Activities Keeping up with Mike


Life has had ups and downs.  Mike has little energy but still has his interest for life.


Collecting the mail

Walks are more attenuated: he makes an effort to get down to the mail box, which is a good walk and involves that elevation gain on the way home. 

We had a plan and we wanted to take a trip ....

We did the trek to our cabin in Wrightwood for Thanksgiving, arriving on Wednesday the 26th and going back on the 30th.

  

Our Wrightwood Cabin

We were able to take one of my students, Lingbi Zhong, with us, and Ceci, my sister, and Donna, her partner, joined us for the 27 and 28th.  We had a welcome Thanksgiving. Gwyn brought supports for Mike and we were able to visit and share time with other local friends.

Enjoying Dinner when we Arrived


Friday, we took a tour through Wrightwood and down Lone Pine to Mormon Rocks and then up Highway 2 to Vincent Gap with a stop at Inspiration Point at the crossroads of the Blue Ridge and the Pacific Crest Trail.  


The group at Inspiration point

Mt Baldy in the Distance












We went to Blue Ridge Inn for dinner on Friday and were joined by Pat and Shannon, WW friends. It is a great place and we always enjoy our meals there.   Mike felt that it would be too noisy and so he rested at the cabin.

Anabel, Ceci, Lingbi, Donna, Pat, and Shannon
After a nice dinner at Blue Ridge Inn


After breakfast on Saturday, Ceci, Donna and Lingbi headed to Santa Barbara.
Enjoying our breakfast

 

Later, we went to Pat and Frank home, and Shannon joined us for lunch. We were able to talk about the trails of WW and to get pointers and insights from Frank, who has walked them all, has worked on maintenance of all, and has remarkable stories of encounters while on the trails.

Our drive home included an adventure and followed Big Rock Creek Rd from Vincent Gap to Fenner Canyon Conservation Camp ultimatley meeting the Big Pines Highway on to Valyermo and back home to Sta Barbara. The Big Rock stretch has 2.5 miles of dirt road, you drop in elevation into a cool valley with large cedar trees. The valley opens with many sycamores that were in beautiful color this drive. 

It was a great adventure, and if there is no snow, this is the way to go!  We normally catch the Big Pines Highway from 2 and weave and curve back and forth down to the flats and Valyermo. We pass Saint Andrews Abby on the way to the 14. I would say this dirt road is a better drive!  

We made it home around 5pm with a great trip behind us.

 

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