Staycation Log day 1 phase 1(actual date 8.4.9)

Up @ 6am busy, busy, busy.  Ellen offers to let me sleep while she showers but I will feel guilty.  So I get up & make coffee & look @ computer.  Ellen is quick shower today.  She thought no time for dilly-dally. (Donald only allows 2 hour street parking 6am-8pm so we need to move.)  I tell her there is time for dilly, but not for dally.  Then I bring her coffee.   We hit the road by 7am coolness.

   First stop mechanic.  Drop the albatross Rav off  and park it neat and tidy.   Leave the key and a note in the drop box provided for that exact purpose.  Then it's off to get rid of the U-haul.  The Internet said U-haul place opens at 7am.  So figure we can kill all our birds on the fly and go home to duck soup.  It's further to the U-haul place.  I am following Ellen because she has the directions, and am trying to be trusting.  Then like some kind of beautiful sunrise there is a lot full of orange & white vehicles.  WOOHOO.  Pull into the parking lot and we see a guy getting a fan out of his car.  weird but okay.  

  Turns out that's the guy we need to see, and he is a little put out because he was under the impression that he opened at 8am and had just shown up early to take care of some paperwork.  But we are there so he deals with us.  He is a little surly.  He goes & checks the truck and comes back and says  "Didja Haul alot of dirt cause that's mostly what's in there?"   I will admit I reacted poorly.  I got defensive and grumbled about camping stuff and was starting to warm up into a really fowl tirade, but I got the opportunity to sweep out the truck.  That gave me a chance to cool my temper down decide not to slit some tires, or even write nasty things about him on the internet.  When I came back in he was being fairly reasonable I don't know what kind of charm Ellen worked, but he and I were nice to each other.  I told him about the engine and he charged us $18 extra because we wen't over our mileage.  And everybody parted happy.   Ellen & I rushed home to take a nap.

Vacation Log Day 6 Phase (actual date 8.3.9)

(Disclaimer: due to the lateness of arrival this was actually written on 8.4.9)

ROAD NOTES:
   Next day so some of the edge is taken off, but here goes.  Marty the Mechanic is a horrible person.  He recommended I remove part of the drive shaft to keep from ruining my transmission.  I am sure he knew it couldn't be done with a wrench.  But it did cause us to sink another $20 (rounded) & 2 hours. 

Then I got stuck being helped by a an incredibly generous yet reeking of alcohol transient fellow.  Which got a little bit weird and threatened to involve the whole of Crescent City.  He literally knocked on the window of a Jeep as it pulled into the parking lot to ask the operator how his drive shaft worked.  Finally I gave him $7 for his "help" and talked him into leaving.  (Mostly so that we could get on the road ourselves because we were resigned to another hotel or travelling, but couldn't go anywhere while he was "fixing" our troubles.)  So it's 8pm and we finally start the long slow march home. (at 45mph) 

The agreed upon goal over everything else:  GET OUT OF CALIFORNIA!!!!  The plus side was that it was very pretty for the 2 hours the sun was up.  Very scenic:

  Would have been more enjoyable in our own car but apparently vacationers cannot be choosers.  WE do settle into a slow but cramped:

 routine and things were as good as can be expected.  But we hit our first steep grade.  I engage the brakes in an effort to control our descent and suddenly the engine starts revving like a first time driver trying not to kill the engine after a stoplight.  (Except this has an automatic transmission)  The Tachometer is up between 4 & 5K RPM  & it only goes to 6,000.  I say words I am certain my teenage daughter has never heard her friends say.  And fight it back under control.   This fight repeats itself over every steep grade all night long. 

   It being 10pm Ellen Realizes she might be hungry & states a desire to stop "Somewhere" to eat.  For all my enjoyment of writing I am unable to come up with words why  would rather avoid pulling into a parking lot where I would have to back up a 24 foot U-haul with a rav-4 strapped to a tow dolly attached to the back.  In some ways I guess I thought it would be self evident.  We "compromise" on a rest area and using some of the camping food.  (which basically means Sandwiches again )  So crawling along using every slow moving vehicle turnout I can find (there are more in California than in Oregon) and breathing a sigh of relief every time I receive a passing lane (to let others go by)  and dreading steep grades. We slog into Oregon:

(a Milestone hooray)  Round about Grants Pass, just as we merge onto I-5 the Check engine light comes on.  How cool a vacation story would it be if the U-Haul broke down on us.   so dinner (sandwiches)  @ Rest Area north of grants pass  & we notice the Rav is slipping loose from it's restraints.  So we back it off the dolly.  Reload and tighten down firmly.  Also check engine fluids due to check engine light.  (because it couldn't' have anything to do with the transmission and it's behaviour on steep grades.)  They look good.  And we are off.  Ellen doesn't really want to sleep but half-heartedly dozes.  As the night drags on I notice that I am driving a little bit faster.  Never over 55mph but getting home and done with this is taking precedence over safety and junk.  Round about 10 to 1am Bug pops her Monster & gets wired.  She is bouncing & singing & talking a mile a minute.  You know the child is out of her mind when she starts telling me how much she likes love songs.  But it works she helps keep me awake and aware.  Finally we roll into Donald @ 3:30am.  We have to park downtown and drive the Camry to ferry our junk home.  2 trips and we are completely unloaded and in bed by 4am.

