Friday the 13th was a day of pure beauty! We visited the Trees of Mystery in the Redwood National Forest, and this 1st tree, they believe, is 3000 years old! It began its life in 900 B.C. and has lived through history and seen the coming and going of men and women through the ages. We rode a gondola to the tops of these giant trees, walked on the canopy trails spanning high in the tree tops, and felt incredibly small and deeply inspired. Today, Saturday, we drove all day through the Redwoods and mountains on our way through Oregon headed toward Seattle and then on to Vancouver. This country is so beautiful and vast and filled with surprises at every turn.

#OurEpicFamilyRoadTrip

#redwoodsnationalpark

#treesofmystery

#lifeisfullofsurprises

#beautyeverywhere

#forevergrateful

Early Morning Walk with the pups. I was scared to follow the trail into the woods because of bears and elk and my overactive imagination, but Ernie said “let’s go just a little further”. We walked down a wooded trail that opened onto the most beautiful and peaceful river beside a huge opening. No houses. Nothing there but a shack up in the woods and a giant swing set in the middle of nowhere by a river. The dogs went swimming. We were surrounded by beauty. I am discovering that often it is good to push past my imaginary fears to discover the glory that lies just on the other side.

#OurEpicFamilyRoadTrip

#pushingpastimaginaryfear

#lifeisfullofsurprises

#sohappytobealive

“POEMS WERE MADE BY FOOLS LIKE ME, BUT ONLY GOD CAN MAKE A TREE”

– Joyce Kilmer

My mother loved trees and would frequently quote that poem to me, and yesterday I understood my mama’s heart and zeal for living in a new way. We drove for hours through the Redwood Forests of Northern CA, and Eli and I stopped to drive through and stand inside of a 2400 yr old tree. 2400 years! It is 21 ft in diameter, 315 feet high, and continues to provide beauty, strength, and mystery to countless individuals who stop to witness this magnificence. I wept with gratitude…for my mother, for this trip, for these gentle giants, and for the indescribable beauty of this world.

#OurEpicFamilyRoadTrip

#thechandeliertree

#redwoodnationalforest

#cryingwithhappiness

#gratefulformymom

A Beautiful Day With Family!

Such a wonderful day visiting with my brother, Ron, and sister-in-law, Joanne, in their lovely home amidst the vineyards and hills of Sonoma County. They showered us with gifts and welcomed us with so much love! As we walked and talked, the years that have past since we were last together fell away, and it was as if we had never been apart. Love is funny that way. I am so grateful for my beloveds!

#OurEpicFamilyRoadTrip

#loveisforever

#mamabwassmilingtoday

#generosityandmetta

#ilovemyfamily

#reunionsaresweet

Ear licking and laughter at the Golden Gate Bridge!

Today we bid farewell to San Francisco and got some parting photos of the Golden Gate Bridge, which was actually visible today. It was cold and windy at the bridge, then it got hot and sunny again as we drove north through beautiful hills and farmland up to the coastal town of Bodega Bay. My deepest gratitude to my sweet brother, Ron, and sister-in-law, Joanne, for finding us a wonderful place to stay in the Bodega Bay RV Park. (Places to camp are not so easy to come by up here). Quiet. Cool. Peaceful. Next to a national forest. Walking distance to the ocean. Never would I have guessed that having a full hook up in our own little home on wheels would feel like such a luxury.

#OurEpicFamilyRoadTrip

#ilovemyfamily

#northerncaliforniacoast

#peaceandquietinthewoods

#takenothingforgranted

#gratefulbeyondwords

A Molasses Kind Of Day

Today felt like we were moving through molasses. We were tired. Even our pups wanted to simply lie down under a picnic bench and rest. By 5:30 we surrendered, booked a hotel, ordered a pizza, and watched a movie. Just what the doctor ordered! Tomorrow we head into San Francisco.

#OurEpicFamilyRoadTrip

#veggingout

#takingabreak

#doingnothingissomething

A private beach at Bodega Bay, a sumptuous lunch while getting the car checked out, a long and wonderful walk with Ron and Joanne, and 2 very happy, tired, and dirty puppies after having the time of their lives with us on the beach. It doesn’t get better than that!

#OurEpicFamilyRoadTrip

#bodegabay

#Watchingdreamscometrues

#happytiredpups

#backontheroadtomorrow

A COLD day in San Francisco!

Yesterday (Sunday) we went in to see the sights in San Francisco wearing our shorts and t-shirts to find people walking around in jackets, long pants, and warm hats. What!?! The fog rolled in and it was 61 degrees! After buying sweatpants and sweaters, we toured The Presidio, took photos on the beach in front of the Golden Gate Bridge hidden in the fog, walked around Fisherman’s Wharf, and had the best Chinese food we’ve ever had. The owner came over and said “I am a chef, let me order for you. I know what you will love. You don’t have to think”. We turned it over to him and he was right. It was amazing. We had blossom tea and watched as these tea buds blossomed into flowers in the glass. It was a magical night.

#OurEpicFamilyRoadTrip

#sanfranciscochilly

#youdonthavetothink

#houseofnankingsanfrancisco

A SAD & SCARY DAY

I wish I could say we had this amazingly beautiful day at Yosemite, but that was not the case. We drove 2 1/2 hours to our campground just outside Yosemite National Park. It was very deserted, which seemed odd. We smelled smoke and the guy at the front desk said there was a fire somewhere in the park, but that we didn’t need to worry. By the time we got to the front gates of the park, the smoke was getting so thick we could no longer see the mountains or the trees in the distance. A ranger said it was smoke coming from Northern CA as well as a “small” (500 acre) fire in the park. We looked on purple air.com (thank you, Ron Browning, for telling us about that site) and it rated the air quality in our area as a deep burgundy red which meant it would be harmful to our health if we stayed there for 24 hours, which was pretty obvious without having to look at the map. There was no place to go to get to better air unless we drove south or over to the coast, so we packed up (they wouldn’t refund our campground fee for the night), and drove another 5 hours through the smoke to get out of the danger area. It is 2 AM and here I sit at a Motel 6 near San Francisco and feel like I can breathe easily once again. Oh, the things we take for granted! We were lucky to find a room as everything was booked for miles. It was sad to see huge areas of beautiful forest that had already been in other fires, and to know more fires were burning nearby. It was scary to be surrounded by smoke rather than pure, clean air to draw those deep breaths from…the ones I needed to take to calm myself as I drove behind Ernie winding down the narrow, steep mountain roads we had climbed just a few hours before. It was disappointing to have to drive on without seeing this magnificent park. I believe we can still turn things around for our planet, but it will take a true awakening on all of our parts. I am feeling very awake at the moment. My hand in yours tonight.

#OurEpicFamilyRoadTrip

#smokeinthewest

#breathingeasy

#stillgrateful

#thetreesneedourhelp

God Bless Forever Friends!

Such a blessing to connect with one of Ernie’s forever friends from high school, college, and beyond. Before leaving L.A., Paul Morrison, talented actor, great friend, and newly retired city surveyor showed the family an insider view of Beverly Hills and beyond. A beautiful completion to a whirlwind visit. We will be back! We love you Los Angeles.

#OurEpicFamilyRoadTrip

#foreverfriendsarethebest

#sweetreunionyearslater

#pickingupwheretheyleftoff

#trafficconecouture