Wrights Beach 4/26/18

The year is looking good!

My paddling club traveled to Wrights Beach just north of Bodega Bay.  We paddled the Russian River and then the Estero Americano. This is one of my favorite trips.  It combines the beach with the great Russian River, perfect hiking trails, campfires and good friends!  All in one location.

Wrights Beach is a favorite camp spot.  It sits right on the beach!  We enjoyed several campfires but our sunsets this trip were clouded or fogged over most of the time.

A group of us hiked the Kortum trail. This is a bluff trail that follows the beach all the way to Goat Rock, from the campground.  The flowers were amazing.  The hike required some up and downs through some gulley's and across a couple of bridges.  Perfect!

I love the Russian.  It is a peaceful gentle flowing river with so much green everywhere you look. 

The Estero is not going to make my top 10.  The water is murky and there is not much to see.  Although I do understand it is nicer in a high water year. I did like the Whale Tale rock where we beached to eat lunch.  The launch here is also tricky, so again not my fave.

Have I mentioned how much I love my van!  It was brisk with a cold wind some of the time.  It even rained over night.  But I was snug as a you know what.

The Whales Tail

Point Reyes 1/26/18

What a great way to kick off the year.  We traveled to Point Reyes for hiking and kayaking.  We visited the light house and I did the entire staircase this year.  What a hike! Unfortunately no whales to be seen.  

We did see lots of elephant seals.  

The next day we paddled Tomales Bay and launched at Hearts Desire Beach.  We lucked out with great weather and water

I stayed at Olema campgrounds. Nice and green and pretty empty.  Close to everything too.  Love my kayaking group!

Quartzsite AZ -RTR 1/11/18

I traveled with my Travato group to Quartzsite AZ for the Rubber Tramp Rendezvous (RTR).  This was a mini get together with about 7 vans the days I were there and more coming and going after I left.  This is an annual gathering of all kinds of traveling nomads.  I think this group reached over 3000 vans. It was amazing to see all the various camping vehicles and set ups.  People watching was fun too. However, it was a desert.  Not much to do or see, so probably will not make this trip again. It was an adventure and always great to meet fellow travites! It just makes me love my van more and look forward to more traveling days and adventures.

Goodbye 2017

There are only a few days left of 2017 and it has been an interesting year, mostly great, with some sadness at the end with the loss of my daughters father-in law after a long illness. Rest In Peace George, your family will carry you in their hearts.

The birth of my second grand child in November is a girl! and brings pure joy to this family. Zuri was born on my moms birthday.

 

Emerson is 19 months now and has so much personality! He is a character and never stops moving. This grandma sure gets a work out watching him. I cannot wait till the grandkids are old enough to take camping.

I did a December trip to Lawson’s Landing with my fellow Travato owners. It was kind of last minute and we had a total of 11 vans lined up against the sea wall. It was a lot of fun meeting people in person that I had come to know through Facebook. I am looking forward to more Travato meet ups this coming year.

Of course I cannot wait to get back on the water!  We have a new kayak club called Sac- Sierra Kayak and Explorers Group, SKEG.  I am one of three organizers and I am looking forward to a fun year ahead full of kayaking, biking, hiking and just being outside.

Oh yeah...my Christmas present to myself was a Pedego electric bike.  I love it! I can peddle as much as I want then hit the throttle to take a break. So much freedom, and it fits nicely in the van.

I am heading out on a new adventure in 2 weeks. I am going to the RTR - Rubber Tramp Rendevous.

This is annual get together by a guy who is a full time van camping guy. It is held out in the Arizona desert, just outside of the town of Quartzsite. Looks like a big ole flat piece of desert. So this will be fun.  It is also not far from my old stomping grounds of Parker Dam on the Colorado River. I will take a side trip up there to explore too.

I can’t wait to get on the road and the water!