So last Wednesday, despite all my friends telling me I was crazy alone for thinking of it, I took off in our new car with Hollis and Georgie for true road adventure. We left Corvallis at 2:45 pm with the destination of the Woodsman in Mt. Shasta. This 7 hour drive was a true test of my patience and perseverance, and although I threatened to turn the car around twice, we made it safely to our lodging. The boys had been sleeping when we arrived at 10:45pm but they awoke with excitement and we played in the room until they passed out around midnight. Our visit in Shasta was short, we left early in the morning after a quick bath, headed for Stockton, CA to meet our newest family member Evan Joaquin only 5 days old.
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The trip to Stockton was only 5 hours and much easier for the family to settle into, with hours already logged from the day before both Georgie and Hollis were getting into their road trip groove. We made only one extended stop to eat, and otherwise we were dropping miles. We arrived to Nena's in the early afternoon to meet little EJ. He was sleepy at first but spent most of his time fully alert with us, he was always hungry for his momma, but I got some snuggle time in.
The boys were a little too much for the sacred space of new being. I had hoped to be helpful, but wasn't surprised when it turned out I needed help keeping my two boys needs met. Just as I would grab EJ for little auntie love time, Hollis would fall and bang his head, Georgie would run into a wall... I got to hear Nena's incredible story of EJ's birth into this big world, and watch to two new parents melt into their new life. I feel so lucky to have joined them even just for a moment. EJ is alert, bright and strong, holding his head up at only a few days old. I could brag and brag and brag about just how PERFECT my nephew is. I am a proud aunt.
I took the boys out of the house early in the morning to buy Juan and Nena some peace and quiet. I remember how special those first mornings are and how necessary rest is. Nena directed me to a nice breakfast place. We returned after a wild goose chase for a park, and spent a little time with the family while they got ready for a doctor's appointment. We left for Tahoe around 1pm.
The trip on 1-80 is so familiar and welcoming to me. I remember countless travels from the Lake to the Bay while serving my AmeriCorps year. Climbing into the Sierras feels so much like home to me. We arrived to the lake around 4:30pm and we rested on a beach near the North Shore. The boys threw pebbles into the cobalt blue lake for thirty minutes before I wrestled them into the car.
After a little exploration we discussed whether we should go to a park or climb Eagle Rock, having never "mountain climbed" before, Georgie was eager to summit his first peak. The Eagle Rock climb is the perfect first for a six year old, it only takes 20 minutes to get to the summit and if affords some spectacular views of the lake. Georgie insisted that we "backpack it" and carried all of our water, snacks, camera and a cell phone. I carried Hollis. When we made it to the top, Georgie requested that I take a picture of his sweat.
That evening we met up Cody and Nate for dinner at the Fat Cat, and slept in Jonas new house. Cody stayed the night to protect us from the bears. We were grateful. I stayed up until 1am reading Cindy Ross PCT book.
In the morning, Cody took us to the Tahoe House for breakfast. Later we met up Nate for a second breakfast at Syd's Bagels, and we walked to the coolest kid park on the lake. The boys played without much intervention while Nate and I tried to catch up.
We picked up some lunch and hiked with the dogs on a trail from Jonas house. There is nothing like direct access to nature. When in Tahoe you are always in nature at all times. Like Nate's fridge sticker brags "My life is better than your vacation - Tahoe Local." It was another sad good bye as we parted from family. This was the first time my Hoffman cuzs to meet the Holla-chubba and he was immediately in love with them as I would have predicted.
The journey continued on from Lake Tahoe to Old Station in Northern California nestled between Mt. Burney, Mt. Shasta and my personal favorite Mt. Lassen. The full moon started to appear as we entered the mountain trinity. Memories of my first drive to Burney Falls flooded my mind and heart. I remember climbing up a tree lined highway to a world never imagined. The sweet smell of ponderosa pine, the deep blue sky and basaltic fields all speak to my most deepest self. We arrived just in time for dinner and my dear friend from my park experience in 2000, Joanne had prepared a feast. She set us up in her cabin the Fish Inn, and I put the kids to sleep by 7pm and spent the night high on silence. Each night when I finally got them to sleep the sound of nothing was the best medicine I could ask for. Although tired I absorbed every minute of pure silence and independence until I couldn't keep my eyes open any longer.
In the morning we met up with Jo and Ray for breakfast. They kindly put out an offering of fresh eats, blueberries, raspberries, yogurt, granola, cereal and milk. After days of eating out and car snacking I found the meal most nourishing. We spent our last hour together hiking along Hat Creek from the trail that opens up from their backyard. The last time I was here in 2008, it was winter and the creek was raging. Snow covered the forest, but now the creek still raged but forest was so dry from a dry winter. Each step was crunchier than the last.
Our great hosts! Jo and Ray were so welcoming, generous and accommodating, we look forward to planning another visit for a longer time with the whole family.
We left early to head to Burney Falls, the park where I spent my 20th summer as a State Park Naturalist with the Student Conservation Association. It was my year of many epiphanies, and this park is where I had my first. I landed in the park from world now so far away, a world with constant TV, nature deprivation, cars, and ignorance. After many mentors and nights falling asleep to rushing falls, I returned to Pennsylvania a much different person touched by many and much. Every so often I make a pilgrimage back to this place of rebirth, and this was the first as a mother and with my child. When I arrived to the park, I was greeted by the park attended. I scrambled for $8 to pay the cash fee, but I didn't have any money. I looked the attendant Renee in the eye and gave her my sob story. "I was a volunteer here in 2000 with SCA, and I don't have any money. I just want to see the falls with my kid." "What is your name" she asked. "Rebecka Weinsteiger?" I said as if I wasn't sure. "Oh I remember that name." and she posted a paid receipt to my window. I looked at her with disbelief, but excited I could see the falls again.
I probably have 7 different pictures or so of me at different stages of my life over the last 12 years in front of the falls, this time taken from the perspective of a six year old. Thank you Georgie. We stayed and played at the park for a little bit before we geared up for our final leg of our long journey.
We made it full circle to Mt. Shasta in time for lunch. We stopped at the natural food store deli, and slowly ate while we charged up the DVD player. This final day will be our longest road day at 7.5 estimated driving hours which easily equates to 9 hours with kids. Having already completed 1.5 hours, we feasted and replenished our snack attack box. I got a chocolate milk to keep Georgie always looking forward to something. The boys were pretty amazing on this last leg, crying and fighting very little. The last 40 minutes, Hollis cried off and on and than passed out right before we made it home. We were greeted by a very excited daddy. Exhausted beyond expectation, I look back incredibly impressed that we made it through all our destinations, many memories made, and we still love each other.
