Santa Cruz and Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park

We take off Friday afternoon to meet up with the Greger's at the Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park in Felton, CA. There is poison oak everywhere and I warn Kai not to touch anything green (like he knows his colors yet!)


Brennan and Kai get busy checking out the train books.

Marla purchased a whole new tent and inflatable bed- she claims she is too old to lay on the ground. Joel argues with Marla at the fact he is not much in touch with mother nature with all this camping equipment.

While they are getting camp set, the boys play in the dirt...

...and do they get really dirty. They look like the Oliver Twist children!

Greg immediately tries out their new inflatable mattress. It was a great night's sleep for the Greger's (by the way, Joel had to admit he slept very well!) but a lousy one for the Thomas'. We had Kai sleep on top of the Eurovan with us who did nothing but toss and torn, and punch and kick us in the gut and face. And thank goodness Greg placed a wood board across the opening, otherwise Kai would have plummeted to the floor 5 feet down!

The next morning we take a nature hike and learn that this park with 47 others may be closed down by our governor Arnold Schwarzenegger due to lack of funds, as usual.

Horses trot by...

...and dust mites attack me in my sleep!

The boys then settle down to draw.

With the Bienert's arrival, we head off to Santa Cruz and check out the attraction far from the Boardwalk (too many people there).

And I jump the fence to get footage of the surfers over the cliff's edge.

Video: Surfers of Santa Cruz

That's the World's First Surf Museum there.

On display is the man who was attacked by a shark here, and with a surf board with huge bite marks in it to prove it.

We later hit the beach, near the natural bridge.

The surf museum in the background.

Surf's Up!

And Joel and I get into a kelp whipping match.