Kayaking

My mom, Spencer, and I went kayaking down the Smith River. F.U.N.

Our good family friend Mick used to rent out these kayaks and about 10 years ago my mom and I did this same trip + a lot more miles than what we did yesterday. But we had so much fun 10 years ago, I really wanted to take Spencer down it. BUT Mick stopped renting them out....well, lucky for us he is a super duper nice guy and loves, loves, loves my dad, so he let us take them for free. I didn't quite know how we were going to fit all of this in one vehicle plus all of us....so luckily with 3 cars and the Beast suburban we made it work.

We put in right past the Forks at the boat ramp

Here's mom paddling away...I think she did the best out of all of us. She was the only who didn't crash, fall, or get whacked in the head with a paddle. (You'll see)

Here I am showcasing my kayak and paddle;
eat your hearts out Barker Beauties

I love this picture mostly because of the background. The scenery was SPECTACULAR! The mountains, trees, rocks, AND the water was crystal clear, and so refreshing....as Spencer let us know when he fell in.

This house is my Uncle Joe's almost finished house. Yes, it is as awesome as it looks.

If you enlarge this picture you can see how clear the water is....just so beautiful.

After about 3 hours we came to this beautiful green lagoon. It was crazy how shimmery green and clear the water was. Majestic was the word we came up with to perfectly describe this place.

This picture below reminds me of the movie "Legend".

This is my mom traversing the final rapid.

In total we had to go over about 8 sets of rapids. Most of them were pretty shallow, but fast. And when it is shallow and fast, rocks toss you out of your kayak. (that's the problem with inflatables) Well, actually that only happened to one of us. (spence)
I hadn't thought to video record any rapids until a little birdie whispered into my ear that maybe I should this one. muahahahahaha..

But the funniest part was the most shallow rapid which was close to the end...Spencer went first then got stuck...I was coming up to his left then I quickly got stuck...then here comes my mom in between us....she gets picked up by a huge rock, and on her way down, whacks me in the head with her paddle. Oh if only someone had been video taping that from the shore.

Then at the end of the trail, Spencer again, fell out of his kayak...yes, again, and the kayak started floating downstream..YIKES. Luckily, heaven was on our side, and a guy snorkeling at our stopping place had grabbed it.

And we're spent.

Don't get your car worked on at...

Marty's.

Yes, it is just a small privately owned auto shop in Crescent City. So whoever reads this may not ever have the opportunity to refuse service here, but I am on a mission!
Spencer took our car here for an oil change last Friday. And this is what happened...

#1. They didn't reset the maintenance required light in the car, so after Spencer left (and it was closing time) Spencer pulls over to a gas station and checks the oil. HALF EMPTY! And they had even charged him extra, because apparently our Lexus requires more oil than other cars?? (yeah right)

#2. They left the bottom panel open.

#3. They did not replace some important pins required to make sure everything stays in place.

So, Spencer takes the car back early Monday morning and asks for a refund. The owner, Marty, comes out and literally gets in Spencer's face telling him "We don't do refunds, here, you can wait in line like everyone else!" Spencer takes off his sunglasses and says, "Excuse me?" And the guy grabs his cell phone and calls the police. The police show up and another employee of Marty ran inside and whispered something in Marty's ear. The police come in and ask what was going on, and Marty tells this HUGE lie about how Spencer had threatened him and was causing a huge disturbance, and this random employee (WHO HADN'T BEEN IN THE BUILDING AT THE TIME OF THE ALLEGED THREATENING) starts saying, "yeah, yeah, that's what happened". Luckily, Spencer had brought his friend Rob with him, so he had is own witness to back him up.
So we think this schmuck employee saw the cops pull up and ran inside to tell Marty what to say to them.

CRIMINALS!!

Alas, nothing happened to Spencer...the cops just seemed used to this from this guy, and left.
Marty did agree to fix everything on the car, and Spencer watched him do it, to make sure he didn't cut his brakeline.

So, I thought I could get him back in my own way. Blogging slander.

Trees of Mystery

Today my dad took us to the Trees of Mystery about 45 minutes south, in Klamath.
My dad is very good friends with the owner, so we got a GREAT tour of the park and musuem. Thank you so much John!


Trees of Mystery is one of 3 places in the entire world that has a gondola strictly for the forest....versus getting to a ski lift. Australia and Costa Rica are the two other places.

This was so majestically wonderful.

going up

and up

and up

and up

ALL of this view is REDWOOD FOREST.
Old growth and new growth. Some of these trees are over 2,000 years old.
Some scientists are now speculating that some may be millions of years old.

The fog is starting to roll over from the ocean.

And this is the Brotherhood tree.
This tree is a BEAST!

Redwoods are so incredible. Did you know that Redwood trees never really die if they fall over. If they fall over their limbs grow into trees, and form like a candelabra. And that is what they are called too.

AMAZING.

Here Paul Bunyen is giving me the boot after...

Spencer tried to help Babe carry his 'burdens'

America's Largest Wild Game Petting Zoo

Before we went to the zoo, we did some sight seeing around the town of Bandon. What a beautiful coast line

Bandon Wild Game Safari
This where we went yesterday. It is about an hour and a half north in Bandon, Oregon.
SO. MUCH. FUN.

Here I am petting a Lynx. I was waiting for it to attack one of the goats that kept walking by untying everyone's shoe laces.

This park is so awesome. While you walk around looking at wild animals in their 'cages' or I like to call them 'lots', there are deer, donkeys, goats, emus, and peacocks just walking around for people to feed and pet.

I snapped this photo right after he untied MY shoelaces.
guilty!

I love this donkey. We became very close and maybe a little TOO personal

This one wanted to eat me

Okay, below...this was so awesome. These Bengal tigers were wrestling and playing with each other...

Then...

Their neighbor comes out

the playing stopped

I LOVE THESE BEARS!! We had cones to feed them, and if you hold it up for them over the fence they stand up and the smaller one sings. (or whines) until you throw it to them.
I don't know why, but I seriously love bears.

Thanks mom!! We had such a great time!

If you see Jack...

Tell him his beanstalk is growing in our garden.

Where's Granny's dentures?

Every time we say that phrase: "Where's Granny's dentures?" This is Makenna's response.

She is sooooooo awesome!

Spencer's sister Melanie + family drove from Cedar City this weekend. We are so happy they were willing and able to. We had never met baby girl Makenna until now and we hadn't seen GORGEOUS Saiva in so many years!!! I can't believe how tall, beautiful, smart and talented this little girl has grown up to become.

More Granny's dentures

B..E..A..UTIFUL

with my beautiful nieces and Mel

Makenna makes this picture look good. ;)

Happy Birthday Melfrado!!! So glad you guys came down. It's been a long time, and we love you sooooooooo much!!!!