Renegade Winters

It has been really fun to spend five days one on one with my 13-year-old son on this little road trip! We (by which I mean *I*) did the long drive from South Tahoe CA/NV to McMinnville OR in one day. It took 12.5 hours with our detour to Crater Lake and a few fuel stops. Phew!

August had been wanting to see Crater Lake (he’s doesn’t remember visits from his childhood) and I’ve never seen it covered in snow! Such a special place, just a quick stop today.

Throughout this trip we were greeted and referred to as “ladies” no less than 5 times. August doesn’t seem to mind so I don’t make a big deal about correcting people. We know he has long beautiful hair and maybe he’s just pretty! I have gently pointed out some haircuts I see that have a more masculine style, but he isn’t interested. I guess this little guy needs to grow a mustache! 😆 I love him no matter how he looks, or even if he wears pajamas all day and Christmas sweaters in April!

On our final evening in Lake Tahoe, my son and I hiked to Monkey Rock at sunset.

I’ve given August a lot of opportunity to choose how we’ve spent our time on this mama-son trip, and I feel like we’ve struck a good balance between scenic, active, and playful activities. We had been considering going to see a movie or a live magic show this evening, but after completing our escape room, I was admittedly thrilled when August actually asked what time sunset would happen and picked this hike instead! Ahh, happy mom moment. 😌🫶🌄

The hike to Money Rock is less than 2.5 miles round trip. It has some elevation gain, and we even opted to shortcut the long switchback to the top and climbed the “alternate route” pretty much straight up. 😅 It was a steep climb but I loved the challenge and was super proud of August for wanting to do that and then conquering it!

I thought Monkey Rock was way too detailed to be fully natural. The internet seems to agree that while the granite stone’s primate likeness was originally natural, it has likely been “enhanced” by some human carving. Boo to that, but it’s still pretty cool. The rock and the view were really awesome, but our experience here was significantly dampened by a group of kids (mostly around 7-10 years old and one young teenager) all yelling and swearing f-bombs LOUDLY and full of nasty disrespect for one another and the beauty all around. The one adult mother-type present seemed barely bothered by this unpleasant behavior (some of which was directed at her), which made me sad. We pretty much took a few photos and beat a hasty retreat from their ugly energy, which meant we saw the full splendor of sunset from lower down the trail instead. And that’s okay; it was still incredibly gorgeous! One of the best, richest sunsets I’ve seen in a while actually. 🌅🧡💛❤️🔥

Overlooking the unfortunate detraction by other people, this was a perfectly special way to spend our last night in Tahoe!

Lake Tahoe trip Day 4! In the morning August and I took a sternwheeler boat tour across the lake to Emerald Bay. Yesterday we hiked around there but this was an interesting new perspective, plus there was informative narration and video. In addition to lake facts and ecology, we learned a lot more about the wealthy heiress’s Scandinavian summer home we were curious about on the shore and the tea house on top of Fannette Island where she would entertain guests.

Along our walk back, we indulged in amazing cookies and custom ice cream sandwiches at The Baked Bear before taking a break for August to get some school work done.

Then we completed a really fun escape room at Trapped in Tahoe. It was a Polar Express themed room with plenty of clever codes and contraptions. August and I both have a good mind for puzzles so we had a great time working together to stop the runaway train before time ran out! It seemed like an escape room with just two people is perfect! 😆

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Emerald Bay, Eagle Falls, and Putt-Putt in Tahoe!

In the afternoon of our third day on our road trip, August and I took in the iconic views of Fannette Island in Emerald Bay, then we hiked down to the water where we got to play with cute duckies and had a stick throwing contest. Continuing on the trail from there we saw Lower Eagle Falls which was very beautiful. The walk back up to the parking lot was a challenge, but we made it!

Then we found the most adorably charming mini golf spot called Magic Carpet. We played a 27-hole course, delighted by so many clever, colorful, home-made features and obstacles. Very Enchanted Forest-vibes, for my fellow Oregonians. In the end it was a very close game proving we are equally below-average at putting. 😅⛳️ But we had the best time and August did get a hole in one!

Lake Tahoe from Peak to Beach!

In the morning of the third day on our road trip, August and I viewed Lake Tahoe from the highest vantage point via a ride up Heavenly Gondola, and then got up close and personal on the shoreline at Lakeside Beach. We relaxed and played in the sand; I made a huge sand cinnamon roll.

