The next day, he was running a slight fever but Patience had two more days in the Bay Area and I didn't want to spend them at home. So, we laid low that morning but in the afternoon, I gave him some Motrin and we headed Muir Beach.
When Sam was a baby, I decided I should buy stock in Motrin. One minute, he would be crying and feverish, the next minute (after some Motrin), he'd be happy as a clam (usually in the doctor's office).
As you can see, he really looked sick.
I love this picture of the two of them.
Happy kids.
The day was a bit overcast but the weather was warm.
They had lots of fun playing in and around the water.
That night, we drove over the Bay Bridge and the Golden Gate Bridge on our way home that night so she could see the City by the Bay and I could point out the window and say, "The ocean is over there."
The next morning, we headed away from the ocean, across the valley, through the forest, into the mountains to an alpine lake called Tahoe. While I was thrilled to be able to take her there, I knew it was not the ocean.
We were driving south and figured we'd find some- where to stop and have breakfast but this view near Vikingsholm drew us off the road.
We didn't see the castle but the lake, trees and granite cliffs surrounding us were majestic.
A bit further around the lake, we stopped again to look back at where we'd been and look at the lake without the sun shining full in our face.
I got Sam making a happy, silly, waking-up, squirming, jumping around, dancing, morning face.
Inspiration Point had lots of lovely signage enhancing our knowledge of the lake.
They did nothing to enhance the photos though.
We stopped near Camp Richardson at a Cafe. The sign in the window said open but at this early hour, the kitchen still closed. They had coffee and pastries but no bacon and eggs.
The kids decided they wanted cereal then rather than pancakes later. So, they each got one of those containers of cereal packaged in disposable bowls and a bottle of milk and we headed back to the car.
As we continued driving around the lake, we were right under a giant, yellow hot air balloon that was taking off.
Awhile later, we pulled off at this spot, on the Nevada side of the lake to watch it land.
Cam and I decided that if the kids were fine, we didn't need a big breakfast either. We stopped off at Safeway (where they did have tofu dogs) for an Odwalla smoothie, some fruits and veggies, hummus, cheese, crackers, olives and other food to take with us for our day at the lake.
I also bought waterproof sunscreen, which we reapplied throughout the day but after about eight hours of mostly direct sunlight, we were all crisp.
Water had pooled into a shallow area near the lake. Sam dislodged a log and discovered it would float. He tried his hand at log rolling.
Before long, Patience joined him.
That afternoon, we rested and relaxed at the campsite.
We decided to pick up a couple of pizzas instead of having a cookout but we did make another fire.
The next morning, after we broke camp, we hit the road.
The national forest near the lake is breath- taking.
I love being one of the first people awake in a camp- ground.
It is so peaceful.
I was rested.
The air was cool and crisp.
The birds were singing.
(OK, the Stellar Jays were squawking but they are so fascinating, we didn't care.) (photo credit)
The animals were scurrying around. There were lots of chipmunks in the area. ( photo credit)
They are cute. It is tempting to feed them but we know it isn't good for them and can make them really aggressive. Plus, a sign outside the bathroom said something about them having a connection to the plague.
As Patience mentioned on her blog, apparently, a black bear was very near our campsite on the second night.
Someone had neglected to put the chain lock back on the dumpster so the bear (or bears) made a feast from the garbage.
Before we went to bed on the first night, Cam assured all of us that black bears eat mostly plants and insects.
He said they are like large raccoons, more interested in our food than in us.
Still, there have been 56 people killed by black bears in North America in the past 100 years. (photo credit)
The odds of an attack are incredibly slim but that they were so close to where we were sleeping is both fascinating and a bit scary.
Watching Patience spin in circles while dragging her hand through the water, spraying water every- where, reminded me of watching Keri do the same. They both looked graceful.
And gleeful.
If you look closely, you will see that Sam and Patience each had a stick in their mouth.
They were pretending to be dogs.
My friend, Tracey brought her daughter Jessie (and one of Jessie's friends) to meet us. They set up their tent to camp with us that night.
In the middle of the night, there was a huge thunderstorm. The kids slept soundly through it. I enjoyed the majesty.
Note: Jessie can be seen wearing a red bikini in the background of some of the pictures above and the one below but I don't have any good pictures of the two them from that night. This one is from a day we took the kids swimming at Maytag pool in Newton, Iowa. Sam and Patience loved to play in the sand then.
And now.
They had cheesy grins and made silly faces.
They splashed and played happily together.
And on their own.
What a wonderful way to celebrate a birthday, sharing nature together with family and friends.
Thanks for the memories, everyone and for making them with me. Thanks, Cam for the new ones.
The day after Patience's first trip to the ocean was Sam's 10th birthday. We had a fun party that afternoon. That evening, we noticed Sam was drooping a bit.
When Sam was a baby, I decided I should buy stock in Motrin. One minute, he would be crying and feverish, the next minute (after some Motrin), he'd be happy as a clam (usually in the doctor's office).
As you can see, he really looked sick.
I love this picture of the two of them.
Happy kids.
The day was a bit overcast but the weather was warm.
I enjoyed being with them and relaxing while reading Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil.
Thanks for coming out, Kid even though you weren't feeling 100%.
