Field Trip!

Our family went on Gary's class trip in October. We went to the California coast just south of Fort Bragg.  

We stayed at a little place called Albion which is actually the biology field station of the college I went to--Pacific Union College in the Napa Valley. It's all in the same family with our church. This building is the cafeteria.

This is a bird feeder made from a large branch! Fun idea.

The cook--all meals were included, vegan and delicious--rang this bell to call us to meals.

My two little goofballs

with two of their friends whose daddy is going through the same program.

Here's the view down to the water from the cafeteria...

... and the view from the bottom looking back up. The brown buildings are little cabins. Some have rooms that sleep up to 4 people. Our building (below) is such a cute little place! It's split down the center with a door that can be locked for separate families or left open for a larger family to use both sides. Due to the fire code, we got to use both sides of the cabin because we're a family of five. Even though #5 was only 16 months old at the time and was sleeping in a pack 'n play. I would have been greatly annoyed at this if we had been the ones paying. Since we weren't, we thoroughly enjoyed our larger quarters!

Each side had large handicap-access bathrooms, a queen bed and a loft with two twin beds. One side had a kitchenette and a dining table. It was so cozy and comfortable! I'm really bummed I didn't get a picture of the inside!

This is a type of classroom-research center-rec room.

Funny "weather central" sign! Hope you can read it!

We've arrived at the boat ramp! 

There's a pier as well. 

Isn't the water pretty! I didn't learn if it was fresh water or sea water, but I do know the water level changed with the tides.

The center had kiaks and canoes we could use during our free time! The boys got to go canoeing with their Daddy and another Gary from his class--who's from the same town my mom lives in. Small world!

The boys were so excited! Note Jonathan's hands flapping in the above picture, and how they insisted on helping (below).

I stayed behind to see that our youngest got his nap.

And to take pictures.

And read a magazine.

Alone.

(That's a good thing sometimes!) 

So there you have it! Hope you enjoyed our little field trip to the Northern California Coast.

Until next time,