The park was HUGE. The Trees were so big and museums and statues were scattered everywhere. The girls made it half way, and then they went with Dave to see the flowers and Conservatory. Will and I made it the distance around almost the whole park. He is a bike manic! Going so fast! I kept yelling at him "Stop! Wait for me!" Will! Will!" He kept leaving me in the dust. We say the beach, buffalos, windmills and rode through beautiful trees. But man did we get our workout going up those hills! Whoa!

The next day we did the bus tour through San Fran. It started across the Golden Gate Bridge-and it was FREEZING! Dave and Will only had one light sweat shirt but smiled still! It was stunning! It was surreal going across. Then the bus stopped us a different stops around the city. I thought it would be fun to see Lombard street-but holy cow! We had to walk up a steep hill! The kids did really well but we were all tired and Ubered to Ghiradelli Square where the fudge sundae was to die for. We ate at Boudin's Sourdough and did a few game at the Muse Mechanic all at Fisherman's Warf. 

Off to China town-Allie was dying to have Asian food. It was kinda fun to walk down the street and see the odd things in windows. It was totally like Mexico, but Chinese. We went to a small fortune cookies factory and watched the ladies hand make the cookies, then went around the corner to The House of Dim Sing were we got pork dumplings and egg custard tarts-it was SO good. The bus then took us through all the different neighbors in San Fran. We made one last stop at the Full House, houses overlooking the city line-so beautiful-but cold and windy! The kids did great the whole day! It was fun to see all the buildings and houses! I want to come back and do everything we didn't have time for! Including more food!

We got a slow started and now made it to Humbolt State Park. We are here at Myers Flat and a wonderful RV park by the RV and in the tall trees. The drive took forever! We go a lot slower hauling the trailer and I've never seen my husband drive so cautiously this whole trip! Who is this man? He's constantly pulling over the let faster cars pass-it's nice for a change for him! And he's made us feel so safe!

Daves been doing so much on this trip! He's doing everything with the car and trailer, cooking, and doing dishes. Pretty much he's been super Dad and husband-but he does look very tired! I hope our easy day in the wood tomorrow will be enjoyable because I don't know if he liked Frisco as much as me. Allie has only cried once for home, but the kids have been doing great! Wills been buggin the girls like normal-but he's been such a great helper with the trailer, I'm so proud of him. We've been staying up so late! The sun stays out a little brighter-but hopefully these next few days in the Redwoods will be relaxing to him. The day is just over before we know it! Last night we turned on  a movie at 8:00-I was passed out by 8:10 and Holly had put herself to sleep at 7:30

I just feel so grateful to be here! Seeing these wonderful places! Completely away from normal life a responsibilities-it's been like living a totally different life. And we just have each other! What a blessing!

Myers Flat was wonderful! Our campground was right by a river and the kids loved swimming and skipping rocks there. We explored a few short trails in the Red Woods, they are incredible. There is something truly special about the Red Woods-a special feeling. It would be nice to be there when no one else was and it was perfectly quiet. Allison and I were on the hunt for a banana slug-but alas, the weather wasn't moist enough. So David bought a magnet one.

On to Crescent City! The cold followed us. Luckily the sun shone slightly for an hour or so during our kayak adventure by the sand bar of the Smith River. Dave and I quickly observed that the girls were going to need an adult paddling with them so we did a switch a roo. We got really close to seals on a shore, they were watch us get close-plop in the water when they got scared of us-then pop their heads out of the water to keeps an eye out. It was fun. Dave and Holly saw otters splashing too.

The next day we went to church where we all struggled to stay awake, then walked the Red Woods in Jedidiah State Park. It also was an incredible forest. Huge towering trees. There were lots of LDS families and people thinking the same thing for a Sunday afternoon. We drove back down Howland Hill Road which was really cool. Dave loved the off roading, tight turns, and narrow one lane. You could literally put your hands out and touch the Red Woods as the small road wove in-between them.

The drive up to Florence was spectacular along the ocean. We stopped at a pull out and walked along a beach with tons of huge standing rocks. The beach was flat and so cool. We saw a ton of star fish and tide pools wash up.  We made another stop also at Umpqua Lighthouse. We got to go into the lighthouse and have a short tour. It was neat. We decided to go into town for dinner, in Florence- but Mo's was closed and all the other restuautnt in Old Town Florence we packed. So we took a table outside at Restobar-a small local Italian place which was delicious. But we were FREEZING! Dave didn't even have a jacket.