Cincinnati Art Museum with Baby B

I was so happy that SKL suggested I take a week off before starting full time again.

My last day at DPI (the remote gaming job) was September 3. Worked there almost 3 years. I learned a ton, but also realized I honestly wasn’t passionate about gaming products (really hated the weapons and violent aspects) and remote work culture is tough to maneuver. Interesting working remote- the flexibility is awesome, but getting things fixed or done with everyone on different time zones is challenging. I’m not a patient person. I like to move and accomplish tasks. I’ll miss my friends there, but never got to see my boss’s face since she never once turned on her camera. All very odd to me. Working for a bubble on a screen. Technology… maybe I’m too old school.

My new/old job at SKL started full time September 9, so okay….3 days break. I really needed a detox. Should’ve taken the opportunity to clean my house or catch up on the stack of mail I haven’t bothered to look at, but it was such a gorgeous day!

While scrolling Instagram, I saw there was a Hip Hop Culture Exhibit at the Cincinnati Art Museum and Thursday evenings were free. I texted Sedona and she was open and we made plans to go that night.

Outside the museum I snapped this photo and loved how well Sedona’s top coordinated with the sculpture.

Inside the museum there were a couple shoes made out of car parts. Human creativity.

Ever wonder why someone was inspired to do such a thing?

I wasn’t sure what to expect, but I have never not liked an exhibit. It always opens my mind.

We learned how there was a language created for graffiti.

I’ve always been fascinated with street art. Loved reading that the hip hop culture communicated through this method.

This ceramic cluster fascinated me as well. Such symbolism in its parts.

Love him or hate him, you have to give credit to Jay-Z for all he has done for the movement and rights to empower. Reading about how artists used to represent fashion brands and even took some leadership in designing through those brands, but he took it to an entirely higher level labeling himself as the brand.

Gucci. Ever wonder why its so popular still? Those infamous Gs.

Pharrell hat’s designed by the late Vivienne Westwood. Always one of my favorite fashion designers.

I never considered how hip hop culture progressed fashion in terms of weaves, hair color, nails, jewelry and the influence on women’s rights and power.

Biggy. So instrumental to the movement, coming up from the streets of NYC.

The colors were bright on the walls and really read/felt warm and invigorating. I know Sedona got a lot more out of this exhibit than I did. Was a beautiful way to awaken me to the influences that when put together made total sense but I never really took the time to consider previously. Sometimes life just evolves and unless you look back, its easy to miss the reasons and pieces of the puzzle.

The setting sun reflected on the clouds and turned them an luminescent pink. We decided to try to find a place where we could catch the sunset.

The City View Tavern in Mt. Adams was perfect. The two small clouds did not move above the distant buildings for the longest time. It was if we were looking at a painting.

The sliver of a moon captured against the Cincy skyline. Perfect ending to a beautiful day.

Day 4 Glenwood Springs-Colorado

On Monday, Kassie and I packed up and hit the road back to Denver. I’m sure Bobby and Lisa would be thankful to give their livers a rest. We decided we would take our time, have an open agenda, stop when and where we wanted, as long as night time driving was avoided.

Again my passenger duty, I took many photos from my window view.

Our first stop was Doc Holiday’s gravesite. At Bobby and Lisa’s recommendation I have since watched the Wyatt Earp Netflix documentary and now love even more that we stopped here. I visited Tombstone, Arizona with Zoe on her move to California but at that time I did not truly appreciate all the US history that occurred there.

A little history about how they moved the cemetery up the mountain to avoid issues with flooding and potential landslides. I imagine that would be a hot mess nobody would want to deal with.

Of course the trail was up a steep hill, which, when you stopped, offered gorgeous views. Guess the climb is worth it.

The landscape colors reminded me of desert terrain. Love the various green tones vs the warm red dirt trail.

We came across this wishing tree which someone told us was started by a cancer patient in the community. I Googled it – “Annie’s Wishing Tree started by Annie Zancanella when she was receiving cancer treatments.” We all need hope and support. Kassie moved a pinecone over staying eco. The baby doll is sort of creepy in the mix.

Once you reached the plateau there were several very old tombstones.

And of course a Potter’s field for immigrants and those in poverty. As we walked I found it odd that just because you have money you are marked as if worth more in history than others. I most likely would’ve ended up here. And I’m okay with that. Once I leave this Earth, I am meant to be free.

Something was eerily intriguing about this field. As if the branches were reaching out from below. Or they were doing an odd dance together in the grass. Feels painful somehow and cohesive.

The view beyond was stunning. Kassie found a trail outside of the cemetery area and we wandered a bit not knowing if it was legit or private property. We soon met a local hiking with his dogs and Kassie continued up the mountain to see if there was a better view. I never did get her photos to know.

Beautiful day. We saw an amusement park on top of one mountain that you reached via gondola. I wondered what riding a roller coaster up there would look like.

It was quiet up here. Not many hikers or tourists.

