California 2012, Part 4

Roaring Camp & Big Trees

We gave Grandma and Grandpa Mowell (or Papa G and Grandma G as the boys call them) a bit of a break one day and took the boys down towards Santa Cruz.  There's a nice redwood forest state park down there and right next to it is Roaring Camp.  They have old steam engines (and diesels too).  They have two trips you can take.  One goes up the mountain where they used to log long ago.  That one is pulled by a steam engine.  The other trip is a diesel train that takes you all the way to Santa Cruz and drops you off at the beach and board walk.   We just had time for one trip and chose to go up the mountain on the steam engine.  The boys were fascinated!  We got to watch them back up and hook up to the open cars we got to ride in.  Then once we were all on board they pulled up a bit and filled up the engine with water.   Going through the woods in an open car is lots of fun, especially with towering redwoods all around you.  

There was one spot where a bridge was burned down in the 70's.  It used to make a loop and if you were riding in the last car, you could could be going under the engine that was pulling you!  The boys thought that was pretty cool.   Since the bridge was out, we got to go up a switchback to get to the remaining track that would continue our journey up the mountain.  It was a pretty steep grade...so much in fact, that the engine was 2 stories above the last car! 

Needless to say, the boys really want to go back again.  I think the Santa Cruz trip will be lots of fun once we dont have to work around nap time so much. :)    This train trip was so much better than Day Out with Thomas!  It was a real steam engine.  The boys talk about their train trip alot.  They can't wait to go back. 

walking thru the little western town

filling up with water

the old burned bridge

the switchback

the steam engine

the diesel engine (or "the red engine" as the boys say)

 After our train trip, we walked back over to the state park (where we parked) and walked down one path to see some of the really big trees.  It was getting close to nap time, so we didnt' have much time.  But they enjoyed getting to see some up close and personal.    They liked to walk into the cave of trees that had been burned long ago.    It's actually really hard to take pictures of these trees.  They are so big you can't possibly get even half of the tree in one picture!  So these will have to do. :)

here's the bottom of the tree (which is 17 ft wide)...

here's the top of the tree (270 ft tall)

California 2012, Part 3

San Francisco

Mom and Dad graciously watch the kids for a day while Andy and I took the train to the city for a day.   We walked to the cable car station and took the Hyde-Powell car thru the city to Fisherman's Wharf.  From there we walked to Pier 39 and did shopping along the way.  We decided to take a bit of a tour from a boat.  We got tickets to go on a "cruise ship" and they took us along the city, under the Golden Gate Bridge, and then back over and around Alcatraz.  Two years ago I went on a bus tour of the city and a tour of Alcatraz, but this hour long cruise tour gave us most of the highlights of both of the tours I went on a couple years ago.  We had a pretty clear day (it was a little hazy) and it was warm, so we couldn't have asked for better weather.

The cable cars were nice to ride.  It's not a quiet ride, but you do get a good view of the city streets and the water.  Andy rode on the outside, so he got the full thrill of the ride.  :)  We ate at Bubba Gumps restaurant on Pier 39 and enjoyed some good seafood and a wonderful view of the bay.  It felt good to rest a bit before we began our hike along the shore towards AT&T park (where the train station is). 

Alcatraz in the distance

Lumbard St ( a view from the bottom is better!)

This is the cable car we rode

Andy and I on the open deck for our boat ride

Seals and sea lions at Pier 39

California 2012, Part 2

Asilomar

We had some of the best weather yet during our trip this year.    The first couple days were so clear and warm.  And one day there wasn't even a breeze.  It was so nice to be on the sunny beach and feel warm!  Asilomar is normally what the boys refer to as "the cold beach."  Even if it's sunny, the cool breeze off the water makes a sweatshirt feel nice.   :) 

The boys loved playing with the other cousins.  One of their favorite games was Sharks and Minnows.   They would chase each other around the big room and all you would hear is the thunder of a dozen kids running and squeals of laughter (ok, and the occasional crying). 

Of course the sand was a big hit.  Whether it was in the volleyball court right outside our rooms or the beach.   Erin just like being where everyone else was and watching them play.  :)   Oh, and the boys got to have "sprinkler baths," as Andy put it.  We had a handicap room and therefore a removable shower head.  They don't really take showers yet, so we didn't know how well it would go.  But Andy told them they got to have special "sprinkler baths" and they thought they were great.  You could hear screaming and laughing from our room at bath time. :)

As always, our time as Asilomar goes way too quickly.  But it's so good to see everyone and I can't wait for next year! 

Tyler's funny face to get people to smile for the camera

The Kimball group

Mowell family

Alex is scared of pools, but goes running into oceans. 

Adam wasn't as fond of the water...this is as far as he got.

Amy and Freddie

Asilomar State Beach

Seals lounging on the rocks... see the baby one?

sea otters are so fun to watch!

Throwing rocks while we watch the sun set.

Grandma and Grandpa at the beach

Adam -- Nathan -- Alex

Boys with Amy and Freddie's dog, Kanoli (spelling?)

Alex flying two kites!

Kanoli was afraid of the water and Alex is sure he can change the dog's mind.

Sharks and Minnows

Faith and Carroll

Digging tunnels in the volleyball court

Ayden

Faith

Kelly and baby Zeke