Day 3 – Pounding surf and rip currents are treacherous!

This morning we decided to go to Gold Bluff's Beach and Fern Canyon. We did the hike to Fern Canyon first thinking that if we went to the beach we would get wet and wouldn't want to hike. It was really beautiful but not as much as I think it would have been in the summertime. A lot of the vegetation was still brown from the winter. The information that I read on it said that you had to cross over a creek. What I didn't realize was that it was cross over this way and then cross back over and then cross back over again and again and again and again. There were logs that you could balance on to help you!

Or you could just wear your rain boots and walk in the water!

I don't really know what we were thinking that if there was water involved - that our little boy wouldn't find a way to get soaked?!! He did. Oh well. Several people made comments that they were going to wear their boots the next time they came and did this hike!

Then we went out to the beach. It was absolutely wonderful! I haven't been to the beach since Scott and I went on his graduation vacation and went to the Bahamas. It certainly wasn't any kind of warm. But it was amazingly beautiful! We took our shoes and socks off and walked in the sand and surf.

Dallin loved it… And of course was throwing rocks!

Maggie wasn't so sure about it though..

In fact she pretty much hated it! She kept walking away from the water instead of playing IN the water.

At one point she went and got her shoes and gave them to Scott to put on for her. She was done!

Dallin, Maggie and I were out in the surf. I had just finished telling Dallin that he couldn't go out there without one of us with him and this huge wave came and knocked Dallin over and almost me - while I was holding Maggie.

I must say that I was quite frightened. I couldn't see Dallin anywhere at first and then caught a glimpse of his head. I reached down to try to find a body part to grab onto. I found his arm and we were both almost pulled backward. Needless to say - Maggie was screaming, I was scared out of my mind thinking that Scott is too far away to get to us in time. He didn't actually get the best of the photos - I think he was headed our way during the sketchy part and then when he saw me pulling Dallin out he started photographing again.

We found lots of crab shells. I don’t know what kind they are. But I do remember eating them at the Chesapeake Bay Seafood House in Maryland where I grew up. I remember specifically my dad finishing eating them and putting them on the salt and pepper shakers and crashing them into each other.

Dad – I found you “All you can eat” crab legs! Oh wait – I only found one though. Just eat it real slow!


We also spent time collecting sand, seawater and shells and rocks. It was really a fun day. Although we stripped Dallin down to his underwear before getting into the van.

Sometimes I really hate being a girl. This is the bathroom that I had to use a lot during this vacation. Did I mention that I have a phobia of public restrooms? Well this is worse!!


Now - this is for all of you who think that mini-vans are wussy. Look what we got to go through to get to this beautiful beach!

We got to do this THREE times!!! It was really cool! Scott was really missing his 4Runner. Bad!

On the way back to camp we drove through this scenic parkway that got me really excited to go into the forest! This is a fallen tree that I took a picture of. Then I realized that there wasn’t a point of reference for you to get how BIG these are!! So here is my 5’11 hubby with his arm up and it STILL doesn’t reach the other end!


We also stopped at the Redwood Forest Visitor’s Center on the way to camp and got a map. One of the things that was on the map was: Heavy Surf: The pounding surf and rip currents are treacherous. Stay away from the water. Hmmmm…. We could have used that info a little earlier today!

We got back to camp and got Dallin out of his wet undies.

When we first drove into where we were camping Dallin informed us that we were camping in the Jedi Forest. It actually really does look like it. We kept looking for ewoks - but never found them...



Then we went into this quaint little town of Trinidad that has been our place to get gas and groceries. It is totally tourist supported. We went to dinner at this little café that was absolutely adorable! It totally reminded me of Mystic Pizza. Maybe none of you have seen that movie. You really aren’t missing anything. I mean it’s a cute show – but there isn’t any good moral point to it. But I don’t know that I have ever had better Clam Chowder and Scott said that his burger was REALLY good. They grilled the buns with a garlic butter spread.

After dinner we located a laundry mat, secured some firewood and headed back to camp.

Day 2 - Driving and Barfing

We got to Sparks and stayed over. Then we ended up getting off the main highway (80) and moving onto a little road.

***Sidebar that will be necessary to remember later*** Now let me say that we have some friends who did this trip last year. The dad warned me that they went on SR 36 from Redding to the coast. He said it was really back and forth with all sorts of winding around. One or some of their crew ended up getting car sick. So I made sure that our route did NOT include SR 36. We decided to go SR 299. ***

So we went from big highway and speed limit or usually faster to little road with lots of construction. This was frustrating for Scott as this is a sight that we saw frequently. This is a one lane each way road.

As frustrating as it was and as LONG as it took - it really was extraordinarily beautiful! I felt like the scene from the movie "Cars" when Lightning McQueen realized what he was missing by riding on the big fast road all the time.