Hiking back down, Kassie was getting hangry and we headed into town to grab some lunch at the brewery.

Always love a local brewery. We opted for their house-made rootbeer and split an amazing salad and turkey rueben. No complaints on the food here!

We sat outdoors and of course, it started raining. We were able to scoot the table and Kassie only partially got wet.

Sitting at lunch I noticed a walkway and we decided to check it out. Just as we were, an Amtrack train pulled in heading to Chicago. What a fun way to check out towns across America. Unfortunately nothing as convenient as the trains in other countries.

Glenwood Springs is an adorable small town filled with restaurants and bars. I’d definitely come back to spend a full day.

This city has one of the largest natural springs in the world. People come to float in the section of the pool that is darkest. Lisa also told us about other smaller hot spring options also in the area.

Captured this view through the gate along the walkway.

There were several little shacks along the sidewalks with a table and bench set up inside. Sweet little lunch spot and several were filled with people enjoying.

Under the road they made use of the shade and created another outdoor seating area.

Heading out of town we followed this Airstream which was a perfect car for my windshield photos.

You are simply surrounded by the mountains.

Was glad to be seeing this section in the daylight.

We were mapping our way to Frisco for the next stop.

Kassie did an excellent job in our Blue Malibu.

Kayaking or rafting for sure would be fun in Colorado.

Love this capture with the colors in the hills and fluffy white clouds above.

What causes the differences in color? From sandy taupe to….

or a combo of both. Someone enlighten me. Virlane?

All views gorgeous against the blue skies and certainly can’t imagine the colors once the seasons change.

Think about this one for a minute. Love.

Sedona, Arizona- Day 3

Well I named Baby B ‘Sedona’ for a reason. This is an amazing place that I will never tire of.

Sunday morning, our last day of our weekend escape, George got my butt into the car by 6 am so we could reach Sedona by 8 and enjoy a full day there. We watched the sun come up as we drove and I made him pull off at a vista point to catch the mountain view.

This was taken from the vista point rest stop on our way. It was stunning. While admiring the view I also noticed it was freezing cold and immediately started complaining that I forgot to bring a coat.

The sun was glaring through the clouds trying to make its way to warm up the Earth.

Only a couple hours north and the view completely transitioned.

We hit Sedona and I couldn’t stop taking photos out the car window.

I mean seriously. It’s unreal. Painted perfectly. A different landscape.

The red rocks are sprouting up in various places as if they were called to grow.

This rock formation reminded me a bit of Utah’s Arches.

The colors. The combination of warmth and greenery. Stick dark branches and puffs of greenery.

I read about this Cathedral and wanted to visit but it didn’t open until 9 am., even on a Sunday. This is one of the spiritual vortexes in Sedona. A place where energy aligns at right angles.

We drove through to get a sense of the town while most were still asleep.

We took Airport Road which has incredible views like this one along the way. The road ended at the top of a mountain with a $3 parking lot. We parked and started following the hiking trail. George kindly gave me his coat to wear.

Can I just say what a good man my George is. He never rolls his eyes at me or snarls at my remarks. Never makes me feel inadequate or less than. Allows me to babble on and on as if entertained. He is the most supportive, loving, generous man I’ve ever met. I feel so taken care of in his presence as if I was the most important human. This kind of love I hope never to take for granted.

We took the 1/2 mile hike down to the viewpoint.

And what a view. I was somewhat annoyed by all the rooftops as if they didn’t belong there, but can’t blame anyone for wanting to live close by.

Words cannot describe what you feel when you see the red earth, spikey cactus, and miles of gorgeous landscape.

The hike ended where you could climb even further up a rock formation for better views. Was interesting watching how quickly the children were able to escalate.

I struggled to not use every single photo I’d taken. It was simply gorgeous at every turn.

Once I got to the top of the rocks I sat down and took a photo of my sturdy hiking boots that have been with me since my very first US adventures. Purchased them in 2021.

As the clouds moved the lighting changed and yet again offered us new perspectives to breathe in.

George snapped this photo of me. Sitting. Wishing I was not surrounded by tourists getting too close to the edges pushing my nerves and interrupting my peace. But I understand. We all want a piece of the peace.

Wanted to capture the terrain a bit because it was not easy. Twisted ankles were bound to happen if you weren’t careful.

We decided to not do the full loop and instead go grab some food and figure out where to head next. During our brunch we figured out that most trail heads you cannot drive to and instead need to take a shuttle. They did not run frequently (about every 50 minutes) and only took 25 passengers at a time. We missed the first shuttle by 5 minutes. It was windy and cold, but I found if I hiked slightly downward, it was much warmer which is where I waited for the next 40 minutes.

This was the view from where I waited. Ya, I could sit her for 40 minutes.

We hiked another short trail called Soldier’s Pass which had a sinkhole called Devil’s Kitchen and also some iconic pools where people are known to swim.

This trail was crowded and tough to find a pace where you weren’t constantly overhearing someone’s conversation or trying to allow someone to pass.

