Redwoods

We consider ourselves pretty hearty campers. We don't need the biggest and the best. We are usually prepared to camp in the rain and go on hard hikes. And I am, little by little, getting better about dealing with dirt.

But not this time!

We drove up from San Francisco a little too late and pulled in to our campsite just after it turned dark. We found our spot, parked and Cliff got to work setting everything up while I took the kids to the bathroom. Our spot was a little bit further in. It wasn't right next to the car. When I got back, Cliff said, "It's a pretty muddy site." Well that was an understatement! It was deep mud with my flip flops sinking in and smacking as I struggled to pull them and my muddy feet out with every step. But that was all. Before even entering in the mud, there was a large low branch with thorns right in front of the path that had berries on it. I tried to duck under it while I carried Lochlan to the tent and got my hair stuck in it. I was quite a sight, with my hair being pulled and probably berried, my feet all muddy holding a baby at 10:30 at night...

Anyways, we settled into our bags, put our muddy feet in some clean socks and all and went to sleep. In the morning we saw how bad it really was. As it turns out, we had the lowest campsite in the campground and everyone else's water runoff, ended up here...



Since we couldn't hang out at the campsite, we went on a hike through the Redwoods... only there was only one patch along the trail, which was mostly a dirt road for cars, with the huge trees. This wasn't at all like we remembered our Redwood trip being back in 1998. Thankfully, the kids made the best of it and found little treasures (and funny road signs) all along the hike.








We lingered for a long time (trying to avoid going back to the mud hole) at a little spot along the river to throw rocks. They could do it for HOURS! All 4 of them. :)





When we got back to the campground I went up to the booth and (nicely), asked for our money back and informed them that the site should be closed down and have some major maintenance done on it. He said we should at least get one night, maybe two.

Then we went back again after lunch (which we couldn't eat at our picnic table). The kids just did more of the same while we enjoyed God's colorful creation and the simple pleasures of our children, Lochlan especially.






We did end up leaving at driving home that night! Cliff stocked up on some crazy energy drink and we rolled into town at about 2:30 am. I asked him if he wanted some wine to help him get to sleep. I loved his answer, "I don't think it would be a good idea to reverse carbonated crack with alcohol."

Carbonated crack or not, we were happy to be home and to have clean feet.