The Worst Drive EVER

We said good-bye to our friends Shabumi and proceeded to white knuckle our way out of Yosemite.  It was the worst drive ever for Hubs.  Twisting, turning, up and down to get out of the Sierra Nevadas. The scenery was incredable, not that we could appreciate it because it was also so treacherous.  RV remember.  
After smoking breaks and one lane bridges we found a sweet spot outside of Sonora on lake to stop for the night~ Tuttletown Recreation Area.  Still dry camping.  But found the sun again after being in the mountains. And there was not a single person around. It was a nice treat after so many people in Yosemite. 
Coco and Hubs scavenged for rocks (we have so many rocks from so many places) and found sticker burrs like tacks.  We are still picking them out of our shoes weeks later. 

Spring Break

 

We have seen and done SOOOO much since my last post. 
If you follow us on Facebook, you will have seen a picture version of our adventures. 

After Red Rock we set up shop in an RV park in Bakersfield, California.  Not our normal M.O. I know.  But we were there for two reasons; take care of some business, and meet up with our friends Shabumi. 
 
We met them in 2013 in Marathon and instantly clicked. On their way up the intercoastal last April on their boat (Shabumi) they stopped in St. Augustine and we showed them the nation's oldest city.  A great time was had by all.  So, when we knew we were headed out west we contacted them and made plans for Spring Break.  I am so glad we did!

We had an action packed week criss-crossing the central part of California.

The first stop was Morro Bay.  And it was the first time we had seen the coast since visiting Hub's mom back in Texas.  
The Cali coast did not disappoint.  From driving through vineyards, stopping at the James Dean Memorial, coastal fog, to scoring the last campsite at the State Park, the drive getting there proved to be an amazing experience.  

Once we set up camp we visited Morro Rock and beach.  We were greeted with insane inlet breaks, fog horns (not as common on the East Coast), playful sea otters, and sand dollars everywhere.  
It's incredible how different the west is from the east.  But for this sea-loving family it felt so good to breathe in the briny air.   
 

We woke up early the second day and, after a scrumptious breakfast prepared by Chef Hubs, we all hopped into the Shabumi van and traveled north on 1.  We stopped at Moon Rock Bay, San Simeon State Park, an elephant seal area, had a picnic on a random beach (which was amazing) and finally hit up Morro Park on the way back.  Afternoon cocktails were had, then dinner out~ finished by stories by the fire. 





 
 

And... we were just getting started!

The second leg of this trip took us to the Sequoia National Forest.  But not before we stopped for a wine tasting in one of the many vineyards in Paso Robles.  We saw lots of happy cows along the way... and a few factory farms too.  We drove through orange groves while admiring the mountains waiting for us in the distance. 
And true to traveling with Shabumi we landed a nice campsite at the foot of the mountains next to a river.  It was warm and breezy.  The kids LOVED it.  There were wide open fields to run and play while the grown-ups enjoyed a little more wine, this time with cheese.  
After our repast, the kids (and dads) went to the river to swim.  The moms enjoyed the quiet :).  
Another early morning led to a breathtaking day.  We piled into the van and went up into the park proper (something we could not have done in the RV).  And wow.   Just wow.  





There were moments when Coco would just stop.  My girl who is ALWAYS moving and SO noisy was stunned.  It was such a beautiful thing to see her overcome in that way.  I was.  Hubs was.  But she really got it.  All of it.  She let the whole experience wash over her.  It's one of those memories that I will always hold in my heart.  It was also one that I only took a mental picture of.  I've learned on this trip that not everything can or should be documented.  It needs to be felt.  She felt it and it's now part of her soul and it's going to be with her forever and I am so grateful that we got to share the experience.  
 
