RV Trip Days #5, 6 & 7 Log Rolling & Boating

On our third and last day in Pinecrest, Joey and I wanted the rest of the family to experience the hike we'd gone on the day before. So off we went...even further than the first day's hike since Joey told us about a dam he'd scouted out that morning.

According to the rental company climbing the ladder was an 'absolute no no'. Pfffft!

If Ryan gets married this year and is tasked with cutting the family Christmas tree...we found him the perfect one.

He found this oddly-shaped tree stump, plopped on it and proudly announced, "Look! I'm on the toilet!"

The 'money shot' (according to Ryan).

Little lazy Kona kept trying to sit in whatever inches of shade he could find along the trail!

The dam(n) lake 

Following the hike, we promised Ryan he could try and walk across a dozen logs chained together for that purpose. It looked very difficult (the logs rolled once you stepped on them), and he fell a few times in the cold water, but he took off, determined to do it. He was the only young kid out there.

Off he goes! Fearless, this kid. 

(He'd fallen out of his raft the day before about a hundred yards out, but managed to swim back to shore, which freaked him out. Thank goodness he'd already forgotten about that!)

Grandpa faithfully followed him out there (he got soaked too) to make sure he was safe. And thanks to Grandpa's encouragement and tips, he managed to do it. He made it to the very end!

The victorious log walking crew...freezing their butts off.

The only one who made it to the very end, unaided!

After the log walking, we promised Ryan a boat ride (courtesy of Grandpa and Grandma). He wasn't too excited about it, and kept insisting he only wanted to kayak instead (which we can do in Kona anyday). We promised him he could help 'captain the ship,' so he finally reluctantly agreed to go along. (Rough life, that one.)

Another big 'no no' according to the boat rental company...'absolutely NO letting kids drive the boat.' Pfffft.

We compromised and let him attempt to paddle the boat since that's all he really wanted to do. We moved about a quarter of an inch, possibly backward, during the 2 minutes of furious paddling. I think its safe to say he's not winning a canoe race anytime soon.

Ahh....not a bad way to spend the afternoon.

Rather than have a long drive back the next morning, we opted to spend our final night at a highly rated RV park down in Rio Vista. But before we left...guess who had to pump and dump the black and gray water?!

I fully intended to help Joey, but I didn't want to get in the way. Plus he's so good at it, it would have been rude to intervene. (I'm always thinking of other people.)

The camp lived up to it's reputation. It was right next to the Sacramento River, had hand-laid pavers throughout, widely spaced stalls, were insanely clean, well designed and peaceful (it was in the middle of no where). It even had restroom with gorgeous mosaic tiles inside.  Our RV was definitely mistaken for the Clampett's that night. We were one of the smallest and one of the few without slide outs.

The sunset view of the river from near our trailer

Cuddle buddies

Our last night's dinner (my night)- lobster bisque (from the Soup Nazi) in Boudin sourdough bread bowls and a bacon chopped salad. So yes, I heated sh&# up. ;-) Ry and I had a Thai coconut curry since mama can't do no seafood.

Chef Wayne in the kitchen

The next morning we were back to civilization... Certain individuals quickly adapted to traveling in such luxurious accommodation.

Driving back to San Francisco...in comfort.

Yes, that would be my dad resting his feet on the oven door like its an ottoman. All class, that one. ;-)

The final siesta before returning the RV

After returning the RV, Ry and I had half a day more in the city of San Fran...so we hit up our favorite Chinese restaurant for lunch steps away from Joey's digs, visited Mission Dolores park a final time for a few hours, and then had a delicious dinner at Whole Foods before flying back the next morning.

I went into this thinking that there was no way the reality could live up to the dream. Surely the RV would stall on the freeway...we'd be too cramped and irritable...the toilet wouldn't flush well...the generator would break and we'd be sweaty and hot.  But the opposite happened- the experience surpassed my expectations. It's only intensified my longing for an RV. But at about $40k for a used Class C (or about $250-350 per day in rental fees), plus a less-than-stellar 7-8 miles per $4.30/gallon, daily hook up fees, disposal fees, meals, supplies, extra insurance (about $30 a day), this is definitely NOT affordable or an option for us. In fact, it'd be a lot easier and likely a tad cheaper to bunk at the Four Seasons every night instead. Plus you get to yell at the help...and don't have to worry about sewage capacity. The only reason we could swing it was because it was a group effort.

Nonetheless, a girl can dream right? So if money were no object- I'd love to take the three boys up in a few years while they're young (and not strapping teens) to the southwest in the spring- Carlsbad Caverns, Grand Canyon, White Sands Monument & the Gila Cave Dwellings to be exact. We'd sit around the fire each night singing 'Kumbaya' and braiding each other hair. :-) But I know from a practical and financial standpoint it doesn't make much sense- we'd have to fly five people there, and somehow either haul up, buy or rent things like sheets, towels, dishes, camping gear, clothing, toiletries, etc. So I'm shelving the dream for now, but I'm definitely not abandoning it. :-)