Trip to the Mountains

September 12th - 17th 

We just got back from a camping trip in Buena Vista and a quick trip to Aspen. Right now I'm lying next to a napping babe, editing pictures and thinking about how awesome he did at 4.5 months old. I know he won't remember these little things we do with him now, but I'm hoping telling him about where he's been from the very beginning will inspire him to keep being adventurous and know that his Pop & I didn't stop doing things we loved just because he came around. In fact, he makes them better because we see things differently now. Staring at the leaves blowing on the tree or putting our feet in the stream or sitting by the fire all seem so much more meaningful when we have ever curious new eyes watching intently the world around us. 

Blake's parents got an RV & tent spot at Chalk Creek Campground. Blake & I set up camp a few spots away, just on the creek. The days were beautifully warm with fall fast approaching. The nights were freezing like winter had arrived.

The first Broncos game of the season was on the first night we got there so we set up & watched/listened to the game while grilling vegetables for dinner. Kingston & I toughed out the first night in the tent with Blake but it was so stinking cold! Kingston stayed warm with me cuddled next to him but nursing every two hours didn't allow me to stay warm. So we spent the next two nights in the RV with Grandma & Grandpa & the heater! ((I knew it'd be cold & we probably wouldn't have gone if we didn't have the option to stay in the heated motor home. I'm so thankful!)) Blake, K & I hung out at the camp spot the first day. We checked out the creek, played on the playground, napped in the tent, read in the hammock & ate watermelon & bananas. We then headed to Cottonwood Hot Springs & met up with the grandparents who went ATVing with their friends ((who were also camping with us)) all day. It was Kingston's first time in a pool and it was amazing. Blake & I couldn't stop smiling at our little boy enjoying the natural, warm hot springs. He had such a good time! We went back to camp & slept hard. 

The next day we all went to a great 4-wheeling spot. Robert & Lauri, Blake's parents' friend, took Blake & I on an awesome trail with an amazing view of Mt. Princeton. Grandma & Grandpa watched Kingston while we cruised the back roads of the mountains. It was so fun to get the adrenaline pumping for just a bit. Then Blake, K & I headed back to camp for a nap. Blake left for Denver that night. He went to see Damien & Stephan Marley play at the Fillmore. K & I grilled out with Grandma, Grandpa, Robert & Lauri. 

On Wednesday everyone packed up camp and headed their separate ways. My little family headed west to Aspen for the night. We stayed at this really cool old Swiss hotel, The Mountain Chalet Aspen, right in the middle of town. It was a block from the BellyUp venue where Blake was seeing Tribal Seeds, The Expanders, & Arise Roots that night. We walked around town & grabbed lunch before napping in our room. For dinner we walked to this great wood oven pizza place ((we love our wood oven vegan pizzas!)) K did so go good, I picked him up from napping on the bed and put him right in the stroller. He slept till we were almost done with dinner. I remember this split second feeling I had about how much I missed Blake & I's farely uncomplicated and quiet dinners we used to have with each other. Then K woke up & made the moment even better. 

It is funny how true it is that your whole life changes when a baby comes. There's a rush to take a quick shower, or the few minutes of quiet while he is napping to watch half of a tv show, or the need for someone to hold him while I run to the bathroom, or how much stuff we bring on our camping trips, or how car rides can seem so daunting because my little pooper hates riding in the car. It's unreal how exhausted I can be but yet still semi-functional. It's hard to find a quiet moment with Blake, where we aren't talking about life plans or work or grocery runs. It's hard to know I'm not just Melanie, I'm Kingston's mom. But I'm not just Melanie, I'm KINGSTON'S MOM!! I'm so thankful to be this boy's mama! He makes every waking ((and the few non-waking)) moments so precious. I've thought about him my whole life, wanting and waiting. And he is more amazing & special then I could have ever imagined. I'll take all those complicating trips, short showers, zero privacy bathroom breaks, poopy diapers, dirty hair, bags under the eyes, sweat pants, flabby belly days to forever be Kingston's mom.

Anyways, back to our little trip! 