I read a sign at the sinkhole saying it has expanded 40% in size since the late 80s so it was unstable and would continue to erode. I stepped away from the edge 🙂

I loved these agave plants. They added such spikey personality to the hike.

This sweet dead cactus still inspired me by its change of colors.

You just walk along in awe. I am sure there are other trails that are less busy but we hadn’t deeply researched and wanted a short trail that would not push either of our limits.

It was so windy when you were on top of the mountains and then warm as heck once below. Felt perfectly like my hot flashes at home. Coat on, coat off. Repeat.

The pools were quite dried out. Cool nonetheless. I am sure when it rains it would be beautiful.

George and I hiked up high and hung out on top for a bit watching the people. There was a yoga group which was very cool. Others we could see climbing way off in the distance like ants on a hill.

On our drive out of town I asked George to do a full circle at the roundabout so I could get a close up of these two beauties one last time before leaving. He honored my request.

If I had more time and energy, I would have parked in this lot and hiked closer to this mound. This was my one last look as we headed back down south.

My daughters- Zoe, Sedona and Solaire are going out to Arizona to celebrate the twins birthday next month. I can’t wait for them to see where Baby B’s name originated. I absolutely love that the three of them are going together and hope they have the best experience.

Donkey crossing. Now that’s a new one. How many donkey’s had to get killed before this sign was put up? Things that make you go hmmmmm.

Flying home I was fascinated by the clouds. How they were billowing upwards I almost felt stoned watching them. I decided to apply for an airline credit card to earn 2 free round trip tickets with no black out dates or expiration. More adventures to come!

Scottsdale Arizona Day 1- Desert Botanical Gardens and Hole in the Rock

My gift to George was a weekend away in Arizona. Why Arizona? Flights were cheap and it was warm during this time of the year when I want to escape most from the Ohio clouds and depressingly unpredictable weather. Phoenix is the cheapest to fly into.

We decided to tour around Scottsdale, a town I hadn’t been to before except maybe driving through. People that heard I was going there kept saying it was high-end and they were surprised I picked that city. I went open mindedly and loved every minute of our time.

We stayed at this cool Airbnb about 5 minutes from Scottsdale and 15 minutes from Phoenix.

The perfect space. Adorably decorated and had the most comfortable bed I have EVER slept in. I should’ve looked at the mattress tag! But knowing I would rather spend money on another outing than invest in a mattress probably. Why are they are such an investment?$.

We grabbed an old fashion map of the town marking its points of interest as we walked around in the sun after enjoying an amazing breakfast.

There was art and sculpture to be seen everywhere. I loved these mosaic balls by the fountain.

Shops opened later. Seemed a lot of variety in the historic Old Towne area.

Horse sculptures inviting you to the wild west.

On our first date George and I noticed we both had green eyes. I later found an article that people with green eyes and negative blood type are really aliens. This has been an ongoing joke that we don’t belong here.

I wasn’t expecting palm trees, but enjoyed how they added to the architecture against the clean walls and desert cactus plants.

I made a lose itinerary, which is not really like me. But I wanted to hit a few key spots. After that I was open to explore. My first stop was the Desert Botanical Garden. It costs 30$ per person to enter, which is a bit steep, but for a good cause. Was well worth it in my opinion.

There was Chihuly glass plant sculptures welcoming you. I was happy to have recognized it from my learning of him in Columbus, Indiana and later in Oklahoma City’s Contemporary Museum of Art which is filled with his work.

I was thrilled to see the gardens were featuring artist Fernando Botero. His voluptuous figures are so recognizable.

There was a small indoor studio with a dozen paintings, a couple sculptures and a video playing about his life. He recently passed (2023) after working for over 60 years as an artist.

I believe everyone recognizes his unique work once they see it.

I don’t know why but it makes me happy with its soft inflated shapes.

Outside in the gardens were about 5 hiking trails that took you through various educated paths. We walked them all in about an hour and 1/2. It was a Friday so it wasn’t very crowded. The sun was just enough to warm you up, but not make you feel at all uncomfortable. Perfect weather.

From the gardens we could see the holey mountain which we were going to explore later.

This is exactly what I needed. New landscapes to inspire. Surrounding myself with nature differently than the bare branched trees back home.

Admiring the coloration of this cluster.

Throughout the gardens were sculptures blending into the landscape.

Was loving the yellow ball like flowers on some of the trees. As we wandered the paths we also caught glimpses of birds and sand squirrels.

George, my muse. Check out the size of these cactus. You can also see in the background the mountains with the saguaro cactus standing tall, notorious in the Sonoran Desert. Was so cool to see as we drove along the mountains, but tough to capture in a photo.

I started to view cactus as sculpture after a bit. It does appear like art, so stiff and interestingly shaped.

Displaying how desert shelter was built, I climbed inside for a view.

Beautiful new views. USA has so much to offer. So many places to still see in this world and so little time and money to get there.

