Death Valley Pt 1

Andy and I went on a sudden trip to Death Valley in early October. It was amazing.

And then Andy turned into a giant.

Lost Burro Mine

Darwin

Death Valley Pt 2

A place just marked 'mine' on the map.

Rhyolite Nv

Andy and I took WD to the desert with us this time.

Keene Wonder Mine 8hr hike.
It was just plain awesome.

Then we had a snowball fight in Yosemite.

I Want to Make a Washtub Bass So BAD!

Leggy Gets New Teefs!

Dani and I went down to SoCal a few weeks ago. Some how it came up that I had never whitened my teeth before. Dani's mom took one look at my little yellow chompers and took pity on me. She went home and fixed her suck-down machine and offered to make me bleach trays! I had never really thought about teeth whitening but when I heard that I would get a plaster mold of my own teeth I was sold. Plus I couldn't believe how nice it was that she fixed her machine for me.

This is how it worked:

First you mix some fowl tasting orange stuff in a bowl.

Like this.

Then you push it on my teeth and I have to sit there for a while with orange play-dough bulging from my mouth. (probably not the first time)

Then you get these.

Then Dani's mom works some magic and these come in the mail!



I haven't used the bleach trays yet. But I will and you all will be blinded by the sparkles coming off my teefs.

The Great Republic of Rough and Ready

Its taken me a long time to blog about this trip, I don't know why. At any rate all of this happened a long time ago. This was probably our last trip to Tahoe National Forrest this year. Even though it was early in the season the weather caught us unprepared. The forrest was thick with fog and intermitten slight rain. Most of the night we were dry. I was having intense dreams about laybrinthine water falls only to wake with my foot soaked with rain water. It had been raining all night and our rain flap kept us pretty dry until the started to collect and seep into the corners of the tent. We broke camp (in a coffee-less daze) in a the rain and me in one wet sock (for some reason I only brought on pair.)

The first ghost-town we found was French Corral. There was only one building of note. The most noteworthy part of the building seemed to be its refusal to fall, to give up the sum of its component parts and collapse to the ground. I guess that's reason enough for us to seek it out. If something has been struggling to stand for so long- someone ought to take note.

The next town we found was Bridgeport. It boasts the longest single span covered bridge in the U.S. It spans the Yuba River which looks paltry now as the waters that feed it freeze in the mountains.

On our last day, after breaking camp in the rain and not changing our clothes (there was really no point) we went to The Great Republic of Rough and Ready. Named for "Old Rough and Ready" President Zachary Taylor. Apparently, Rough and Ready was the only mining town to seceed from the union and then vote itself back in. The story seems a litte specious, but I like it.

I don't think Rough and Ready was a ghosttown by even a loose definition. It is old and was founded by miners but it had a definite population. In fact every Sunday the town band plays. It was so fun to see and lifted our soggy spirits. If you're ever in Rough and Ready don't miss it. FruitJarPickers.com

Dark Day

Looking for camping at Dark Day Campground on Emerald Cove Marina. We didn't find any camping there, only the most aptly named spot on earth.

That's me plinking away on the guitar softly in the background.

The Origins of Ukulady Lynn

Dani got her instrument and is officially a full fledged member of the Folk-A-Dots. Now she can fill the house with the cutest arrhythmic tinkling ever.

Look at her go!

Dad and Debbie move to Boca

My Dad and Debbie just moved into a new house in Boca Raton. My Mom, Katie Dani and I all came for a visit. It was a little before the snowbirds descended. The whole town seemed like it was in suspended animation, waiting for swarms of old people to populate it.

The trip was amazing. We walked to the beach, hung out in the pool. We only ate food cooked outside and rarely wore shoes.

Wake Up W.D. we're in Boca Raton!

Let's lounge with my mom and dad in the pool.

"It is time for the beach!" Dad announces

We're gonna need some pool noodles FAST!

W. D. don't forget your special head dress!

Hmmm... What should we do now?

Hey! How about we take Grandpa to the Morikami Gardens!

That sounds like a great idea!

Hey, aren't we cute.

No Berkeley, Know Pain

Hot Time Summer in the City

It is finally summer in SF. Technically, this is my first summer in here. Last summer I was in L.A. pretending I was a hot shot gallery person, but missing my NorCal home. Dani and I have been trying to take full advantage of the warm fog-less so called Indian Summer by taking evening walks on Ocean Beach.

Being born an east coaster, it is really cool to see the sun set on the beach.

We always seem to catch low tide and tons of sand dollars are washed up on the beach.

And creepy large dead jellies.


The beach does seem a bit polluted. Some of the sand is sort of oily black and sticks to our feets. And then there are these orange bubbles that don't pop. I refuse to do any research about the pollution in the area because we have so much fun. Plus the tail I've been growing is proving very helpful.