Questions Inspired by the day:

Do I ow stupidity tax for my foolishly taking it down the 6 mile dirt road with an empty tow dolly behind?

Excluding the Naval to Kneecap zone what part of my body has not been sunburned?

Why does California hate me so?

How successful do you expect a casino to be if it looks like a barn?

Vacation Log Day 6 Phase 2 (actual date 8.3.9)

Waiting again.  The good news is the Rav is waiting for us.  We are out & the rangers are not going to cite us, but will give us an escort out.  So safety is an option.  Bug is sulky but it's 4pm and no lunch.  Good times.  Vacation on!  Lots of cars I am glad for the escort.  It's funny how stress ebbs & flows.  And fortunate.  Mine is leaving as Bug's rises.  Bug was fine when mine was scattered.  I was packing when Ellen was uptight.  (I believe)  at least we are ll understanding & tolerant of each others stress.  I believe that once we are travelling, or at home it will all be good.  I just wish there were a better way.

ROAD NOTES:
  I haven't towed a trailer since the Army.  I hated bringing it down the road.  Apparently a the U-haul violated the 24 ft limit.  Fortunately no citation for stupidity & poor judgement.  All our camping gear looks like so little stuff in a 24ft moving truck.  Everyone is being sympathetic and cool.  IT is amazing how different a gravel road with blind corners looks when you are white knuckling a 24ft truck with empty tow dolly. Good times and another lesson learned.  I am tired of being sunburnt.

Obligatory Rav on U-Haul pictures:

Vacation Log Day 6 Phase 1a (actual date 8.3.9)

$1300 and Wednesday Night...... U-HAUL Here We Come!

Vacation Log Supplemental

Reflections on a Fire stick

     Do you ever wonder about the first "medicine stick" or "shaman stick"  I wonder if it started as a fire poking stick.  We have a nice piece of driftwood with a blackened end which has been serving as our fire poking stick.  It had obviously been used by others before us.  And every other campfire I have ever witnessed or been a part of has had a special stick used to poke and never burned.  And when people want to adjust the fire they ask for that specific stick.  Admittedly sometimes in the beginnings two (or more) people will start their own fire pushing stick.  But it always settles down to one stick and the others get burned.  Generally (and to my memory always in my experience)  if there are to be multiple fires over several days (ie a camping trip)  the same stick is used for the duration.  (occasionally in a bit of a ceremony we will burn the fire pushing stick as the last item added to the last fire.)  But this is human nature.  Every campfire I have ever seen somebody has a special fire pushing stick.  And I have come across several old campfire sites which had an obvious fire pushing stick.  (relatively big, sturdy, one end blackened)  there is never more than1 fire pushing sticks at these sites.  (In my admittedly anecdotal experience)  So my theory is that way back when fire was a survival necessity rather than a camping comfort & treat, the job of keeping the fire was much more important.  Perhaps almost as important as hunting/gathering food.  Most probably a job to take pride in.  I can see how a fire keeper might decorate his fire pushing stick so it looks more like a tool of office important and worthy of pride and less like just a pointy stick with a burned end.  I can see the passing of the fire pushing stick to an apprentice being a super-big deal.  (at least to those involved.)  And, I an see how a fire pusher who keeps the secret of fire, might  when he felt slighted, try to enhance his position.  Merely by letting the fire go until he receives the respect he feels he deserves.  From there it is not a giant leap to inventing "fire spirits" who need to be appeased in order to keep the vital fire going.  From that stone it is merely a hop to inventing other spirits for other things.  Soon the fire is left behind.  The fire pushing stick has lost it's burned tip but kept it's decorations of office.  The once humble fire tender is now tribal medicine man, and secure with power locked in by shaping a culture over time fire need not be kept a secret.  It can be shared with all.  Yet the fire pushing stick remains.  Locked in human genetic memory pointing back to where it all began.  Or not, who knows.  But it's an interesting thought to play with.  I bet I am not the first to think of it.  I am going to do a Google search when I get home.

Vacation Log Day 6 Phase 1 (actual date 8.3.9)

