End of Summer

I haven't been keeping this up to date but I think most of you are likewise summer-busy anyway.


Summer school is over. Luckily there are so many fun activities for kids in the area. The trains are recently very popular with Maarten. Even the train table is back in our living room.

And of course visiting the historical steam train on narrow gauge railroads complete with whistle and steam was very exciting to him and his little friends.


He was only a little disappointed at the petting zoo being not allowed to pet the rabbits and geese. Yet he always may cuddle them with ‘babi’!


Oakland ZOO is just ‘around the corner’ and we are visiting almost every week. Therefore we naturally became members. Although the merry go round and the ZOO train is what Maarten lately prefers above the animals.


You can already smell fall in the air but it still gets pretty hot in San Ramon every afternoon. Luckily there is the cool ocean within one hour.


Maarten has a new friend. We have known his parents for years and coincidentally they moved to San Ramon a week ago.
Surprisingly the boys got along with each other despite speaking different languages.
Like Maarten, Anton is also half Dutch but Portuguese is still his strongest language.
Can you imagine our babble when we all get together?

Juniper Lake, 7 - 10 August

After a long drive to Juniper Lake it is good to stretch your legs.
Right next to our campsite a trail heads to the summit of nearby Mount Harkness.
It’s a pretty climb and I’m surprised how well Maarten is doing. We are huffing and puffing up the trail but he runs all the way and finds looking for the trail markers a huge amusement. Also the switchbacks are a lot of fun. Good!


When we leave the forest behind, Juniper Lake comes into view.
The last part of our climb leads along an exposed and steep slope. Read = boring for Maarten.

‘Maminko, Tvoje nožičky už nechodi...’ (Mommy, your legs don’t walk anymore... Maarten starts to complain.

Luckily the lonely fire lookout tower atop the mountain is already in sight. We are surprised to see someone up here. Wendy, the friendly volunteer, invites us into her ‘home’. Yes, that’s right; she stays up here for four days watching the forested slopes for signs of fire. Then she’s off for another ten days. What a dream ‘job’!

The views in all directions are amazing, but unfortunately it’s quite hazy this afternoon.


In the evening, back at the camp, it's still hot and we are ready to plunge in the lake.
Shock! The water is really freezing.



The trail around Juniper Lake is mostly a level walk with beautiful views of the lake. But after two miles it leaves the shore and only now we can really learn how tiring yesterday's climb was for Maarten. The boys return to the lake. I continue and hope to reach Horseshoe Lake farther in the backcountry.

Even though I truly desire to see a bear in the wild I prefer not to encounter one on a solo hike. I’m a little nervous when the boys leave me but this unpleasant feeling soon disappears.

I’m passing several swamps and small lakes full of pond lilies.
Finally, I reach Indian Lake.
I meet two friendly backpackers there who warn me about bad fishing.

It’s only another mile to reach Horseshoe Lake but I decide to 'save' that for another time. At least I have a reason to come back here again.



The hike to Crystal Lake is supposed to be ‘a killer’. It is pretty steep, but it’s only a short trip and with all the trail markers is fun again for Maarten. Two disappointed fishermen leaving the lake and they are surprised to see other people here. That’s a good sign.

From the cliffs above the lake, the view of Mt. Lassen and Juniper Lake is stunning... it is clear today.

Crystal Lake isn’t as warm 'as promised' but it really is warmer than the much larger Juniper Lake we are camping at.

I’ve hoped to find another trail from here but there is none; so we end up spending the whole day at this beautiful spot.


About the camping at the lake.
I love this area and also this place isn’t disappointing. On the contrary. The campground right on the lakeshore is a gem. Even though it’s still a part of Lassen Volcanic National Park it is far enough from the busy park highway so there is not any traffic noise that could disturb you.
You can camp right on the shore and the lakefront sites are obviously the prettiest but with not much privacy.

We prefer the opposite so we camped back in the forest.
More solitude and therefore more chance to view wildlife.
Though no bear sighting as usual; only (also as usual) a herd of deer coming in the early mornings and evenings to the meadow adjacent to our campsite .

Safety First

Even the bread toaster can burn down your house. Don’t leave food or anything else on top of it. I think of Rob telling me about his last ‘safety first moment’ last night.
And what about the gas stove?! I realize there is the lasagna dish on it covered with a kitchen towel.
What if just a little spark shoots out of the stove?!

I turn the car around quickly and drive back home. Just to be sure.
Maarten is pretty upset since he really wants to go to ‘his little forest’. I try to explain, we will be going in a second. I turn off the engine and the key alarm is warning me that I left the keys in the ignition.
Automatically, I lock the car door from inside and jump out to check the kitchen. The moment I see the door closing, I immediately realize what I’ve just done.

I feel I’m getting warm and dizzy. I still hope I left at least one of the doors open. Nope, I didn’t.
Maarten is inside the locked car parked negligently in the middle of our street. And in the full sun.
The only key I have is locked inside with Maarten.
The next couple of minutes I find myself running around my car with all kinds of tools trying to open one of the doors.

Maarten is really upset. He wants to leave for the forest immediately! I try to explain, but he doesn’t listen at all.
Then I realize he can easily reach the lock button even though he’s fastened in his car seat. I beg him to press the button. But he gets very angry seeing I’m not intending to go to the forest yet. I promise him all kinds of treats and presents, everything just to make him press the button and open the door. But my little friend is red from anger and from the heat and resolutely refuses to do so. The only thing he wants right now is to be in the forest.
Those minutes feel like ages.

I realize I really have to call for help when at last my ‘little angel’ pities me and presses the button.

Lala Lala

One thing I like about the Bay Area is the ‘summer’ fog. It smells nice just like the ocean where it is coming from. The fog is truly refreshing and offers welcome relief in the long, dry and hot summer. On most evenings (or mornings sometimes) you see the fog streaming over the hills that separates us from the cool bay.
Really a pretty sight.

Call me crazy but I don’t mind the fog at the beach either.

We were early this Sunday morning so exploring the tide pools was even more fun.

I’ve never seen here so many starfish before!
It’s only a shame that people bring their dogs to the beach despite signs prohibiting them. The presence of dogs is stressful, disrupting and therefore harmful to the shy harbor seals who rest on the flat rocks close to shore.
How sad!



PS: Maarten enjoys singing. Unfortunately he was singing while also performing his scary stunts in the backyard.
He was lucky. Even though his mouth was full of blood he probably hasn’t bitten off much of his tongue. Though I'm not sure.
And you will never guess what he did afterwards...