Final thoughts...

I started this trip because G-man asked to go backpacking. Sounded simple enough, appealing to that part of me that loves to plan, dream, wander. I thought I would use it as a way to stay connected to an often disconnected teenager. I realize now that it really was more about me than him! I got to wander. I got to see the kind of man my son can become. I had time to do nothing but focus on the task at hand...setting up a tent, cooking a meal, staring at a campfire. I played with my kids. I also cried, laughed and felt profound joy with them.



Of course I hope they did too. I know that this kind of trip will be remembered for a very long time, hopefully always. I hope I can remember it when I am sitting in school board meetings, volunteering at their schools, folding laundry, shuttling them to all their sports practices, music lessons, school activities. I hope Cathy knows how grateful I am to have her. I hope I can do it again!

later, rob

"This life is more than just a read through..." Red Hot Chili Peppers

And then there were three...

The driving is definitely different with 2 kids! Yesterday's drive was long, boring, slightly sad but fortunately broken up with a side trip to the Grand Canyon. Dani had been asking to see the Canyon so of course I couldn't resist! Ironically, it was Dani who wanted to see the Grand Canyon and it was Dani who was terrified of the Grand Canyon. She got out of the car long enough to realize how high she was and then just to go potty. Best laid plans...



The highlight came on the drive from the Grand Canyon. We took a side road to avoid the interstate and were rewarded with beautiful views, an enormous herd of elk, the teeniest, tiniest roadside Chapel and then dumping out in the middle of Flagstaff...a quaint town that looked like an outdoor rec mecca. We ended up in a campground in Hollbrook, the petrified forest capital of the USA! I grilled hamburgers and corn and tried a smokey porter from...Alaska, of all places (ok but kinda like drinking a smoked ham or something). I couldn't find any local brew that i thought was worth springing a six pack for so i picked up a beer brewed by Alaskan, go figure?


We had the all-you-can-eat pancake breakfast and took off this am around 9. Long, long drive through several wicked storms. I made the kids stop in Albuquerque at one of my favorite dives, The Frontier. Something you may not know about me...I love New Mexican Green Chiles!! So i stuffed myself full of the goods and back on the road we went. We crossed into the great state of Texas after nearly 4 weeks and are staying at a motel in Lubbock tonight. Got a call from the LA gang and they are still looking for Mickey! Sandwiches, cereal and leftover burgers washed down with a Tangerine Wheat beer that I had picked up in California.


tomorrow...home, of course!
later, Rob

Blink....

I had told the G-man that we should cherish every moment of the road trip because we would blink and it would be over! Well, despite the two of us trying to keep our eyes wide open we must have blinked...we are on the road back to Texas!
The day after Disney most of us slept in and then stayed in a coma like trance for the morning. Eventually we put our bathing suits on, loaded beach towels, toys, kids, coolers and off to Malibu we headed! G-man took surfing lessons from the Dave man, Dani had the biggest wipe out she ever had and the rest of us did the usual beach stuff. Afterwoods we picked up cupcakes and then hit this amazing seafood dive right off the beach.







Yesterday we took the car in to have the oil changed and fluids topped off and discovered that the ol' Subaru needed a bit more love....new brakes, wheel alignment (who's been driving this thing anyway?), and tire rotation. So our plans of splitting LA around noon turned into splitting LA at the more convenient time of 5 pm! Thankfully, our bellys were full of yummy goodness from the Gridle Cafe...another LA exclusive where the crazy choices of pancakes were bigger than your Garrett's head!



The kids and I drove until about 9:30 last night all the while missing our awesome LA friends. My plans of camping were foiled by the 103 degree temps...I am not kidding! We stayed in Needles last night and it was 103 when we pulled in...here is today's forecast...
"Abundant sunshine. High 109F. Winds S at 10 to 20 mph."
The drive was pretty amazing though. The Mojave is huge and you drive for miles and miles and miles and see nothing. We are off for today's adventure as we move closer to home.
later, rob

City of Lost angels...

We have been on the non stop fun roller coaster of the west coast and our tour guides The Sloans!! On Saturday afternoon we loaded picnic, kids, beer and assorted sundries into the cars and headed off to the pre show fun at the Grove...an outdoor shopping area where our dearest friend's introduced my sweet little girl to the world of "American Girl" stuff! Thanks Jan and Dave :) I do have to say they made up for the error of their ways by taking us to Bob's Donuts in the farmers market!! We road the double decker trolley back to the car and off we headed on our next adventure.


I am not one to wait in line at a cemetary but let me tell you it was worth the wait! We went to Cinespia, LA's cemetary screenings and saw The Muppet Movie. I honestly didn't see too much of the movie...I was too busy tripping on the whole scene! We had swung by Canter's deli and picked up a pound of corned beef, rye bread, cookies, etc plus all the yummy stuff Jan and I had gotten earlier at Trader Joes and the farmers market. I had picked up some local brew, Telegraph out of Santa Barbara and an IPA from Anderson Valley Brewing company. Both were decent but the Telegraph ( a wheat ale) not worth the 8 buck price tag and The IPA pale next to the Pliny Elder.




Yesterday we dragged the kids out of bed at 6 am just a few short hours after we poured them into bed the night before and off we went to Disneyland! Not sure anyone knows this about me but I think Disney is the happiest place on earth! Anyway, Maddie needed a wheelchair because she is nursing a soccer injury so we scored on some of the rides...of course she also needed a couple of Advil's after g-man pushed her all day (into walls, people, rides, etc...), he actually did get an honorary citizen award for his helpfulness :)






So, 16 short hours later we drove home and fell into bed!


what are we in store for on today's fun meter??

later, rob

The long and winding road...

We split Berkeley yesterday before lunch and I couldn't face the 5 again so we took the 101 down to LA...a rather longer, windier road that goes by all the missions.
We pulled into L.A. and the park that our friends were wrapping up their camp week at and then had hamburgers in a train car!
Slept in today after a late night of catching up and then Jan and I hit the Trader Joes, Whole Foods, Ralph's and Farm boy. After we came home and had a jello party.
We are off to a picnic dinner and the Muppet Movie in a cemetery...tomorrow Disneyland.
On another note I say goodbye to Aunt Miriam.
later, rob

All Aboard!

We had a great day with the cousins yesterday. Garrett scored "Thriller" and the Shining from Uncle John and Aunt Cindy. We went to Tilden Park and the girls saw some goats and rode the old restored carousel then all got aboard the coolio train and rode around the park.
Chicken tacos for dinner with Uncle John's smokey Chipolte hot sauce washed down with some Pliny the Elder, an IPA that is awesome :)
We get packed up this am and we are off to friends in LA!
later, rob

Family House

although the scenery wasn't too shabby yesterday the drive was uneventful. The highlight came when we stopped in Napa and I scored a bottle of Chiarello Vineyard's Cab...something impossible to find in Texas!
We arrived in Berkeley about 4 in the afternoon greeted with a giant hug from Dani. There is nothing like family! Cindy , John and Sophia made us comfortable immediately and we grilled out meat, I learned the tricks of corn husking and later John's bro and family came over for ice cream!
Currently John and the G-man are down in Berkeley at some hip music store and Cindy and I are taking the girls to the farm.
later, rob