  It's 7:16AM, the fire is started & coffee is perked.  I am telling my self that I am not going to worry about time.  But I am having difficulty convincing myself of same.  I think part of the problem is that you should not include me in plans.  If I have a plan I want to follow it.  I finally get the hint & adapt as evidenced by previous logs.  But I do believe in the value of plans AND I am admittedly a little anxious (right word?) to have a resolution to our transportation issue.  Either they can fix it by Wednesday for a reasonable cost.  Or we haul the thing back home & fix it there.  I honestly cannot say which one I would prefer.  On the one hand there is so much we have not done down here that I would like to do.  On the other hand outside the naval to kneecap zone the only part of my body not sunburned is my shoulders.  (because I refuse to go shirtless)  I guess also the soles of my feet.  And it might be nice to be home with a couple of days off to relax & get the car fixed.  But if/when we do get home Malika is going to zoom off to her boyfriend (and I cannot blame her much) and Ellen is going to "shoulder all the burdens and stresses of everyday life.  Most specifically taking care of her mother, being bullied & lectured by her sister and taking on responsibilities and commitments for the various organizations she is involved with.  And she will (after being filthy for a week) want to clean & clean & clean.  I will clean the camping gear and dishes.  But she will do laundry (maybe I can convince bug to help/do that) and just because she feels dirty from camping will start going overboard on the house.  But back to the 1st hand.  If we fix the car we have less control over our fate & time.  They call them estimates for a reason.  So, honestly I cannot say which way I am leaning.  But I definitely would like an answer.  7:40am to roust, or not to roust?  that is a question.

Vacation Log Day 5 Phase 3 (actual date 8.2.9)

     Just finished my Duck, Duck, Go! review.  It's nothing special but I enjoyed writing it.  After lunch we played Corsari followed by Bohnanza twice.  Bug didn't like the whole "can't adjust our hand" concept.  But she grasped it and never forgot.  It was fun, but as a family we are too nice for negotiation games.  And we made some very generous trades all the way around.  But they both liked it.  But that caused a late (after dark) dinner & after dark dishes & now it's bed time.  NOT the day that had been planned.  But a good day.  One with laughter, frolicking, games and family.  Tomorrow we see about the car & plot the rest of our vacation shenanigans.

Questions Inspired by the Day:
Do you think people apply to be a janitor with the forest service, or is it a punishment?

Why to they bother to perforate 1-ply toilet paper?

Who in their right mind packs SPF-4?

Why does it take so long from the time I push the button to the actual taking of the picture?

Vacation Log Supplemental

A REVIEW OF DUCK, DUCK, GO!

(Raw version.  I will be cleaning it up & submitting to BGG but this is part of the vacation log so in it goes)

 

     I am writing this review while sitting on the beach watching my wife & child frolic in the waves.  I am occasionally stopping to try and get a picture of said frolic but usually am a hair too late.  So please forgive if I lose my train of thought.

     I purchased Duck, Duck, GO! as a present for my child when she became little miss head honcho of her local rainbow girls Cell.  Her mascot is/was the Rubber Ducky.  I thought it would be cute to give  her a rubber ducky themed board game.  In the interim 6 months she has played it with friends and told me it was not bad.  Last night by Coleman lantern. we played 2 games of the basic game and one of the Advanced.  These are my thoughts.  (such as they are)
   The game board is a set of ____ modular pieces.  Each with  a central hexagon surrounded by 6 other hexagons.  These are all double sided.  4 of the modules are special and have the same front & back.  One has the drain in the middle.  (oh I should probably talk about the theme of the game before this.  I will just slip it in front later & nobody will be the wiser.) 

THEME:

(cut & paste to the front of the review please)

  The theme of the game is a bunch of rubber duckies having fun racing around the kitchen sink.  (although at times it feels more like a bathtub.)  This is very cute & the rubber ducky components help with the immersion.  (get it?  Yeah, okay never mind moving on.)

   The other 3 special pieces have differently shaped buoys.  These are the goals or Targets that the duckies must contact before reaching the drain which is the aforementioned finish line.  (did I mention a finish line?  Oh well I can always slip in in later & nobody will be the wiser)

   Let's take a quick break to dip our toes in the water.  That is cold.  Wife & child are nuts.  But the ducks have the right idea.  Swim in a controlled temperature. 

   So anyway the rest of the modular tiles are double sided and different. they have water & anywhere from 0 to 2 life saver inner tube floaty things in different configurations.  I believe there are 2 each of 0, 1 tube in center hex, 1 tube in an edge hex, and 2 tubes in opposite outer hexes.  Which gives you a variable and somewhat customizable game board.

  The inner tubes serve as starting spaces for ducks and also as "teleportation pads".

  There is a deck of 54 cars (conveniently numbered 1-54) with pictures of different moving and facing instructions.  These are how the duckies get around the "sink".

     Lastly, there are the rubber duckies.  Real, honest to goodness rubber duckies in a whole panoply of shapes & costumes.  Well technically you get six with the game.  But you can customize the six if you order online & you can find similar ducks @ party stores an in the oriental trading catalog.  But the ducks are really neat.

  Ooops wife & child are done so will continue on to how you play & junk later.

     The wife & child are showering off the ocean.  So now is the perfect time to tell you how the game works.

THE BASICS:

     Players are dealt 3 cards for their hand.  Then each player gets 1 card face down in front of them.  Then in order from lowest # to highest players place their ducks on a starting life preserver thingee. (so when configuring the game board it is important to have at least as many life preserver thingees as ducks in play.)  Once all the players have placed their ducks the game begins.  A turn is simple.  Everybody draws cards until they have 3 cards in their hand.  Then each player selects a movement card from the hand of 3 and places it face down on the playing surface.  Once everybody has selected a movement card (and in the case of my wife stops changing her mind) everybody simultaneously reveals their cards.  The ducks are moved in order form lowest # to highest number.

