Dave and Jan spent some time vacationing in Orange County during the last week of June while Stephen and family joined Meagan’s parents and her sister and family at a family camp at Mount Hermon in the Santa Cruz mountains.  Their “staycation” included a three-day camping outing at O’Neill Regional Park in South Orange County in the Lake Forest area.

The park has around 75 individual camp sites plus group camp areas, an equestrian camp area (with corrals and arenas), day use areas, and many miles of trails for hikers and bike riders.  The camp’s facilities are very nice, with oak and sycamore trees and views of nearby Santa Ana mountain peaks.

Dave and Jan enjoyed the hike from the Featherly Day Use part of the campground up a hiking trail to the Mesa Trail on the ridge along the west part of the park – the Twisted Tire trail.

Tires would not have been the only twisted thing along that trail.  There were some very twisted trees in the park as well – both oaks and sycamores.

There were also some colorful flowering thistle plants along the trail.

The most amazing flower display on the trip occurred on the Bear Canyon trail high on the coastal range along the Ortega Highway (74) which takes drivers from San Clemente (on I-5) to Lake Elsinore (on I-15) to the east.

The trail followed a stream to a waterfall which dropped around 20 feet.

Along the trail there were an amazingly attractive number of wild flowers.

The stream offered some very refreshing scenes along the lower trail.

Jan’s good friend Lola required a little assistance along the 2 1/2 mile trail.

And, while much of the nation is experiencing the rising temperatures which are typical of the summer months, south Orange County was still enjoying the normal May/June reprieve of May Gray and June Gloom.

It was a refreshing camping trip.  And there is more to discover, because Dave and Jan drove to a somewhat primitive Forest Service campground three miles removed from the Ortega Highway with 50 camp sites, only one of which was occupied!  So one doesn’t have to travel far from home in Southern California to enjoy a very refreshing “staycation” – compliments of the amazingly ingenious Creator of it all!

Dave and Jan’s camping experience at Moab in southeastern Utah and Airbnb experience at Duck Creek Village in southwestern Utah – with daughter Alissa and her family (Andrew, Levi-8, Elijah-6, Silas-4, and Ephraim-2) – was an enjoyable exposure to the red-rock country and mountain heights of the state of Utah.  It was followed by the drive west to Brea, California and a family reunion with son Stephen and his family (Meagan, Ryan-5, and Erin-2).  For the Crandall family, from South Dakota, a trip to the beach is always a highlight – so the family headed for the “Baby Beach” at Dana Point.

Erin, a California native, took quickly to exploring the surf with Daddy.

Stephen and Meagan were the ones who suggested the “Baby Beach” which they discovered while living at Foothill Ranch in South Orange County.

Andrew (with Elijah) joined Stephen in a game of catch with the Frisbee.

Cousins Elijah and Ryan appear to be consulting together in some of the finer points of sand castle construction – a favorite boyhood pastime at any beach.

Nearby an experienced sand craftsman created a Memorial Day tribute.

Grandpa Dave did a grandfatherly picture tour of the Dana Point Harbor.

The family headed, the next day, to the Discovery Cube in Santa Ana – a museum of discovery options specifically intended for children.  Dave didn’t get any pictures because he opted for a bike ride to the Discovery Cube for a picnic lunch which the rest of the family – which didn’t take place because it was decided to get lunch for the family in the center itself (but Dave enjoyed the bike ride, and the family enjoyed the Discovery Cube).  The family did enjoy dinner together in the evening – filling the dining room with the senior Balsleys, Stephen & Meagan’s family, Andrew and Alissa’s family, and Caroleen Suzuki – the university student who lives with the Balsleys and who flew to Japan on the same day the Crandalls headed back to South Dakota.

It was an eventful week-end in California to top off a very nice vacation experience for the Balsley and Crandall families – with thanks to the Lord for family blessings, for safety in many miles of travel, and for His creative handiwork all along the way!

Dave and Jan were contacted by daughter Alissa (Crandall) and family about the possibility of meeting them for some camping and adventure as the Crandalls made their way to California on an ambitious road trip with their four boys (2,4,6 & 8).  It had been some time since the Crandalls had been to California and since Alissa had seen her brother Stephen and family – both families with a 2-year-old neither family had met yet.  Dave and Jan welcomed the plan, so they drove to Moab, Utah to join the Crandalls for a camping stay at Slickrock Campground (private) on the edge of Moab and close to Arches National Park.

Rainy weather made the camping experience a little challenging (especially for Andrew, Alissa and the boys who were tent camping on the wet ground).  Dave and Jan were a little more comfortable in their tent trailer.  On the day between the two-night camping experience the family toured Arches National Park – a beautiful part of God’s creation, even in the rain!

L to R: Ephraim, Alissa, Levi, Andrew, Elijah (back), Silas (front), Jan & Dave

Alissa, Jan and Silas at the “Delicate Arch” at Arches National Park.

After two nights of camping the family headed southwest (on the 70 and 15 freeways) to Duck Creek Village where Alissa had made reservations to stay at an Airbnb “cabin” on Cedar Mountain east of Cedar City at around 9,000 ft. elevation.  The drive took us through rain and hail and sleet and snow to a surprisingly white place!

It was nice and cozy inside even if it was a “winter wonderland” outside.

One day trip took the family for a drive through (crowded) Zion National Park.

Kolob Canyon is a separate western section of Zion Park (along I-15)

We also enjoyed a day-trip to Bryce Canyon National Park.

The family took a hike and stopped for a picnic on the Arches Trail at Red Rock Canyon.

And the day-trip included a stop and exploration at Mammoth Cave lava tube.

Good times, of course, were enjoyed around the cabin’s dining room table.

As you can clearly tell, the family enjoyed a very cool trip to Utah!  And then there were California adventures.  But that will be another blog.  Dave and Jan are very grateful for the blessings of their growing family.