A Visit from the Histands

      Ben's parents, Gary and Carla, stopped by the Bay Area on their way to China for the summer. They're helping to lead an English-teaching program that's somewhere north of the Korean border. Gary tried to show me where, using an elaborate hand-model of China, but my Chinese geography is limited enough that trying to use one's thumb to illustrate the Korean peninsula was not going to be of much help. They spent most of their time with Ben, but on Saturday, we all piled into Ben's little Festiva and headed into Marin county to see the redwoods.

      We hit Muir Woods at 4 minutes to 9am, which was AWESOME, because the second parking lot was only partially full AND we didn't have to pay admission! A little tip for you Bay Area folk – get there early, the place fills up like you wouldn't believe! It was a little “chilly,” so we got some hot beverages to warm us up, and then headed into the forest. It was very beautiful. Here are a bunch of photos.

       After Muir Woods, we drove up Hwy 1 a little ways to the town/beach of Stinson Beach. It was getting hot by then, and the beach was crowded enough that we had to park the Festiva in this weedy overflow lot. It was like parking at the State Fair! The sand was super hot. We had to run really fast over it or else our feet would burn! We walked down the beach maybe a mile or so, then came back.

We drove back down Hwy 1 and stopped at a few scenic places to hike around a bit.  

        Once we were away from the ocean, I realized that I was totally pooped, so I slept on the ride home. And then I took a nap while Ben's parents packed up their stuff. We drove them to the airport and then stopped by at our friend Katie's house. It was her 1-year SF-versary party, so we met some of her work friends, and chatted with the SF VSers and the Fresno VSers who were unexpectedly along. It was a good night.