We’re now back from our vacation, but I wanted to tell you all about it.

We started by driving all the way to Los Angeles.  Our first stop was Ghiradelli’s for ice cream.  That made all the driving worth it – at least that’s what Mommy said!

We had some fun climbing on the rocks and looking for otters amongst the kelp.  We found a crab claw and a starfish!

After all that excitement, I retired to our room to relax with the rock garden.

The next day we drove through Big Sur and stopped at this very functional bridge.  There was a waterfall there, too.

With all the driving we were doing, I got very good at sleeping in the van.

Later we were at the pier in Santa Barbara.  They had some very neat flags – and more ice cream!

The next morning, I got to carry our “officially sanctioned” breakfast down to the lobby for breakfast.  I think M&D wanted me to eat something good after all that ice cream!

Next… on to Ma and Pa’s!

Our trip started with a visit to Aunt Barb and Uncle Steve.  We had lunch and dinner with them, and while I was there I got to pick some really big lemons from their tree.  Thanks for the lemons, Barb and Steve!

Then we went to our hotel in Monterey where I got to move all our stuff inside with the cart.  I really like those carts they have at hotels.

The next day, we went for a walk out to breakfast.  I tried to stop Mommy from taking my picture:

For breakfast, I had a Mickey pancake with whipped cream!  Mmmmm….

Then it was off to the aquarium.

This was the first tank I saw.  There were sharks!  And a diver was cleaning the floor with his vacuum.  Just like we do at home!  So, what’s so special about this aquarium, anyhow?

Later, I touched some sea creatures at the touch tank.  Kinda slippery!

Then there’s the tank where the fish swim in circles.   Around and around.  Seems like they would get dizzy.

After the aquarium, we stopped for ice cream.  I got to finish off the sundae we shared.  Mmmmmm…

My favorite animals at the aquarium were the otters, but somehow my photographer didn’t take any pictures of them, so I can’t show them to you.  Maybe next time.

After the big canoe trip, it was time for something a little more relaxing – and where we could actually get in the water without freezing our piggies off!  Guess what?  SunRiver has a pool!

The next day, we took a trip to the stables.  I got to go for a ride on Dottie the pony while Mommy & Uncle John went for a horse ride.

Later on, we finally found some time to clean the car and get it ready for the trip back home.

We had dinner over at Aunt Carol and Uncle John’s SunRiver house.  There was lots of yummy cheese and grapes!

The next day, on the way home, we stopped at place with lots of big equipment that we could look at.  This machine chops down trees all by itself!  Boy is it tall!  I asked, but Daddy said I couldn’t drive it.  That sure would have been fun.

(Tree harvester at Collier State Park Logging Museum.)

And here is a grader just like in my Richard Scarry books!

Daddy says they used the grader to make roads into the forest so they could get the trees out to the lumber mill.

Monday was the big canoe trip.  First, we went for a ride in a big van with canoes on the trailers.  I got to see snow out the window!

Before getting in the canoes, Daddy helped me make the necessary preparations.

Then it was time to get my life vest on and pose for a picture.

After that, the guides (Matt and Chase) told everyone what we would be doing.  I thought I could listen best by getting in the boat and visualizing.

Finally, it was time to leave.  Here we go!

Then it was my turn to paddle.  It turns out that this is harder than it looks!  I gave Mommy her paddle back pretty quickly.

Avery was in her own boat  with Uncle John and Aunt Heather.

Once we got to shore, it was time for a snack.  That stuff that looks like snow in the background…?

… it really is snow!

When we all got back and it was time to get in the vans, I got ready to direct everybody to their seats.  Can you find me?

Hi Everybody!  I’m at our house in SunRiver now.  And cousin Avery came too!

We went for a ride to the park first thing the next day.  Avery is a good passenger because she doesn’t take up too much space on the seat.  And she didn’t try to take my snacks, either.

At the park, I went on the Christmas tree merry-go-round first.  After that was slides, see saws, and tire swings.

Then I was all tuckered out.  I was even too tired to stay awake up on the top bunk that I got to sleep in!

Later, we had dinner and games over at Uncle Tommy and Aunt Danee’s place.

We played cousin Christine’s ‘bolo’ game where you get to throw stuff.  Here, I’m showing Ma the “ropes”.  Get it?

Next up: The big canoe trip!

M&D and I took a trip to Oregon this summer.  It was a long, long drive, but I got to see lots of Ex and PS trucks on the road while we were driving.  I also got to see lots of roadwork up close, including front loaders, dump trucks, excavators, asphalt spreaders, steam rollers, and bulldozers.  For some reason, M&D didn’t take any pictures of those machines, so I can’t show them to you here.

The first real stop on our trip was at Lake Shasta Caverns.  We got to start with a boat ride across the lake, which was the best part of the tour if you ask me!

After the boat ride was a bus ride up the hill.  I directed the bus where to back up and park.

Then we went inside and saw some funny rocks all stuck to the ceiling.  Weird.

After that we stayed in a hotel, and I got to make lots of deliveries with the cart they let me borrow.

The next day was more driving to get to SunRiver.  After going to bed late the night before, I was ready to take a snooze in the car for the last leg of the trip.

Next up: SunRiver!