To the Redwoods and Beyond!

In case you want to sift through lots of pictures about the Redwoods...
we survived - and the true test of survival included Stella asking about going camping 3 days after arriving home.

WIN!

By the end of the week, we definitely learned what we didn't need on the trip, how to most quickly and effectively pack and unpack a van, and I learned how to fight the dog for the right to sit in the front seat. (I didn't always win, I will tell you that). Stella did amazing with the amount of driving we did - and although we thought she would blissfully sleep through most of it, she did not, but still was a happy girl amusing herself most of the time. I only had to break out the laptop and the Beatrix Potter DVD on the last day (which, admittedly, was our longest drive of the trip).

Some highlights:

One night we stopped at a little Indian place for dinner since we were staying in a concrete RV park and knew we couldn't make dinner. Stella drained an entire mango lassi in 5 minutes flat. Then proceeded to inhale all of my basmati rice and my dal (lentils.) Guess she was hungry.

Stella noticed a state of California flag at one location and I explained to her that it was a bear on the flag. For some reason, I thought it was a golden bear (but then later realized that a golden bear is UC Berkeley's mascot and the state flag is merely a regular ol' bear). Stella then sang the song "Golden Bear" to the tune of "Twinkle, Twinkle" most of the whole trip. The lyrics, you ask? Golden bear oh golden bear, golden bear, a golden bear. Golden bear, a golden bear.... :) I have it on video somewhere. It will be the next post most certainly.

By mid-week, Scupper started refusing to get back in the van after we stopped for a hike or got out to explore an area. Think he was done with it?

We kept saying how huge the trees were. We felt rather dumb, but each time we would see another one, we would say to each other, wow, that's a big one.

Stella was very good with the potty and her underwear on the trip. She also has a fascination with going in public restrooms, much to my hygiene chagrin. Every time we came out of the bathroom, whether it was at the campground or out in about, she was shout to whomever was outside, "I just went on the big girl potty!"

We loved Northern California. If anyone has jobs for us up there, let us know. We are ready to move. Preferably Sonoma County, north of the Bay Area.

Camping Trip