Point Reyes Backpacking..or lost in the Magic

What a trip we have just finished..our backpacking trip to Point Reyes National Seashore, this was the first backpacking trip for the Grandsons. We had a 5 mile hike to our campsite..but with a hike like this who would notice the distance?

 The boys did wonderfully with the loaded backpacks, Kane took every small path down to the creek and discovered banana slugs, feathers, made wishes on butterflies as they flew by, causing Kane and I to fall way behind the others! I told Kane I would carry his pack for him so we could catch up to Grandpa. When we did catch up, Grandpa with concern asked why we were so far behind? I just answered we were lost in the Magic!!

 The trail is long but mostly level all along Bear Valley trail , the trail junction to glen camp is shortly up the path which will be the last mile and a half we need to go. By now Nick and Jordan are way ahead of us and were told to wait at the trail juction for us before going on.

At the Gen trail loop junction everything changes, we are no longer on a nice level path wide enough for us to walk side by side, we are now on a very very steep path going up hill, and uphill and uphill. The trail is only wide enough in places for one step in front of another and I keep thinking we must be getting close..but no we just keep going up hill. Now I know I need to stop and catch my breath, the boys are way ahead of us, Kane has handed his backpack to me because he is tired and then proceeds to run up the hill to catch up with his brothers. Grandpa is happy to stop and catch his breath me me and we are both soaking wet with sweat! I am glad as a senior citizen that I have built my endurance with the backpack up because if I had not I think I would of just sat down at this point and said this is far enough!!

 We finally see the sign to head to the campground which is going to head down hill...Thank you Lord, of coarse the boys are already there waiting for us, they have not complained, wined or even made a negative comment so far so my heart is swelling with pride, and I can see from Grandpa's face he is also!

 
We had campsite 1 in Glen camp, it was beautiful!! A large Oak which looked like a Forest Gump tree hung over the entrance, plenty of room for the tents and sat on the hill side, just up from the water and bathrooms( well not really a bathroom, pit toilets..but what can you do..lol)

 The boys pitched right in to get everything set up and to tell you the truth at this point we saw no signs of wear and tear on any of them from the hike or carrying the packs, just relief that were were finally here.

 Kane and Nick learned about mess kits and back packing stoves..dried food and the importance of water. Kane was so interested in everything that was happening and how we were going to make his favorite soup for dinner. How he could be hungry I do not know...he ate the entire way up to camp, only stopping to drink water and then ate again, cliff bars, tiger milk bars, raisins, hard candy, fruit snacks, peanuts, and he had eaten the entire way up in the car, and had lunch just before we started...but he is a growing boy!!! Jordan has now had the opportunity to look wild life eye-to eye  first wild turkeys..then Elk..then bear..then deer and now bob-cats and fox..we will see what else the future brings.

 When dust started everyone was ready to crash, Jordan first ,Nick and Kane. Kane was not very  happy he had to share our tent, he wanted to sleep with with his brothers...but in a small backpacking tent 2 boys who are almost 6 feet tall fill the tent..so sorry Buddy, you are with us.

Morning was a great time to watch Kane in action, he was everywhere..to other camp-sites..he knows no strangers, filling water bottles for the day's hike for us, and asking when he can wake up the Brothers..he was ready to go!!!

We decided to hike down to Wildcat  camp, where there was a beach, it would only be a 5 mile round trip so we could have lunch there and play in the surf before heading back to camp, the trail turned out to be challenging, as you can see from the overlook in the picture below...as always the older boys were ahead and Kane, Grandpa and I brought up the rear. Nick was great about falling back to encourage Kane when  he could see he needed it! I guess there are 2 ways at looking at hiking with a group, it can be a team sport or a competition...I was blessed to see how each worked on this trip and I vote for team..it seemed to be more fun!

We made our way down to the beach , only to be greeted by signs telling us to stay away from the surf..stay away from the cliffs, and stay away from the seals...what did we come for then!! we ate lunch on a long, Kane was able to find all the parts of a crab to put back together, a small creek was running into the ocean so we cooled off in that which Kane enjoyed playing in and Jordan took a nap on a log.

