July 23–25
In the middle of the night I awoke to a powerful eau de skunk stench that increased in intensity. I hoped that nothing would startle the beast into spraying since my tent is hardly an adequate barrier. By morning the offender was gone and so was I, Chico-bound by 9:00 a.m. as Nick ventured further north before turning toward home. So long Spencer!
I arrived under 2.5 hours later to find my two older grandchildren asleep in a heap on the sofa. Shortly after waking them, I decided to extend my stay from one night to two.
Friday’s high in Chico: 105°.
The air was smoky from wildfires somewhere. Helicopters and small spotting planes buzzed overhead at frequent intervals.
It has been, as always, a delight to see my family, and I also loved having Em join me at the AirBnB for both nights.
I’ve been looking forward to this trip for a long time. Now that it’s over and I have to return to plain old life, I’m a little blue. But more adventures lie ahead: a visit with Molly and Josh to Small in Delaware, and in a month, Ember’s and my two-night camping trip to Lassen National Park, fires permitting. More immediately, heaps of laundry await.
Why didn’t you stay a week longer, so I could enjoy more of it (parts of it) vicariously??
What fun to see the EP family, even amidst HEAT and smoke! I like Em’s swimsuit.