Joaquin Miller Park

Last Saturday we drove out to Joaquin Miller Park, just below the Chabot Space Center, and the former site of Joaquin Miller's house. After a hike through the woods and around some branch houses in the making, we went to the base of the house site and found hundreds of frogs and tadpoles in the abandoned pool. Our time there was spent catching frogs and trying to convince the gregarious three year-old we befriended that little frogs shouldn't be squeezed so hard (they're not sleeping afterwards). Our day was finished after a stop at Smitten Ice Cream on College Avenue -- an upcoming Lafayette shop that produces super-creamy ice cream that uses liquid nitrogen to instantly freeze the ingredients. Yum!

Bike to School Day

Today is National Bike to School Day. It's also Wednesday, which means it's also Mom Drives a Cello and Trombone and a Couple of Heavy Backpacks to School Day. Or as Nate said this morning: "It's National Bike TO School Day. They didn't say anything about biking FROM school!"

Berkeley Rose Garden

Coughs and colds abounded this weekend, so it took until Sunday afternoon before we climbed into the car and headed through the tunnel. We stopped in Codornices Park in Berkeley, then walked across the road to the Berkeley Rose Garden where we found someone playing what we later learned is a "hang" drum (apparently invented in Germany in the year 2000). I could have listened for hours. Here's another video, but I think our guy was even better. 

Dreaming

Trust me, there were *much* larger boats we were ogling, but these were two of our practical favorites (a quick glance as we were finishing lunch in Alameda). I liked the tug-boat ideals that Gina fancied, but couldn't quite get my eyes off the sleek lines of the sailboat with shiny blue paint and shimmering wood trim. Gorgeous, either way.

House of Air

Near the waterfront and close to the Golden Gate Bridge, the House of Air is an old Crissy Field airplane hanger that's been converted to a trampoline park. We made online reservations Saturday morning and within 30 minutes were dashing out the door for SF. Nate and Julie had two hours to bounce in a couple of large rooms and play dodgeball. Afterwards we grabbed hamburgers on Chestnut St in the Marina and visited the Presidio park before driving home.

Nate at camp

As taken by his teacher. "It was an 11" he said, after asking him how he'd rate it from 1 to 10.

Oursan Trail Hike near Briones Reservoir

San Francisco Loop

It amazes me what can be done between the school hours of 8:30 and 2:30, especially if traffic cooperates. Gina and I drove out to San Francisco's Fort Mason to hit the SF Library's used book store, then drove to the Presidio to see each of the three Andy Goldsworthy sculptures. "Tree Fall" was the only one I couldn't photograph since it was behind a locked grated door, and "Wood Line" was our favorite, despite the annoying family that just wouldn't get out of my pictures. After driving over the Golden Gate bridge, we ate lunch and absorbed just enough sun on the water at Le Garage in Sausalito.

Off to 5th Grade Camp

Backpacking in Pt. Reyes

On a whim, my friend Steve and I decided to backpack camp in Pt. Reyes National Seashore at one of the four camp sites. Luck was on our side: we arrived as the doors opened at the ranger station and secured the very last reservation available (Glen Camp), and the fog stayed well off the coast our entire stay. After a 4.6 mile hike-in to the site, we took the trail to the beach to Alamere Falls, and then back. My favorite part was falling asleep watching the stars and listening to all the animal sound around us. The next day we (I) limped home with plenty of blisters and pulled muscles, which just means I need more practice.

Berkeley Botanical Garden

Mom and Dad visit

Thank you Mom & Dad for a fun-filled visit! We're glad the weather turned out not too rainy and not too hot (we've had both since you left), and the tile you created in the last picture below turned out beautifully. Miro would be proud. 

Spring Break 2014

Some random shots from our week-long trip to Cambria and the drive back up along Highway 1 and into Carmel / Pebble Beach. Some highlights:

• The sunsets from our living room, and seeing whales on the ocean our first day.
• Finding agates steps from our door, and spending our days (and one night) searching for them.
• The tour of the grand rooms in Hearst Castle, despite the rain.
• Exploring the beach at Hearst Beach.
• Wine tasting in Paso Robles, with J. Dusi being our favorite (and not just because of the black lab that demanded we throw his toy every 30 seconds)
• Seeing NitWit Ridge house (closed now).
• Glass blowing demonstration in Harmony, CA (population 18). 
• The female elephant seals, and one loud male, at Piedras Blancas
• Morrow Bay rock and beach.
• The drive up Highway 1, especially stopping at Nepenthe in Big Sur.
• Exploring tidepools in Pebble Beach.