eurojenny

Bay Area Road Trip March 2026 Part 1

Sunday, 1 March

Hit 3 nearby state parks on my way there.

Arthur B. Ripley Desert Woodland State Park

Antelope Valley California Poppy State Park

Slept in my car in a church parking lot in Santa Cruz

Monday, 2 March

It was not open to the public but I got some pics from outside

Cotini-Coast Dairies State Beaches – Laguna Creek

Man, I love the ocean! It’s like coming home every time I make it back…

Pigeon Point Light Station State Historical Park

Since we are not allowed up into the lighthouse, they have a fresnel lens on display in the museum/gift shop. I also discovered that there is a Lighthouse Passport book that you can stamp so I bought one and started my collection of stamps even though I have been to tons of lighthouses already 🙂

Burleigh H. Murray Ranch State Historic Park

Pretty brilliant design…accessing both levels

Candlestick Point State Recreation Area…this is a pretty big place but I only had time to snap a quick pic before they closed it for the night

Stayed at the Doubletree near the SF airport

Tuesday, 3 March

Couldn’t get all the way up to mountain 😦

Mount Tamalpais State Park

I have been here several times, but I can’t ever resist a revisit

View of San Francisco from the ferry ride back

Road Trip South with Eden Part 2

Day 4

Hiked out to this arch that dropped off sharply to a very long drop

Mars gingergly looked over the precipace

The same arch from the side with the steep cliff on the right

There were so many wildfires around but incredibly we never had any problems

We drove out to the far point

Alex and I went back early because we were both SO hot!

We had planned to camp there that night but it was very windy so we drove to Hanksville and stayed in a motel for the night.

Day 5

Started our Capitol Reef day with the hike up to Hickman Bridge

With people…

…and then without 🙂

We were hot and tired afterward. I went down the river and soaked my shirt and hat!

I needed gas and we all needed some air conditioning so we drove into Torrey. Went to the good bakery at the Chuck Wagon General Store and got goodies, then had lunch at Rock Reef Cafe. We drove back into the park and did the

Hiked out to the cliffs along the Cassidy Arch trailhead so that Mars could get some photos

When we got back to the campground it was still too hot and our spot had zero shade so we got some pies at the Gifford House, sat at a neighboring table in the shade and ate pie/chilled while we waited for the sun to cool down

The sun finally cooperated and we set up camp. We stayed up to see the stars but it actually got pretty chilly so we hit the sack before the viewing got really good.

Day 6

I got up earlier than everyone else so I did a short hike around the campground and took some pictures.

This is like my favorite place 🙂

We packed up, hit the pie shop one more time, and drove home. Lovely trip!

Road Trip South with Eden Part 1

24-29 June 2026

Mars wanted to bring Eden to some favorite spots, so the 3 of us and Alex hit the road. It was way too hot and windy to camp most of the time so we stayed in hotels all but the last night. Happened to dodge the fires and smoke raging throughout the state 🙂 Great car snacks and tunes. Had a delightful time!

Day 1

They are so happy to finally be together

Drove into Zion from the east…Checkerboard Mesa

Drove through the massive tunnel and stopped on the other side

We drove back out the same way and headed toward Page. We had thought about stopping at Lake Powell on the way there but it got pretty late and was getting dark so we drove straight through. Got dinner at a brewery before heading to the hotel.

Day 2

We walked around the rim over to the geology station

After lunch in the village we headed out. BRAKED when we saw this incredible storm!

Made it out to Lake Powell. I guess I had never taken the kids there.

3 of us enjoyed the swim. Mars was apparently about to die haha

Super cool storm and sunset back at the hotel

Day 3

Made a quick stop at Horseshoe Bend before heading out

Stopped on the way to Moab at Monument Valley

Did the off-road drive through. Not too horrible and really beautiful!

This is the formation featured in Soarin Over America 🙂

Alex drove the rest of the way to Moab. First stop at Arches…Balanced Rock!

Mars and Eden standing in the Garden of Eden

We almost took a late-night hike out to Delicate Arch, but our lack of water made us reconsider

Hiked through the Park Avenue area instead

great echo and a bit spooky

Beach camping trip 2026

19-23 July

Steve flew in Sunday morning. He dropped me off at church, we hung out at my place for a few hours, then drove down to the beach. Hung out there with the Freelands, Thom, Robin, Isaiah, a bunch of their friends, and Steve’s uncle Dave. Spain had just won the World Cup! Steve watched it while I was taking a nap that day. I’m sad to have missed it, but I didn’t even know!