 Now I like beaches a lot..but to bring 3 boys on a hike like this and then remind them they can do very little of what is fun seemed like a great waste and very unfair to me..but then life is not fair and does not come with do-overs, so perhaps there was a lesson here that was learned by all.

 Again, what goes down must go back up...and up..and up...and up. At one point, again with the older boys far ahead..Kane just sat down and said he was going no further..so we took a break, I asked him to look over the cliff edge, which he did and was inspired to move forward!! We had come so much further then he thought and he was pretty proud of it!!!

Soon Kane was falling behind..Grandpa wanted to get to the top of the hill where there was shade and a great place to rest..so he turned to Kane with resolve to tell Kane to march on..only to see Kane staring up in wonder and amazement as one of the floating seeds was passing over the trail and his head. Grandpa just turned back ahead with the same look of amazement that as an adult you can only have when you see the world through the eyes of a child..my only comment was..did you get lost in the magic?

 We finally made it to the top of the mountain for a break...and just ahead was the trail junction and the Brothers waiting for us. Now it was time for a decision..since we were slower then the brothers , Grandpa decided to give them a choice, we had talked with campers at wildcat and knew to take the coast trail back was a half mile longer but much..much easier, or they could go back the way we came( which was not easy).
Jordan looked at Grandpa and asked which we would be taking, Grandpa said the coast trail..He said I will go back the way we came, Nick looked at everyone and decided to support Jordan..so off they went and my prayers with them..lol..it was a hard trail.

Kane, Grandpa and I took the coast trail...what a great choice!!! The views were wonderful..the trail close to flat or gently sloping, in the picture below you can even see the lake trail loop..a must do for future trips!

The views also included Drakes bay, again with an easy, can not wait to see what is around the next bend walk. At this point the pictures stop ..We entered at least a mile of ripe wild black berry vines which the trail was cut through..what can I say..we ate our way along..we tried to say some for the Brothers to taste in an empty water bottle..but eat and eat we did...finally we came out with our last view of the surf and headed on..

 After leaving the black berrys we headed into a forest so thick that no light came through..it reminded me of the wizard of Oz  so much and then on to the camp site...all the boys were asleep well before dark..and morning meant packing out...

 Sunday morning was time after breakfast to pack out, Now Kane has decided he no longer wants to camp with us..we could stay at our house and watch Bat mam..Good idea Grandma? No Kane, Grandma and Grandpa are still going camping..you just do not have to go...yet when he got home he said he had a good time even without batman..lol

 The entire trip I never heard a word of complaint, nothing was too much effort to try.............the measure of a person is not when things are easy like what kind of chips do we have..but when that person is under great stress, without mobile bathrooms, electronics, the kind of soda or food they have..it is when they are in an environment such as this..........Dave would be so very very proud!!!

My Grandsons Rock!!!!!!!!!

Okay..our big backpacking trip is now 2 weeks away..I have to say I am excited! I have practiced walking with my backpack increasing the weight each time. I do not want to be the wuss on this trip, especially since Kane the 5 year old can leave me in the dust!!

REI offers a beginning backpacking class for those of us who have never done a trip like this, what a blessing! I signed Grandpa and I up along with the older boys..called very excited to share this news and was surprised by the reaction. Nick the middle child wanted to know what it cost? I said it was free..he was re leaved and said he would let me know. Jordon said he would let me know. That was 2 weeks ago, I have talked with Mom who said she would let me know! Kane is too young to sit through a late evening talk on backpacking so I have not included him. I have called and called(yes I feel like a nag) and still the same answer. Well it is Sunday and the class is full with a waiting list( how much information in life do you get for free?) So after another round of calls with no answer. Grandpa and I are going to the class..and have even researched the John Muir trail for the late spring..................

..On into the future we go ..................................................................................................................


Grandma D

Sequoia National Park..Bears and Caves!!

We have just finished our latest adventure..and that is what they are turning into. Grandpa and I have very little experience with this camping thing, but we are learning along with the kids..lol!! Last week-end we went to Sequoia National Park with the intention of visiting  Crystal Caves. Now after our last 3 adventures Grandpa and I drove up to the park for the day, a week ahead of time to check everything out..we did this because we have learned our Grandchildren need the security of knowing we know what we are doing! What a difference this made on our trip, I am guessing that teenagers today have no tolerance for inactivity.  That may come from the fact that in a video game do overs are processed with friends online and require no real investment in time or energy, or just may be the impatience of youth, which after a 20 year break of raising them I must of forgotten about.

