Greetings from San Fransisco - where the 8 of us are living in complete luxury (at least compared to KOA and National Park campgrounds). We are in a vacation rental by owner in the Nob Hill area of San Fran. Four bedrooms, which means that the two boys get a room, the two girls get a room and both couples get their own rooms. There is also a full kitchen, TWO bathrooms wiht showers and a living room with computer and TV. Like I said, the lap of luxury!
I think we deserved it. The drive from the Out n About Treesort in Cave Jct, Oregon was long. It was a day drive, and took about 10 hours in the end. We took 101 which is part highway, part coastal road, part hell drive through the switchbacks and the beautiful redwoods along the way. There was no quicker way to do this - although I disagreed with this theory every hour of the drive until I had driven everyone else crazy with my bad sense of direction. We finally pulled across the Golden Gate Bridge at 8:00 p.m., and found our apartment with relative ease. (In truth, the trip would have been nearly an hour shorter, but a cell phone was left at a certain grocery store for which we needed to return to get).
Did you know that there is a fee to get off the GGB? I had no idea, and therefore, Ian had the cash in hand to pay the toll. Guess it worked out in our favor! Just kidding, but there is a toll.
Today we walked through Chinatown, which was excellent. Took some great pictures, and will post here as soon as I have the energy. I certainly have the time, just not any gumption - of course there is a story for this.
We ate lunch at an "authentic" American style Chinese restaurant. By this I mean they served seasame chicken, beef and broccoli and steamed dumplings. But to the kids utter dismay there were no chicken fingers or pork ribs (you know the little strips of "pork" that are stained red). But a bowl of plain white rice, and a plate of plain chow mein noodles later, with the rest of the food served most of the kids were finally satisfied.
There are many, many small little shops throughout Chinatown that sell all sorts of little items meant to catch kids attention and empty parents wallets. We were able to walk away relatively none the poorer, but with a few little items to keep the kids happy. Off we went to catch the trolley to the Fisherman's Wharf.
That sounds so easy. Trust me, it isn't that easy. The first four trolleys were full, so we walked some. And walked some more. Boy, did the kids LOVE that! Finally we caught a trolley and got to the wharf. We walked around a bit then the two families separated to see the sights and make our own ways to the apartment.
The Szabo's went down to the Pier to see the old battleships and sailboats, and the view of Alcatraz from the pier. We then went to catch a trolley back up the hill to our place. Not so easy either. There was a one hour wait, for which we were too impatient to stand in line for. The four of us walked up the hill all the way - which was 17 blocks. We will sleep well tonight.
The Tewksburys went to the Creamery for ice cream, then stood the line to take the trolley home which the kids loved.
Now we are making dinner and getting ready to head off to Alcatraz tomorrow! If the kids are all good, we won't leave any behind!
Tuesday, July 12, 2011
Saturday, July 9, 2011
Craters of the Moon earlier this week - cannot remember the day!
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Out n' About Treesort full day 1
Today we spent the day enjoying the sun and 85 degree weather. We all went at 10:00 this morning to go on the Zip Lines. All 8 of us gathered at the Treesort zip office, and got suited up in gear. Gear for this adventure included helmets, leather gloves, and a harness. We started on the bunny slope of lines, to learn how to hold our bodies - and stop.
I remember learning to drive, with my mom, who told me all about putting teh car in gear, lightly stepping on the brake and how to turn the wheel to go the direction I wanted. I seem to remember that she did not mention ANYTHING about the braking system. I knew there was another pedal down there, but not what it was or how to use it. The guides this morning made sure we knew how to slow and stop. It takes a little getting used to it, but it is fairly simple - use your gloved hand to pull down on the wire without grabbing the wire (which would stop your arm, but your body keeps moving - "an object in motion" and all that).
Carissa was the first to try the bunny slope and she did great. Loved it! Nick was next, then Dave and I was last. Once our little group of 4 went, Tressa went - and she looked nervous at first. Connor was next, and you can imagine his red hair flying out around his helmet as he smiled his way across. Jean and Ian came along and we were ready to go. While Tressa seemed the most nervous at first, by the second line she was a pro! You couldn't wipe the smile - grin - off her face!
There were 5 zip lines we all did. They started lower and went higher - and they were a blast. The last two were high up in trees, and to access the little metal platforms you had to use ladders. The ladders did not impress Carissa who became increasingly anxious about the climb. She saw me come in hard to one of the tree platforms, and at that point she was ready to be done.
