After so much work done and with so much left to do, we were grateful to board the plane for San Francisco early Tuesday morning. It felt good to close the door on all that is still undone and fly away. The children were excited to be at the airport. Kyrie loves to travel, and it seems that Degen enjoys the adventure, too. We'd forgotten what a long plane ride Ohio to California is, but the children and our parenting were complimented by strangers on both our flights.
We arrived in San Francisco to rain, and the weather seems to burst into sunshine or showers at the ocean's whim. Driving from the airport towards the coastal town of Half Moon Bay, we were mesmerized by the landscape. Trees piled upon the mountains in shades of green somehow not possible in the Midwest. The clouds rolling in over the mountains, shrouding them in mystery. We drove through the trees and the clouds and stretched to see the bay. Each glimpse of the ocean brought us new peace.
While Darren was in meetings today, I took the kids up California Highway 1 to the San Francisco Zoo. The drive is gorgeous, following the coastline as it meanders through the mountains. There was more sunshine and rain today, and the plastic bag ponchos I purchased on the drive in were put to good use at the zoo. The petting zoo and the carousel were the kids' favorites. The drive back to the hotel was quiet with both kids napping after the big day, which meant I was oohing, aahing and pointing out breathtaking landscape to two sleeping children.
After we picked Darren up, we headed to the beach. There are beaches all over the place here, signs dotting the highway indicating coastal access at frequent intervals. The sun was bright on the water and the rushing waves had Kyrie cheering. We stripped off socks and shoes and rolled up our pant legs, and, of course, the first wave in came faster and further than expected and Degen was soaked to his hips in an instant. He was a sad, chilly baby! Kyrie, however, ran and danced up and down the beach, simply thrilled to be so near the ocean. We dodged waves and left footprints in the sand. We watched the setting sun sparkle on the water and a squadron of pelicans pass overhead. It was perfection in so many ways, simple and pure: the water and the sky and us.
Tomorrow, we plan to go to the Bay Discovery Museum and the day after we will take the children to Muir Woods to walk amongst the giant trees. Darren and I have wanted to return to the redwoods since we last left them nearly seven years ago. We can't wait to share the experience with the kids!