We headed up after work on a Friday night, kids, us and the trailer( which I am beginning to think we need a name for, other then the turtle shell) actually knowing where we are going this time. We are also heading up with a new game plan..decision making for the older ones creates uncertainty, Kane who is 5 and a natural born leader has no problem with it, but the teenagers have a real issue with this..so only Grandpa and I are leading this trip. what a break and release this turned out to be for Jordan, after all he is always responsible for his brothers until his Mom gets home from work. I should of recognized this much sooner since this was the position Dave was in..but as I said I had a 20 year break from this kind of thing.

We camped in Dorst Creek campground on opening day in space 45, which when we return we will use again. From our other camping adventures I had learned that the "FUN" food being up for grabs is an issue, so each boy had his own basket of fun food limiting any arguments about who got the most chips(yes I know, teens are very protective of this kind of junk food, but as I said I had a 20 year break)!!

The following morning we headed for Crystal Caves after buying our tickets at Lodgepole visitor center, which turned out to be an exciting adventure on it's own. As we are heading down the middle third of a very twisting road a large BEAR dripping wet sprang into the road in front of us, barley giving us enough time to stop, even only we were only going about 15 miles per hour around the curve..The reaction was fantastic!! 

The bear sprang to the middle of the road, sprang to the edge of the road making eye contact with Jordan and then sprang out of sight...what do you say at this point, I no longer had to remind them there was to be no food in the car and when we arrived at Crystal caves they were the first to put our snacks into the bear boxes provided!

Crystal caves is truly something worth seeing if you have the chance..just the hike down to the cave is worthy of experiencing!! Kane was proudly carrying his Junior ranger book and filling it out as we went..but then we got to the caves and silence was all we heard as we entered!

The boys were awe struck, followed directions and vowed that this was the best cave yet!! Kane worked on his Junior Ranger book and made friends with our guide Miles who is a student and working with the caves. 

Now this is becoming the trip of a lifetime..here Miles is talking with Kane who is so proud of learning about the caves and the "up-stairs bat rooms". I so hope Dave is watching his son grow in such self-confidence..He would be so proud!

After the caves finding a place to park became an issue so when we did finally find one we opted to use the shuttles to finish our adventures!

We finished with the "trees"...well the trees are okay, but the caves are AWESOME" ..I think when we set up everything after Nov. it will include caves..LOL

The Great Grand Canyon

As I have shared in past post's, we are now camping once a month with our Grandchildren. May was our trip to the Grand Canyon! This is a wonder I have wanted to see all my life and a long week-end seemed to be the perfect time to do so. The original plan was to leave in the wee hours on Saturday and return late Monday night. Now we all know how original plans work out...how ever I did not know they can go from plan A to plan F in a heart beat!!

As it turned out the boys arrived here on Thursday night and we left on Friday morning. It seems that in raising our own boys I had forgotten how up-setting last minute changes of a plan can be when a boy is 15..after all they are starting a life which is slightly removed from the main family and do not always adapt well at the last minute!

We started out well enough..we had the boys, the food( this time I had more then enough) and the travel trailer. I did check the weather before leaving and all 3 web sites did warn about the wind storms taking place along our route..but we get wind here too??  No, we do not get anything like we ran into along our trip!! The wind blew so hard we had to eat in the trailer, push against it walking to the restrooms at rest stops and stop for gas..and gas..and even more gas!!

When you are 3 boys sitting in the back seat a common question is why are we going so slow? Anything over 45 felt like the pick-up and trailer were leaving the ground!!! We were going faster then the trucks and buses but not the small cars hugging the road..shouldn't we be keeping up with them?? We all were happy to stop for the night at a rest stop between Needles Ca. and Kingman Az.