The infamous hole in the rock was a short drive away. We parked and followed the pathway up.

From a distance it didn’t appear to be that big.

But once you climbed through, which people took turns, it was a wonderful sight from the other side.

A tourist destination for sure, but I liked it. We later saw other holey mountains, less busy, with hikers laying out in their smaller cave like holes. If I’d seen that sooner, I may have planned a hike around that.

We sat for a bit and I captured this selfie which shows the sun on my cheeks.

A better view from below. It felt alien like. Nature never ceases to intrigue me. I’m always in awe that we are part of it.

Covington Historic Mansion Walk

Tuesday was another sunny day for the February books. I had dinner plans with Kevin and we decided to try to meet up earlier, while the sun was still out, to walk along the Ohio River. With no real agenda, we decided to cross the Roebling Bridge into Covington, Kentucky.

Kevin had mentioned the mansion walk to me previously when discussing options of where to take folks when visiting us in Cincinnati. I haven’t been there before so we decided to head that way.

This is a statue, one of many along this street, of Mr. Roebling himself with his bridge in the background.

The views from this quiet street are stunning of the skyline across the water. I can’t believe in all my years living in Cincinnati I’d never been here before.

The sun was beginning to set and casted a beautiful pink into the eastern sky.

I made Kevin pose next to this gentleman who was obviously reading something interesting. Up close the textures captured in the bronze were beautiful. I loved the diversity of the sculptures.

The Native American sculpture captured a man who honorably won several battles and was an excellent leader for his people. Capturing him with the historic mansion in the background, a clash of cultures.

A view of the riverboats. They are building a ton of apartments here but the area is still so quiet its surreal. No traffic.

The last statue on the walk. I read a little bit about each but can’t remember much. Kevin and I decided our memories aren’t going, but rather history just doesn’t interest us. Its not age. Its limited interest.

This house was huge and beautifully restored.

The tall lean statue on the porch of this brick mansion made it feel haunted.

We ate at a small sandwich shop named The Gruff which is right at the end of the Roebling. I got a non-alcoholic beer as I attempt my one week of not drinking. Helpful that they have IPA non alcohol options now, which are satisfying. I’m experimenting with how not drinking affects me. So far, not witnessing too many changes except falling asleep is a bit of a bitch.

As we walked out of the restaurant, Kevin mentioned the very best view of Cincinnati at night is from this location. So we wandered down to the river to take in one last shot of appreciation. It truly is a beautiful skyline and city.

Heidelberg, Germany Day 5

Saturday morning, our last day in Germany, Zoe and I walked to the bus stop and went on a totally new adventure. I never took the bus before in a foreign country. Trains, subways, tuktuks, yes- buses for some reason are new to me.

We picked Heidelberg due to its close location, cheap transportation costs and a castle to visit. Wasn’t sure we could tackle a big city like Dusseldorf or Cologne in a day. We considered Luxembourg, the smallest European country, one I haven’t been to yet, but half our day would be getting there and back. Heidelberg was a hour and a half by bus.

I snapped this photo as we entered the autobahn. It was fun to watch from the window. Cars going at super high speeds past us. Shanty towns out the window.

It’s funny, while on the bus there were people coughing and I found myself trying to figure out if it was a “smoker’s cough or a virus. Covid has made us all so aware and in tune to the cough that we regularly tuned out in the past.

After the bus dropped us off we walked in circles for a bit trying to find our place on the map. Then we found the train station which had a ton of bikes outside.

A cool sculpture captured across the street.

We found a tourist booth where we were informed on which tram to jump on and we purchased our tickets to the castle. That was our first priority.

There was an incline that took you up the mountain to the castle level. Reminded me of when Jeff and I were backpacking and would never pay for a ride up the mountain in Austria. We instead hiked the mountain every night to where our cheap hostel was located. It was exhausting, especially after a couple beers.

The incline was cool. Now my third experience riding one. (Chattanooga, LA and now Heidelberg) I once walked up the incline in Lisbon, but I don’t think that counts.

The pass we purchased also took us up the mountain, past the castle. So we decided to see the view from up there first before exploring the castle ruins.

This was the view captured from the first incline stop.

There was nothing much to see. But there was a ticket booth to pay another 20 euro to go to the top of the mountain. Zoe and I debated a bit and then I decided we should go, because heck, we may never be back and what’s 20E in the reality of it all.

When we stopped at the second stop, I snapped a Google map image to see where we were in perspective to the city.

The temps dropped significantly and it was freezing up at the top.

The view was overcast. It was beautiful seeing the ice on the branches this high up.

There’s a hotel and bar at the top. We took a look and then headed back down.

I got a front window view on the way back down.

We then headed to the level where the castle was located. Seemed like most of the crowds had dissipated, our timing was perfect.

A stairwell that looked like it was headed nowhere nice.

The view from the castle walls were amazing.

A selfie capturing The **Karl-Theodor Bridge** below from the 18th century. That was next on our hot spots to hit.

