Hiking

This last weekend, we decided to go on a hike to get some exercise. There are a lot of day hikes in the mountains around us. You would never know from looking at the brown mountains that there are many hikes along water with lots of vegetation. We drove only about 10 minutes to get to the trailhead. The hike was between 6-7 miles roundtrip and we had a great time getting out in nature. It wasn't the best day to go, though, as it was 94 degrees that day!

The trail is used by horse riders, mountain bikers, trail runners and hikers. We saw all of these kinds of people while hiking, but surprisingly, there weren't that many people overall on the trail. Patrick is trying to convince me to go back for some mountain biking. I'm not so sure, though. I've only been on a bike twice since my horrible mountain biking accident 4 years ago!

Arroyo Seco

We've become very good at taking our own pictures.

We stoped here for a rest. It was nice and cool by the water.

This was the nicest bridge on the whole trail. Other ones were under construction and one bridge was so badly damaged it was closed off and you had to cross the creek by jumping on rocks. Of course, for Oregonians, that was the best part of the hike!

Picking Pumpkins

It's that time of year and anyone who knows us, knows we love fall. Living in SoCal, though, doesn't provide for the most fall-like experience. So this last weekend, we were determined to find a little bit of our favorite season.

On Saturday, we drove 70 miles one way just to find a true pumpkin patch (one that wasn't set up in a parking lot, surrounded by a chain link fence, with inflatable ghosts). We wanted an actual farm. So, we made a day of it. We did a hayride (Patrick did it with me, even though he is allergic, because he couldn't believe I had never been on one before). We walked through the sunflower forest, which could have used a little watering, and we checked out the food stalls but didn't get anything to eat. I mean, who ever heard of shaved ice and fish tacos at a fall event. So weird. We bought 2 beautiful pumpkins that Patrick will be in charge of carving next weekend (neither of us trusts me to carve my own pumpkin and not lose a finger).

After the pumpkin patch, we decided we should go to the beach since we were only about 4 miles away. Yes, it is a weird life down here, where you can pick out pumpkins while wearing shorts and eating fish tacos and then go to the beach, all while profusely sweating. Back home, you'd be lucky if you weren't tromping through the mud to get your pumpkins. Well, I guess, you gotta get your fall where you can!

The Farm

I have a thing for cutouts. I always have to get my pic taken in it if I see one. I think Patrick was embarrassed. Ha ha!

So manly. Carrying his pumpkin on his shoulder while wearing a robot shirt.

We think these pumpkins weren't actually grown here since they look like they were just put out here in the dirt. But at least there was a barn!

Random trip to the beach.

Red Sox Rule!

On Friday, Patrick and I went to the Red Sox vs Angels playoff game in Anaheim. Patrick had bought us tickets to the game on Monday and we were sooooo excited to go. We hadn't seen a live Red Sox game in 2 years! The Red Sox had won the first game in the series on Wednesday, which made us even more excited to go to game 2. Once we got to the stadium, we took a walk around and got to see the Red Sox batting practice. We got a giant hot dog to share (it was no Rem Dawg from Yawkey Way) and then we went to our seats. Our seats were right behind the bullpen so we got to watch our pitchers and catchers warm up.

The game was great! In the first inning we were up 4 runs and throughout the rest of the game we were winning (you wouldn't know it by listening to the guy behind me. I don't think he realized the Angels were losing). Then in the 8th the Angels came back to tie the game. It was so nervewracking. In the top of the 9th, though, we hit a 2 run homer!!! Red Sox victory! We're hoping for a Red Sox vs. L.A. Dodgers world series!