We canceled our vacation rental for June last night. We were planning on going to Mexico staying right on the Ocean in a beautiful 4 bedroom home out side of Puerto Vallarta. We had some concert about a month ago when we we heard that kidnappings of American's were up in Mexico, but we decided we would be ok in PV because the kidnappings were taking place near the border. But this Swine FLu was kind of the oman that we decided we couldn't ignore. Its just not worth the risk for a vacation. Maybe in a few years we can try again.
For now we are looking into Arizona - Swine Not.
We got her just over 3 years ago today. Just this morning we discovered our dear friend fish had died. We laid her to rest in a small jewelry box and buried her next to the fence in our new watermelon patch. Megan made a small sign and put flowers on her grave. Tear were shed, and Megan said a few words including telling us how much she will miss her friend.
Tonight I am making a little paper doll and filling out a question sheet about myself because I am the Star of the Week in Megan's class this week. Quite an honor I assure you. The kids all let out a yea when the Teacher told them. Basically they ran out of kids and had already done the teacher, student teacher, Abe Lincoln and George Washington and so she asked me if I would mind. Actually I sort of offered but she did like the idea.
We did get back from the road trip, with no more car sickness. That stretch of 1 was road going around redwood trees and the basic curves of going along mountains didn't actually effect us. Fort Bragg was a total bust. Too much fog so no sunset which was our main goal. And the next morning the fog was so thick we didn't go to the beach, but packed and left for home as soon as we were packed. We did make one stop. We went to Navoto for lunch and I noticed the "Adopt the Highway" sign that said DollHouses and Trains which I vaguely remembered reading about when Jack and I were making and filling Megan's Dollhouse. So I looked if up and found it on my iPhone and and we headed over. What a treat! Every possible dollhouse accessory, and the little trains! It was such a treat. Megan did pick out a stuff animal that she had eyed at several stores but I hadn't gotten it for her. Actually in Fort Bragg I had agreed to it when a little girl had picked up the last one in that store, so it was nice to find it again else where.
(Course I've already had to preform surgery on the poor animal - slip its gut it did - touch much love! I guess!)
We got up and had breakfast with our new friends. Then the kids all swam while the adults chatted under heat lamps near the pool. After Everyone dried off and I packed up our car and checked out, we walked through Old Town and up to the Carson Mansion. I found a very cool squirrel proof bird-feeder which we needed cause the darn squirrels had broken our last ones. Megan also found a very pretty glass charm on a pink chain necklace that was in a store going out of business and really marked down. Eureka is a pretty town, very artsy - with lots of beautiful Murals. We ended the visiting at a great Italian place for some Pizza with our friends.
Megan and I then headed southward with our daily destination being Fort Bragg. The first bit of travel was on 101 and while it was a curvy road, it wasn't that bad. But then we turned off onto Highway 1. I've driven most of Highway 1 but never this part. It was by far the worst road ever for those suffering from motion sickness. I held on because I was driving but poor Megan turned 3 shades of green. We managed to make it too the ocean before she asked me to pull over and she lost her lunch. And the road from then on was less curvy. We rolled into Fort Bragg just after 4 around the same time the fog was rolling in, making our quest to watch a great sunset pointless.
We rested at the hotel, and Megan started feeling hungry so we headed down to the main part of town and did a bit of window shopping before settling on Japanese food at a place we'd been to once before with friends. We've had a quiet night and plan on heading over to the beach in the morning to search for hermit crabs and tide pools. We'll be heading home soon after through yet another curvy road.
What a glorious day today was. First off I awoke at 5 and watched "the Secret Life of Bee's" on my laptop. It was a great movie, very good performances and close to the book ( though I read it like 5 years ago so I may not really be remembering it all that well.) We Rose and packed and checked out of the dumpty never to be repeated hotel. That alone lifted my spirits. Actually after I pulled out the nightstand they cleaned behind it, I should cut the place a break - NOT.
We packed up and headed over to Turtle Bay Exploration Park. Megan and I spent the first part exploring Paul Bunyon's forest Camp where we got to see many different birds and an actual Porcupine, which I don't think I've ever seen. Our first animal was the Grey Fox who was sitting right up against the enclosure and yawned so big and so adorable!
Then we headed into the Museum where we caught the fish feeding, got to see a Bee Hive in action, find tons of Geckos, and see some lovely art. Megan fell in love with Marilyn Monroe (The Andy Warhol one). After a quick lunch we headed across the Sundial Bridge and down to the river where we sat on rocks and played in the mud. It was a perfect moment. One of those few in life time. Perfect weather in a perfect place - with mountain views all around. It felt like time stood still. And yet all to quickly we were heading back across the bridge and back to the car for our drive to Eureka.
And what a drive. It took us 3 hours, on a winding mountain road over 3 mountain passes and past pristine mountain lakes. There were moments on the drive where I saw small purple flowers growing in the cracks of rocks on great big mountains and I was just amazed. At the beauty of this planet that we all live on.