After dinner we met up with some friends outside of the venue and chatted with some band members. I wasn't planning on seeing the show but our friend had an extra ticket so Blake & I decided to bring K and take turns outside with him. While I was wearing K in my carrier & Blake was inside, I could hear Arise Roots play. I was dancing & singing & Kingston fell asleep. Everyone coming out of the venue was so kind to us & supportive of having baby out there. I was able to go inside to see The Expanders play while Blake hung out with Kingston & E.N. from Tribal Seeds outside. He's also a vegan & we've had a good time getting to know him the last few shows we've been to. While I was inside I was talking to Karim of Arise Roots & found out he has a four-year-old son named Kingston! So awesome. Kingston & I went back to the hotel to go to bed while Blake saw Tribal Seeds play. It was a really fun day & night. 

We woke up and took Kingston swimming right away. It was niceto take him in the pool while the morning sun came up. When we packed up & went to breakfast at the hotel, the Arise Roots & Expanders guys were there too. We got to talk to them a little more and Karim held Kingston. I think he enjoyed holding a baby again because he was saying how we should appreciate this phase now before they start running everywhere and talking back! We said goodbye & walked around town for a bit. We got some juice & stopped at a dispensary, you know, just because we can. 

The drive home was beautiful. Independence Pass & Twin Lakes were stunning with bright yellow Aspen trees & crystal clear blue water. Kingston was amazing in the car!! He slept for most of the trip home! We stoppedin Buena Vista at a local grocery store that had a juice bar & organic sandwiches inside. 

I'm so happy we were able to go on this trip. We made some amazing memories with the grandparents and conquered some new-parent adventuring fears. We hung out with our favorite bands who got to meet Kingston ((last time I saw both bands I was pregnant, so it wasn't Kingston's first time hearing them.)) It was perfect timing to see the last warmth of summer & the new leaves of fall in the mountains. Next up is Kingston's first adventures with snow!!  

                                                            Dream Big, Ride Far! 

#pause# Lets take a road trip!!

Actually August 2nd, 2013 

Dana Point to Flagstaff 482 miles ((driving a uhaul))

Dream Big Ride Far!! We are going on another adventure, one year later!! 

Blake and I sat across from each other, and discussed our next month and the months coming up, Blake and I decided we needed another break from the world. Our thought process: 

1. Blake's brother is getting married early this month and my friend is getting married at the very end. Should we fly out for one then come back to Cali, then fly back out for the other?  

2. Both of us were sensing movement and change at our jobs. We were getting antsy and bored and wanted something more. 

3. Blake put in his two weeks and started planning on being in Colorado for the month of August. He is always searching for something bigger around his birthday... And this year is a big one, 25!! So he thought getting a break from California and spending some extra time with his family might help open some doors to a future plan. 

4. I was planning on flying back and forth for both weddings and working in California at my job in between. Of course sad I'd miss Blake and sad I wouldn't get to hang with my family too. 

Opportunity struck at my work where I felt it was a good time to leave. I put in my notice. 

5. Should we fly out to Colorado? ... Remember, I'm talking to Blake about all this... So of course no, we won't fly. Biking would take about 20 days... Nope. 

6. We both wanted to bring our bikes to Colorado so we can still bike around ((its our most comfortable way of getting things done.))

7. While home, we want to go see Santa Fe, NM and Durango, CO... Both very memorable to our relationship. 

8. We've been thinking about selling Pearl ((future planning won't need her, sadly.)) We know more people in CO and it might be easier to sell her there. 

9. Pricing everything out and comparing it to the adventure the only logical thing for us to do is to rent a truck, pack it up, and drive to Colorado!!! 

So we left yesterday morning with a uhaul truck, three bicycles, a moped, our camping gear, enough clothes to last a month and the excitement to be unemployed ((again!)) and traveling. 

((Bye, Dan Point! We will miss you!))

((Blake's enjoying throwing watermelon out the window: "what trash?!")) 

We got into Flagstaff, AZ around 9pm last night. Of course we are two days shy of missing my friend Maddy and her gang, though she did let us crash her place for the night anyways ((what a friend!)) I have to share that they just left to head to Washington so that her boyfriend and his friends can ride bikes down to San Francisco... Funny, huh? 

 

Today we woke up super early and headed out to explore Flagstaff and search for some good grub. We found it at Macy's. Oatmeal and waffles ((yum.)) 

We've been on the road now heading to Santa Fe ((so exciiiittted!)) Not quite sure yet what we will do when we get there, but just being there, sitting in the plaza will make both of us really happy. 

Dream Big, Ride Far sweet travelers!!