         SPECIAL MOVEMENT SITUATIONS        

 

• The 1st time a ducky touches (lands on, or passes over) one of the "target buoys" that ducky receives a token showing it touched the bout. 
• If a ducky ends it's movement on a "target buoy" the player may immediately (with time permitted to think) lay down another movement card and regardless of the number on the card move the ducky again. (If the player has no more movement cards they draw the top card off the draw stack and MUST use that card for movement. (and it serves them right for doing so well.)
• If a duckies movement carries it into one of the lifesaver doodads that ducky immediately "teleports" to any  unoccupied lifesaver thingee and faces any direction the player chooses.  That duckies movement stops even if the card played had more movements left.
• If the ducky has tagged all three buoys and touches (lands on or passes over) the drain it's movement ends.  If it is the first to do so it wins & the game is over.  If it is the second or more to do so you are using "house rules" and I cannot help you.
• IF the ducky has not tagged all 3 buoys and this the drain it "bonks".  It's movement ends (even if the card the player used has more movement) and the duckies facing is rotated 180 degrees.
• If the ducky hits any other obstacle (the outer edge of the playing area, another ducky) it "bonks" exactly as described above except in a different hexagon.

     Once all the duckies have performed all their movements the round is over.  Repeat rounds and turns until a player wins.

Back from showers  LUNCH!!!! advanced rules to follow.

    In the advanced rules there are a few changes which make the game a little bit more interesting.

    First each player gets dealt a hand of 4 cards at the start of the game and gets to choose which card to use as their start player option.  Not a huge change, but it does give a better feel.  Less like everything is left up to chance.  (It is still mostly what you get dealt, but it feels like you have more control.)  You will still wind up with a 3 card hand but you get there by a slightly different journey.

  Next we have the "birddog".  This is like the evil anti-ducky.  The "birddog" (comes with the game it is a rubber ducky with doggie features) races around the sink chasing duckies.  IF it catches one (runs into it like a "bonk" from the basic game) the player working the "birddog" places the ducky on any unoccupied lifesaver whatchamacallit it chooses.  (the player's who's ducky got moved gets to choose the facing so that helps)  the birddog (I'm tired of the quotes and you get the idea) is run by the player who is in last place.  Placing determined 1st by number of buoys tagged and secondly by movement number (on card for that turn)  so it is kind of a catch-up mechanism.  (OH CRAP cut & past to earlier in birddog section...The birddog moves at the very end of the round after all the other duckies have moved.)  The player who works the birddog can either use a movement car from his hand, OR choose any 2 generic movements from a set of 4 basic doggie movements.  (the same movement can be choosed twice)

   The duckies also gain advantages in the advanced game.  Each player gets a disk which she can turn in for a 1 time option of drawing 3 movement cards from the deck.  Mixing them in her hand and then choosing 3 cards to discard back down to the starting hand value.  This can be handy.  Also, every time a ducky receives a token for tagging a buoy (so up to 3 times per duck per game) the player receives a little disk with a random 1 shot bonus power.  These are always nice and helpful.

  The last and coolest change in the advanced game is that when playing with fewer than 4 players each player runs 2 duckies.  This adds to the duck-laden chaos & can be challenging.

         SPECIAL 2 DUCKY PER PERSON RULES        

• Hand size is increased to 4 cards.  (5 cards for the initial "choose starting player" hand)
• In the start player phase everybody places their 1st ducky in numerical order (based on cards) then after everyone has placed 1 duck they place their second ducky in the same order.
• Each ducky counts buoy tags separately.
• A player only needs to get to the drain with 1 fully tagged up ducky to win the game.

    So I've been writing all day it's gotten dark and I still haven't said how I really feel about the game.  I was honestly disappointed with the basic game.  It was okay...but only really fun when the cards were working against me.  I can see how it might be a decent introduction to programmed movement games for younger kids.  But I would start anyone over 12 (?) out with the advanced game so they don't lose interest.

   I enjoyed the advanced game much more.  Trying to maneuver with more ducks & using bonking and blocking to your advantage was more important.  Trying to track 2 duckies could get confusing but it was also fun and good for a laugh.

   I don't know how this compares to other programmed movement style games as it is the first one I have tried.  (other than a flash "robo-rallyesque" game online which I don't count)  I suspect from what I have read that it is a good introduction to the genre.

    I will definitely suggest my daughter bring it to thanksgiving.  It is very simple to explain and moving & bonking duckies is a very thanksgiving thing to do.  I like the customizable modular board.  I think that can be used to adjust the challenge and replayability of the game.  On the whole I am glad my daughter mostly like the game because I am mostly on the fence about it.