We made it to Eureka, found our friends hotel and were actually able to check in. We then finally found our friends and had a great evening. Dinner at Cafe Waterfront and we were driven there by the hotel limo so all the adults could enjoy libations. Then a walk around old town ending at a coffee shop next door to an ice cream parlor. This made everyone happy. We sat outside and enjoyed our goodies and listened to some music, before being whisk off again by the very friendly limo driver.
The best part about today was Megan. She really is such a wonderful child. I can't imagine how I got so lucky. " Nothing comes from nothing. Nothing ever could. So somewhere in my youth or childhood. I must have done something good "
We got another early start to the day. Well actually we were up early, but after breakfast, Megan asked to take another bath in the enormous tub. SO we actually didn't get up to the Caverns until 9:50, but we were able to walk onto the 10 o'clock tour which was nice. And by walk on I mean we had to walk down from the shop to the boat dock and then down to the actual boat since the water level of the lake is so very low. Across the lake we merrily sailed. And then we had to hike back up the lake bed to were a shuttle bus picked us up and took us the 1.4 miles to the cave entrance. The Entrance was a big steel door that opened into a long narrow tunnel with many steps on the end. We went up about 60 and then turned into the first "room" We enjoyed exploring all the different rooms and in the end we travel well up into the mountain and had to walk down 250+ steps that were cut into the out side of the mountain to get back to the shuttle bus. It was an exhausting adventure, and we still had to get down and up the darn lake bed. But all in all we both really enjoyed the Caverns!
After a quick perusal of the gift shop, we headed out and went into Lake Shasta town, were we found a neat dinner in a log cabin. The town was on the way out to the Shasta Dam so after lunch we headed out there. We had to wait an hour for the tour, and leave my purse and all electronic devices (ie Cell phone and camera) in the car because of security. The Dam was nice enough to be equipped with an elevator. This emptied out into a very long big tunnel that allowed us to play with Echo's which Megan got to lead us all in with the guides help. We then sat for a mini history lesson, before heading out side the base of he damn and into the Electric Generating Room with Turbines and the like. We saw several Osprey and their nests around the damn as well as a few dozen swallows. The fire damage from last summers fires was also clearly visible in the surrounding hills.
We were both pretty tuckered, after our two tours, so we headed hotel for a swim in the pool. Hunger finally got the better of us, and we headed out in search of good grub. We found it in Gironda's. Megan really enjoyed her dinner and I had probably the best prime rib of my life.
Back to the hotel for some much needed ZZZZZZZ, tomorrow is a new adventure.
We left by 9 which I must say is a small miracle. I don't think I've ever successfully left on a road trip at the time I said I wanted to leave. However traffic through Oakland meant that our trip to our first stop the Jelly Belly Factory took much longer then the GPS promised 1 hour.
But we arrived early enough to walk on to a tour, and though Megan was intrigued in the beginning she quickly bored. Her curiosity was peeked when the guided mentioned skunk and Booger flavored Jelly Beans and NO we didn't sample them. Actually walking back to our car some young men were daring each other to try some beans and when after a few moments they all started gagging and spitting out the beans in question Megan's very sensitive gag reflex kicked in and she proceeded to join them. Once they had finished I asked what they had sampled and they all replied in a happy chorus of "Skunk".
After the tour we drove onward the 3 hours north Redding to discover the very nice hotel I found online was actually on the seedier side of town and quite a bit run down. Actually the kicker for me was that the pictures online showed those nice stripped sheets on the beds that I have enjoyed at some nicer hotels and so I thought we were in for a treat. The truth turned out to be a nice top sheet over a very old blanket and even older yellow sheets. The damn pillow cases don't even match. Add to that the condom wrapper I discovered behind the night stand and I'm not exactly thrilled with my choice. Its a chain I won't mention and I wont' stay in again. But as we didn't come all this way for the hotel, and Megan is happy with the indoor pool and the big jacuzzi tub and it is relatively clean, I won't worry. But next time we come this way I will find better accommodations.
We had a drive around town in search of a nice place for dinner and ended up settling for a Mexican place, that was yummy, though a chain. I had hoped to try a local favorite mom and pop. Back to the hotel where we watched a movie off my laptop and Megan fell deeply asleep. And I think it is time for me to join her.
Shasta Lake, and Caverns in the morning...
Megan and I are off tomorrow for a road trip through Redwood Country. We'll be visiting a Jelly Bean Factory, some caves, a lake for a boat ride, and A museum. Then we are on to Eureka - the original gold mine town before heading back south along the pacific coast highway. We'll probably cut across early so as to not have to go through San Francisco on the way home. The hotels I've book so far have wi-fi so energy willing, I'll blog from the road and share.
its totally my own fault. I stayed up till 4 in the morning organizing our taxes. Its April 7th, i've officially waited until the last minute!
To be fair to myself - I'd meant to spend this whole weekend doing them - I had carved out the days and everything and then Saturday morning I woke up with a fever, that really lasted through yesterday leaving me feeling week and pathetic. Now I'm stuffy and have a killer headache. Since I rested while sick I had to do our tax prep last night - you see my appointment with our tax appointment is in 30 mins. I made it a month ago and I waited until last night to get organized and figure it all out.
I will do better next year - I better.