Jeepin’ to Iron Lakes

I climb into the back of my Dad’s beloved Jeepster, ready to set off on a 4-wheelin’ adventure. Hints of summer warmth still in the air, sunscreen on, ponytale in place.

Me: Dad, where’s my seat-belt?

Dad: Oh, there isn’t one back there.

Me: What if I fall out??  I could actually die from 4-wheelin’!!

Dad: [hands me a bottle of water] Well, at least you won’t die of thirst!

This was the beginning of our day-long journey to Iron Lakes (Cali).  Dad driving, stepmom in the passenger seat (both with seat-belts) and me in the back.  Per the Backcountry Adventures Northern California Guide, the trail has “moguls and moderately steep grades” and is touted as “steep and rocky.”  Perfect terrain to travel without something strapping me into an open-aired Jeep.

Luckily, though there was definitely a bit of grab-seat-and-hold-on-for-dear-life (clearly I’m not very dramatic), I survived.

And enjoyed every single minute of it.

It was amazing to go, over the course of a week, from this (business trip to NYC):

To this:

It was much needed, this contrast.  To go from Uptown to Small Town is what this blog is all about, and let me tell you, it saves me– if I didn’t have a small town to return home to, the uptown side of things would make me one wonky woman. (well, more so than I am now!)

So the big obstacle in NYC is people.  Weaving in and out (which I’ve become quite an expert in…seriously…it’s the race-car driver’s daughter in me…), anticipating movements, passing, etc.  The big obstacle en route to Iron Lakes was this.  And his movements were not difficult to anticipate. (He stood still and stared.)

So with Dad at the wheel, away we went, up and over steep grades, and rocky moguls.  Me with water in one hand and a camera in the other, it was one of those Good Days.  The kind that makes one sit back (without a seat-belt) and appreciate life.  And family.  And nature.  And adventure.

Left or right?

4x’ing!

Iron Lakes (one of them).

See all those crazy people rushing around? Me either!

Love these Swirly Roots.

And these rocks with so much color (iron!).

And I love Nature’s Graffiti.

And the texture that surrounds stillness.

And I love this giant magical tree.

And this magical swimming nook.

And my adventurous Stepmom who decided to step in and investigate a fish.

And I love seeing how much my dad love’s nature. He’s so in his element.

And I love my dad.