Trinity County Trip

The Trinity River was calling my name. It happens from time to time. I don't know what it is, exactly, and I can't explain it...the way I feel when I am in that water; so clean and clear and pushing and pulling me with it's current. Seeing the beams of sun shoot through the water when I'm laying at the bottom of it, swimming with the salmon...coming out of the water and into the fresh air, with walls of pine-covered canyons shooting into the sky on either side of me...Laying on the sun-baked rocks, and listening to absolutely nothing at all except nature...It called my name...and the names of my 4 children, I'm pretty sure. So we went. 5 days of water. Whiskeytown Lake, Canyon Creek, Trinity Lake, Trinity River North Fork, and the Sacramento River. 4 nights of so many stars and the milky way jumping out at us like a ghost...just heaven...all except for the fact that My John had to stay at home and work. Almost heaven...we sure missed him. If I'm lucky, the Trinity River will call my children's names next summer and I can blame them for the expense of the 10 hour drive! Maybe we should just blame the blasted river.





To the left is Charlie and Louis in Whiskeytown Lake.







Below, Ella and I in Miner's Camp, a swimming
hole in Canyon Creek, which feeds into the
Trinity River in Junction City.















Handstands!















Mama picked a hat for Louis!




















Miner's Camp, in all it's glory.





























Picking blackberries with Papa and Nicole















Ella and Louis on Trinity Lake















Miles and Char















Ella on the kneeboard















Miles on the kneeboard















Monument Peak in the background; part of
the Trinity Alps















My friend, Catilin's property, on Canyon Creek















How we got down to Caitlin's swimming hole:
in the back of her 4x4 while she drove down
a crazy dirt road. I had to TALK the kids into
getting in the bed of a pickup. They were very
concerned about safety. City kids. :)















Canyon Creek Swimming Hole #2















All 4 kids jumped off of this rock. I only got
videos of Miles and Ella though. Char and Lou
were wearing life jackets though!



Miles Turn!



Louis in his Spidey Suit
(jumping rock in background)














Charlie in the SCARY RAPIDS!!















Char looking for fish!















Miles Rock Climbing at the North Fork















The North Fork Swimming Hole, known as:
The Rope Swing















The Rope Swing, itself.















Unfortunately, you must turn your head to
the side to view this...it's me on the rope swing.

Our Cruise

It's been awhile since we got back, but these pictures will at least allow a brief documentation that we WENT. My mom and her husband paid for my siblings and I (and step siblings) and our spouses (and no kids) to go an a 4 day cruise to Catalina and Ensenada. It was great to get away and relax and most importantly, not have ANY responsibilities.

My mom, boarding the ship



John and I on the Lido Deck (waterslide in background)



Emma and Chris (my sister and her husband)
On the way to Catalina...we anchored offshore



John Having Breakfast with a Friend















We rented bikes and rode to the Wrigley Memorial
on Catalina Island















We also had a great time snorkeling!















John, giving me a lecture on goals and object-
ives in an empty conference room we happened
upon on the ship. Very silly. Very silly.














We bought masks and slingshots for the boys
in Ensenada...and when we spotted this abandoned
boat, I had to try them out!!















Luckily, our relationship is not one of "opposites
attract."














A beach we discovered in Ensenada...and
had all to ourselves!















John did some climbing...















My brother, Paul, winning one of the two
ping pong tournies he OWNED. Won em both.















Me, busy beating the pants off of 11 year old-
boys in the Knock Out competition!














My mom and KC, and step bro, Robby at
dinner...which was the best part of the whole
cruise experience...aside from dessert!

Nicknames

Louis decided that all of us needs a nickname in the car a couple of days ago. He first informed us that nicknames are supposed to be about what people are good at...so he deemed himself, "Fast." Then he told me that my name should be "Gate"...because I am tall enough to open the gate. When we walked through the door and saw John in the kitchen, I asked Louis to think of a name for Dad and without hesitation, he replied, "Work." Needless to say, we laughed and laughed. Gate and Work. Over the next 24 hours, he thought of "Swim" for Charlie, "Art" for Ella, and "Cool" for Miles. Silly silly boy.