- The Mountain Called Macy
- TWK Camps at Costanoa
- Camp Diary: Costanoa
Costanoa Camping Trip: 2017 Spring Break
It has been a while since our last vacation, but this Spring Break we had once more become Trippin’ with Kids and had set off to find adventure – in Costanoa, a campsite in California, about 2 hours away from our house. We camped there once before, before Steve was born, when Cupcake and I were no more than toddlers. Now, we camped there again – plus one person and a huge RV. My grandparents, RoMa and PopPop, and the Westfalls, known to us as Didi (my aunt), Uncle Aaron, Cousin Franklin (age 6), Cousin Vincent (age 5), and Cousin Evelyn (age 2 – almost 3), also joined the trip. Together, we had loads of fun, from playing on Macy Mountain to making homemade ice cream.
Bumping along the roads towards Costanoa, we had a rough ride. Despite the RV’s size, Grand Poobah had almost no trouble driving it, but required silence to focus. Feeling a little sick from the ride, we arrived at Costanoa in the early afternoon of April 2nd, equipped with an RV, on which we spent the next few hours setting up. RVs, such as our rental, had its own specific place on the campground. The RV, complete with a kitchen, a bathroom, and separate beds for all 5 of us, would have been quite a sight to see, had it not been surrounded by RVs of similar size and length. This RV was our home base until we left the campground. For a few days, our lives seemed to revolve around the RV. After those few days, the RV had acquired a layer of dirt, brought in by all of us constantly walking through it. We (or at least I) fell into deep sleep, exhausted from the day’s’ activities, each night on the RV, thankful for the heater.
The main attraction of Costanoa, where we spent most of our time, was Macy Mountain, a small and skinny hill/ridge. About as high as Steve, it can barely be called a hill, much less a mountain, yet to our small cousins, it could have easily been a mountain. Franklin, Vincent, and Evelyn all loved running back and forth, over and over again, across Macy Mountain. As their big cousins, it was our duty to go with them, helping them on declines in the hill and climbing the trees surrounding the skinny path. This was fun, though repetitive, because we got to see the endless imaginations of our cousins. Because there were some inclines and declines on the path, Franklin (with the help of Vincent) decided to divide Macy Mountain into sections, labeling each of them. Their names, in order, are Treehouse Lane, Magic Lane, Light Lane, Dark Lane, Scary Lane, and Bad Lane. After succeeding in creating names for the “lanes,” Vincent and Franklin climbed the trees, finding their favorites and announcing that those were their homes. Vincent gave me some pretend money to buy my own house (or tree), and showed me all around his house (tree). There was also a toy store (tree) where Vincent bought all of the Pokemons in the world. Evelyn also enjoyed the hill, running and trying to keep up with her 2 older brothers. When she would get tired from walking, Cupcake and I were both ready to bend down and scoop her up into our arms. Sometimes, all 6 of us would run/walk back and forth across Macy Mountain, finding the end and turning around to go back the way we had just come. Many events took place on that small hill – all three of our cousins adored it! Instead of hiking on any real trails, which we once tried and failed to do because of the swamp of mud blocking our path, we were content with our own small trail. In my opinion, nothing is better than playing with my cousins. Carefree play, all improv, just for fun. All the laughs we heard on that trip, issuing from Franklin, Vincent, and Evelyn, are the best music in the world. Nothing is more beautiful than the sweet smiles of happy, loving cousins such as mine.
But Macy Mountain was not all we did on this most special RV trip. We played many games with the adults, such as flag football and the card game Beat the Parents. Trivial Pursuit, from Harry Potter to Star Wars, was also a big hit. I love everyone on that trip with me to the bottom of my soul; camping with them helps me realize it. Everyone is so interesting to listen to. Everybody has so many fabulous stories to tell. And not just the stories told by the campfire, though Uncle Aaron told some amazing, non-scary stories that filled us with laughter. It’s fun to see and acknowledge Uncle Aaron’s extensive knowledge on every aspect of camping, and to know more about my family members’ favorites (learned through Beat the Parents). Just by talking to them, I can understand and love them even more. That’s probably why I love hanging out with family. I love hearing from them, and sharing experiences from them. Anyway, I’m getting off topic.
