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). 

Redrock Canyon State Park

Another long drive, but gorgeous.  Mountains surrounding us most of the way.  We saw the famous Joshua tree while driving, and then again sprinkled around the Canyon.  

Another dry camp in the desert.. the last for awhile.  The temperature

was so nice.  Not too hot or cold.  

We explored the canyon around our site.  All of us agreed the walls looked like the drippy castles we use to make at the beach back home.  

Our first night we had a fire... the first one since Louisiana.  It was an amazing night~ sitting by the fire under the stars.  

After school the next day we hiked to the rim of the canyon.  I am still so amazed at the flowers in bloom here as well as the variety of rocks and minerals in the area.  

Pretty stoked that I was able to get my mat out as well.  Practice on the mat has been more challanging than I thought it would be on this trip.  Yoga as of late has been hiking and reflection and breath work.  But the weather is so nice now, and I can almost always find a semi-level spot.   Live is good. 

 

Mohave Desert National Preserve

The longest drive EVER!  We had to stop for gas and groceries.  So, while we left the Grand Canyon at around 10:00, we didn't arrive at the Mohave National Preserve until after 5:00.   There as also a side trip to the Mohave Desert BLM Office for information.  Super nice guy on duty who hooked Coco up with some Junior Explorer books.  We then took the wrong exit off the interstate.... but eventually we made it.

And wow, is it springtime in the desert!  The whole area is teaming with life. We have yet to see a rattlesnake... not that I'm too keen on seeing one, but we did see cattle crossing, sheep, a desert tortoise, prairie dogs and a few jack rabbits.  We could hear the coyotes too, though they also remain unseen. 

We got up early the next day, knocked out a little math and language arts with Coco and then hiked the "Hole in the Wall" trail.  Such a beautiful hike and we saw more petroglyphs (these were the real deal).  Depending on which direction you approach the trail from you either have to climb two sets of rings to get into or out of the canyon.  We climbed up.  It was an interesting process hauling Ms Willow up... but she made it too.  We should have named her Billy, as in billy goat because she loved jumping up and down the rocks. 

Coco picked up another Junior Ranger workbook the day we left (the visitor center was closed the two days we were there).  She is going to work though it and mail this one in. 

 



The Mohave is home to the Joshua Tree, and while there is a Joshua Tree National Forest, this site is home to the oldest and biggest of the majestic yucca.  They grow only a foot every tens years (according to the park ranger).  So, the big grandaddy 40 footers are around 400 hundred years old!  

Unfortunately, because we are in a single unit motor home... the road that leads to that part of the Mohave was inaccessible this time.  We could have gone around (about a 100 miles out of the way), but decided it would be worth it to try again another time.  We were also itching to get going.  There was another place we wanted to see before we were to meet up with our friends. 

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.