Vacation Log Supplemental

Reflections on an Earlier Time

As I sit here staring at the fire I think what life must have been like in a "simpler" time. Once your basic needs were taken care of your time was totally free & unobligated. (In my imagination anyway) This is not to say it was not stressful. I am sure making sure those needs were met took a lot of time and effort. But those times when there was plenty of food and good weather must have been very nice. Rest meant something more back then I would think. Judging by the weaving & dolls & other items I saw in the museum there was time for patient and detailed tasks. I am sure boredom was an uncommon disease. In many ways it kind of makes me want to become a subsistence farmer. A step in-between primitive & modern. Where you plan your needs meeting ahead of time and then see to it. You set out the days chores and when they are completed your day is done. Again, NOT EASY, high stress and probably requiring knowledge I do not posses. But the reward. Rest is meaningful. And in both these systems (subsistence farming & "primitive") your time is your own. The way it works now is your my time is not your my own ever. I am fairly certain most people suffer form this. your The work schedule is set by your the employer, which means the rest of the schedule is set by the employer. If all chores are done, you are not done. You have to keep busy. Vacation HAS to be requested. You can't say "i have built up enough to be secure for a time, I am going to weave, or explore, or carve, or just plain rest." you just keep going & hope that you will need be ready for and able to take the vacation that was scheduled 3 months earlier. On the other hand it is much easier and less stressful. The system rewards the ignorant because he just has to do 1 job. Not all the jobs.

I think there is also a disconnect that the "modern" system has built in. We don't matter to each other anymore because we don't have to. A person can get a job, earn enough money for himself & buy all he needs (and a little more) And not ever worry about anybody else. In subsistence farming everyone bands together to get the job done so that everybody eats.. If one person does not do his job, everyone suffers & less gets done to compensate. So everybody has a vested interest int he health, welfare, and work ethic of everyone else. It is important to teach the children rather than just sending them to school to learn, "What they need for modern society."

Hunter gatherers/ primitive societies were (probably) even better for the whole human connection aspect. The elders while perhaps weak & unable to work were needed for their knowledge. The young had to be taught work ethic & the value of everyone & caring for everyone. A sickness or injury had to be cared for or it was one less necessary task that got done. I think that's one reason pride is so prevalent in primitive cultures. Pride gives a personal reason to care for & belong to the group. "I am special because my people are the ________ and we _______!" Pride is especially good for teaching children to care for society. (most) children are naturally selfish & need a personal reason for motivation.

I think pride is another huge loss in modern times. Honestly if we actually had pride as a society would our politics be the way they are? (possibly, but I don't think as bad) some would say there is no justification for pride but there is. A huge national infrastructure, discoveries. Up until recently a working representative republic, All working with each other and taking pride in ourselves. rather than shaming each other and trying to change it all. Which is not to say never disagree. Disagreement is healthy and brings change and growth. But if a people are proud of their society. Then they can put that first ahead of pettiness. That would be a cool and strong thing. But perhaps only possible in small groups. I don't' know, but it's not my job to figure out. I just need to learn how to rotate the corn & how to know if the cows are ripe enough to pick.

Vacation log Day 5 Phase 2 (acutal date 8.2.9)

Keen observers may notice we are not actually in a redwood forest hiking, but we are on the beach next to the ocean with the sun mercilessly blazing down on us. M & E are frolicking in the ocean while I (against all common sense & decency) am sitting on the beach in shorts watching our stuff. And occasionally taking blurry pictures which will probably not be recognizable as my wife & child:

But whenever I pick a camera up they stop frolicking & just stand there.

I am wearing a long sleeved shirt because the sunburn is so bad the hint of sun is agonizing. So my legs will probably wind up just as bed. We will see. What kind of person packs SPF 4???

It looks like the tide is going out. Which is okay but gets the ladies further away and even more blurry. I swear I saw a lone sea lion playing in the waves just beyond E&M. I just wish I had been quick enough on the uptake to snap a picture.

For the record the whole ocean instead of the forest is just fine. While I want to walk through natures majesty, I want everyone to enjoy the trip and Ellen Loves the water. She deserves the opportunity to play & we have been amongst the redwoods off & on for the whole trip so it's all good. Again the main thing this trip is giving us is time together as a family and that is such a rare treasure, what we do during that time is immaterial. Ellen lost her shoe. (salt water sandal) Sad, but not a tragedy. But she's looking for it. I am kind of curious with waves & undertow & currents just where it might end up. I kind of hope we find it or they or somebody does. But it's also kind of neat to imagine it floating across the pacific & washing up on some deserted island. Then buried in a volcanic explosion to be unearthed years later by geologists & be a minor (if uninteresting) mystery. How cool would that be?

Vacation Log Day 5 Phase 1 (actual date 8.2.9)

Dunno the time. I could have checked but why bother now. It would involve going i the tent again & disturbing my wife. So for now I am happy sitting by the 1 match fire writing in my log. Fire is going & as it may be one of the last I decided to use some newspaper for ease of lighting. Coffee is going. The recalcitrant stove has been working fine. My guess is there was sand or something blocking something and it finally worked loose. It's Sunday. Vacation is winding down But everything is up in the air. the mechanic is closed today so the car doesn't rule our actions. So we will be hiking & finally seeing nature up close & personal. I am excited.

Vacation Log Day 4 Addendum (written on 8.2.9)

So yesterday was awesome & horrible. The horrible is that the mechanic never called & we could not get in touch with them. So we waited until much too late & did not hie. The good news is that the day was total family interaction so I did not have time to log. Games played=3x Killer Bunnies :







& 3x Duck, duck, go

Both were interesting and fun because we were interacting & being silly. It was fun & we were not vested in the winner. Actually the last game of Killer Bunnies (link to reviews this time) was the nicest I have ever seen. The only weapons played were ones guaranteed to fail. And maybe only 3 feed the bunny cards. The best part was that we each won one game, and the person who won each game was never the one who was doing "best". So that was kind of good/fortunate. As I said nobody was real attached to winning. Duck, Duck, Go! (link to reviews this time) It was simple & fun but...I'm not certain how much I will want to play in the future.

Questions Inspired by the Day:

What is your families maximum games in a row?

What is your families maximum Killer Bunnies in a row?

Is it hypocritical for the Rangers to Chemically treat the firewood they sell? Or is it just "giving the customers what they want"?

Vacation Log Day 4 Phase 1 supplemental

Ellen Fixed the stove.  We are not sure how, but apparently disconnecting & reconnecting several times is the answer.  (although that did not work when I tried it)

Vacation Log Day 4 Phase 1 (actual date 8.1.9)

"Slept" in until 0845 this morning. Don't know if that's a good thing or not. But it's vacation so time is an Elephant. Anyway got up & made the fire. 1 Match fire hooray. Well...1 match 3 paper tower sections & the pre-made small style kindling. (gonna have to chop some more of those later.)
But this "vacation" is hell on machines. First the car destroys it's clutch. Then this morning the stupid stove won't start. The propane tanks are full. The connections are tight. I am guessing something is clogged somewhere. But where? You guess & my guess are equals. The good news is we have fire. So we can cook & coffee will be made. But, fire cooking can be a tricky beast. Yet we've done it before so I am not overly concerned.
Plan for today is eat breakfast, play killer bunnies & find out about the car. After that we will decide what we need to do. Hopefully we can go hiking & actually enjoy the redwoods we came down here to see. Who know though. Depends on the car, and the people. But I am playing more games than I would at home & nobody is fighting. So it's a good vacation. It is just a god vacation. ON THE PLUS SIDE we do not have Sadie. She would have been miserable & whiny and severely limited our options. Ellen is playing appliance repairman now. Let's watch.

Vacation Log Supplemental

TREES OF MYSTERY

I only have traces of Memories & a couple of photographs from my childhood. Even that is suspect & subject to interpretations. But when we drove past the Giant Paul Bunyan & Babe it struck a huge Chord of recognition. I have no specific memory of a visit. But I remember pictures and perhaps a Coloring book, or postcards, or something. Still...when I saw those two I knew I had been there and that I had to visit again. Partially in hopes of restoring memories and partially to try to makes sense of "snapshots" of memories of my childhood. (A vivid scene I remember completely walking over a bridge with a display of the 3 billy goats gruff and some kind of talking box in a wooded setting.) It didn't happen. But, I had a most magnificent and enjoyable adventure with my family which should not get lost in the mists of childhood.

Malika taking pics of Paul & Babe. Malika not wanting to climb on Paul's foot. The gift shop does not hold many memories other than the cribbage boards had no pegs & had no coolness factor. So we will have to hit gift stores. OR...Steal some "fallen" redwood so I can make my own. I REALLY want a cool redwood cribbage board. I was surprised and intrigued by the "coonskin" caps. I remember all 3 of us boys had hats very similar to that as children. I wonder if it's a coincidence or not. Stupid memory.

We left the gift store. Paid $14 apiece ($42 total) to get into the "Trees of Mystery". My wife in an impressive display of hiding her feelings was skeptical. She thought it would be a touristy lame wast of money. (She admitted it was worth it at the sky deck place.) So upon entry it was...okay, but they reeled you in quick with the "Family Tree". A humongous tree which has other trees growing out of some of it's (quite large) branches. Cool to see & surprising It wasn't just branches with weird angles. You could see they were actual trees with branches & offshoots of their own. There was a "lecture box" which gave a little talk about the Tree & what was coming up down the trail when you pushed the button. We stopped to listen to every single lecture box.

Next was a little garden with a water feature. It was neat. Then was the "Elephant Tree". Total lame sauce. I mean, yeah I could kind of see it. But the Fallen Giant far surpassed it. My favorite tree of the main trail was the Lightning Bolt Tree (I don't have a decent picture. The link is to a fantastic picture of it I found with a google search) In it's quest for sunlight the tree took some fantastic angles & looks like a lightning bolt. At the ending of the main trail was the "skylift". WOW cool sky-lift ride & the view was astounding, indescribable magnificence. Even the man-made staircase & trail looked cool from the pod. There was a hiking trail down which would have been cool but difficult. So I let my wife talk me out of it.

