Pit Stop

On our way toward Oregon we drove alongside a river.  I don't know the name of this river, only that it was beautiful and powerful and full and beckoning.

When we found a place to pull off, after watching her flow and tumble down cliffs and through mountains, we took the opportunity.

Maeryn wanted to stay in the bus.

We were all a little upset by this, because all of us wanted to go down to the water.

There was a lot of conversation, and finally, a compromise.

Jonah and I would go down together first, then Michael could go solo and have a private reprieve.

We hustled down the steps.

COLD water.  Rushing water.  Mighty river.

We had to throw stones.

 

We had a contest to see who could make the biggest splash.

I think Jonah won.

It didn't matter much.

We found a little trail and followed it to a sparkling waterfall.

The camera ran out of batteries about then, so we headed back to the bus.

I put some rice on the stove for dinner, and Michael headed out.

Jonah wanted to go back.

And suddenly, Maeryn wanted to go too!

So the three all went, and it was I who got the private reprieve.

 

Michael shot all of the following on his excursion with the kids.

 

They came home to hot stirfry.

Leaving Too Soon

Leaving Northern California was sad.

Not because we felt like we'd "found our spot" or because we'd made great friends, but because it was so beautiful, powerful, and awesome.  I could spend a lifetime exploring the forest, the shoreline, the cuisine - but we'd decided we needed to sort of up the ante on the trip a little bit and start moving faster.  All of us were longing for "home". 

On the way out we parked next to the ocean so Michael could finish out his work day (5AM - 1PM Pacific Time).  The kids got out to play.

I watched them for awhile like this ^.

Then I went outside to see what they were engaged in and get a few more shots before we had to pull out.

 

Two Lovies were getting married.

It was a beautiful ceremony.

 

 

After the Redwoods: The Mighty Pacific

I love this picture of me.

Contemplative.  Staring out at the ocean.  The washed out feeling.  The overcast sky.

It's melancholy, I guess, but that's the place where I always feel a little more alive.

After our hike through the Redwood Forest we wanted to see the Pacific Ocean as it slammed into the cliffs of the park.  We drove to an overlook first.  That's where I am, above.  The kids chose to stay in the car because it was misting and cold.  Michael got out long enough to take this picture while I stood there, just staring.  If you ever want to feel small...

When we left the overlook I asked if we could go back to the Visitor's Center, where we'd started off in the morning, as they had a boardwalk much closer to the shoreline.  Everyone was cool with it.

Between the overlook and Visitor's Center we noticed a sign for smoked salmon jerky.  Michael and I had never seen jerked fish before and we were curious.  Jonah and Maeryn both said they would be willing to try it.  The sign said "free samples"...

We bought some.  A bag of jerky + a filet of salmon for dinner.

It was life changing-ly delicious.

We parked at the Visitor's Center.

Michael and Maeryn opted to stay in the parking lot to avoid the wind, while Jonah and I walked down to the shore.

It was worth red noses and the wind in your face.

The bus was inviting, toasty, and inspiring when we returned.  I made something nice for dinner.

 

Michael liked it so much he took a picture.

I was pretty flattered.

(It was some epic salmon.)

Beneath the Giants

This was truly the most spiritual place we've encountered. 

When it comes to bucket lists, I had one for this trip.  And when it comes to the bucket list for this trip, seeing The Redwood Forest was at the top of it.  Above snorkeling and Maine and hiking in Vermont and Petroglyphs, The Redwood Forest was king.

It was a deserving placement.

As soon as we got to the park and out of the car it was obvious we had entered another world or even another dimension.  We were suddenly miniature, and everything around us luscious, towering, and green.  Things grow bigger.  The air feels deeper, more saturate.  The colors are bright, the shadows black.  The ancient history palpable.

It's hard to understand scale when there isn't a person or other familiar object in the picture.

That's me doing some literal "tree hugging".

 

The world is more magnificent than we imagine.

I have encountered more beauty and wonder on this trip than I can express.

 

 

So many of you readers say, "I wish I could" or "I could never..." or "You're so lucky.  I'm jealous."  

We are lucky.

Extremely lucky and blessed and warmed by both of those things.

But I implore you...

 

 

If there is something you want to see...

 

Somewhere you want to go...

 

 

DO that thing.  GO that place.

 

Maybe something is holding you back.

 

 Maybe it's money.

Time.

Job.

Family.

Those are all real things.

But your life is real too.

And you only get one.

It's about what you are willing to give.  Are you willing to save for a few years?  Are you willing to put money away or get a different job or move to a smaller place?

Are you willing to change the way you look at the way the world works?

Are you willing to sell everything and move into an old bus for awhile?

Because there are no negative answers aside from the ones that you offer.

The way we're doing our trip can't work for everyone.  We are all different people and we are all living under different circumstances.  Sometimes the answer is later.  Sometimes the answer is wait or work harder or in a few years...  but don't let the answer be "never".  "I'll never be able to do that."  If you really want something, you can make it happen.

 

Anything is possible.