Arizona and the California coast

One of the things I value most in my life is the friendship I’ve been able to maintain with the girls I grew up with in Cincinnati. I have always thought it serendipitous that we found each other at such a young age and continue to love and support each other in this, our 40^th year. We are all spread out around the country from Phoenix to Cincinnati to Savannah to London. But ours is the rich, easy, wonderful friendship that comes from knowing each other for thirty years. So I new that my time in Phoenix would be the recharge I needed after six weeks of being on the road.

Sus and Eric live in Phoenix with their precious children, Joseph and Evie, ages 4 and 2 respectively. They fed us, entertained us and gave us comfy beds to sleep in for four days. Fortunately for me, as Sus kept reminding me, the weather in Phoenix was unseasonably cool. So there was no return of my dreaded heat rash and Sus was spared my endless bitching about the heat.

I loved being able to hike with my friend each morning and watch our kids play together. My kids were in love with the idea that most homes in AZ are equipped with pools, as a matter of survival no doubt. So they were able to swim to their hearts content every day. I could have stayed in Phoenix for another week, but thought I should take the opportunity to see more of California.

Anna at the Botanical Gardens in Phoenix

So happy to be in Sus's pool.

Reading to Joseph and Evie

Jackson loved making jokes about not being able to be a "tree hugger" in the desert.

Evie and Sus

Ditto. Just love this kid!

The wonderfully hospitable West family

From Arizona, we drove toward the California coast. Given that Alex wasn’t with us, we made a very brief visit to Joshua Tree. I was able to show the kids where Alex and I have spent so much time and they were able to finally envision the place they’ve heard so much about. We basically pulled over, made dinner, hiked around to take a few photos and moved on. The kids are looking forward to when we go back to climb as a family, especially after feeling how sticky the rock felt under their feet.

Beautiful JT rock!

Jackson exploring

Sitting under Geronimo

On top of Mt. San Jacinto in Palm Springs

Windmills....all over southern California

The California coast was nothing short of extraordinary. I realize that words like breathtaking are born out of experiences like mine, where around every turn on Highway 1 I would gasp and utter, “Wow”, because there really were no words to describe the beauty I was seeing. We hiked in Big Sur, camped under giant Redwoods, played on a rocky beach, and saw elephant seals molting.

Anna trying to convince herself it's warm enough to swim in the Pacific.

Our favorite campsite under the Redwoods.

Gasp "wow"!

The pool at the Hearst Castle was lined with Vermont marble.

Jackson said, "Look Mom, I built Luxor."

Elephant seals. So entertaining to watch. 

There were hundreds of them.

Pfieffer Beach, cold and windy but awesome!

Fun to watch the waves crashing in.

Awesome tidepools

Despite constant warnings, this kid's hand is always in a hole

I realized how unrelenting the wind was and that the cold Pacific Ocean keeps temperatures pretty cool in May. Everything we saw was spectacular and I didn’t really want to leave the area after our short stay. But it was time to get back on the road and head toward Vegas once more to rejoin Alex. 

Jellyfish at the Monterrey Bay Aquarium

San Diego

With Alex successfully on his way to Alaska to work with a team from 2^nd Ranger Battalion for their “Climb for the Fallen” up Denali, the kids and I drove to Phoenix to pick up my mom and continue on to San Diego.

Having spent very little time in California other than Joshua Tree, I was surprised at how much I loved San Diego. After spending our first night on a strip of beach on Coronado Island, we found an amazing hotel on the Navy Base on North Island across the bay from San Diego. With Mom and I both having military ID’s we were able to stay at this place, which was situated right on the beach with the Pacific Ocean rolling in. We were conveniently located close to the San Diego Zoo, Sea World and the Port Village of San Diego. I was so impressed with the sailors and facilities available to us on the Naval Base. It was also fun to imagine my husband at the ripe old age of 18 going through Basic Training here and starting his career as a Navy Sea Bee.

On a cruise in San Diego Bay

Hospital Ship Mercy. Responded to Katrina and the tsunami in Indonesia

Jackson checking out the aircraft carrier

In front of the USS Midway

I've only seen these signs on military posts

My Sea Bee, 26 years later. This was actually taken in DC, but thought it appropriate to post now.

So Mom treated us to another indulgent week of entertainment. After full days at the local attractions, the kids came back to the hotel to swim in the ocean. The air temperature never reached above 65 when we were there, so imagine how cold the Pacific Ocean was. My crazy woodchucks were playing in the waves while the locals looked at them like they had lost their minds.

Crazy woodchucks

On the beach outside the Navy Lodge

I was so grateful for Mom’s company and generosity providing for fun, great meals and accommodations, another break from our house on wheels. It’s helped ease the transition to doing this solo while Alex works. Now it’s back to Phoenix to spend time with Sus and her family. Mom has to return home to VT to keep Dad from getting too lonely and to continue treating my patients while I’m gone. 

Thanks Mom!

Mesa Verde and Moab, UT

I think our bodies were in shock waking up outside of Mesa Verde, CO in 32 degree temperatures. I found it unfair that my resolving heat rash still itched unrelentingly under my down layers and poly p. But one advantage of making the push from FL to CO was to see the kids react to the changing landscape. It was also cool to be able to contrast the commercialism of Disney with the natural beauty and history of Mesa Verde.

Anna....always on her bike

Pulled into this place in the dark and woke up to the most beautiful campsite.

So check this out. The Ancient Pueblo Indians created these cliff dwellings of different sizes in 1200 AD using nothing but sticks and rocks for tools. They farmed the top of the mesa and raised their families hundreds of feet up on these cliffs. No baby gates. Not even a guard rail. The infant mortality rate was 50% and the average life expectancy was around 30. Ca-razy!

Balcony House

Cliff House from across the canyon where about 100 Ancient Pueblo Indians lived.

Alex stuck in the entryway.

Kids and the canyon. Cliff dwellings are on both sides.

I couldn’t wait to get my family to Moab, one of my favorite places on Earth. It’s known as the Adventure Capital of the US and for good reason. You can mountain bike, hike, climb, swim in the Colorado River. I absolutely love this place. So we explored Arches National Park, found some amazing climbing, and hiked in some canyons. We could have spent an entire month just in Moab. Even the kids didn’t want to return to our campsite at the end of the day. It’s definitely on our list of “have to go back to “ sites. 

Jackson said, "Hey Mom, take a shot of me looking at the Arch." Too funny.

Anna exploring the canyon.

Beautiful Delicate Arch

Our climb for the day, Owl's Head.