Trail of tall tails had fantastic carvings and decent (ish) Paul Bunyan stories. Although some of them seem "borrowed" from other stories. But the carvings were good. We wound up back at the gift shop. So we visited the "Trails end Indian Museum". It had baby carriers from just about every tribe I can imagine. From almost "silence of the lambs" style strap ins to supported mummy bags. it was very cool. And the doll things WOW totally awesome. But the weaving was the most impressive. Just the time & precision it must have taken astounds me. I don't know if I could do it. Saw a game ball or caramesh? And in the pacific northwest Indians display I saw a Lacrosse net & Balls. WOW I know I haven't played other than in High School and I shouldn't be surprised. But I thought Lacrosse was either french ("La" cross) or Scottish. (they thought up Curling and Golf so I figured they were tuned into the weird sports.) So even that was cool and educational.

In the end I didn't relate to my childhood other than the initial recognition. BUT I did learn stuff and I did have a solid experience of wonder with my wife & child. I hope that someday my child can pass a similar experience on to her children.

So far that has been the highpoint of my vacation, and will go on the upper end of my "life experiences list" (not top shelf, but on the upper end for sure)

QUESTIONS INSPIRED BY TREES OF MYSTERY:

Was "Red Thumb" a politically correct Johnny Apple Seed ripoff? How does his story effect the "Babe Sneezing the Redwood forest" story?

My daughter pointed out that (allegedly) the Indians considered the "Trees of Mystery" area Taboo & forbidden. The area of "The Oregon Vortex" was also (allegedly) taboo & forbidden. Crater Lake was also (allegedly) taboo & forbidden. Do white men make tourist traps out of any lands the Indians treat special?

Vacation Log Day 3 Phase 3 (actual date 7.31.9)

9pm (ish)
Games Played=2 games of Pandemic. Lost both. 1 not Journaled. One with 2 pictures (Maybe):

Dinner Sucked. Ribs went on the fire too soon. I didn't have/use proper utensils. Burned fingers & dropped in ash. Removed form fire to wait for cooing coals. The meat was god inside, but crunchy with a sprinkling of ash. Beer is Good. Hard to figure wife & childs mood after today's events as they are not talking. But it's dark & bed is soon & tomorrow is another day.

ROAD NOTES:

The Tow truck driver reminded me of Chester:

He was a nice guy though. Helped talk to and translate the Mechanics. We left the Rav @ Marty's. George's did not have time to finish by Wednesday. Per Kyle (Tow truck driver) everyone was jammed. Rented car @ Express Rental (through "2 Guys" For $42 a day. This vacation is adding up and I still haven't found a cribbage board.) Kia Optimus prime Red. Went to Wal~Mart for coffee & HC & Beer (none there) & stuff. Grabbed wood & Soda from Rav. Somewhere over the course of Rav ordeal I lost my shades. Not a bid deal but depressing. Ellen drove, I am impressed. Not with her driving. I know she is skilled. But with my RAv. In the Optima you felt every washboard stretch & bump. None of that in the Toyota. Yay Rav 4. Too bad it's clutch was made of Peanut Brittle. Oh Yeah consensus is burned out Clutch will get estimate Tomorrow.

QUESTIONS INSPIRED BY TODAY:
What kind of beer goes best with a burned out Clutch?

Is the "Click-it or Ticket" sign a bluff if the the speed limit is checked by Radar?

Why do Californians have to name every single road & bridge after somebody?

What is it with sporadic Freeways? Isn't a Freeway supposed to be an interstate?

Vacation Log Day 3 Phase 2 (actual date 7.31.9)

Stuck on side of read Dead clutch & CHP behind us. Tow-truck has been called. Spirits are optimistic. Cool that the guy warned us & good that California's Finest was passing by right then. Things are getting a little bit silly, but fun. (Which is better than we could be) I am worried about camp stuff & cost of repair & getting back.

The Trees of Mystery were cool & Bug took lots of pictures:

We Also drove through a tree. (prior to ToM):

Would we have to drive through it again if we have to buy a new car?

ROAD NOTES:

Broken car=No fun. Friendly CHP. Drive thru Tree (actually it was a "tour thru tree")= cool but $4 cool? Mystery tree crowded (but not unbearable). Still don't get the whole freeway starting & stopping thing.

Vacation Log Day 3 Phase 1 (actual date 7.31.9)

Long Night. Mattress a little saggy so we were crashing in the middle. This alternated between being funny and being annoying. Stayed in bed as late as I could, to beyond the point of boredom. I finally got up (partially due to overbalancing the air mattress. Potty & start breakfast and it's only 0830 . Coffee cold be stronger. Fire...What's the deal? You allegedly can start a forest fire (pardon me they are wildfires now) with a stray cigarette butt. And yet the most carefully optimized fire bed and Nuthin. Wife finally got it going. (Hooray!) Breakfast was so-so. 1030 plan is to shop & be tourists. So probably will have ample game time later. wife and kid want to beat pandemic. We will see how it goes.

Vacation Log Day 2 Phase 3 (actual date 7.30.9)

Played in Ocean=See through pants. Had fun with Malika very cool undertow with sand effects under feet. Camp shower=nice and no charge. No road notes but too much family interaction for logging.

