Today I

Got up with little man at our Calistoga hotel and had continental breakfast on their porch like dining area. Tried to get Johann to eat cut up hard boiled egg. No dice. Saw a headline about the Korean ferry accident. 

I hustled us out of the room so we could do a hike Kel found. It was from one state park to another. Passed an old (by CA standards) cemetery. Too many young women and children. There was a monument to the "first" church in the area. It felt like a very Euro centric thing to memorialize. "Nothing of interest happened here until 1850, when some white Christians built a building for their religion."

I had mini man in the pack with all the supplies for the hike. It was through woods and over a mild hill. He did well. Kel had the camera. He actually fell asleep in the pack. That was pretty special. He'd pet and stroke my shoulders, like we might do to a horse we were riding. 

The end of the trail was an old grist mill. Closed to public but amazing to see. I live the technology of prior eras. Good to know for the apocalypse. 

Stopped there for snacks. Little man liked the return trip less. He cried and fussed, so Kel gave me the green light to hustle back to the car. Once there Johann was happy.  On the way back, I almost jumped out of my pants when the massively loud hissing snare of a rattle snake erupted right next to the trail.  My first ever encounter with a rattle snake in the wild.  Scared me silly.

We ate lunch in town, and then back to the room for naps for him and Kel

Post nap was pool time. Kel instructed me on my swim kicks. I got better. 

Walked to town for dinner. Photo is from the walk in. Bug ate well, but once done, wanted out of the seat. I spent most of the meal outside with him. He liked the flowers. He waved at people. Had pork shoulder that was amazing. 

Walked around town a bit after dinner. Maybe it was the dessert we gave him, but bug was thrilled with the shops, and thought a lot of things were funny. 

When we got to our neighborhood, he laughed as we walked in the dark. 

Let him play in the room. Full of beans. He wanted to go out, so Kel took him for a walk. I joined and she reminded me some day I'll pine for the time when he just wanted me to carry him. I showed him the roses. Put him to bed in the pack n play and he made races. Pointed to the pack and made his spotty sound for "I want that". 9:30 at night and he wants to go in the pack. He's asleep now and so is Kel.