The Traveler

Jeremy and his mommies embarked on their first overnight trip together over the long Fourth of July weekend, and the destination was nothing less ambitious than the rugged Mendocino Coast. This amazing place where the Coastal Mountains meets the Pacific Ocean is one of Jeremy's mommies' very favorite places in the world, even if there is no way to get there short of gritting your teeth through four hours (minimum) on a road that winds so tightly in places it might as well be in a knot. With Jeremy, we planned on taking about six hours.

Leaving the house was an impressive task all by itself. We decided to take the gas-guzzling truck, because the V-8 engine was surely necessary to haul Jeremy's gear over the mountains. The porta-crib, the Kelty back pack, the stroller, the toys and books, the multiple layers of clothes for weather ranging from chilly-damp (at night and in the fog) to scorching (driving in summer through the Central Valley), formula, bottles, the bottle brush, baby food, and a healthy supply of diapers (do NOT want to run out of those), the diaper genie (why not?) and wipes. There was just enough room left in the truck for the mommies to pack their toothbrushes.



Jeremy travelled like a pro! He willingly slept in his car seat virtually the entire way, occassionally waking to rub yet another emerging tooth on the strap. He didn't even seem to mind the last thirty miles of hairpin loop-backs through the coastal redwoods. (Good thing, because both of his mommies were urpy!) Until, finally our eyes were rewarded with the late afternoon sun glimmering on the endless expanse of the Pacific Ocean, and we felt victorious that we had reached that glorious horizon with Jeremy still blissfully snoozing. (No meltdowns!)

On Sunday, we set out to find a sandy place for Jeremy to stick his toes in the ocean. Being a holiday weekend, all of the state parks were packed, and in fact all of the parking spaces were full, with anxious drivers idling and jockeying for any spaces about to open up. So we continued northward along the coast, until we saw a turnout with a half a dozen local-looking cars parked. We decided to try our luck. We packed Jeremy into the Kelty and began walking west. We could see the ocean in the distance. What separated us was about a mile of pristine, white, sandy dunes. Up and over each sand mound. Turn around and check on the cypress tree near our parking spot and other landmarks that would help us on the return trek. Down a dune. Up a dune. Turn around and check. Down a dune. Sing a tune. Up a dune. There's the ocean...still many sand hills away. And on and on. Until finally, we scittled through some dune grass and down onto a warm sandy beach that stretched north and south as far as the eye could see. We could see two people about 500 yards up the beach...and that was it! We owned this lovely little beach, at least for the afternoon.

Jeremy was quite impressed with the Pacific. He was mesmerized by the foamy waves reflecting the bright sunlight, and, with intuitive smarts, never turned his back on the roaring ocean. He loved strolling with his mommy, feeling the wet, liquid sand on the soft bottoms of his feet. He would miraculously be lifted up by some cosmic force (or by a mommy) as the surf came close, and then he would excitedly dip his toes in the cold, shallow ebb tide. Showing his approval of this enchanted place, he dove face first in the warm soft sand, laughing all the while.



Jeremy also watched his first Fourth of July Parade. Politically speaking, Mendocino is not just blue ... it's indigo. So the parade contingents included: Old Broads for Peace; two topless women with the words "Boobs, Not Bombs" painted on their backs; the medical marijuana advocates pushing live pot plants in wheelbarrows; a 1950s Cadillac with plastic pink flamingoes glued all over it. Jeremy enjoyed it all, except for the loud firetruck sirens which are just too intense for seven-month-old sensibilities. When it was all over, Jeremy enjoyed his nap in Mack's arms.



Beyond these highlights, the four-day trip could not have been more perfect. Jeremy was flexible and game for his mommies' spontaneity. He was genuinely happy, whether he was out on the bluffs of the Mendocino headlands or just rolling around the floor of the artist-studio-turned-vacation-cottage watching the sunlight dance through the floor-to-ceiling leaded windows. We will definitely be carting him along on more adventures soon!