 
The last stop on the itinerary was Yosemite National Forest.   It was a CRAZY drive with so many twists and turns that I was sure Hubs was going to stroke out.  But he handled it like a champ... like always.  We didn't have a campsite (because there weren't any available) but Shabumi rolled the dice and won.  Someone didn't show up for their reservation.  Score.  I will say we never would have rolled those particular dice.  It's not the way we travel.  But, I have to say we probably should in the future.  I talk about being open to possibilities... well they get it in a way we don't.  So taking it in as a lesson~ trust the universe even if you can't schedule it.

Yosemite was everything that you think it would be.  It was grand and spectacular.  There is no way you can truly experience it's majesty in only a couple of days.  But a couple of days was all we had.  

It did remind me a lot of the Grand Canyon in that there were SO MANY PEOPLE!  I had no idea. Getting up early helps.  You have the trails all to yourself. Or, if you go off the most popular trails (like Hubs and Shabumi Hubs did later in the day). 

The Grand Canyon

Another longish drive to our destination. We said when we started this whole thing that we were going to keep the time down to a minimum. Well... That can't always be the case... Especially out west. This was also way out of the way. But you can't take a cross country road trip without hitting up one of the natural wonders of the world. 

When we left Nevada the temperature was already pushing 90. When we pulled into the park there was snow on the ground. It was melting... But snow. 

The weather was actually perfect while we were there, upper 60's/ lower 70's during the day and 30-40's at night. 

We arrived kind of late in the day, so after we found our campsite we made our way to the rim. There were a few snowballs flying a long the way. And it turned out that it was more of a hike than we thought to the Visitors Center. It was closing as we walked up. So, we did what all the other 5 million visitors a year do and went to Mather Point for our first glimpse. 

Nothing can really prepare you for your first look at something so incredibly immense. The scale is unfathomable. There were several times I heard children ask if it wasn't really just a picture. I thought it myself. It's just so very vast. And spectacular. We are so lucky too because while we were there the sky was clear. A lot of the time there is a haze the hangs in between the rims. 

We walked along the rim and stopped at the geology museum where we learned about the Canyon's formation. There was so much information; 3-D models, lookout points with reference markers, hands on activities. 

I was surprised by how 'Disney' the place was. Between shuttle buses and gift shops and restaurants our little family was overwhelmed. It wasn't until the next day when we left the bus drop off point and hiked the rim trail did we really get somewhat of the experience we were expecting. A huge portion of the Canyon's visitors use the shuttle system to go from stop to stop and never wander down the trail. Some can't, for others it's just not their thing. I feel like if you can, you should because then you can really feel what the Canyon has to offer. You can just be. 

But I digress...

On day 2 we were able to get to the visitor's center and Coco picked up her Junior Ranger book. 

After an awesome picnic on the rim we went back to the campsite where she got to work. Homeschooling at its finest I tell you. She is completely immersed in the environment. You can not get that in a classroom.  

Our last day we took the Desert View Drive. We stopped at the Tusayan Museum and Ruin and then the Desert View Tower. 

As a side note, most of the architecture from the 1920's was designed by a woman architect. Unheard of at the time. 

Coco earned her Junior Ranger Badge.  And I mean earned. They don't just give those things out. Which I think is great. 

We had to change campsites, and when we pulled up to our new site we had neighbors, of the wildlife variety. Five elk were taking their own respite not 25 feet away while we had an afternoon cup of coffee. A herd of deer wanted to join the party, but were denied by one of the elk. Pretty damn cool. 

We weren't able to hike down inside the canyon this time, so when it was time to check out we were ready. 

Still amazed by the number of people that were there. And if/when we do it again, we will approach the Canyon from a different location while looking up at the rim. 

I'm so glad we took the time and went out of our way. Everyone should see it for themselves. 

Texas Part 3.... because it is a HUGE State, and a tiny slice of New Mexico

The drive to the Guadalupe Mountains National Park was dusty, windy and rough.  RV Airabess was blowing all over the place and Hubs was white knuckling it the whole way.  
Oil rigs as far as the eye could see.  
Big semis pulling out huge containers.  
Dust storms.  
But, seeing the mountain range come into view after going through so much flat land was amazing.  It was Coco's first time seeing something so large looming on the horizon... needless to say, she was impressed. 