Loved how the mountains added to the picturesque views.

Across the bridge was “philosopher’s walk. But it was too dang cold to go on that hike.

We spotted the church below and used that as a landmark to walk to.

This castle dates back to 1212 when construction began.

I have never visited a castle before so it was wonderful to wander around and feel the scale and history.

Not sure why but this tree reminded me of Biblical times. It felt ancient to me.

You could wander inside some of the buildings and others were only facades remaining.

We kept admiring the views from its location on the side of the hill.

I read about the wine barrel they had here but couldn’t believe it when we saw its actual size.

This is a photo of Zoe walking along the side of the barrel.

You had to climb up a staircase to see the top of it.

Zoe showing the proportion of the barrel in scale.

The Heidelberg Tun is said to have been built in 1751 requiring a rumored 130 oak trees. It is 8 meters in diameter and holds 229,000 liters of wine. Some claim its the largest in the world. Pretty cool.

Check out all the statues still standing between the windows.

We walked along the road beside the castle for a bit then turned around. There were said to be gardens but in the dead of winter I doubted there was much to see.

Once back at street level we followed the cobble stone roads and found our way to the old city.

Every street we walked down was gorgeous.

Everywhere we looked we were in awe of the landscape: mountains, narrow walkways and beautiful architecture.

Once we found the church there was a drum rehearsal going on. The sound was bothersome to me and not something to stay for.

We walked over to the historic bridge to join the other weekend tourists and snapped some photos.

It was chilly so we never stayed in one place too long.

This is the monkey sculpture at the beginning of the bridge. The monkey is **a symbol of ugliness, shamelessness, lechery, and vanity**. Hmm….Wonder who got the approval on it.

We were surrounded by mountains which I loved.

A fountain in the warmer months. Love the bikes leaning along the side of the building.

As the sun started to go down, so did the temps again. We dove into an Irish Pub for a Guinness and sure enough, Zoe was right, was completely filled with men on both of the two stories.

This map was giving me a headache trying to figure out what to take back to the Main train station. Zoe ended up just googling something and we jumped on a bus to head back.

We spent about 6 hours here and it was enough in the cold temps. I imagine summer would be amazing along the river and side streets.

We decided to take a train back for a different experience. We luckily were able to purchase tickets for a ride back to Frankfurt that was leaving in 10 minutes.

Mural inside the train station. I found it….modern but …? Not sure. What do you think it says?

On the train ride back I reflected on the photos I took in Heidelberg and was completely happy with our choice to visit there.

This is what travel does for me. Opens my eyes and energy.

Cali Trip Day 8- Griffith Observatory, Alama Cidery, and Spitz Mediterranean

We arrived back to LA Thursday mid day. We both had to work late to catch up from our amazing days off. We were exhausted as you can imagine and crashed hard.

Friday, although a bit drained, we decided to at least get out and see a few things. From the balcony of Zoe’s Koreatown apartment building, you can see the Hollywood sign and the observatory up in the mountains. I suggested we go there. Although touristy, something I wanted to see.

True LA view. Reminds me of the song….Randy Newman – I Love L.A.

We were hoping to catch the sunset so we left right at 5 to beat the rush.

The Observatory was packed. Buses were coming in dropping off visitors.

It offered an excellent view of the city.

We went inside but didn’t stay to read or learn anything.

I read recently on Instagram, my only news source, that the Hubble Telescope was aimed into the darkness for 4 months and they were confused by what it was looking at. And once the photos were received it was another galaxy that defies our known facts of physics. Look it up.

Tourists were lined up to get their photos taken with the wings and the Hollywood sign in the hills above. My Angel Baby A.

Then me with my new hat and borrowing Zoe’s tie dye shirt.

We started walking down one of the sandy trails but I didn’t have it in me.

I stopped and looked at the Hollywood sign and Zoe and I decided tomorrow morning we would wake up and hike to it.

As we walked back to our parking spot, we saw the trails coming up from the parking lots below which was free. Thought it was nice that they had this option at both entrances.

Sun was leaving us, but we knew the view with the smog wasn’t going to be much to admire so we decided to stop for dinner at the colorful joint we passed on the way in.

It was an interesting Mediterranean styled ‘everything but the kitchen sink’ type place. Was perfect. Even a little bit of lettuce to convince us that we were eating healthy.

Always love trying new quaint places. They were so busy with take out. That’s an entirely additional business.

Zoe had been wanting to check out a cidery near her house. Since it was still early we decided we could swing by there on our way home.

A terribly blurry selfie with delicious cider.

This was as big as it was. Super dark and moody inside with very friendly bartenders.

I noticed this on the way out the door and made me wonder what it was all about. Guess I will ask next time I’m there.

Cali Trip Day 6- Wedding Rock, Fern Canyon, Prairie Creek Trail, Lighthouse Trail Trinidad

The place we were staying at recommended Cafe Brio in Arcata for breakfast and they were not wrong. Expensive a bit, but well worth it. A great way for us to start our hiking day.

