Porcupine Flat Campground, Yosemite
I went for a run and it felt great! We must be at a lower altitude here than in Sequoia because I didn't feel like dying.
Trips are great and camping is great but I need to be mentally strong to maintain a good, positive attitude. Jack is very trying this trip, obstinate in the extreme. Peter can also get in these complainy moods and Nadia loves to bicker with the boys, it's her favorite hobby. I can deal with this most days, but this was a trying day.
We went on a hike to the Toulumne Grove (we went there last year too) and it was kinda hot so Jack started being obstinate early. By the time we got to the grove he was in full fighting mood, Peter was not happy either and Nadia was bickering with him.
Andrew decided that he had to go back and see if Slinky was OK and finally I could spend a bit of time with the kids alone and relax with them and I started to enjoy myself.
We climbed through the fallen, hollow tree. I made it to the first exit; Peter, Nadia and Jack made it the the very end. Then we climbed on top and walked to the roots. I climbed down the roots to the ground and Jack tried to follow me but it did not feel safe even with me helping him so I convinced him to walk down the easy way.
Andrew came back. The one mile walk back to the parking lot was tough. Jack and Peter were really hot and tired and we ran out of water. Andrew and Nadia and I took turns to give Jack piggy back rides.
We drove on towards the Tioga Pass and we stopped by a stream to have lunch. Then the kids wanted to do some rock hopping in the stream and we spend an hour doing that, Peter leading, Jack butt naked and Andrew following him, making sure he was safe, Nadia jumping from rock to rock like a mountain goat. I followed too but at a slower pace. I jumped across a set of rocks and sat with Slinky on the other side and this couple tried to get across too but the woman was kinda nervous so I helped them a bit by holding their phones just in case they fell in and I gave a hand to the woman to help her balance.
We came back together and I immersed myself in the stream, Nadia and Andrew and Peter followed me. I tried to convince Jack to go in too but the water was too cold and the stream too quick and he was scared. Fun afternoon.
We drove on and decided to pull into Porcupine Flat to see if there were any campsites and stopped there for the night. It was fairly early so we had a relaxing evening. Jack and I worked in his activity book. He is such a fun, bright boy and so eager to learn.
Nadia and Peter collected wood. Then we sat around the campfire with chocolate and smores and Nadia's guitar.
The kids got to ride on the tail of the truck for the first time ever. Andrew was in a fun daddy mood. He is in such a great mood after fights! I really despise that.
We met the couple next door and chatted with the for 15 minutes and it was nice to be friendly to people.
It got really cold and I read books to Jack and I could not face going outside again to face the cold so I read a bit and then fell asleep.
Trips are great and camping is great but I need to be mentally strong to maintain a good, positive attitude. Jack is very trying this trip, obstinate in the extreme. Peter can also get in these complainy moods and Nadia loves to bicker with the boys, it's her favorite hobby. I can deal with this most days, but this was a trying day.
We went on a hike to the Toulumne Grove (we went there last year too) and it was kinda hot so Jack started being obstinate early. By the time we got to the grove he was in full fighting mood, Peter was not happy either and Nadia was bickering with him.
Andrew decided that he had to go back and see if Slinky was OK and finally I could spend a bit of time with the kids alone and relax with them and I started to enjoy myself.
We climbed through the fallen, hollow tree. I made it to the first exit; Peter, Nadia and Jack made it the the very end. Then we climbed on top and walked to the roots. I climbed down the roots to the ground and Jack tried to follow me but it did not feel safe even with me helping him so I convinced him to walk down the easy way.
Andrew came back. The one mile walk back to the parking lot was tough. Jack and Peter were really hot and tired and we ran out of water. Andrew and Nadia and I took turns to give Jack piggy back rides.
We drove on towards the Tioga Pass and we stopped by a stream to have lunch. Then the kids wanted to do some rock hopping in the stream and we spend an hour doing that, Peter leading, Jack butt naked and Andrew following him, making sure he was safe, Nadia jumping from rock to rock like a mountain goat. I followed too but at a slower pace. I jumped across a set of rocks and sat with Slinky on the other side and this couple tried to get across too but the woman was kinda nervous so I helped them a bit by holding their phones just in case they fell in and I gave a hand to the woman to help her balance.
We came back together and I immersed myself in the stream, Nadia and Andrew and Peter followed me. I tried to convince Jack to go in too but the water was too cold and the stream too quick and he was scared. Fun afternoon.
We drove on and decided to pull into Porcupine Flat to see if there were any campsites and stopped there for the night. It was fairly early so we had a relaxing evening. Jack and I worked in his activity book. He is such a fun, bright boy and so eager to learn.
Nadia and Peter collected wood. Then we sat around the campfire with chocolate and smores and Nadia's guitar.
The kids got to ride on the tail of the truck for the first time ever. Andrew was in a fun daddy mood. He is in such a great mood after fights! I really despise that.
We met the couple next door and chatted with the for 15 minutes and it was nice to be friendly to people.
It got really cold and I read books to Jack and I could not face going outside again to face the cold so I read a bit and then fell asleep.