Farewell Friends

It’s amazing, six days have flown by. The Carew’s have to begin the drive back today. Berk has been moping around all afternoon. To cheer the kids us Julie and I planned a wonderful breakfast - pancakes, sausage (maple flavored pork sausage to be specific), fried eggs and toasted sour dough bread – amazing and all of the kids were purring like kittens when done. It was the best camp meal thus far. I think Julie and I have become more competent at cooking over an open fire and camp stove as the week has progressed. The next trip we will have to get more adventurous and really plan some amazing meals, now that we have learned how to regulate temperatures, etc.

I digress; we packed the camp, played with the kids and tried to figure out where Julie and Cormac could catch the USA play in the World Cup one last time before the drive. Julie found a place, so Berk and I took Finnioula with us in search of a hotel for the night. The weather is fantastic, rain is gone, so we have to stay and enjoy it…in the comfort of a bed. Best Western here we come (they allow pets). Checked in, unpacked slightly, enjoyed a much needed shower and took Berk and Finnioula to the pool - all in about an hour. Ahhhhh!

Julie soon arrived and we unfortunately had to bid everyone a farewell and safe journey. She had hoped to get a few good hours of driving in before having to stop for the night. To cheer Berk up we went on a quick adventure right out the back sliding door of our hotel. I will let the video speak for itself.

Enjoy!

Team USA and the World Cup

Julie and I struck up a friendship over the past couple of years thanks in large part to the kids. She even trained and competed with me in the 2009 Redondo Beach Triathlon. We finished the race! I have happily been able to get to know her even more as a result of this trip. One of the things I learned was that she used to coach and referee soccer while in college. What a terrific way to make some extra cash! It also explains why she was so interested in the World Cup. On our first evening in Mammoth, while having dinner in the gourmet restaurant (with the kids), she was busy scoping out WHERE to go and watch the USA play at 7:00 AM the next morning. Luckily she found a pub in Mammoth that was open for breakfast. She and Cormac rose early to drive the 10 minutes in to town. Little Finnioula was still asleep, so Berk and I remained in camp until she woke up. When Julie and Cormac returned, we found out the USA won against Algeria. Happily they made it through to the next round, but now had to face Ghana, which was much a more difficult task. Ultimately they lost that game, but the level of excitement in our camp fun to see. Everyplace we went the World Cup games were on TV. Cormac was so enthusiastic about soccer that it rubbed off on Berk. So much so, that even after the Carew’s began their drive back home, Berk still wanted to watch the tournament – even without the USA playing. We may have a budding soccer lover on our hands.

Is There a Monkey in the House?

A smore induced sugar high requires some quick thinking on behalf of any parent, thus the need for a sunset hike and rock climb. Little Finnioula could not stay awake, so while Julie put her to bed, I took Cormac and Berk to climb the boulders near the camp. It was great fun for all, especially Cormac who announced to all he was a monkey – and boy did he prove that over the next thirty minutes. He shimmied up every rock and crevice, several times having to help Berk a bit. I, of course tried to follow (with a glass of wine in hand), just to make sure they did not break an ankle or something worse, but it really was not needed. They were amazingly agile and both seemed to stick to the rocks as if they had glue on their feet and hands.

It did not take long and the kids started to get a bit tired. We started the trek back to camp. The uphill climb sapped the last bit of energy left in their growing bodies. Luckily the restrooms were very close to the camp area, so it did not take long to get them to bed – which afforded the Mom’s some quiet time by the fire – thinking big thoughts and planning the next big adventures of the summer.

Wheat Thin Sandwiches?

Although it rained most of the day, the weather cooperated for our last night with the Carew’s. Julie and I had planned a special dinner for the kids – all of their favorites, plus some veggies – just because we try to be good Mom’s. We also splurged on some Mommy Juice (a good bottle of Cab), to go along with the meal. Burgers, chicken tenders (grilled), asparagus, fruit, Brie…and Wheat Thins. Yes, I said Wheat Thins! They turned out to be the most fun item on the menu. As we began cooking and eating in shifts (due to the limited size of the grill and cook top), Cormac (who really is a Chef in training) decided to make “mini-burgers”. He had his hamburger and chicken cut in to small pieces and then sandwiched them between two Wheat Thins - adding ingredients to the sandwiches as the meal progressed. Each one had a different combination of foods. I was so amazed to see a seven year old mixing foods together, as Berk usually practices the “separate but equal” approach. Cormac was having so much fun that the other two (Berk and Finnioula) had to join in. What a HUGE treat! We all laughed and really enjoyed our last camp side dinner together. We ended the night with smores for all – and a sugar high that set the stage for some much needed pre bed time rock climbing.