We stayed at my place each night and drove down to the beach for the whole day on Monday. Tuesday and Wednesday, I worked and then we drove down in the evening.

On Thursday we did a Disney day! Me and Steve, the Freelands, Thom, Robin, Zay, and Anne’s friend Dani and her son Steele. He had never been before so that was super fun! We had a lovely day, despite the heat.

Set up my cool beach tent and chilled in the lounge chairs

Ate at Lamplight Lounge and enjoyed World of Color from there 🙂

Northern Cali Road Trip part 2

18-22 October 2025

Couldn’t get very close to the internment camp

Northern Cali Road Trip part 1

18-22 October

Drove the first afternoon and evening. Slept in my car each night. Started morning on the 19th at…

Woodland Opera House state historic Park

Colusa-Sacramento River State Recreation Area

Sacramento River National wildlife refuge

20 October…Woke up to this 😊

Scary and super cool

It was really cold down there. The floor is totally ice!

From the depths into the light!

Utah fall/winter 2025

13 September. Been home a whole day…let’s go to the cabin! 🙂

So many cabin improvements happening!

14 September. Steve made a beautiful paella. I contributed a tortilla and some chili dip and the fam had a lovely dinner together 🙂

I lost my job as a curriculum designer due to lack of government funding. Now I’m the Director of Summer Camps. They gave me an office instead of a cubicle. 🙂

11 October Speed puzzling! Did events alone, with Steve, and with Em.

Pairs Relay with Steve. A fun new event where you work on two puzzles at the same time.

…and Em getting ready for our pairs event.

Didn’t win but had a great time!

25 October…slightly late birthday celebration for Alex. 30 years old!!!

3 November MRI of my brain. Turns out I still have one 🙂

4 November Did baptisms at the Bountiful temple before my injections

My Aunts Mary and Marie. Mary was sewing clear to the end. Had to finish quilts for the grandkids 🙂

1 December. Funeral for my sweet Aunt Mary. Mars very sweetly agreed to go with me.

So happy that Noelle, Tam, Mark, and Whitley could make it down

14 December. Got the tree up so that Christmas can be real haha

16 December…Christmas Sing Along with my fam 🙂

21 December – Winter Solstice activity with Jul

Weston, Spencer, Jul, Jul’s friend who has a name. Just can’t remember it.

Then we burned it. Spencer did the honors.

24 December. Christensen gathering at my house. Did the white elephant game 🙂

The indoor snowball fight was a riot

Taylor gathering that evening. Zay and Alex during the gift giving.

We love playing Wasington!

The haul. In its raw form. Fresh out of its wrappings.

Matching PJs 🙂 Even Steve got in on the action with a shorts version…

So so happy to be together today. Love these nerds so much!

Lots of fun Lego building and Rory working on their cool art project

Steve being a doof at the Taylor lunch that afternoon haha

26 December. Built the cute bird that Ada and Rory got me!

31 December 2025/1 January 2026. Making lots of noise. Happy New Year!

SoCal fall/winter 2025

Trained for physics and then technology within a few days.

Went back to physical therapy. Cupping is the worst

7 Oct. Love seeing shows in this incredible building!

Axe throwing at its finest haha

13 October did a Disney day with the ransoms

15 October Asher and Orion did some epic

It’s the weird cabbage and peanuts salad that Mom used to make!

Strange to have Christmas things with no snow haha

They were decorated bunches of trees in the visitor center

Candlelight Processional – the coolest thing Disneyland does 6-7 December

11 December – ward Christmas party with very cool nativity story

Nibling Disney Part 2

9-10 December 2025

Emily!!!

Got my first bubble wand!

We each did a Key to Disneyland

I wanted another collectible pin. They are adorable 😊

First time this has happened to me!

Had an incredible time doing the magical things with Em

Jason!! 5-6 January 2026

Went to the Craftsman Bar at the Grand Californian…Jason’s first time there

Ben next!! 24-25 March 2026

Benny loves Bluey so we went to the show

He wanted to go 5 times but we only made it to 4 😊

Disneyland with my Niblings

I decided to treat each of Gary’s kids to a couple of days at Disneyland with me. I flew them down and they stayed at my place on my “spare bed” 😁

22-23 Sept 2025

Ellie went first (I wanted to start from the bottom since Gary started with Em for his yearly trips with each child).

She had a really hard time eating this! It also ended up being too spicy so her efforts to be adventurous with food backfired

Went swimming in my pool both afternoons

13-14 November

Claire is next! I know we skipped ahead a few. But I had to find a time when I could fly down with max since he hasn’t flown before. And Ben just barely went with his dad