We also made (real, not sand) s’mores at our quaint little resort last night . 🔥

Mama-Son Road Trip day 2: Reno, NV

Tbh, we were unimpressed with what we saw in Reno. It seems like there are efforts being made to reinvent the city, but we didn’t get a good vibe. Lots of construction though so maybe it’s on the way. Great example: I was excited to check out The Basement, described as boutique shops and restaurants in the basement of a historic post office. Great concept and the exterior was promising: a gorgeous art deco building and a wall of awesome old mailboxes in the lobby…but inside was a ghost town. Lots of empty space, hard to navigate, not much happening…I really wish they’d nailed this. Maybe we were there at the wrong time or the best is yet to come.

Here’s what we did see:
The modern Reno Arch - bet it’s even cooler at night!
Space Whale sculpture - probably also best viewed in the dark when it lights up
The Basement
Lunch overlooking Truckee River
The historic Reno Arch from 1960s - more neon that would look great in the dark!
Riverwalk, but the beautiful park on an island was closed for construction
Scheels in Sparks, where we rode the indoor ferris wheel and gawked at this massive store/attraction

Onward we go! 🚙💕

Sun out, Jeep top off… and my son’s in a Christmas sweater. 🤦🏻‍♀️ Clearly, we’re ready to hit the road!

Today’s highlights: an impulse stop at the historic Lowell Covered Bridge (because the best road trip moments are the unplanned ones) and an overlook of Salt Creek Falls — Oregon’s second tallest waterfall! Somehow, as a lifelong Oregonian, I’d never even heard of it.

The trail to the lower (and better) viewpoint was closed, so I guess that means I’ll have to come back. These falls are especially cool — basin shaped by glaciers and sheer cliff formed of lava.
🧊🔥

More adventures ahead… stay tuned to see where August and I head next. 🚙☀️

“Happy Easter Bunny Egg!” That’s a little Madelyn-ism from when she was a tiny girl. And now here we are celebrating her baby’s first Easter!

Maddy told me she’s outgrown needing a basket of treats. Maddy told me Willow is too young to bother with an Easter basket. Well I say poo on both of those ideas!! I couldn’t resist putting together an adorable little grandbaby basket AND I couldn’t help myself putting some small gifts and goodies together for my big kids. 😁 Nothing overboard, I just like doing it. And HELLO those baby bunny slippers!! 😍

We all had brunch together at La Provence, a nice reunion as Madelyn and Kyle have been house sitting for his parents across town so we miss them!

I hope you all had a lovely Easter in ways that are meaningful to you. 💛🩵🤍

Mom’s Birthday Cruise: Grenada

Last cruise excursion post! Grenada is “the isle of spice,” so we toured a spice garden and learned all about the goods! Then we went to Fort Frederick for 360•views of the island and our little ship way down there. And finally stopped at a quaint little waterfall where Gary and I got to see the eighth wonder of the world (“The Back Side of Waterrrr!!!”) and a local dude jumped off a 40-foot cliff for tips. But my favorite was buying a nifty beaded bracelet from the actual artist who made it - he showed me all of his bags of beads and tools and he was actively working on items in his booth…so it’s either legit or a pretty elaborate ruse. 😆

Mom’s Birthday Cruise: Bequia, St Vincent and the Grenadines

Arguably my favorite excursion of the cruise, a few of us took a small boat tour to an uninhabited island to snorkel and gawk at the turquoise Caribbean water. We sampled local sodas crafted right here in St Vincent. We learned a lot about the history and culture of this nation of islands as wells as the unique whaling process and regulations. I found some amazing and perfect shells on the seafloor! Everything was pretty idyllic until it started pouring rain -cold rain!- on the trip back. So the end was relatively uncomfortable but it was still so fun and beautiful!

Mom’s Birthday Cruise - Martinique

Saint Pierre was known as “the Paris of the Caribbean” for its economic and cultural significance until it was completely destroyed by a volcanic eruption in 1902. Now it is aptly called “the Pompeii of the Caribbean.” We visited a fascinating museum about this disaster which showcased truly amazing artifacts, and then we got to hike on the volcano! Next we enjoyed a pretty waterfall - Gary and I climbed up a muddy and steep “trail” (aided by ropes) above the waterfall which was a fun adventure. After that we walked around town and in the evening a group of my siblings had sushi for dinner on the ship.

Mom’s Birthday Cruise - St Kitts

Gary and I took a cab into town with a local guide who brought us to a view over the Atlantic Ocean and the Caribbean Sea and told us all about this island nation and local culture. We love that. After walking around town (and posing in front of the jail💁🏻‍♀️), we joined the rest of my fam at Seabourn’s signature event at a private beach with a massive and fancy lunch spread. (They all had caviar in the ocean, but we missed that part, which is okay, because I did taste the caviar, and it’s gross! 😆)