Tag: point reyes

First Night on the Road

On By SusanIn Travel, Uncategorized4 Comments

This will all be posted late because connectivity is not happening. So, we picked up the Jucy, threw everything in and took off for Point Reyes. Yes, I know, not a very long trip, but we spent most of the day preparing the house, packing up, and getting ready to leave. We didn’t get the Jucy until 2 either.

img_20190624_140734351_hdrThis thing is bigger than it looks. We packed a ton of stuff in it. Suitcases, food, dog, bedding, pots and pans, beer and wine—all the essentials. So far the only hitch we have had is that one of the latches to the “penthouse” or the pop-up sleeping tent unhooked and the tent crept out and was flapping in the breeze. Luckily, a nice woman on the 580 honked and pointed and we got the idea. For a big, awkward-looking vehicle, the ride is smooth and the handling very manageable.

We arrived at the Olema campground at about 5 p.m., set up camp, went for a walk, and made a delicious curry vegetable dinner, but oops! We forgot a can opener. Luckily, people in RVs seem to have everything you could ever need. Thanks neighbor. Our spot was in a meadow where we had a view of the hills and witnessed a very colorful sunset.

It is a little chilly in the pop-up, so I’m really glad we have a sleeping bag. It didn’t make getting up in the middle of the night to pee any easier, but at least I could crawl back into the warmth quickly except for the weird animal noises. Coyotes? Maybe, but I’m not really sure. I’m glad they were distant.

Hiking and Wondering

On By SusanIn Travel, UncategorizedLeave a comment
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Bear Creek Trail at Point Reyes

Saturday was beautiful and sunny. I loved it. No jacket necessary. Finally. We headed up to Point Reyes National Seashore after dropping the dog at day care. No dogs allowed on national park trails and Bijan has some separation anxiety. I mention this because we had to be back by 7 p.m. to pick him up. We were going to do a trail on a spit of land that pokes into the Pacific on one side and Drake’s Bay on the other, but we were lazy and got a late start and the trailhead is about 30 minutes into the park by car. Instead, we hiked from the Bear Valley Trail from the visitors center. The trail is mostly flat with very gradual incline, nice after Friday for my legs, which are Midwestern (read: flat, Flat, FLAAAAT) acclimated.

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Zion shirt, Costa Rica bandana

I am 95 percent sure I have done this trail before, long ago when I lived in the Bay Area, but I don’t ever remember seeing so much water. It’s been raining around here for a couple of winters now, so everything is green and the walk was verdant and smelled of fresh vegetation. Aaah.

As we walked, I thought, as I have done in the past when I hike, that an interesting research project (if it hasn’t already been done) would be to study who says hello to whom on the trail. I’ve noticed that young men tend to ignore us old ladies. (Are they afraid we’ll yell at them because their chores aren’t done?) What about other group, gender, race, and age dynamics? There’s a ton of material there. Hiking is a different social situation and self-selecting and I am really curious about what the norms are. I just handed someone a great sociology project. Go for it and let me know.

Ugh, I’ve Been Lazy

On By SusanIn Travel, Uncategorized3 Comments

OK, I’ve been less that inspired these last few weeks. It’s tough to get motivated when your big, summer road trip is on the back burner and it’s 55 degrees and drizzling. You’ll be thrilled to know that I’m back! My trip to the Bay Area and Pacific Northwest begins Thursday and I will be writing daily (or almost daily).

So far, my friend has us scheduled for a couple of hikes, a poetry slam, and a picnic with the foster parents of refugee children. And that’s all before we leave Oakland. I think our first night on the road will be spent camping at Point Reyes. Can’t go wrong there.

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First stop: Oakland

There was some possibility that my friend’s foster child would be on the trip with us, but he is still in Niger as far as we know. That grand adventure will begin after I am home. I must say that I am a bit relieved by that. A 12-year-old refugee boy who speaks no English probably does not need his introduction to the United States to be two 50-something women driving him up the coast in an RV so we can hike and talk nonstop.

The plan, developed entirely by my friend, has us driving up Hwy 1 through California and Oregon for 5 days of camping and then cut over to I-5 to get to Port Townsend, Wash., and Seattle for some chill hanging out time. Then, I will fly home from there leaving my friend to make the drive back solo (unless you count her dog). I feel a little bad about that, but I am sure Steven will be tired of bachelor life with my dog by then (hahahahaha…oops…I meant…Absolutely..I will surely be tired of bachelor life).