We stopped in this teeny tiny little place called Shingletown for lunch. There was a little park next to this little library. The first thing that Dallin does? Throw rocks into the little stream going by!

In case you were wondering - Yes - he did fall in...

There was a library that had a very clean bathroom (thank goodness). Road trips are really difficult for a person with a phobia of public restrooms!

As beautiful as it was, it was extremely tedious to stop because only one lane was working due to construction. And the winding. The winding was terrible. And then we realized that our little girl gets motion sick. Luckily it happened right by this little cafe in the middle of nowhere. The very nice man mowing the lawn let us use his hose.

Just so you know - both 36 and 299 are windy and curvy and induce vomiting.

We were on our way after getting her changed into another outfit. Not 20 minutes later she did it again. This time we weren't around a hose. Therefore - our car smells REEEEEAAAAALLLLY bad right now.

We didn't bother to put her in clothes again. We also think that we are going to try to find another way home. We just don’t think we like this!

We got to McKinleyville and new we were close but decided to stop and get Carl's Jr before setting up camp. I thought this sign on the drive up window was hilarious!

After we got in our site and all set up (we are right on the cliff by the beach) we decided to hike down to the beach. Dallin keeps calling it the sea. He was SOOOO excited! This was him playing in the waves. One actually got to him and he was terrified....

I wish you could see his face more clearly... Maybe if you click on the picture - a bigger version will come up. Sometimes it works, somtimes it doesn't. We thought it was hilarious!

Scott and Maggie on the beach.

Maggie on the beach.

This is the site that welcomed us to this wonderful vacation we are enjoying!

Day 1 - Off like a herd of turtles!

Forgive me if this is boring for you. Since this is our family journal/scrapbook I want to get all the information in and correct. If it bores you too much to read - just look at the pictures!

We were definitely slow on the start of our vacation. Dallin didn’t get done with his testing until almost noon. Then we were had to stop at Costco to get gas, ice and cliff bars. We got to the Costco in Bountiful and found out they didn’t sell ice. So we had to stop at a gas station. Then we realized that we left the cash we had been saving up for the trip at home, so we had to find our bank in a town that we aren’t familiar with to get money for the trip. UGH… But finally about 2:00 in the afternoon we finally got on I-80 headed for Reno. We had hoped to get to Susanville, CA on the first day of driving. Needless to say – that didn’t happen. But we cruised right along on I-80. And there is something to be said for leaving on a road trip at naptime!

After we passed Tooele there really wasn't anything out there. But I have now seen the Salt Flats. It's weird - I can't tell if it's water or just mud and salt. There are mirages everywhere. This was a pretty cool shot that Scott took as I was driving.

Then, what is this? Some civilization???

Oh... Maybe not...

We stayed at the Silver Club Hotel/Casino in Sparks. I wouldn't recommend it to anyone, that's for sure. Poor Scott got the side of the bed closest to the window that had about a 1/4" gap. There was a breeze all night. What a guy to take one for the family!

Well - we will let you see how the trip is going! We love and miss everyone! Well- maybe not ;-)

Belt Test!

Today - Scott stayed home from work. We are headed out to the Redwoods! I am very excited! But what is even BETTER???!!

Daddy got to see Dallin in action during his belt test for Karate. He started out at a white belt. He tested today for his yellow belt! Well - the Sensei doing the testing bumped him up to a Tiny Tigers ORANGE belt!!! Dallin is so very thrilled!!!! And so are we! He did a fantastic job! He was praised on having the "Stance of the Day" with the shot above!

This one here is his horse stance.

Congratulations Dallin!!!!

Scott as a child...

Ok, Kevin from TX... Here you go. It's not nearly as horrid as my childhood. Scott is really cute as a kid!!! I only have this one little envelope of pictures that his mom gave to me a few years ago. But with that and one from his mission and our wedding - I think you will see the changes in him!

Here he is as a baby - awwww

Notice the cute curls?


His son inherited them...

This is Scott's cute family when Scott was a young child. I think his mom doesn't appreciate that we don't let his hair grow out on top. It just drives Scott nuts. But it is kinda cute!

Isn't he just ADORABLE??!!!


This is sometime in elementary school I would think....

I was actually going through my box of pictures the other day and found this one. I thought, who in the heck am I supposed to know in this photo??

Then I realized that this is a picture of Scott's soccor team... Here he is... And what is he doing? Giving rabbit ears to some poor kid...


Then I found this one of him on a basketball team. I tell ya - I had NO idea that my hubby played sports like this! I just thought he was a bike geek his WHOLE life!!

Then he went on a mission. Look - he still had hair!

Then we got married. Look - he still had hair!

Here he painted his toes to match my baby sister's! Look - he still had hair!!

Well - maybe it was starting to thin out...

My husband, my best friend, the father of my children... I sure do love him!