Another high point that should be mentioned was the 5-star quality food I was served every meal at this campsite. Uncle Aaron, Mom, and Didi prepared food way beyond what I would expect while going camping. From Uncle Aaron’s helping hand, guiding us through the ice-cream making process, to Mom’s specially prepared vegetarian chili, just for me, and Didi’s cheese quesadillas and peanut butter and jelly sandwiches deliciously made, it felt like I was constantly feasting! On day #3 (or full day #2), we enjoyed a huge breakfast, consisting of Mom’s pancakes, Uncle Aaron’s eggs and bacon (but I didn’t eat the bacon), cuties from the fridge, and some strawberries I had cut. Altogether, it was a breakfast I will never forget! What a great way to start off the day!! Every night, to end the day, Uncle Aaron (with Kaitlin’s help) started a campfire. Soon, the s’mores equipment of marshmallows, graham crackers, and Hershey’s chocolate were pulled out, and all of the kids toasted their marshmallows over the fire. At random moments, the marshmallows roasting would catch fire, and those nearest to it blew it out as quickly as possible. Most of the marshmallows we toasted were burned. Every person had a s’more at least one of our nights camping, and my guess is because the s’mores are rare to be seen in other settings and because it completes the camping experience. Actually, I don’t think Evelyn ever had a s’more – she was content with munching on the untoasted marshmallows taken straight from the package. I, on the other hand, managed to create a PERFECT toasted marshmallow. When eating it, I shivered with delight. The insides were melted to the point where it became the consistency of cream. Almost drinking the insides of my marshmallow, I finally understood the meaning of “melt-in-your-mouth”. What a truly wonderful experience!
The last highlight I will share with you today is my walk to the beach with Dad. Because he promised me a walk at some point during our trip, we journeyed along the path towards the ocean. After leaving the campground, the trail led us through a busy road, which I ran across, fearing the crash of a high-speed car and me. Once crossing, we traveled on a relatively short path of sand. With every step, our shoes slipped into slippery dips of sand. Walking among tall plants, we didn’t see the water until we reached our destination. Wind slapping at our faces, we sat in the sand and watched the powerful waves slam into the shore. Every once in awhile, we covered our faces to frantically blink sand out of our burning eyes, but then returning our gaze to the mesmerizing blue beauty of the ocean. It was much harder walking back, for our shoes, filling with sand and sinking with each step, did not help us on the uphill walk back. Have you ever tried traipsing through the sand on an incline? Well, let me just tell you, the odds would not be in your favor. I don’t tell all of what happened on that walk; conversations between my dad and I are private, not to be shared with strangers. But I hope you get the idea – it was a peaceful walk, it was fun, it was meaningful. I loved it.
Just as I loved this adventure. It is truly remarkable how a different setting can change one’s perspective and one’s mind. On this trip, I had fun. Fun. Carefree fun. That doesn’t happen at home, when we’re constantly rushing to activities, to get stuff done, worrying about school. Even on weekends, it is hard, but not impossible, to let go of my worries. But I guess that is why Costanoa was a vacation: vacations are for fun. For fun, for being with others, for learning and doing what you want to do. It’s fun. And I loved that fun I experienced on that trip to Costanoa.
Hello! I'm Potter. I am 13 years old and I LOVE anything and everything to do with Harry Potter. I'm a Ravenclaw, and I really enjoy school, especially math, language arts, and history. In my free time (or anytime I’m not doing something), I'm a voracious reader. Anything from fantasy to historical fiction and everything in between. In addition, I'm passionate about acting, singing, and dancing. I can’t WAIT to explore Europe, and try new things with a smile on my face!