In the morning we are on the road again..early..hoping to get some time before the wind picked back up. As we crossed into Arizona we were thrilled to see the price of gas drop by an entire dollar..good news for a family wondering just how much the bill for the gas was going to be..lol

Finally we arrived at the..Line.. to enter Grand Canyon National Park!! We could see nothing from the entrance but a large plateau and cars, cars, and cars. We entered and headed for our campsite. As we were driving we had to wait for the park service to fell a tree, and a heard of Elk to cross the road, from the back seat comes.." Why are we stopping? I do not want to wait!!" from the red faced frustrated oldest one. I was so impressed with Grandpa, his only reply was " I am not going to run over the man standing at my hood with a stop sign"

After camp is set up and we have had lunch it is time to choose what we are doing for the day..this is where my concerns for the older boys start! The oldest is still pissed about his Thursday night plans being changed, the middle boy like most middle children is the peace keeper and comes up with the plan for the afternoon and K who is 5 is just excited to be out of the car to check out his new environment! For Grandpa and myself..we just want to see the Grand Canyon!!

The park offers a great shuttle service..provides maps and locations, times and information you did not even know you needed. We decide to take the shuttle to the market place, connect with the red shuttle and check out the rim and the points of interest along this route. Then with this information we can make hiking plans for  Sunday( our only full day in the park) and hopefully see the sunset on our way back to camp. Thank you N for a great plan!

So off we went..Our first view of the Canyon was breath taking..there is no way to describe it!! Pictures do not do it justice but it is engraved in my mind now forever. The shuttle drivers are very helpful so we got off at all the points of interest..took our time looking at them and then back on the shuttle we went..However as I shared the oldest was still pissed about his change of plans on Thursday night..so before long he wanted to go back to the campsite..The rest of us agreed ( who wants to continue with some one who is so unhappy, we can always do something else later).

We boarded the shuttle, headed back as he turns to Grandpa with the question of what we are going to do after this. Grandpa looks at me and asks what there is to do..I suggested the free movie at the IMAX at the visitor center. Finally some sign of interest!! " Really" he says. " What is playing? " I reply it is about the Grand Canyon............oh my, this was not the reaction we were hoping for!!!!!!!! Grandpa tells him he is sorry, I also say the same thing ( my concerns are growing). Now he goes off, it really makes him mad that we would say this..he is having fun. Now I know in our Savior's desire for us, and this is not fun..no wonder Mom brought him early..lol

That night as we are settling down, Grandpa comes in to us( I was being taught how to play Texas Hold-em) and says he wants to share some information with us! My fears pick up..was it something that happened that would change our trip..were we going to learn of a problem? No it was a blessing!! Two young college students were trying to camp but the camp ground was full..and he said they could share ours..so he just wanted everyone to be considerate of them being so close! Blessing Blessing Blessing!! Well this was fine with the older boys..they had no interest at all in these people..so on the night went.

In the morning Grandpa and I had a chance to visit with the two girls we shared our spot with..wow, both from Europe, 18 and 19 and students at San Diego..how brave and Independent  they were..and what insights they had about our country and theirs!! To bad the boys slept through it!!

That day the older boys took off to hike on their own and we took K hiking with us..this is the most fun Grandpa and I had. K explored everything from Rocks and feathers to making friends with everyone he met! Then along came Ranger Rick..yes that is his real name..and invited K to become a Junior Ranger!! Oh my, what a honor he held in this hand, the activity book he would need to complete in order to qualify! He shared this with shuttle bus drivers.. museum docents and any one else who would listen to how important this was!! He was going to earn a badge and help protect the park!! He never slowed down, but Grandpa decided he was going to need a snack so back to the visitor  center we went  only to find out we had been gone 5 hours..how could that be..it had gone so quick! My heart so hopes that D in heaven was watching him that afternoon..he would be so happy!

Instead of leaving the next morning after watching the sunrise we had hoped to see..J informed us he must be back early in order to rest up for his weight lifting on Tuesday..this was not the plan but after the time we had spent hoping he would participate we decided to just get him home!! The wind was at our backs and the only stops were for gas..we had him back by 5 much to his Mother's surprise!!