Rain Rain Go Away

Our first night’s sleep in Lake Tahoe was blissful. It was quiet, scattered clouds made the sunset magical, and the kids were exhausted. Perfect sleeping conditions for any parent. In the middle of the night I was awakened by a slight rapping sound. I had to stop for a moment to figure out what it was when I took a deep breath in and realized – RAIN! Wonderfully quiet, pine scented, and deliciously soothing. I fell back asleep and did not reawaken until after 8:00 AM (again thanks t to the sleeping bag brim and the cloud cover). Julie and I did not think much of the rain as the morning progressed. We really expected it to disappear shortly…it just never did. Unfortunately it rained almost all day. We had planned several adventures with the kids, everything from white water rafting to jet skis – none of which we could do due to the colder (60 degree) temps and showers. We ended up taking them to see Toy Story 3 and Miniature Golf in South Lake Tahoe. Most of them did not really know the difference, all of them except Cormac. He was fixated on fishing. That was his only wish for the whole trip, but sadly we just could not get it accomplished. Maybe next year Big Guy!

Let’s go to Lake Tahoe

It is hard to imagine, but it has been exactly one year ago this weekend that Berk and I visited Lake Tahoe for the first time with our very good friends, the Steele’s (see last year’s Blog). We had so much fun that we decided to do it again, although this time we were camping vs. staying in a beautiful four-bedroom home. Lake Tahoe is the perfect launch pad for travel either East or North – and since we are trying to get to Grandma and Grandpa’s in Colorado Springs by July 2, this is the perfect spot to transition out of California.

We booked two nights at a camp site / resort called Zephyr Cove. It is beautiful! There are quite a number of RV spots, but we selected a walk in site that we thought would suit our tastes better. We did not realize that “walk- in” really meant “hike-in”. It’s not easy carrying all of the camping equipment, plus food, two dogs and three kids – all up a half mile hike from where the cars are parked. BUT – WE DID IT! We did solicit the help of a couple of Zephyr employees (our Sherpa’s) who had a golf cart. They carried the cooking box which weighed a TON! All I can say is thank Heaven for David and Roman!! They were life savers! Our site was located up on a slope that slightly overlooked the lake. Sunset on the first night was incredible. Dinner was good too, especially since we decided to go out.  We just ran out of time end energy to cook in camp.  

You Dirty Dogs

The kids were very excited to pick up the pups at their doggy daycare outside of Mammoth. They stayed with a wonderful lady by the name of Donna who has an amazing property that had streams and ponds woven through it. She is also an artist who designs and builds furniture. Ally and Dusty made some friends while they were there, but they are basically worry warts, so they spent the majority of the time worrying that they had been abandoned.

We picked them up a day early because everyone missed them so much. But when we pulled up I really had to look around for them as we would have never recognized them if they had not come running to us. Dusty was no longer white! She was various shades of gray and black. Ally on the other hand was no longer black either…she was full of mud and grass clippings. Something tells me they had a better time that they would lead us to believe.

Needless to say they needed some TLC that night in the form of pets, hugs and some fresh water! After dinner the kids decided that the dogs needed a bath, so that’s what we all did. We hiked down to a stream that ran right behind our camp – it flowed with wonderful fresh water that not only called to the dogs, but all of the kids as well. We had a terrific time and it was a great way to release that last little bit of energy in both human’s and canine’s. Needless to say we all slept very well that night, even if we were only slightly cleaner.

We Have a New Pet

Yes, we do have a new pet – sort of. Her name is Slither. Our camping neighbors (a family on vacation from the LA area) had a little visitor in their camp ground – a terrifically friendly Gardner snake that the kids named Slither. Everyone got the chance to hold and play with her.  All of the girls decided she was a she - and they outnumbered the boys - so that simplified the decision making process.  Even the dogs got in to the act. Ally was only slightly interested until she took a big sniff and than began a sneezing fit. Dusty, on the other hand was a bit more daring. She decided to welcome the new addition with a little kiss…right on the head. 

Which is Faster – a Canoe or a Kayak?

