Summer daze

Well, another month has almost come and gone since my last entry. My excuse this time was my health - been sick these past few weeks with some stomach funk. Still not feeling great, but I started acupuncture today so hopefully a little eastern medicine will do the trick. It has put a bit of a damper on our summer, but we've managed to have a series of "firsts," doing a few fun things together as a family. Here's a quick re-cap...

Since we last left our heroine Livi, we were about to head on her first flight to see relatives in Anaheim for the first time. The trip was great; Livi was solid on the flight (meaning she passed out), all her relatives loved her in particular her 94 year old great grandfather, and we went to an Angels game. Not a bad 3 days in SoCal.

Three generations (and me)

When we got back, we discovered that our 1996 Subaru had seen its last days. It had a great run: 2 trips cross-country, a trip north of the border to Canada and south of the border to Baja, a trip to Utah, and lots of runs to beaches, mountains, and all spots in between. Many good memories. She will be missed...

On the road in South Dakota (2006). Perhaps one of the only surfboards in the state at the time.

The torch has been passed on to the next road trippin' vehicle. We searched around for a bit, considered the Honda Element, but in the end we settled on another Subaru ten years younger than our last one (my third one, Livi's second one).

We decided to break in our new ride with our first family road trip. The journey was timed with Susan's birthday as well. We did 2 nights camping and one night in a swanky B&B. With all the stuff we packed for Livi you'd think we were going for 3 months! How can someone so small need so much?

Our adventure took us north, waaaaaay north, almost into Oregon. Hard to believe that you can drive 6 hours north or south of the Bay Area and still be in California! It is a completely different part of the state up there, home to all things large: towering redwoods, Bigfoot, and huge marijuana plantations. Livi was a traveling trooper once again; she did great on the long car rides. As soon as we got to camp though, she let her bowels loose in a record breaking way. Right after the incident she broke out in hysterical laughter, as if to say "This is what you guys get for keeping me in a car all day. Boo yah!" She loved her first night camping, got her all cozy in the tent between mom and dad. She slept like a baby (I guess that is because she is one.)

What type of grass do you think they feed their beef in Humboldt County?

Night 1: her first night in a tent!

Livi also had her first encounter with elk

Working on their tans, lounging on the beach.

Livi and dad chillin'. Moments after this was taken, an elk went for our picnic lunch. Livi, mom, and I had to take it out with our bare hands. Some quality family bonding. Mmmm, elk jerky....

From there we made our way south through "The Avenue of the Giants," a crazy, narrow road that parallels 101 (or if your from Southern California, THE 101) and winds you through some behemoth trees. We felt like we were on the set of some car commercial.

Little people in a big tree

Avenue of the Giants. No sign of Bigfoot, but we were keeping a close eye out for him/her

Night 2: And yes, that is a rice cooker. Never leave home without it! We tried to plug it into our car but no luck :(

After a few nights in the woods, we went big for Susan's birthday and spent our last night at the Brewery Gulch Inn in Mendocino. It was pretty sweet: good views, good food, and good folks.

The view from our room

We'd go back just for the bacon! It was out-of-this-world!

Happy birthday mommy! You're the best-est!

And finally, on the way home we drove through lovely Anderson Valley, stopping by one of their many vineyards...

Novarro Winery. Mmmm, zins....

All in all it was a wonderful trip full of firsts, the first of many adventures ahead. Speaking of adventures, tomorrow I get my top wisdom teeth out! Wish me luck....