Part deux post! After leaving the national parks, we stopped by LA again on the way home to SD.

Super fun and interactive illusion art! We are really loving all the creativity in CA…

Quick walk through Hollywood Walk of Fame and a snap in front of the Chinese Theatre. Never a fan of crowds but all the more now!

Then caught an art exhibit by Kengo Kito called Reconnecting. He used 2021 hula hoops for this exhibit for the year Japan hosts the Olympic games and as a theme, metaphor for connection, interconnectedness and unity in diversity.

Took the SGV route back home with of course some Asian takeout, including a new Hainan chicken place…

First real trip since can’t remember when and it was a good one! (Biggest tree in the world: check!)

But first: passing through LA always means eat all.the.Chinese.food. Soy good was just that… soy good! Fresh soy milk in flavors out of this world, tofu pudding, seasoned tofu bricks and fried tofu.

This was mind-blowing for Mommy — tofu pudding + house made taro sauce + grass jelly.

Also got some Singaporean takeaway for dinner for after arrival near the national parks… including this keuh that made Daddy rejoice.

Stopped at Griffith Park/Observatory. E wanted a glimpse of the Hollywood sign he caught in a cartoon. Kinda a smoggy day so didn’t get great views from afar. It was pretty warm so we hiked a short way. (And yes, we are getting weaker and weaker – spoiled! – as far as heat tolerance.)

Spotted the first of many wildlife sightings!

Super cute and cozy retro, mid-century AirBnB that is the poolhouse on a citrus farm. :)

Set out the next morning on one of our longer hikes – Topokah Falls.

Water close to the falls was so clear and refreshing.

There were a group of folks jumping off the boulders…

Guess who followed suit?

Along the trail there and back, there was talk of hikers seeing bears. Thus began our bear chase… we went up and down the path numerous times on the lookout. Lo and behold, Elias caught sight of mama bear first… followed by her cubs!

And then all the spectators quickly scrammed when they crossed the creek and got a little too close for comfort.

Marveled at the tall, tall trees at Big Tree Trail and Congress Trail of Giants.

Ended the day climbing up the steep pathway and stairs to Moro Rock/Hanging Rock.

Magnificent views at the top.

Daddy testing his shadow?

On to Kings Canyon the following day… Big Stump Trail had lots of… stumps. :P

The Mark Twain Tree, or what was left of it. Poor tree. :(

The trunk that became his fortress, haha.

Climbing into tree trunks was a novelty.

Explored Grant Grove.

Then some shorter hikes to waterfalls… This one was Grizzly Falls.

Crossed a neat bridge to discover Zumwalt Meadows.

Face to face with a fawn. :)

Ah Zabenya rendition he’s made a ritual…

Rounded out the day to Roaring River Falls.

It was relaxing to just listen to the sound of the falls.

Chillin’ like a villain. :D

Rare mom/dad selfie.

For E, where there be rocks, there be rock scrambling!

The private pool was nice and E looked forward to cooling off there in the evenings…

Patio decor was just as retro and matched the rest of the poolhouse.

The next day we chose an easier hike, Buena Vista Peak Trail, before our Boyden Cavern tour.

It lived up to its name — buena vista indeed from the peak.

So buena that we may have spent a bit too long up there that we had to trail run it down to get to Boyden in time for our tour.

Just enough clearance for this lad…

The wedding cake, lol.

Nice bacon strips.

We’ve been to how many caves now (?) and each one really is different!

The major ascent up to the cave is not for the faint of heart…

Keeping these two in there.

We let him crack a geode at the bottom.

Then picnic’d by the creek.

Ventured down for a bit…

Some sights and pullouts along the way…

Then off to Hume Lake per our AirBnB host’s suggestion.

This one wanted to be just like Daddy and fearlessly took the plunge.

Not a care in the world.

Kayaked to and from jumping rock. :)

Last moments on the farm…

Off to LA for some art and eats before sweet home SD… Part II coming soon. :)

Final hours with Archer. :**(

Had them over for a casual dinner w/ a pretty good spread.

They spent SO much time together these months of lockdown…

Some of our fun neighbors also swung by to say farewell.

Griffie, gonna miss ya, too. All the best wishes in SAC and we’ll plan to meet on the slopes in Tahoe. :)

E seemed okay as we waved goodbye to them and saw them leave our street for the last time… And THEN, came home and he just burst into tears for a very, very, very LONG time. He was fine when we left TX and even had friends that he knew for a longer period of time. No tears. Guess these emotions become more real as we grow… Sigh, the joys and pains of life. We just let him cry. As Mommy always says, tears sometimes are needed to cleanse the soul.

And then we offered hugs… Sooner or later, we all learn that living is a series of hellos and goodbyes. C’est la vie.

On a totally unrelated and more light-hearted note, Daddy found another place in SD with Hainan chicken rice via the Singaporean online group he recently joined…

Annnnnd summer road trip #1, here we come!