November 2022

Living our new normal during the ongoing COVID reality is that we need to take precautions when we get sick. This month, Paola and I were off to the Bay Area for a special treat … to go to Port Chicago Navel Magazine National Memorial, which is a super special opportunity as only about one thousand visitors can go per year as the site is on an active military base. I’ve been patiently waiting for my date to be assigned and it was scheduled on November 4th! However, Paola called on Nov. 3rd and said she wasn’t feeling well. We collectively decided to cancel the trip and rebook for another day.

But when a door closes, I often find a window opens. Ryder shared that he wanted to go to San Francisco to check out the city and visit a few art schools. So the following weekend, he and I were off … and I did manage to fit in Fort Point National Historic Site and then he chose Alcatraz Island, which I had never been to before and which is part of the Golden Gate National Recreation Area, so that was a wonderful adventure … especially during Native American Indian Heritage Month! We loved exploring the city together and we had the most delicious food.

Now I have four remaining NPS Units in the Bay Area to explore with visits to Chicago Navel Magazine National Memorial, John Muir National Historic Site, Rosie the Riveter/World War II Home Front National Historic Park, and Eugene O’Neill National Historic Site. And three more NPS remaining Units to explore in Southern California with Castle Mountains National Monument, Channel Islands National Park, and Mojave National Preservation … so many more California adventures in nature ahead!

And I love this photos of the boys at Thanksgiving in 2017!

And I love this Apache Blessing:

And some nature memories this month …