Camping in the Redwoods

Dave recently had a business trip (a sleep apnea conference in Reno) and got home so late Thursday night that they gave him off work Friday. We never got a chance to go camping this summer, so we figured this would be a good time. We got the kids out of school at lunch and drove up to Big Basin, which is that awesome place we went last year.

The timing was interesting because I had just potty-trained Levi. He was doing pretty well, but he could only go in his little potty. So we packed it up and had to pull over halfway there for a potty break. We put his potty seat on the ground next to the car so he could go. I also fed Chloe. We noticed some Thunderbirds doing some amazing stunts all around us, so we stayed awhile and watched them. Apparently there was a big air show in Salinas that weekend, and they were practicing. That was way cool.

After we set up camp, Dave and I made dinner while the boys played capture the flag and other fun games.

We grilled steak and veggie kabobs for dinner, which was simple and very yummy.  Before it got dark the raccoons aggressively invaded our campsite. The boys had a lot of fun chasing them away. Luckily they didn't open our tents while we were sleeping, which the signs warned us they could do.

It got quite chilly at night, and the fire felt great.

I always consider a camping trip successful if no one gets burned.

We thought about camping at Pinnacles, which is a little closer to home. But Dave heard we wouldn't be able to have campfires there because it's so dry. How can you go camping without roasting marshmallows and snake bread?

The nice thing about camping later in the season is that the sun sets early so we can convince our kids to go to bed sooner. 

Brrrr! It was a chilly morning

Dave very sweetly woke up early to make a fire and cook breakfast, and it was all ready by the time I woke up. That was lovely, especially after waking up so many times with Chloe.

Dave and his boys - totally in their element. They keep asking me when we can go back.

 I love sun shining between the trees through morning campfire smoke.

After we cleaned up breakfast and packed everything up, we set out on our hike. We did the same one as last year. It's about 3 miles long, it isn't too strenuous; there are tons of fun trees to climb, and it ends at a waterfall. 

Levi walked most of the way, but he did get a little tired and needed a ride on Spencer's shoulders. 

And dad's shoulders. 

I carried Chloe, and she doesn't weigh anything. She was much happier hiking than she was sleeping. 

The weather was SO perfect for hiking.

The waterfall is more like a trickle this time of year, but it was still a nice spot to stop and eat our snacks. There was another family there, and their little girls threw our boys' favorite walking stick over the edge. It's just as well, because I had told them they couldn't take it home. 

My boys like posing for pictures just as much as I like taking them. 

I noticed while I was taking pictures that Tyler's face was filthy (hot chocolate mixed with dirt).

So Dave squirted him with the water bottle to wash it off. But it immediately got dirty again. I guess there's no point in trying to stay clean when your camping/hiking.

After our big hike, we drove over to the park headquarters and found a picnic table for lunch.

Here's a banana slug. They help protect the redwood trees by eating pests, or something like that.

 Here's Levi enjoying the banana slug.

After lunch Dave and Chloe took a little nap in the car while I took the boys around for one last hike before heading home. It's a little 1-miler that has the oldest and tallest trees of the forest. I love how Tyler is admiring the immensity of this tree.

Spencer cracks me up. 

Posing in front of the mother of the forest, which is the tallest tree there. Overall, we had a great trip. I like to go camping because it's so beautiful, my boys love, love, love it, and I enjoy hiking and taking pictures. It's definitely worth doing once a year.