RV Adventure 2009! Day Eleven!

Monday, August 31st

Stayed in Mackerricher State Park one more night.

Neil had some work to do this morning, so I took the boys for a walk around the campground.  Mark led the way with the campground map.  We ended up taking a trail that led to the beach.

Later we went to Glass Beach, a beach COVERED in Sea Glass.  We stayed there for some time while everyone filled up their empty water bottles with Sea Glass.  We were only a block or two from the Skunk Train Station, so we drove by in time to see a diesel train come in!

Back at the campsite, the boys played with dirt, again .... we ended up using the campgrounds showers.

RV Adventure 2009! Day Ten!

Sunday, August 30th

Left Sunset Beach, Destination: Mackerricher State Park - just outside of Fort Bragg

Stopped in Fort Bragg to see the Skunk Train come in!  The steam engine was running that day - the boys were excited to see it!

Continuing on the way to the campground, we passed a long walking bridge that Jake wanted to go on, so Daddy and Jake went for a walk while Mommy made lunch in the RV.

When we got to the campsite, Neil took Mark, Jake and Eric for a walk to the beach, they came back loaded with shells!

We made tacos for dinner and roasted marshmallows for desert.

Mark played cards with Daddy before bed, Jake and Eric cuddled and watched Bee Movie until they fell asleep.

Waiting for the Skunk Train

Jake on the long bridge

I had to post this one! Eric is just so darn funny!

The boys eating Marshmallows

Jake getting his toys out of the RV

RV Adventure 2009! Day Nine!

Saturday, August 29th

Left Bodega Bay, Destination: Manchester Beach KOA

Drove further North up the coast.  Stopped at Fort Ross, an old Russian Fur Trade in the early 1800's.  We toured the fort then walked/hiked down to the beach.

Drove further North to the Point Arena Lighthouse.  We got there too late for a tour, but we got out and looked at it from a distance.

The KOA had a nice playground for the kids to play on, Neil took Mark and Jake for a walk to that.  Later the mentioned it several times on the trip as being a favorite amenity at campgrounds!

We had a movie night before bed, with popcorn and Chicken Run.

Mark ringing the church bell at Fort Ross

View from a watchtower at Fort Ross

Beach at Fort Ross

RV Adventure 2009! Day Eight!

Friday, August 28th

Left Cousin Andrews, Destination: Sonoma Coast, Bodega Dunes State Park

Drove along the coast to Sonoma.  When we got there we had our pick of campsites, they were all so different: shady, sunny, dirt, sand, flat, hill... We chose a nice sandy one with a big hill.  Then we went to the beach parking area and walked to the beach.  Neil took Mark and Jake for a long walk and collected shells.  

Then to the campsite:  Eric took a nap while Mark and Jake ran around and explored.  I took Ryan's two month crown pics (he's getting so old!!!).  Later while Ryan napped, the other three boys played with some kids from a site on the other side of our sand hill.

For dinner we cooked hot dogs over the fire then went inside.  I taught Mark how to play go-fish, then he played it with Daddy, then they played memory.  Jake called it a night pretty early, 9:00.

Teeter Totter 

Our little guy is getting so old!!!

Huge "sandy hill" campsite!

Sunset from the top of the sand hill

Evenings in the RV - Marks playing on their Leapster

Video of Eric walking back from the Beach

RV Adventure 2009! Day Seven!

Thursday, August 27th

Left Pescadero today, destination Cousin Andrews in Benicia

This morning the boys rode bikes some more, then Neil took Jake on a bike ride, Jake didn't want to ride in the seat, just his own bike with Daddy.  While we were here, mark was using Daddy's Bungee Cords to make "seat belts" on his bike.

Then we took off for Benicia.  We took the coast up and went over the Golden Gate Bridge.  The boys were pretty excited about that, it's been talked about a lot since our trip last year.

Then we got to Andrews house (Neils cousin) and we all headed up to Fairfield for the Jelly Belly Factory Tour.

Back at Andrews that evening, he took out some wood and tools and the boys went wild.  Eric had fun chasing the "meow's" while Mark stayed busy building a triangle, then a "sled".  Jake helped out with both, the building and the chasing of the "meow's" - he also spend some time making sure we all had cookies.

Jake and Daddy, back from their bike ride

Mark taking a picture of San Francisco Bay

Eric using the screw driver

Mark using the drill

Mark, Andrew and Hugo (the "meow")

Making a very important phone call

e-yo? ... byebye

Building the "sled"

Some Videos:

Video: Mark's "seat belts"

Video: Mark and Andrew building

Video: Ryan "talking"

RV Adventure 2009! Day Six!

Wednesday, August 26

Still in Pescadero

After the boys rode their bikes this morning, we took off for several adventures around our campground.  We started at Pigeon Point Lighthouse, a favorite of Neil and I.  We stayed at the hostel there about 8 years ago on one of our camping trips.  Next we went to Bean Hollow State Beach.  Eric and Ryan were taking naps so I cleaned up the RV while Neil took Mark and Jake out to dig in the sand and fly a kite.  Eric and I joined later after he woke up. 

Back at the campsite, Neil put the kids seat on his bike and took Eric, then Mark for a ride.

Bean Hollow State Beach

Eric napping at Bean Hollow

Flying a kite

Ryan being cute

Eric riding with Daddy