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.

Petros's birthday party in Point Arena.

Selah the monkey knows every available playground on the northern CA coast by now.

Can you see why many people offered to help us out.  Pretty rough! 

We all made it!

Leaving the Marin Headlands.

Petros's birthday party dinner at the Point Reyes Station Cafe.  Live music and everything!

Wupatki/Sunset Crater Loop

Camping, and the first night in months that Pete has slept without crying out at intervals throughout the night.

Selah's own tin cup

Pete's new foursie (he's got on a onesie, twosie, and a threesie as well)

Gargoyles

Finding the camp bouquet

The San Francisco Peaks, of Flagstaff

Selah and Petros resting at the entrance to the monument

The 30 mile descent (3 hours including rests)

Annyoeng! Lisa pulls Petros, Casson pulls Selah.  Wind pushes everyone back.

The most amazing view of the painted desert, coming up around the corner.

The 20 mile ascent into 32 mph wind gusts - 8 hours (including rests)

Over the crater and through the woods

http://www.nmts.org/rides/wupatkiSunsetCrater.htm

Snuggle guys and spring babies.

This is Pet's "snuggle wrap."  It is size 3-6 months, the zipper is broken, and I sliced the footies open so his socked feet can stick out.  Yet he loves this thing so much, he can be so tired and fussy, as soon as we put this on he starts laughing, wiggling with joy and rubbing his face in the hood immediately puts him to sleep.  We can't ever wash it because there is never enough time between naps.  So, try to find "footed pajamas with hood" or "onesie with hood and feet" etc on the internet.  It is hilarious what you find, but you won't find one like this.  Let me know if you find one like this, we are desperate!

It was a long day.

Javelinas on the road in Prescott.

A whole herd of them!  Even babies.

After a long bike ride with our friends the Shapiro's, on the Peavine Trail in P-town.

More baby animals.  We watched these purple finches hatch and grow, learn to fly, and leave the nest.  The third one was so scared to fly, her daddy had to push her out of the nest.

Favorite play things

Playing in the kitchenette.  Selah makes, Petros breaks.

Uncle Michael and Aunt Kate return to Phoenix

Yeah, these kids love their aunt and uncle like crazy.  We hung out at the house, ate out pretty much 100% of the time, went to parks, made water and leaf sandwiches, and had a pretty trip to Superior for a picnic and a walk around the arboretum.  M and K have friends in Phoenix still, so they saw them while the rest of us slept, i.e. at night, and then had energy enough to chase kids around all day too.  It was a great time together. 

Granny and Grandpa come to Phoenix

Pet is 9 months old

Grandpa and Granny

I C U

Little Buddies, breakfast at the Farm

Japanese Friendship Garden

Friends

Pretty Granny

We love Grandpa!

Camping in Cave Creek

Hiking along Cave Creek

The wood carrier

Bartlett Lake - typical Arizona Lake, overrun with RVers and temporarily staked out satellite dishes.  We walked by one man who was lounging in his chair in front of his RV, with a pile of at least 70 empty cans of Bud Light.  He greeted us "Just enjoying the outdoors!"  Which he was... that lake and the distant hills were his view.

Some developments

Beginning to army crawl with a little more speed- Feb 27

"slip-sliding away" - March 12th

Getting better at feeding himself, moving dance-like without music, thinking he's funny - March 13

March 14 - Selah is Developing the Personal Narrative

 Also Developing the spontaneous story generation without prompts

The end of the story

 Waving

Raspberries

Selah, looking through the Celebration Hymnal: Mom!  You know that song "Hark-the-Harold-Angels-Sing-Glory-To-The-Newborn-King-Peace-On-Earth-And-Mercy-Mild-God-And-Sinners-Reconciled"?  There are more words to that song.  I found it here.

Recently Selah and I were hanging out with Heidi and her daughter Anika, who is not yet three.  All of sudden, as they were riding in the wagon together to the park, both girls sang that whole first verse of Hark The Harold Angels.  When we asked them where they had both learned it, the answer for both was "Charlie Brown's Christmas Sing-along Book."

Selah talking about her plastic cups she got from Robin:
You know what Robin and me decided about these cups?  When we're at my house, then we'll use the pink and purple cups that Robin got for me.  And when we're at Robin's house, we'll use her plastic cups that she has.  That's how Robin and me decided it, and we like it that way.