Here's another big post with lots of pics. For Sara's 40th b-day month... we decided to go to Hoes Down again. Well, we probably would have gone anyway as it is such a great time, but we were happy for more celebration!
Ending with a bigger ride up to Hoes Down... hadn't done a 100+ mi ride for too long... I left at 3:30 am, got to Sigman's at 4:45 (after hopping a few fences due to the closed Canyon rd)... and arrived at Hoes Down at 11:30. With a 40 min stop at Winters for breakfast. Here's the track. The ride was pleasant until the last section to Hoes Down where the road doesn't have much of a shoulder.
I easily talked Sigman into riding out to Winters for breakfast with me. I continued on to Hoes Down, and he turned around. I ended up with 110 miles, and he ended up with 20 more?
We had stopped at Steady Eddy's during our 1000k.... they serve great food and are super bike friendly.
Most of the riding is like this. Flat. No cars. Farms.
Meanwhile... in the Prius...
Soon we had settled in, had lunch and were ready to go into the festival!
The shade structure is pretty $$$
Circus Bella! Again!
We've got very similar pics of Kai doing this course...
So many activities...
Nikko sitting in with the Banana Slug String Band.
The pumpkin carvings are really cool
After putting the kids down for bed, I went back into check out the bands. Who were rockin! These guys were seriously groovy.
Good morning!
B-day girl... kinda.
This tree was a hit with the kids. Note: it is important to find a good climbing tree when we choose a camping site
The girls put on a show for us. Our own circus show!
Tah-dah!
Afterwards everyone took off... but we decided to stick around a bit and go check out some brewries... this one just opened up... and has some auto pour system which was cool. But none of their own beers yet. Soon.
But! They have a HUGE area for events, parties, kids, etc. Volleyball court, horse shoes, cornhole, etc.. We need to go back here next year for sure.
Then we went to sample Berryessa Brew Co, which is across the river, but a 10 min drive. Also very good.
We ended up catching the end of the Fleet week from Kimbo's office!
Good to get the sink off these two after a busy, dirty weekend
We had an amazing time last year with D, so we invited a bunch of other families and went back. This is a festival not to be missed... if you are a hippie, live in the bay area, like animals, circus, line dancin', smoothies, home made ice cream, ziplines, haystack forts, petting animals, swimming, etc... basically if you are sane. This year we met up with the Souzas, Smiths, Nickelsens, Mindy & Eric, D, and ran into Kara, that was great.
On the way home, we drove out of our way a bit and met up with the Hoefts at the Western Railroad Museum. The kids had a blast.
Next time:
Get on the ziplines, etc early... before the line is too long.
Get there early... there's too much to do.
Nikko won't need a nap! That's more time for partying!
pit stop...
Setting up for campin'
Testing out the new hammock... it was used for about 20 min.
Greeting the cows on our way in
Kai churning ice cream!
Hey look... that's my acrobatics instuctor from Athletic Playground. Vik... This is while waiting in line for the zipline!
Kai was too young last year... I think he's a bit young this year... but they let him go anyway.
They made this thing a bit too complicated. Next year: headlights, and a watch with a 3 min timer... so that they can pop out and tell us they are ok.
Went back to camp to grab a few things... but check out this set up! Party outside the fest!
Kai on the dunk tank!
Nikko gettin' his groove on
Go Nikko Go!
The T-sisters
Katie Bell...
Shaye Shay!
Camp situation.
The next morning, we met up with the Hoefts at the Western Railway Museum. It's in the middle of nowhere, but it's really cool
as Kool as Willie the Penguin
These boys...
The train takes you on like a 10 min journey, stops then turns around...
it's quite exciting for little boys../
The Hoefts
Nikko showing off his stinko face...
The Hoeft boys beat the Kuwabara kids on the "goofy" shot..
Group kiddo shot!
They turned into animals on the way home...
so we took them directly to a playground... another fun weekend in the books...