Fort Bragg, California

July 31st - August 6th

Eureka to Redcrest to Garberville to Fort Bragg to Mendocino...158.3 miles

From Eureka, California we rode 54 miles to Redcrest, located in Humbolt County, settled right into the Avenue of the Giants. Does "Avenue of the Giants" sound awesome...because it IS! We took this tiny road that swerved and curved in between massive Redwood trees. It was a thick, moist, green, and almost chilly forest. I remember my lungs feeling fuller then they have ever felt, the air there was crisp and clean, just as it should be. You feel so small in the middle of these ancient, gigantic trees towering stories above you. We ran into a hippie touring group in Arcata while riding through the Giants. I remember being conflicted inside about my way of travel, watching these hippie girls in skirts and no shoes riding their bikes down the coast. They were only going to San Francisco, but I remember being torn and almost embarassed about my ride. Looking back today, it doesn't even matter. I had reasons to do what I did and am 100% sure that we would not have made it as far as we did if I had rode a bike, and also that it would have taken double the amount of time... I'm secure enough to admit I am not a biking champion. (Maybe the next adventure.) But that is where we decided we could switch off riding the bike and moped, Blake could have a rest and I could get a feel for riding far with heavy bags.

The campsite we stayed at in Redcrest only had one attraction to stop tourists, the treehouse in the Eternal Living Tree. As most tourist traps seem cooler then they actually are, this one was the same, though still interesting. We ducked our heads under the doorway and were standing in the hollow of a huge tree. After signing the book we walked out and into the only cafe for miles. At breakfast the next day we met a girl named Alix. She was also touring to San Francisco, but she was from Canada. We ate pancakes together and agreed to meet in San Fran.

Redcrest to Garberville was 28 miles. We stopped at a large RV park. It was clean and quiet. We did laundry and swam in the pool. I fixed my flat tire and we ate lunch at a great organic jFrom Garberville we rode 76 miles to Mendocino, in Mendocino County. This town was the perfect cloudy, quiet, vintage community. There were a few shops and great little places to eat and it sits on a cliff that looks out at a bay, so beautiful. Once we were there Blake's friend from Colorado (who had moved to Fort Bragg) wanted to grab some dinner with her friends, who were also camping in the area. We couldn't find any sort of camping or RV Park or hostel even close to Mendocino and we didn't want to ride any further that day so we lived a night of luxury at the Mendocino Hotel (recommended for anyone visiting the area.) When we met up with Beth she had a bag of survival goodies for us to take on our trip, it was so sweet {thank you for having open arms towards us, Beth!} After we showered and got ready for a night out (finally with other people!) we walked to the cute, coastal restaurant and enjoyed the company of being able to talk about what we were doing for the first time in detail since we started in Seattle.

Because we didn't find any camping spots in Mendocino we headed back up north about seven miles into Fort Bragg. We opened our minds up to finding some possible work and looking for a more permanant place to stay. Fort Bragg is about half way down the coast from Seattle. Getting to hang out with Beth and her friends gave us a little "in" on the town and surrounding areas. I loved Fort Bragg. We found a cool co-op to go grocery shopping, a friendly bike shop, fresh fruit at the farmer's market, welcoming friends, and a much needed yoga studio that was quiet and perfect for centering our bodies and minds during our two week stay {thanks again, Justine, for being so friendly!} We got a couple of tickets from the hotel to go on an art tour around the area. Of course I was so in! It was fun meeting these artists in Mendocino County who are making their living out of their workshops at their homes. We met a jeweler, a glass blower wife and carpenter husband, sculpturs, and a painter (who showed us his skills by water color painting Blake.) 

While we had no schedule and no plans yet on where we wanted to go from Fort Bragg, we offered to help Beth get to the Sacramento airport and pick her up after her visit back home for a week. Our week in San Fransisco was awesome. (I wrote about it in my post San Francisco, California.)  

The frusterating part of our stay in FB was not knowing what we were doing on a day to day basis, so we packed and unpacked a lot at different camp sites, RV parks, and motels. We both also got sick. Being sick in a wet tent and in a wet, sunless climate is pretty miserable actually. As we were looking for an apartment and finding no luck we both started to think about the accumulating costs while not putting any miles behind us, and which decission was best for us. Blake thinks inside his own head; battles the options quietly. I am the opposite; I want to talk about it, this way and that way and write everything out on paper. We did this one day at one of coffee shops were were frequenting. I was making a list of the pros and cons to stopping our travels and staying in this tiny, coastal town for who knows how long. 

Dream Big, Ride Far!!!