Our next trip will be to Sequoia National Park where K will be able to earn his next badge and it is his turn to bring a friend..I so look forward to this and if J needs to be on his own I so support that, learning the line between independence and being with others is never easy.............but mostly I have come to respect peace-keepers! There job is not an easy one but done well as N did on this trip is a joy to behold!!

So on into the future we go.........with.concerns... and with the enthusiasm of a 5 year old....thank you boys for quite and adventure!!

Grandma D

Camping has turned into an interesting endeavor to say the least...since we have decided to take D's children once a month. These adventures come with new knowledge and many new challenges to put it mildly. What a preschooler knows a teenager pays no attention to, what a teenager knows becomes something to pattern after, for a preschooler!

We went on our last rip to Pinnacles National Monument. What a blessing..all the boys want to go back and have decided camping is fun when you participate. Grandpa D and I however have different ideas on what would make the trip fun when we started however. Grandpa D decided we should take the most scenic route available to us. This allowed us to see the Central Valleys agricultural base at it's best along with a great lesson on the San Andreas Fault in all it's glory! This trip to our campsite however took almost 5 hours..not un-doable but it was N's turn to bring a friend, so we had 3, 6 foot teenagers in the backseat and a preschooler in front with us, in an older pick-up which had enough seat belts, just not enough room! On Grandpa D's and my way home after dropping the boys off, Grandpa D asked,"is the reason you wanted to stop at all those dumb museums and tourist traps when we traveled with our boys was just because you wanted them out of the car for a few minutes?" WOW! A light bulb monument!!

 When we arrived at he Pinnacles we set up camp, hiked to the Talus caves, what excitement these caves gave the boys, deer, cottontail bunnies, and ants as big as your forefinger were hits along with the raccoon who tried to raid the camps in the middle of the night!

The biggest thing I learned as the only woman on this trip was kitchen duty sucks after dark and there is never enough food! I remember when D and R were teenagers and I owned my own business..I only had time to go to the grocery store once a week. As I was checking out one Sunday both the checker and the person behind me wanted to know if I was buying for an institution...no just a weeks worth of food for 2 teenagers..that same amount of food goes now on a weekend camping trip!!! At the time I had my boys as teenagers I also learned the skills of a 20 minute dinner( yes I watch Rachel Ray and wonder why she takes so long..lol) The 20 minute dinner is required when camping if I also want to hike and play too!

Well this brings me to the point of this  post...We are going to the Grand Canyon..what was going to be 2 nights at the canyon has now turned into a 5 day trip..2 to get there and 2 there and our marathon trip home!
I have been shopping for 2 weeks, been cooking now and prepping for 3 days and am praying the boys remember to bring what they need..

I will post as we continue into the future...D, I miss you so much and hope you are watching  your boys become Men because they are doing a pretty good job so far!!

Grandma D

Almost seemed to happen on cue!

Well we have now returned from our first adventure! we took the tent for the boys and the trailer for all of us who might need it( Grandpa said he would definitively use it). We went one half hour from the boys home, to the lake where we hoped to fish and to hike around our beautiful surroundings. We saw wild turkeys and "real lizards".

K and N went fishing with us as J was very tired and wanted to take a nap..so off the 4 of us headed to procure our dinner. Now fishing with a 4 year old can be an adventure all on its own as we quickly learned! Fishing line constantly tangled, large rocks to aim at the lake and bright red bobbers floating on the rippled surface. Grandpa shared with K who was intent on catching a big-foot that a lot of noise would scare the fish away..so we needed to be quiet! Well as quiet as a boy of 4 can be at least..N wondered off the for a location with out so much commotion. After a couple of hours, no fish and a sun lowering into the west we headed back to camp for a plan B dinner..

the older boys headed for the boulders for some climbing and K to the campground play area where he had made friends earlier in the day. Grandpa and I made the fire and gathered dinner ingredients.

The older boys arrived back, blood on hands and arms..even though I had told them to be careful.Listening to us "older folk" was not on the agenda for the day! K got back and off to the tent they all went for a wrestling match- against the tent walls. "You will dislodge the rain tarp and it is going to rain tonight"..now to be fair there were no clouds in the sky, but the weather website I checked before leaving said it was. Again the wresting started and again the warnings..again the wrestling and this time no warnings from us..experience is always the best teacher!