The race was on almost from the inception. The Carew’s against the Allison’s – each in separate water craft. The lake was amazing – crystal clear and frigid. There are beautiful snow capped mountains that surround us, so naturally the lake is full of snow melt. There are also a HUGE number of fishermen. This lake is continually stocked with some very large fish consequently; there have quite a few fishing tournaments here. We will attempt to catch a few of the whoppers in the morning.  

In case you were wondering, even with a change of crew and oars, the kayak is a bit faster. 

The Hot and the Cold of It

Yes, it was “officially” summer yesterday, but you would not know it here. It is about 10 PM and 45 degrees out, and it’s expected to get even colder as the night wares on. The kids have almost every piece of warm clothing on that we brought with us, plus we have broken out an extra sleeping bag, just in case. Tonight could be very interesting!

The Next Day…

We FROZE last night!!!

30 degrees was the coldest it got according to the folks in the resort. That was definitely the coldest I have ever slept in a tent. Thanks to the extra sleeping bag, and three layers of clothing – we survived! An interesting fact that I never knew about “mummy-style” sleeping bags…they have a hood. You put your head in it and you use it like a hat, standard camping info here, but what I did not know was that the brim area of the hood also acts like a blindfold, so when the sun rises at oh dark thirty, you can still sleep! Berk and I both slept until about 7:30 and we only woke up because the sun had warmed the tent so much we were actually HOT! After a night of freezing temps, the warmth was a pleasant surprise. By 9:00 AM it was an amazing 75 degrees out. You have to admit those are some pretty huge temperature swings!

Convict Lake – A Foodie Haven!

Yes, you heard correctly. If you don’t yet know, the word will be out shortly. Convict Lake, near Mammoth Lakes, CA., is a fantastic campground just minutes away from Mammoth and all of its wonders. This place is a little slice of heaven for the new and / or not-so-keen campers. Not only does it have swimming, boating, fishing etc, it also has an award winning gourmet restaurant.

Needless to say after such an “interesting” drive up, we got here a bit late. It took some time for Julie and I to get the camp set up and the kids comfortable with sleeping in tents for the first night. It was 7:00 PM in a flash and we had very little food – we actually forgot most of what we had planned to eat at home in the refrigerator. So what do two mom’s of hard working husbands do…we go to dinner…with kids in tow. Spaghetti for the kids, but the moms had martinis, duck, and salmon! You can’t ask for a better camping night than that. A great meal, followed by very tired kids and a glass (or two) of wine by an open fire. Truly amazing!

Day 1 – POP Goes the…Roof Rack

Well, DAY 1 STARTED OUT WITH A BANG- actually a blow up. No, we did not lose a tire, thank goodness, but we pop our lid, so to speak. We were actually only about 30 minutes from the house before we had our first brush with danger. We were driving on Interstate 10 near the wind farms in Riverside County when the “locked” roof rack on the top of the car blew open. I had it packed with all of the necessities – tent, sleeping bags, back packs, etc. When I realized what had happened I immediately made my way to the shoulder. As I looked back in my rear view mirror all I remember seeing were helmets bouncing along the highway and towels flying in the wind. IT WAS AMAZING NO DRIVER BEHIND ME WAS HIT BY THE DEBRIS! We were very lucky, as was anyone who happened to be behind me. I quickly bungeed up the canopy and we continued on our way to Mammoth – with hearts pounding. All the while Berk was so engrossed in singing her new camp songs that she did not even realize we had stopped, nor that I had pulled everything out of the rack and literally thrown it in to the back seat with her and the dogs. I love her so much!

The countdown has begun...But where shall we go? Can you Help?

• Tent - Check
• Sleeping Bags - Check
• Camp stove - Check
• Fire wood - Check
• Crazy new puppy - Check

We are slowing packing, but the issue now is really related to itinerary. We are very excited to be travelling with another family from Manhattan Beach for the first few days of our journey. The first stop will be Mammoth Lakes, CA and Yosemite National Park. From there we drive to Lake Tahoe for some white water rafting...but after that we are basically following the wind. Can you help? If anyone has any suggestions PLEASE let us know!!! We could turn this trip in to a Family and Friends real-time road trip. Our goal would be to stay in the Northern Rockies due to the much warmer temps in the South. Ultimately we will need to end up in Colorado by mid-July in order to spend some time with Grandma and Grandpa.

Please post your suggestions on my Facebook account or send me an email when you have an idea. We are up for an adventure.