It was filled with a few tourists and college students. Last night at the cidery Zoe was asked if she went to the college there. We had no idea this was a college town. Guess Polytech is pulling in the crowds.

The breakfast spot was on the corner of the town square.

We drove around the square and then headed toward our first destination. We only determined where to go while eating breakfast= Wedding Rock.

We googled mapped our way to the trailhead. It was well marked and easy to follow.

Was a bit chilly and overcast but still an amazing view.

We went up one side first and then headed down the other side to plant ourselves on the rocks.

When I hike inclines I am happy that I am still able. Makes me want to get out even more to explore while I still have my physical capabilities.

Looking down. Wishing I wasn’t afraid of heights.

Steps led down to the other side which revealed even better views.

The color combinations and sound were enough to make you realize what life is about. Sometimes when I hike at such beautiful places, I feel like I have been blessed to be witness to this.

Trying to stay warm and catch Zoe in my selfie as she climbed down.

If you look at the rocks to the left, it looks like a couple facing each other. Hence the name.

We sat here for quite awhile. Just sitting. Zoe videoing and using her old fashion digital camera.

We hiked another trail but it led to Mussel Rock which wasn’t as interesting. It was interesting that there were tsunami signs which reminded me of Thailand.

I snapped this photo as we exited so I could remember where we were.

We drove north and eventually were officially in the Redwoods National Park.

We pulled over at a beach which we could view from the trail we were just on.

The look of the sand was darkly colored and had a unique texture. Small shellfish carnage could be spotted everywhere.

Directly across the highway from this beach was a tiny community tucked away in the evergreens. Zoe kept feeling like she was in the Twilight movie.

I love travelling with someone who loves exploring and pit stopping to soak in a new view. We got back into our Big Blue SUV and set the map to Fern Canyon. I read great reviews of it on Tiktok, people claiming it as a “must see”.

The road to get there was super narrow and winding. Zoe was driving and I just looked out the window at the view instead of concerning myself if another car would come barreling our way.

I snapped a shot on Google maps upon arriving. Basically in the middle of nowhere and yet in the best place you could be surrounded by nature.

I mean seriously the history of nature. It must be fascinating to study.

Walking into the canyon you are surrounded by ferns.

Ferns lined the walls of the canyon as we puddle jumped our way deeper in.

Selfie. I stole her hat. I was thankful for the pullover Dale and Angela gave me one night when it got chilly on their back porch. It travelled all the way to Cali with me.

Zoe needs to invest in a pair of hiking boots, she wore her wool socks and tevas. But I understand other wardrobe choices would be her priority in LA with all the events she attends. I was happy her footwear sufficed.

Trying to recapture the moment from the tall trees. I even tried to jump and nearly peed my pants laughing. Zoe would show me my face’ which was in serious concentration to lift.

Another red mushroom. They are huge. Most we found were not whole like this one.

Other shrooms showing off softly among the sticky branches and cones.

With all the moisture in this area understandably it provided for the ferns and the fungi as well.

We hiked another trail after emerging from the canyon to the beach. It was one of the best spots we found. I could’ve sat there all day.

This beach was so long. And the pebbles sprinkled throughout could of kept me hunting for hours.

Again. Look at that! The clouds, the pines, the beach and water. God /The Creator is beyond our tiny human comprehension.

Love the combination with the grasses separating the woods and the sand.

We weren’t sure where to go to next. But decided to hike Prairie Trail, another recommendation from our Airbnb host in Arcata.

I snapped a photo of this upon arrival in case our phone maps no longer worked once we got inside the woods.

We saw you could hike to Fern Canyon from here – only 4.6 miles. But later when we saw the sign pointing to the direction to go, it came with huge warnings about not being easy and making sure you were equipped properly. Debbie and I could’ve used that warning in Yellow Springs.

The trail was perfect. Easy. Picturesque.

There were several streams and you could hear the running water as you hiked. Was wonderful.

Almost looks fake this shot. As if a painting.

Many had burn marks which we later read they had been hit by lightning. But it created such an added palette, their wounds.

I felt like I couldn’t capture the feeling and kept taking photos in hope of later remembering their presence.

It was about this point when I started to slow down.

You could literally camp inside the tree base.

The other trees in the forest were equally marvelous with their curly moss like branches and vivid yellow leaves. I wanted to be sure not to overlook them and their contribution.

I wondered if kids felt the same awe as we did as an adult exploring here or if they always feel small so being surrounded by massive trees seemed the same.

One more time. Captured. I should do a collage of her fun jumps.

After we crossed the road it was just a little bit further to a documented tree. We decided it was worth it as we had already come this far.

It didn’t seem so big to me. But when I backed up to try to capture it with Zoe in front, it was like a skyscraper.

Spotting a heart for Anne. She’s the one person who pointed out the hearts in nature. Always interesting what each person brings to your perspectives.

Often times you felt like you were in a movie and the trees set the mood.

It was like touching an elephant. The beauty and texture of the skin/bark.

As we exited the trail we again saw an Elk warning sign. I really wanted to see one. It’s sort of like the moose warning signs you see in Vermont, but you never see one.

We got back in the car and were getting hungry. Zoe found a small restaurant in Trinidad that served mashed potatoes in a waffle cone. So of course we aimed for that!

Along the way, I started screaming ” elk in the water, elk in the water”- and we spotted a elk finally in its natural habitat in a stream by the highway. Was really cool.

After eating we drove around Trinidad a bit, there was a lighthouse which was a landmark. We found the beach and then decided to hike the Lighthouse Trail. Mind you, when we decided to hike this trail I imagined it to be very short and not steep. I was pooped from an already full day of activity.

We hiked up and were able to capture this view.

The sun was starting to set and it was a really beautiful hike.

Took you through a lot of covered trailways like this one.

It was an incline which my legs were no so happy with. But I knew this was our last night up here.

Acknowledging this colorful rock star standing out among the mud.

At the top of the trail was this cross with a lot of history which I did not take the time to read.

A view as we declined of the town of Trinidad
below.

Then we finally arrived back at ground level with the buoys.

On our way back to Arcata, we stopped at a Vista Point and were able to see a little bit of the sun set and a lot of seals in the alcove.

Those speckles along the shore are seals.

We breathed it in one last time. The scallops of the sand added to the lines in the sky.

Someone needs to write a book about the sun setting for kids. Like Goodnight Moon. But for the sun.

So true. It’s only when you get out of your car and hike do you really get up close to the beauty that surrounds us.

Cali Trip Day 3- Pismo Beach, Dinosaur Park, Morro Bay, and Pacific Grove

I wanted to get an early start Saturday morning to avoid any traffic in LA and to reach our first stop in time for a brunch break. I planned this road trip taking the advise of Rhonda Glenn (Nomini), who I did gymnastics with as a kid and now lives in the San Francisco area. She texted me so many ideas! I started google mapping them out and then looking up Airbnbs so we knew where we could rest our heads.

Our first stop was Pismo beach.

As we got closer, Zoe googled best brunch place and that is where we headed. When we got there about 10 am, there was a line out the door.

After brunch we walked down to the shoreline. It was a cute typical beach community. A lot of families on vacation.

They were having a clam bake off on the boadwalk.

Was busy by the bake off. But not too much activity in the sand.

A very small community. We walked back to the car and picked up some amazing cinnamon rolls along the way. They were so good, we stopped on our way back to LA to pick up more 🙂

I read about Dinosaur Caves and it was only about 5 minutes up the road from Pismo. We pulled into the park and were amazed by the views.

We hiked down a trail that led us to several other viewpoints.

It smelled badly from the birds who made their home on the rocks. I wondered how I would feel if I was a millionaire and owned one of the beautiful homes in this small community but had to deal with the stink.

What an amazing place to live. The sound of the water hitting the rocks was more peaceful than coming up along a sandy beach.

Picture perfect. The textures and colors. Then we noticed the fisherman and wondered how the got down there.

Then we found the staircase but decided not to take the time to go down. We had several more stops before reaching our overnight place of Pacific Grove. Looked like another cave below to explore if you dared.

I didn’t want to leave this place and wished we had the time to just sit for hours.

I kept noticing how the sea guls were unafraid and were quite the posers.

We took off and wandered through the mountains to reach another small beach called Avila.

We walked around a bit and then headed out.

Felt like we got a little flavor of how the beach towns differed.

Next stop was Morro Bay which I read had sea otters. I didn’t know much else. Zoe and I were quite surprised by the massive rock which looked literally like an alien hide out of some kind.

We parked and walked around. Was a gorgeous day!

Another poser. The man sat down in perfect timing of me taking this shot of the bird. I loved them together.

The sea otters were so cute to watch. They were tough to capture in photos. But they floated on their backs and were constantly playing with each other.

The rock was massive and tough to capture in photos.

I made Zoe go stand by the sign to try to give it perspective.

As you rounded to the backside of the rock, people had made a stacked rock playground of sorts.

Zoe put together a stack of her own and posed by her creation. Everyone was leaving their marks.

The waves were quite dangerously crashing up along the shore and I worried for the ignorance of tourists who were getting too close.

I loved discovering this place. I would love to come back when time allowed.

Zoe mastered the selfie and tried to teach me. I’m still not the greatest but I love that she still believes I can learn.

This bird found the perfect perch. On this side of the rock were many families picnicking on the beach and even some swimming.

We continued driving down a one lane highway through the gorgeous mountain scenery. I kept saying how I had no idea how beautiful this state was. Its absolutely majestic naturally.

The colors of the tan mountains against the bluest of skies.

I hadn’t seen landscape like this before and was desperately trying to capture it through my passenger side window.