The park has a fantastic visitor center with interactive exhibits and wildlife displays.  Coco made Junior Ranger and started working on her Junior Paleontologist badge. 
***Home school science has been a cake walk lately.  We have been immersed in so many different habitats and terrains.  It has been hard to take all of it in. ***

The Guadalupe Mountains National Park was our first "destination".  Every other place has been part of the journey for sure, picked because it was part of the path.  This was the first place we marked as 'must see'.  It's also where we picked up our National Park Pass and had our first real dry camp (i.e. boondocking). 

We arrived at the park pretty early, set up (made sure everything was secure as the wind was gusting at 60 mph) and toured the visitor center.  

The next day we got up early (for this crew), put on our hiking gear and hit the trail.  The long, steep, rocky trail.  It was four hours up and fourish hours down.

Coco was absolutely impressive.  I am in awe of her 'charge ahead' attitude. She went for it, didn't complain, and took the lead at times.  My girl is going to do great things.  She will change the world. 
I was slightly terrified in some places.  Apparently I have some serious anxiety and fear of sheer (and not so sheer) drop-offs and ledges.  There were real tears and freak outs and I was going to quit several times.  But then there was my Hubs.  
Sherpa Hubs.  He held my hand.  He guided Coco and myself over some of the sketchy parts.  He was the coach and captain.  The ONLY reason I made it to the top is because he motivated me and supported me (he did give me an out at the very bottom, middle and almost top of the peak~ but I am stubborn). He was perfection.  
I know I am waxing poetic about Hubs, but there are times in a marriage and a life when real change can happen.  When we grow together or apart.  This whole trip has been about togetherness.  But I felt very apart.  Not because I couldn't physically do it.  Because mentally it was a mindf@!k.  And we are better and stronger and more together than ever before.  It totally snuck up on me and we as a partnership and family learned and loved.   
This particular adventure was Team Airabess all the way.   

Coco was so stoked (albeit extremely tired and went to bed earlier than she ever has EVER) and talked Hubs into getting up with her early the next morning (I stayed back with Ms Willow) to hike another pretty intense trail.  They left before the sun was up (and it was raining) and made it back before 10 (because the weather was getting worse they couldn't finish). They were dripping wet, cold, but smiling.  My people.  I love them so much and in moments like that I feel like my heart might explode.  


We left the same day about an hour later and headed up the road into New Mexico to Carlsbad Caverns National Park.  The cavern entrance is at the top of the one of the mountains.  So we made it a quick trip through the park... totally worth it by the way.  Coco's eyes were as big as saucers as we took it all in.  We tried to take pictures, but they just don't capture the vastness of the caverns.  It's enough to have the mental memories.  

It's a good thing we made it a short excursion because when we came out of the caverns it was snowing and sleet was a definite possibility.  Not so much fun driving the good ole RV Airabess down and around an ice covered road.  

For tonight and tomorrow we are tucked into Whites City, New Mexico.  Staying warm and recovering from one of the most incredible family weekends we have had so far... and that's saying something.  

***

Next up?  We haven't decided yet.  We had a plan for the next few weeks, but the weather isn't exactly conducive to the route we had planned.  We were going to go to Roswell, because, well... how fun, right?  Don't think that is going to happen now with this weather pattern and we don't really want to stay here.  So maybe back to Texas for a bit, or maybe not.  

We did get a little taste of it (Roswell) though when we checked into Whites City.  They really own the whole thing down here.  From stuffed everything to Native American (not so authentic) souvenirs.  There are bats (an homage to the Caverns) and pueblo style architecture.... all in the smallest town I have ever seen. 

The Lone Star State Pt 1 Pics

A mix of pics from Guadalupe State Park and  Lost Maples Natural Area.