Going Coastal

Last month my college roommate asked me if I wanted to go camping. It would just be us girls and the kids. Truth be told, I don't know that I have ever camped without a guy around, but this didn't stop me. I instantly said, "YES"! I mean look at where were going, how could I say no?

 

The bad news had to do with multiple loads of gear in a wheel-barrel down the very steep hill, but I got over that part pretty quickly due to the good news which included no tent or sleeping on the ground and the view that looked out directly to the pacific ocean.

So, I filled up the car, the cooler, the camp box, and the kids. We drove over the mountains and through the woods and found ourselves just outside of Stinson Beach, California.

 

Hello beautiful world.

I haven't seen my friend Amanda since O's first birthday, she hadn't met Fifi yet and we both had our fingers crossed that the kids would hit it off. Truly, we had nothing to worry about.

We hung battery operated twinkle lights and LED chinese lanterns, popped open a bottle of wine for us and a stuck a straw in the juice boxes for the kids and let the fun happen from there.

Wave jumping, hermit crab searching, running up and down, up and down the hill from our cabin to the parking lot. We managed to avoid the poison oak, a total plus since the place is covered in it and I made the mistake of telling the kids we were going on a nature hike, encouraging them to collect plant samples, oooops!

The weather couldn't have been more pleasant, especially since we had been in the 100s the week before in Reno. We giggled with the kids, they giggled with each other, we laughed our heads off at old stories and talked about new happenings in our world.

 

Every night we had an amazing sunset. It felt like the golden hour was actually an hour long. Each of us soaked up every last drop of it's lovely goodness.

I shot a ton of film, my iphone got a workout and my DSLR did the trick when the other two were out of juice. I got extra inspiration when an fellow cabin camper and I were talking and he mentioned that Dorothea Lange used to stay in these cabins. I am trying to hunt down a copy of the book, To a Cabin.

What a fantastic time we had, thanks again Amanda! You always introduce me to the coolest places.

Want more camping goodness? I am blogging about getting out with the kids over on the Reno Moms Blog today. Head on over for a fun read.

Surfs Up

People, I love the way these five frames came out of the surf spot we found during our trip. I mean really love them. Sure, technically, the exposure might not be right and the images are a little out of focus, nut you know what, it doesn't matter. I am going to blame the way these came out half of this on operator error, but partly on the lomo film. I think it is meant to give the images a grainy and a little bit funky feeling. To me, this is how I remember things from a vacation, don't you? Memories from vacationing are often dreamy, soft, not quite complete moments in time, and that is exactly what I see when I look at these.

Surf's UP

 

Shooting with big and little (cameras)

During our first "glamping" trip of the year, I had a lot of fun switching between my many cameras. In this post I want to share images from my iPhone (the images above the captions) and my DSLR (those below the captions). I love how each camera gives me the ability to capture a moment or a feeling in different ways. I love using my DSLR because of the quality of the images I get, but sometimes it is too much to carry around. The phone is great because I am seldom without it. One of the times I like having my phone with me the most is when I am out for a run. I am in my own groove, can stop when I want or see something and it's already part of my gear for music and pace keeping. I wouldn't have gotten this first shot if it weren't for the convenience of this device.

Finding peace and love.

I found kittens in the window and on a bench

 

lovely textures where every where

I found Beach Way and my way to the beach

and spotted bright pops of color along the Board Walk.

What about you, what are you shooting and discovering these days?

eat and drink

For camping, we sure do it up right in the food and drink department....

I mean, who gets home-brewed hard apple cider on tap when they camp? The Simpson's.

Who gets fresh baked Tripple Cs when they camp? The Simpson's 

Pancakes and hot coffee every morning... you guessed it? The Simpson's 

 

What about freshly cut artichokes and that day picked strawberries? uh yeah, The Simpson's

  

And when we are out and about, finding the BIGGEST ice cream cones we can find... Heck to the YES, The Simpson's 

We also held strong to tradition and made sure the nightly campfire wasn't lonely. S'mores please!

 

The Big Blue

There is a distinct smell when you pull into a coastal campsite. The moment when the windows get rolled down and the deep breath of non desert air hits your nose is wonderful.

 

It's a mix of salt , eucalyptus and campfire. I love camping in the mountains, but being at the beach in a tent, (or now, in Pop-up Penny) has my heart.

The first adventure that Andy and I were on together was camping on the beach.

We were less then a football field away from the shore.

Maybe this is part of why we come back to the sand and salt together when we camp these days.

Camping on the coast, particularly near Santa Cruz, has lots of great memories.

It is where the kids both put their feet in the Pacific for the first time.

We have come here with friends, battled the late night raccoon parties, and walked with the full moon.

We made some new memories this trip.

Running on the beach, I learned that it takes a lot more calf muscle and core strength then I ever realized.

 

Hanging out with with the Hummels and cracking up over homebrew names and movie quotes.

Watching the kids ride bikes without training wheels and O scoot so fast on this "wheelie bar" that I had to hold my breath as he zoomed down the hill.

There were sandcastles and sandy bums (and ears, noses, eyes, and everything)

There was seashell searching and surfer watching

 

I shot a ton of film (anyone want to come and scan all these polaroids for me?!)

What a great week, more of our adventures to come....