California fun

We Love California!

We’ve spent our first few days of CA time with friends and family. It is good to be in familiar territory. We were sad to say goodbye to Dad and are anxiously awaiting his return in a few weeks. In the meantime we have discovered many new and different North Bay treasures. First we found a scrapbookers paradise, Mrs. Grossman’s sticker factory. We all were in awe of the process of making a sticker. We also enjoyed the stickers at the end. We all enjoyed trying to hold our breath across both the Golden Gate and Bay Bridge, no one was successful b/c they are to long 7 miles and 8.4 miles respectively. We went to the S.F. Exploratorium, a must see for S.F. visitors with kids. Our tour guide, Carrie, took us to some fun neighborhoods so we could embrace the real S.F. culture. The kids loved Chinatown, a place to spend their money. I loved being in the Mission district and seeing and hearing all the Mexicans speak Spanish. We even got our ice cream at the ‘native’ rate because I spoke Spanish☺. A visit to Berkeley and some good Indian food was a favorite for mom. The kids enjoyed playing red light green light amongst the college students. We look forward to exploring more of CA, stay tuned!

Sabrina says: We went to Chinatown and I bought a book bag. I liked shopping there. The museum was cool, it had a bunch of science stuff. I love seeing my cousins; everyone looks older (everyone except Grandma).

Gabriel says: The first day we came to California we took a picture of us at the California sign. We met our friend Carrie at the Exploratorium (like the Science Museum). We saw our Aunt Carla and Uncle Jim at their house. We went to the ocean and played Frisbee and played “jump over the waves” and then we went back to their house. The next day we went to the sticker factory and saw a movie, “Barnyard”. It was FUNNY! Then we went to grandma’s house. I love seeing my cousins!

Redwoods National Park

California, Here we are!

Goodbye Northwest.

Best of the West
(Kid tested Parent approved)

Best Pool- Timberline Lodge, Mt. Hood OR

Most Scenic Drive- Hwy 12 Idaho

Best Food- Mo's Seafood- Cannon Beach OR

Best Beach- Cannon Beach OR

Best Wi Fi Location- Lobby @ Timberline Lodge

Friendliest People- North Dakotans

Cheapest Gas- Portland Oregon, $2.73

Most Expensive Gas- Laytonville, CA $3.33

Worst Camping Location- Cape Disappointment, WA

Best Camping Location- Bear Tooth Lake, Shoshone Forest WY

Most exciting activity- whitewater rafting, Yellowstone River

Best Visitor's Center- Lolo Pass (free hot chocolate), MT/ID border

Best Wildlife Viewing- Yellowstone Park, WY

Best Lewis and Clark Museum- Cape Disappointment, WA

Best Ice Cream- Tillamook Creamery, Tillamook OR

Best town to bypass- Hermiston OR

Best roadside attraction- Sea Lion Caves, Florence OR

Best Bookstore- Powell's Bookstore, Portland OR

Best Lewis & Clark Activity- Pompey's Pillar Signature Event, Worden Mt

Best Camping Neighbors- G-Marie and Bud, Beartooth Lake, WY

Cecilia on the Trail

Oregon Coast

Sabrina speaks

Hi All,
We slept at Cape Disappointment; Lewis and Clark camped there. No wonder they call it Cape Disappointment. I could not fall asleep; the dumb raccoons kept trying to get into our food .I MISS YOU ALL!!

Sabrina.

P.S. The ocean water is very salty. Don’t taste it like I did

Gabriel loves the ocean

Hi friends,
I went to the ocean and I saw a jellyfish. Sabrina and me were jumping over the waves, it was like water skiing. There are a few really big waves and when they come to you they shoot behind but your body is just staying where it is and it is just not moving. It looks like you are water skiing and it feels like you are waterskiing by going father and farther. The Ocean was fun especially running the waves.

I told dad to look out for the jellyfish and he didn’t hear me and he almost got stung. Once you get stung by a jellyfish the scar stays for a long time.

It took about a week to get to the Pacific Ocean and it took Lewis and Clark over a year, it took us a shorter time.

"Ocean in view! O Joy!" -Meriwether Lewis

Powell’s bookstore in Portland inspired our children to read, read, and read. We can’t get Gabriel to put the book down☺ We visited Fort Clatsop and Cape Disappointment marking the end of our Lewis and Clark journey west. After our two years we only have the Great Falls of Montana left to discover. Just like Lewis and Clark we were all overjoyed to reach the ocean.

Seeing the kids discover the ocean as older kids was just as fun as chasing the waves 30 years ago. Gabriel dug up sand and watched the hole get filled by the tide continuously, Sabrina searched for shells and sand dollars and Cecilia flew her kite all by herself. We all loved the smell and feel of the ocean breeze and water. Mostly we’ve enjoyed all the fresh seafood.

Timberline Lodge 6000 feet into the sky

The Nez Perce Trail

Just when I thought it couldn't possibly get more beautiful than Idaho we traverse Mt. Hood in Oregon-swimming under the stars in an outdoor heated pool. Mike and I felt like we snuck into some rich persons pool b/c we were the only ones swimming. We are at the Timberline Lodge- site of The Shining! No we haven't run through the hallways looking for Jack Nickelson but the floors do creak!
Sabrina consulted Mike's brother Steve, the ski coach, about skiing Mt. Hood. Apparently after 1 lesson at Buck Hill on the black diamonds she feels ready. Mt. Hood is the site of the U.S. ski teams training and Steve encouraged her to try it if she feels ready. We are hoping to get through this trip with only frustrations not broken bones:) Maybe we could convince Eli and Larry to take a trip out here and Sabrina and Mike could try the mountain.
We hope to take in some hiking this morning but it is chilly, 45 degrees. Maybe a much wanted cool front for our friends bearing 105 degree heat.
We've discovered a new Native American tribe, the Nez Perce. Also an American Girl, Kaya. The tribe was the last to be put onto reservations and were very helpful to Lewis and Clark. We were able to help set up a tipi at the National Historic site- very different than our tent.
We've passed through the Columbia gorge, the last site before Lewis and Clark found the Ocean. We are all looking forward to the ocean. You can take a person out of California but you can't take the California out of a person! We will be camping on the beach tonight.
A few responses to comments: NO we haven't got lost! We are just discovering new places:) Our next vacation- a reality show involving others travelling with us? Anyone up for that? This blog thing is so cool as it connects us to all of you as well as is a ready made scrapbook! The digital camera is a borrowed item from a friend, I can't give up my 'old fashioned' camera. Wait until you see those pictures:) Sabrina may have us wrapped around her finger, at times, but we are NOT going to Hollywaood- doesn't fit into the Lewis and Clark primitive thing:) She will get to see her aunt & uncle in S.F and spend a day with Carrie, that will have to be good enough.
p.s. in Oregon you are not allowed to pump your own gas! So it is full service for the next few days- we could really enjoy Oregon! gas is only $3.02, we were expecting it to be much higher. I suppose wait until CA.
p.p.s. This is the one year anniversary of our friend Annie's Leukemia treatment and a few more to go. Please add her to your prayers