Then there were the farms. Miles and miles. Occasionally we would spot crop pickers wearing their sun shade hats bending over with their baskets. As if we were back in time. I wondered how their bodies endured such hard labor in the sun.

At one point I think Zoe got tired of my oohing and awe-ing

The layers. Who is the artist here. How can we not respect the source.

We finally arrived out our Butterfly Hotel in Pacific Grove. It was an adorable motel.

Was about a mile out of the main down town area. So beautifully decorated and cared for.

I wished I had packed a swim suit. They had a sauna and hot tub. Would’ve been great after this days long drive.

The sun was beginning to set and we saw the coastline was only about a mile away so we walked to the beach instead of driving.

Again stunned by the beauty and the rocky shoreline.

The waves and their chaos along the rocks was mesmerizing.

I didnt know when not to take a photo. Every way I turned was landscape I wanted to remember.

We kept walking toward the bend in the coastline. We had originally planned to drive and hike at Big Sur along the way, but were both so glad we decided to get here instead.

I enjoyed watching Zoe appreciate it as much as I did. Its nice that the apple did not fall too far from the tree in regards to adventure and love of nature.

The lighthouse was closed but the view from the beach was perfect.

As the sun set, the clouds offered their part in the reflection.

The birds created their own addition as they flew across.

Was so worth it. We felt so fortunate to have caught it.

I captured this older couple and then showed them the photo of their affection.

The sunset and the clouds. My new muse ever since Lake Waynoka.

Walking back the sky turned pink as the sun went under.

I could see myself here one day. Or at least for a few months. Even if all I can afford is vanlife.

This was the view of the golf course as we left. Players still finishing their game. I wondered if they appreciated it as much as we did. I wondered if those that live here continue to see or if they simply expect. My wish is that I never stop appreciating the miracles in nature.

Cali Trip Day 5- Hike in the woods, Avenue of the Giants, Ferndale and Arcata

After waking up in the beautiful treehouse, we decided to explore the area before we took off again. Zoe was the one communicating with the owners of this Airbnb and confirmed there were hiking trails on the property.

The sun was doing its best to shine through which we took as an excellent sign after our rainy chilled day yesterday.

It was nice to explore not knowing what views we would discover.

The sun peaking through the trees as if to tell us She knows we are there.

When there was a clearing we soon discovered we were on top of a mountain.

We had no idea since most of the drive was in the dark rain. It was amazing!

We saw intricate cobwebs throughout the hike. They are tough to capture but this one was perfect.

We also discovered red mushrooms and banana slugs.

Wasn’t too keen on the mountain lion warning sign, but I guess always good to be aware.

We had a long drive ahead with the goal of reaching our final destination of Arcata today. As we drove out of the farmer’s drive, we were chased by some dogs and squawked at loudly by the geese, but the cows in the road were the cutest.

We wondered if they would move when we got closer.

I dropped a pin to remember our location. I was low on gas and headed to Bodega Bay to fuel up. We didn’t spend much time there, but it was an adorable little town. Gas pricing was not so adorable there 🙂

We were on country roads for quite some time. Passed a ton of wineries.

Zoe took the wheel while I again oohed and awed out the windows at the scenery.

We started to hit the tall tree lined areas and felt covered in peace.

I kept leaning to take photos out the front windshield. It just didn’t seem to capture it.

I read that the drive up was worth it even if you didn’t stay to hike. I totally get that now. But couldn’t wait to get out and immerse myself in it.

Bucket list. Not that I actually have one, but this was for sure something I have always wanted to experience and so glad that I made it here.

So tall and majestic with their wisdom of what they have endured and witnessed.

We finally found a slight curbside place to pull over and we went straight into touch these trees! The smell of the forest is so fresh. Check out Zozo vs the giant.

This all was just along the drive called “The Avenue of the Giants”.

I was inside the tree taking a photo out.

Zoe and I went our separate ways at times.

Perspective of who we are in this world. These trees are said to be thousands of years old. We are lucky to live to 80.

I loved watching Zoe look up and feel small.

Leaves on the forest floor were equally beautiful. I still have my same hiking boots from my first road trip two years back.

My perfect capture of the energy and moment felt.

We hiked a trail that had a lot of fallen trees which was interesting to see their girth and length.

I ordered a free map prior to our trip of this area and kept losing it along the way. I finally smartened up and took a photo so I could see it later to determine our next move.

We exited the Avenue of the Giants and headed to a historic town called Ferndale.

The main street took pride in its fun decor.

I walked into a small shop and instantly fell in love with these shoes and had to get them. I almost gave up until Zoe found this pair in my size in the display window.

Adorable shopping here. Highly recommend a stop if ever in this area.

A historic inn. Every small town needs one.

A beautiful bed and breakfast in a restored Victorian home.

We still had another hour to drive to reach Arcata. Immediately upon arrival at our Arcata Airbnb we googled and found a cidery just a couple blocks away. Sounded like a perfect end to our non stop day.