Dinner was great and after clean-up I headed to the rest rooms and the boys to the tent. When I returned only Grandpa was sitting around the campfire.."Where did the boys go?" I asked with concern. "They are asleep in the tent", he replied..."even K?" I asked. So they were down for the night. Grandpa and I sat by the fire for an hour or so listening for any signs that they would not be asleep, but even the loud cry's of a pack of coyotes did not wake them. So we headed off to the trailer and bed.

At 4 am K was at the door, he wanted in our bed..the boys were snoring to loud for him to sleep he decreed. We were getting up so into our bed he went and soon was snoring loudly. We had our coffee and organized for breakfast. At this time the rain was coming down in buckets!! I said to Grandpa that I should check the tent..grandpa felt we should leave it alone..experience should be the best teacher!

At 8 we woke them up..they came across the short distance to the trailer for breakfast and were soaking wet from the trip. All the boys brought their backpacks..but no change of clothes were with the teenagers, not even dry socks! We put them in blankets and all enjoyed our breakfast.

Our our way back home K from the backseat announced he was hurt and angry with Grandpa! Grandpa had talked with a gentlemen fishing from a boat and scared his fish away! We asked what we could improve upon for our next trip and the first thing that came up was we did not have enough potato chips ! The second was a larger rain fly for the tent, and J said he should bring a change of clothes. ( what a great idea for a weekend trip!)

I sat in the front seat and thanked God, not only for a safe and enjoyable trip..but for the rain, and the small mishaps which almost seemed to happen on cue, and will help our young, perhaps, accept small bits of advice in the future.

Well this is finally the week of our first camping trip, today is K day and he is napping now after helping me to prep the trailer for our first trip. This involved many carry trips to the back acre where we store the trailer, finally whittling down the area where we were stacking all the stuff..to have our pioneer adventures with!

I am confused by the older boys, they have no excitement for this, yes I know they are teenagers, but I must confess it hurts a little! I call them the McDonald's generation . Tell me when it is time to go, pick me up and deliver me back when done. J was told he was the first to bring a friend. Last week I sent him an email reminding him of it and wanted to know if his friend's parents wanted to meet us first before sending their only child off with strangers. Today when I picked K up for our day and after talking to Mom last night he says to me.".is it this weekend? I do not think anything else is going on" Do you want your friend to come? "I will ask today" but J I need to buy enough food to include your friend..I am working the rest of the week, "I will let you know tonight..so the order has not been made yet, but when it is , it must be ready on demand! What are we doing to our children? What happened to planning..anticipation..and fulfillment? I am afraid these are concepts that are no longer valued, and are just in the way of imminent gratification.....

N is going to come out on Friday and help with the prep..not his idea, it was Moms but at least he will participate, perhaps he will enjoy it more, I sure hope so! Our menu depends on a fish catch, but I have also included a back-up plan, not sure they will remember to bring fishing poles..LOL.

As we approach the beginning of this years Odyssey, Grandpa and I look back on our one and only camping trip when we were raising D and R. My parents had moved to the Oregon coast for retirement and we were going on vacation to see their new home. We borrowed a 3 room tent from one of Grandpa's co-workers to camp on the way up with the boys. D was a toddler and R was a baby(about 5 and a half months old). After what seemed like forever we arrived at a campground in the redwoods on the northern coast. We put R in in infant seat under a tree and proceeded to set up camp. Back in those days tents did not have pop-up poles and were not made of nylon..but rather this was a full fledged canvas army tent! By dinner we were exhausted and headed to bed. That was when R decided to begin the process of cutting his first tooth! No ice..no teething ring and no ambosal, just a screaming child in pain! Grandpa loaded D into the car and headed for the closest town..a 70 mile round trip!! I walked R through the campground singing his favorite songs to him, doing what ever I could, including him chewing on my fingers to help him, until Grandpa and D got back. At 5 am we settled down for a nap..by 6 Grandpa and I were back up again to make the fire, coffee and breakfast.

We shared that campground with only one other couple that night...they were starting their honeymoon with just married plastered all over their car! As they were having coffee she said to him "you are right..we should wait a long..long time to have children!!

and so it goes..into the future