However, she loved every zip line and was glad she did it! After the Basic Lines (6 in all) Carissa, Jean and I headed out. The rest - Ian, Tressa, Connor, Dave and Nick - all stayed to go to the Advanced Lines. There were all tree to tree lines, no feet on the ground after the first climb up. They stated that it was AWESOME!
At that point, the 5 of them did the Tarzan Swing. Now Nick has apparently done something similar in D.C. with my sister Laura and her husband Mike. But none of the others knew what to expect other than watching others do it first.
This is a rope swing into which you are harnessed both by lower body and chest harness. You are pulled 50+ feet into the air along the trunk of a tree, at which point you are told by the guide to "let go!" From there, Newton takes over and gravity swings you down and out - then back and forth till you slow to a stop. It is similar to bungee - but swinging not bouncing. Tressa again went first, then Nick, Connor, Ian and Dave. Each person got to have two swings, and you thought on the first one they were all ready to throw up. By the second swing, it was like this was what life was meant for!
While I did not suit back up to go on the Tarzan Swing, it was so worth it to see the quickly changing expressions on their faces as they fell to the earth and then back up again!
This is a wonderful resort, with roosters, chickens, horses, treehouses, indoor plumbing and sun/shade/natural pool. I love it here.
I remember learning to drive, with my mom, who told me all about putting teh car in gear, lightly stepping on the brake and how to turn the wheel to go the direction I wanted. I seem to remember that she did not mention ANYTHING about the braking system. I knew there was another pedal down there, but not what it was or how to use it. The guides this morning made sure we knew how to slow and stop. It takes a little getting used to it, but it is fairly simple - use your gloved hand to pull down on the wire without grabbing the wire (which would stop your arm, but your body keeps moving - "an object in motion" and all that).
Carissa was the first to try the bunny slope and she did great. Loved it! Nick was next, then Dave and I was last. Once our little group of 4 went, Tressa went - and she looked nervous at first. Connor was next, and you can imagine his red hair flying out around his helmet as he smiled his way across. Jean and Ian came along and we were ready to go. While Tressa seemed the most nervous at first, by the second line she was a pro! You couldn't wipe the smile - grin - off her face!
There were 5 zip lines we all did. They started lower and went higher - and they were a blast. The last two were high up in trees, and to access the little metal platforms you had to use ladders. The ladders did not impress Carissa who became increasingly anxious about the climb. She saw me come in hard to one of the tree platforms, and at that point she was ready to be done.
However, she loved every zip line and was glad she did it! After the Basic Lines (6 in all) Carissa, Jean and I headed out. The rest - Ian, Tressa, Connor, Dave and Nick - all stayed to go to the Advanced Lines. There were all tree to tree lines, no feet on the ground after the first climb up. They stated that it was AWESOME!
At that point, the 5 of them did the Tarzan Swing. Now Nick has apparently done something similar in D.C. with my sister Laura and her husband Mike. But none of the others knew what to expect other than watching others do it first.
This is a rope swing into which you are harnessed both by lower body and chest harness. You are pulled 50+ feet into the air along the trunk of a tree, at which point you are told by the guide to "let go!" From there, Newton takes over and gravity swings you down and out - then back and forth till you slow to a stop. It is similar to bungee - but swinging not bouncing. Tressa again went first, then Nick, Connor, Ian and Dave. Each person got to have two swings, and you thought on the first one they were all ready to throw up. By the second swing, it was like this was what life was meant for!
While I did not suit back up to go on the Tarzan Swing, it was so worth it to see the quickly changing expressions on their faces as they fell to the earth and then back up again!
This is a wonderful resort, with roosters, chickens, horses, treehouses, indoor plumbing and sun/shade/natural pool. I love it here.
Friday, July 8, 2011
Cave Junction Oregon - Out N' About Treesort
We are now sitting in tree house in Cave Jct, Oregon. Our tree house sits approximately 20 feet above ground, and is two levels (technically). There is a bedroom and a living area with a small loft (really quite tiny) above the living area. The three younger kids will pile into the loft, and Nick will grab some floor space near our bed. The deck outside the tree house has a large picnic table, a gas grill and plenty of room for us to hang out in our camp chairs. About 30 yards from our stairs is a natural pool that the owners built. It is spring fed, and is very cold. The 4 kids all went in, but during the first swim only two stuck it out and swam, with blue lips and goose pimpled skin! Eventually all four kids were back in the pool and splashing around happily.
