For the second half of Nate’s week, we headed to a KOA that lives between Santa Cruz and Monterey.  This is not our normal M.O.  However, we met a lovely family at an SVRA (State Vehicular Recreation Area) who told us about it and Nate was interested.  Very interested.

While Scott and Nate spent the day visiting Alcatraz, I decided to pack up camp on my own, put the kids in the RV, drive over not one but two mountain ranges and set up camp in the KOA.  (Oh yeah…. I’m just a regular Brass Balls Warren these days when it comes to solo travel with the kids in the RV).  Throw in a $100/night price tag and this was officially a splurge for us.

Side note.  California: get out a pen and paper and start taking some notes.  If you determine that a sign is required… particularly one that reads something to the effect of “No vehicles over 25 ft, next 8 miles”… you are a complete asshole if you do not provide a turn around within… say… the next 8 miles.  That is like putting someone on “Death Rollercoaster” but not telling them it’s Death Rollercoaster until you’re strapped in.  It’s just not right.  If you don’t want to be on Death Rollercoaster, getting off should be facilitated (expeditiously).

The world’s most expensive campground: (don’t forget, you bring your own house and bathroom)

He absolutely refuses any hint of being left behind.  Will. Not. Happen.

When Nate leaves, I have 3 heavy hearts to manage for a few days.  Scott was also assigned a surprise project by one of the companies interviewing him so we decided to suck it up and spend a few extra days at money pit park.

By the way, what kind of company says, “Hey, the interview went well.  In 2 days get back to us with a business plan to launch X…”?  That happened at 5 pm on Friday night.  Is 2 days or 48 hours?  Is it due on Sunday or Monday?  What if he couldn’t have accommodated it?  This has me irritated although I like the job in general.

When Scott came up for air, we headed to Sunset Beach State Park to enjoy some ocean time.

Doesn’t she look wicked old?!  And Rebecca… if you’re still reading this… please note the shoes.  Still!

Traci’s Pick (DISCLAIMER: I may make a commission off of some of these links.  The recommendations are legit – we use this stuff daily and you can usually see it in our pictures.)

• Those @#$%#$ Elsa high-heeled shoes.  Every time she puts them on I get a sideways glance from some Super Mom who doesn’t approve.  I wear that as a badge of honor now… look at us, bucking the trend.  So if you want to join me in giving judgey people the bird, here’s the link.
• I don’t know if these are new or not. I hadn’t seen them before.  BEST s’mores marshmallows I have ever found.
• We don’t leave home without at least 2 GPSes on us (because you know it’s true: 2 is 1 and 1 is none!!).  In the Chief we have a Garmin RV GPS.  Scott picked it out.  We paid almost $300 but it looks like the price has gone down slightly.   We love it.  It alerts us if there may be a height issue and when the grades are steep enough that we need to adjust our speed.

If you’re into Pinterest and you enjoyed the post, here are some pins: