NorCal and Beyond…

We came out to California for about a month, visiting with friends and family, showing our travel companion Ruth some favorite play spots and having a four day garage sale to empty out a storage unit that we had been paying for since leaving the Bay Area in 2015. 

We started in Southern California at the Santa Monica Pier riding rides, eating junk food and hanging out with all the other weirdos there. We saw some beautiful Pacific Coast sunsets, got to spend time with Sallie’s step-sister Marla, her husband Randy and their daughter Kate, seeing one of Kate’s ice hockey practices. She’s pretty good for a newbie on the ice. Lady Ducks watch out! 

We also had a great couple of days with our Florida friends Dave and Lanne Bennett. We shopped, ate and played our way through Venice beach and Marina Del Rey. We were on the beach at Dockweiler RV Park located right under the LAX flight path. We got to learn the outgoing flight schedules for Western departures (whoot whoot!). We have realized through our travels that at least 75% of RV parks are located on land near, airports, train tracks and freeways. Obviously, the cheapest way to go…

No Ties

We spent Memorial day weekend at Sallie’s cousin Sandy’s house having that dreaded 4 day garage sale. Purging, letting go, fighting with ourselves over what to get rid of, finally ending in exhaustion and about $3,000 to show for it. Having fun with our girls, Maddie and Fia, playing in the pool, Ruth teaching them how to ride bikes, having dinners out at fun restaurants with Sallie’s mom Norma too. 

Part of the plan was to go to our niece (daughter) AJ’s (Ellie’s) Yuba City High School graduation. We were so surprised at how smart she really is, getting numerous California scholastic awards, honors and being seated in the front row of graduation with only 33 other equally smart young people in her school.  We are so proud of all the efforts she made in High School and will be attending Humboldt State University in the fall majoring in International Business. She’s going to be in future blogs this summer as she will be spending about 6 weeks with us touring the Pacific Northwest through the midwest. 

Ruth and I spent a couple of days playing in San Francisco. We explored very fun touristy venues, Sallie playing the informative yet crazy tour guide throughout the different sections of the city. Sallie held back her shopping instincts and focused time on Ruth and her experience. Ruth, Norma and Sallie also spent the day in Calistoga and had mud bath treatments. Now that’s an EXPERIENCE! It was nice to take a day of self care and see the incredible valley of Napa and Calistoga.

Sallie and Sue spent an overnight at Smanducci Ridge at their friends house in the Sierra Nevada mountains of Truckee. Having time with Dana, Rhonda, Jessica, Rod and Kai was a well needed retreat after we experienced a tragic and unexpected loss in the family. Sue’s sister Sandy passed away on Memorial Day after a short illness.

It was nice to be surrounded by natures beauty and friendship during this hard time. 

Moving away from the city life and family time, we got back to our travel plans and exploration of the amazing features Northern California had to offer those that get off the beaten path. These massive and old growth Redwood forests are simply awe inspiring and immensely soul opening. The positive ions emitted by these trees can really open your heart and mind to healthy living.

So, the last piece of our message is to get out there… go visit someplace new, check off a bucket list item, tell the people around you that you love them, hug a child, pet a dog (or cat), walk around the park in your neighborhood, shake things up in your life and LIVE.

Rest in Peace Sandy… we love you and will miss you always.