Last night was our second night in the hotel, and we had a good nights sleep in comfortable beds with breakfast included. While we are sleeping in beds tonight, it is quite different and a bit more nature oriented. We may even pull our sleeping bags out and sleep on the deck under the leaves and stars.
The kids have been doing pretty well getting along – in most cases – as have the grown ups. There are areas that we find more challenging, mealtimes being the biggest. Everyone wants something different than what others have, and that makes the others want that instead. The old adage “the grass is always greener in the other pasture” certainly has proven to be true. We are trying our best to be consistent among families, but that too can be stressful as we don’t want to give in to the kids all the time.
Another difficult area is the purchasing of souvenirs. All the kids have their own money, but when one sees a tee-shirt and buys it, they all want to buy something too. And none of the four children have learned the value of a dollar yet. I am not even sure all four adults have either!!
When asked yesterday by Dave how we would each rate (scale of 1 to 10) the smoothness of this trip the answers were 8, 7.5, 5.5 and 5. Tricky game that one, as no one wanted to touch off another, but we all have found challenges with the trip. Losing items on the plane, forgetting to charge batteries for personal electronic devices and what snacks are being served are often the culprits of rearranging moods and behaviors. We have also found that two oldest children with type A personalities are very similar in behavior (just so you know, that is Ian and I). It is similar to Lord of the Flies in that whomsoever holds the conch shell gets to have a say – and everyone else will listen. Until there is a rebellion or mutiny.
Overall, as we end our second week and reach the midway point of our journey, it has been exceptionally fun, with a perfect mix of busy activities and down time. Time with family and time with friends has allowed us to learn even more about each other. Could I do this trip with anyone else? No way. Only the Tewksbury family has the ability to withstand the Szabo traits, and vice versa! Thank God for best forever friends.
Last night was our second night in the hotel, and we had a good nights sleep in comfortable beds with breakfast included. While we are sleeping in beds tonight, it is quite different and a bit more nature oriented. We may even pull our sleeping bags out and sleep on the deck under the leaves and stars.
The kids have been doing pretty well getting along – in most cases – as have the grown ups. There are areas that we find more challenging, mealtimes being the biggest. Everyone wants something different than what others have, and that makes the others want that instead. The old adage “the grass is always greener in the other pasture” certainly has proven to be true. We are trying our best to be consistent among families, but that too can be stressful as we don’t want to give in to the kids all the time.
Another difficult area is the purchasing of souvenirs. All the kids have their own money, but when one sees a tee-shirt and buys it, they all want to buy something too. And none of the four children have learned the value of a dollar yet. I am not even sure all four adults have either!!
When asked yesterday by Dave how we would each rate (scale of 1 to 10) the smoothness of this trip the answers were 8, 7.5, 5.5 and 5. Tricky game that one, as no one wanted to touch off another, but we all have found challenges with the trip. Losing items on the plane, forgetting to charge batteries for personal electronic devices and what snacks are being served are often the culprits of rearranging moods and behaviors. We have also found that two oldest children with type A personalities are very similar in behavior (just so you know, that is Ian and I). It is similar to Lord of the Flies in that whomsoever holds the conch shell gets to have a say – and everyone else will listen. Until there is a rebellion or mutiny.
Overall, as we end our second week and reach the midway point of our journey, it has been exceptionally fun, with a perfect mix of busy activities and down time. Time with family and time with friends has allowed us to learn even more about each other. Could I do this trip with anyone else? No way. Only the Tewksbury family has the ability to withstand the Szabo traits, and vice versa! Thank God for best forever friends.
Thursday, July 7, 2011
Wednesday, July 6, 2011
A busy few days
The past few days have been exceptionally busy for our families as we continued our travels through Yellowstone National Park. When we first arrived, we stayed at the Grant campground, in adjoining sites. There was little grass, but plenty of pine needles to track into our tents! We were able to visit the basins and other areas of interest as well as lots of wildlife, and we had a ton of fun. Ian has created a video which he will be posting to YouTube soon! Details to follow.
Once we left Grant it was onto Gardiner Montana, where we stayed just outside the park in a KOA campground. It was lovely, right on the river. Some of teh best sleep most of us have had since we started tenting on June 24th. Apparently there was an oil spill on the Yellowstone river, which we heard about that morning, but didn't see any signs of it although we were just feet from the river itself.