Games played=See game journal + played a quick game of Corsari (Ellen won :( hehehe) Dinner= Kabobs cooked over open fire & S'mores. Saved dishes for next day. Went to bed before 11?


DAYS INSPIRED QUESTIONS:
Ranger called us 7 of 7. how cool would it have been if we could have been 7 of 9?

Did you just call me "Cheese Dip"?

Vacation Log Day 2 Phase 2 (actual date 7.30.9)

COOKIN' LUNCH! Over an open fire. Bacon & Mushroom cheeseburgers Yummy! Ellen is cooking. I love her. No games yet, but soon I hope. Watch is off, camp is set and lunch is ready. Road notes later.

(how cool is it when you are too busy interacting with the family to update the log?)

ROAD NOTES: (okay actual date written is 7.31.9 but it goes with this entry)

Wow 10:30am and there is only 1 camping spot left. Checkout time is at Noon. Had some fun with Bug not being able to see out the drivers side of the car. "Wild" Elk how cool is that? Got to the campground & had to wait & circle and wait and wait:

Finally we scored a decent and fairly private (2nd best in my opinion) campsite:

Throw up the tents & air mattress while wife gets firewood and all is good.

Vacation Log Day 2 phase 1 (actual date 7.30.9)

What is the difference between a Business hotel and a vacation hotel? The vacation hotel has no clock. And no coffee pot. And charges you....naaah it's vacation. The view out the window is a rusty single wide manufactured home. It is 0930 and we are not on the road yet. But soon.... We are skipping showers so we don't have to deal with unpacking & re-packing the car. Probably no game this morning, but a serious hunt for a campground starting ASAP. It's been a relaxed morning. But I'm getting a bit antsy I know it's vacation. But that doesn't mean don't do ANYTHING.

Vacation Log Day 1 Phase 3 (actual date 7.29.9)

Oh My Goodness Gracious who do you gotta kill to get a campground in California? (other than occupants of the campground I guess) Wound up in a Rat hole Hotel in Orick:









$77 for one night. I would rather keep looking, but Ellen is DONE. It's way too much to spend for 6-10 hours sleep. But at least we are done for the night. Dinner=Sandwiches. Not wanting to disturb the masterful packing (and have to repeat it) we only unpacked 1 cooler so we could have dinner. This frustrates my no beer until the tent is up rule. But that's okay it's still Vacation.



Road Notes:
Road Rage for 30 miles or so. Following a Canadian in an RV with a "Powered by Turtles" License frame and a "Schoolbus surf shop" tire cover. Canadian Surfing....wouldn't that be stupid cold? After being cut off and distanced I remembered I was on Vacation and relaxed a bit. The rest of the trip was good. Thrift Store stop=Too Long & Frustrating. It may have contributed to the late arrival. California is like another world. Freeways that just start & stop out of nowhere for no reason. You can't swing a dead cat without hitting a liquor store, exits don't have numbers. The can never see a sheep or cow in the same view as the ocean rule seems to be universal though, so some things are familiar.


Questions inspired by the Day:

Do they assign roadwork areas just so they can double fines?

If it is made out of wood is it still statuary?

Would you rather stay in a Cabin, a Cottage, or a Lodgette?

Vacation Log Day 1 Phase 2 (actual date 7.29.9)

Lunch at Rogue Brewery No tour (too bad). Played Fluxx while waiting. Bug won. We did not log the game in the game journal, but there were a couple somewhat notable events. 1st round Ellen Played the Sun, and I played the Moon. Malika stole the star from me, and played it on a later round. So for a while we had the sun & moon & star as keepers. kinda neat. to me anyway. Bug won the game with the Peace and No War goal due to me being nice and a little stupid. I played the Action Sweeping instead of Time Vortex because I didn't want to loose time vortex. But the hand limit was zero so it wouldn't have mattered. Coulda, woulda, shoulda. We heard a Lady say "I see the Sun over there" and then from the next table she came over and asked about the game. We gave her a brief explanation of the game and how it works, and that it is a random silly little game that is well suited for waiting. I should have mentioned Looney Labs as a website, oh well hindsight & all that.

ROAD NOTES:
Peedee Jeans company is gone, kinda sad. I didn't take the shortcut because I wasn't positive about it. That's twice I haven't taken it. Next time for sure. Road work=People standing around. Saw a Flagger with no flag (stop/slow sign) standing under a "Narrow Shoulders" sign. Her(?) Shoulders looked fine to me. Then like 4 road work signs in a row with no evidence of people, or work. Coast was very foggy. I would love to have Chipotle Beer again it is yummy.

Vacation Log Day 1 Phase 1 (actual date 7.29.9)

SLOW! Woke up at 0830 instead of 0600. (The alarms were turned off) I was hoping to leave at 0800. It is now 0927. The Good news is that it is VACATION!!!!! So time is not as important as it might otherwise be. I was humming ELO's "Twilight". The Official theme song for vacation is They Might be Giant's 7 Days of the Week




Okay I lied. I am a little bit concerned about time. I know it's vacation. But the later we leave the hotter it is going to be whilst we are driving. More Later