C'est la vie: 2013

Monday, November 25, 2013

Papa's 60th Birthday Phoenix Surprise Weekend

Spending a forced fun picnic at Papago (forced because despite the cool breeze and the clouds and sprinkles, we were determined to be outside in Phoenix in November)

A walk in Dreamy Draw

Breakfast at the Good Egg is a Peterzen's-in-Phoenix tradition

Ready for fun, which had just begun

Uncle Jason and Aunt Vaness

Grandma enjoying her grandkids

Monday, July 8, 2013

The summer visits with old friends and endless cartrip around America begin

Fairy Tale Town, Sacramento

Walking Zachary through Tom and Rachel's neighborhood in the City of Trees.

Catching up with the Shap's in Westport

We love our friends the Shapiro's

Snug walks!

On their way to San Francisco

Skate park with the Brown boys

Obstacle course on the driveway

Grizzly bear in Yellowstone

Snow in July on Beartooth Pass

Thursday, June 27, 2013

Biking with Babies: Coos Bay, Oregon to San Francisco, California

First day of riding: Cape Arago, side trip from Sunset SP, Oregon

Petros's first day at the ocean. He was usually crawling towards the waves. Loved it.

Humbug Mountain SP, Oregon

Playing at Humbug Mountain SP

Nice wide shoulders of Oregon

Harrison Beach SP

Oregon is Oregone - Hello California

Just using this 2,500 year old tree to rest my bike for a moment, as we enter the Redwood State and National Parks.

The Trees of Mystery

Riding the Sky Train at the Trees of Mystery park (tourist trap - first of many in the redwoods)

Casson among some relatively young redwoods, on the "closed road" Thomas Drury Parkway.

Paul "Bun" as Selah called him, and babe. Paul talked back to you if you chatted with him. Tootaloo Kangaroo.

New friends that we camped with three nights, Carrie and John from Portland. They were biking to San Francisco before moving to Canada for grad school in Physics and Math, smart couple, very friendly. They were moving a lot faster than us, but left Selah a note in the bear box at Samuel P Taylor, over a week later we got it!

Old growth Redwood - walking on trails around Prairie Creek SP, Elk Prairie CG

Patrick's Point sunset.

At the Palm Cafe in Orick.

South of Patrick's Point

Eureka!

Playing in the forests along the Avenue of the Giants.

A new friend, Greg, who we met at Burlington State Park, who we camped with for two nights, and who biked with us a little bit. So so nice, good company.

Theo, who we first saw in Ferndale, but camped with at Burlington and then two nights later at Standish Hickey. Then we saw him again at our last campsite at Samuel P Taylor. He was riding from Portland to his home in Santa Cruz. Played the box guitar and sang quiet songs. He loved swimming holes. His bike was part of his tent.

Petros's morning nap at Burlington SP.

The Eel River, which the route follows for many miles.

A warm swimming hole at Standish Hickey SP.

Near Westport, South of Legett (the double-giant-hill and million-little-hills day!)

Along the bike path from Machricher to Fort Bragg.

From Patrick's Point until Samuel P Taylor, not a day went by without a handful of blackberries each, picked from the side of the road. HUGE blackberry bushes everywhere.

Having fun at a stop in Westport.

Loving the beach at Russian Gulch.

Finding secret sitting spots among the rocks at Russian Gulch.

Selah turns 5 and celebrates with chocolate cake at 6:30 am.

For her birthday we opted for the KOA in Manchester beach, where the owner, Terri, gave Selah a birthday present of a giant seal hat, matching games and glow in the dark fingernails.

The views were so many and so varied, each full of endless uniqueness and creativity.

We met this Korean man, Chin, who was walking his bike uphill into the wind near Sand Point (double check that location). He had major headwinds. We, on the other hand, barely had to peddle that day. Chin was on his way to Vancouver. He's from Pusan, ROK, where we worked for a year.