From Gardiner (where we saw Mammoth Hot Springs) we went to Old Faithful and stayed at the original Old Faithful Lodge. AMAZING! This is one of the best ways to stay when at this section of the park. Ian was able to get us rooms in the old portion of the lodge, not the new hotel side. The rooms were miniscule, two double beds, a sink and either a tiny dresser or a tiny table. No closets, just a hook on the wall, and two windows that overlook the park and many of the famous geysers that steam constantly. While we couldn't see Old Faithful itself from our room, as it was just around the corner of the lodge, we had only to walk 50 feet to a partially covered balcony with seating to watch the geysers eruptions every 90 or so minutes. I seem to have only one word which i use to describe these sights - breathtaking. The fact that our earth can create such wonders, and constant heat that predicting an eruption to the nearest 15 minutes is great fun to teach the kids.
We did a longer walk with the kids through many of the geysers right at the lodge site. The Constant and The Great Geysers were two of our favorites. There were many smaller ones that the girls (Carissa and Tressa) had fun naming - mostly horse and wolf names.
I have found that my major difficulty throughout this trip involves water - in almost any form. Water leaking from coolers, water dripping into our tent, water puddling outside showers, and melted ice inside coolers is especially bad for new iPods. Note to self - do NOT ever place an iPod on a styrofoam cooler between the front seats during an all night drive, when said cooler is filled with the caffeinated beverages to keep the driver and navigator awake. The results - a lost 160 gb iPod classic. In the everlasting wisdom of my daughter "well, bye!"
Once we left Old Faithful we drove for 4 hours. to go to Craters of the Moon National Monument. There we found out the difference between a National Monument and a National Park. Bueller, Bueller, Bueller? No guesses? A National Monument can only be titled such by a sitting President (Calvin Coolidge name Craters of the Moon), while it takes Congress to vote on a National Park! I am like the Old Faithful Geyser, a wealth of knowledge that will only get me places on Jeopardy.
The four kids all received their Junior Ranger badges from Craters too. They have each bought into the program, and are busy answering the questions and looking for the clues to learn about the parks. I cannot recommend this program strongly enough!
From Craters of the moon we drove to Boise, Idaho. I will pick up that story later. For it is truly another adventure in our Odyssey.
Once we left Grant it was onto Gardiner Montana, where we stayed just outside the park in a KOA campground. It was lovely, right on the river. Some of teh best sleep most of us have had since we started tenting on June 24th. Apparently there was an oil spill on the Yellowstone river, which we heard about that morning, but didn't see any signs of it although we were just feet from the river itself.
From Gardiner (where we saw Mammoth Hot Springs) we went to Old Faithful and stayed at the original Old Faithful Lodge. AMAZING! This is one of the best ways to stay when at this section of the park. Ian was able to get us rooms in the old portion of the lodge, not the new hotel side. The rooms were miniscule, two double beds, a sink and either a tiny dresser or a tiny table. No closets, just a hook on the wall, and two windows that overlook the park and many of the famous geysers that steam constantly. While we couldn't see Old Faithful itself from our room, as it was just around the corner of the lodge, we had only to walk 50 feet to a partially covered balcony with seating to watch the geysers eruptions every 90 or so minutes. I seem to have only one word which i use to describe these sights - breathtaking. The fact that our earth can create such wonders, and constant heat that predicting an eruption to the nearest 15 minutes is great fun to teach the kids.
We did a longer walk with the kids through many of the geysers right at the lodge site. The Constant and The Great Geysers were two of our favorites. There were many smaller ones that the girls (Carissa and Tressa) had fun naming - mostly horse and wolf names.
I have found that my major difficulty throughout this trip involves water - in almost any form. Water leaking from coolers, water dripping into our tent, water puddling outside showers, and melted ice inside coolers is especially bad for new iPods. Note to self - do NOT ever place an iPod on a styrofoam cooler between the front seats during an all night drive, when said cooler is filled with the caffeinated beverages to keep the driver and navigator awake. The results - a lost 160 gb iPod classic. In the everlasting wisdom of my daughter "well, bye!"
Once we left Old Faithful we drove for 4 hours. to go to Craters of the Moon National Monument. There we found out the difference between a National Monument and a National Park. Bueller, Bueller, Bueller? No guesses? A National Monument can only be titled such by a sitting President (Calvin Coolidge name Craters of the Moon), while it takes Congress to vote on a National Park! I am like the Old Faithful Geyser, a wealth of knowledge that will only get me places on Jeopardy.
The four kids all received their Junior Ranger badges from Craters too. They have each bought into the program, and are busy answering the questions and looking for the clues to learn about the parks. I cannot recommend this program strongly enough!
From Craters of the moon we drove to Boise, Idaho. I will pick up that story later. For it is truly another adventure in our Odyssey.
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