Details of The Final Push - Getting Ready for Part II

We can hardly believe that 4 1/2 months have passed since we first left Seattle.  Living in San Carlos, CA, has been quite the experience.  There has been the joy of being close to Tasha, Nathaniel, Tuvya and Ezra, the pain of the local geography - read that way too many short stiff climbs on the bikes - and missing everyone in the Seattle area, especially Lita, Eric, Greyson and Kelsey.

Jeff, Janet, Carol, Roger

We spent two days over Labor Day weekend with Janet and Jeff Gindin in Windsor CA, a few miles north of Santa Rosa.  We got to several wineries, olive oil tastings and Bodega Bay.  It was really nice to have some time alone with them.





It was special spending part of the High Holidays with the Bergson-Michelsons which we haven't done since Tasha and Nathaniel were in Boston many years ago.  That was the year we took our first bicycle trip, ending in Boston the day of Erev Rosh HaShonah.  They were pretty much newlyweds at the time, it was 18 years ago.  This year we spent Erev Rosh HaShona with Nathaniel's sister Abby and her husband Jason at Congregation Emanuel, a wonderful way to start the New Year (thank you both Rabbis Beth and Jonathan.)  The next morning we were our family at Peninsula Temple Shalom (PTS), their congregation and another lovely service to start 5774.

On Shabbat we were again at PTS  for pre-bar mitzvah and bar mitzvah services for our eldest grandson, Tuvya.  He did an outstanding job.  After 3 years of public speaking in Model UN, two national GeoBees and countless appearance before his school's Board of Directors and the local City Council, his "bima presence" was something to behold.  He is 5'6" (at least he was a month ago!) and he projects his voice well.  The best part was that it was obvious he was having a good time leading the entire service.  He was smiling, energetic, and did not hesitate to boldly correct the rabbi when the latter referred to the incorrect haftorah reading.  He also didn't hesitate to get one "whatever" into the service, his favorite comment on just about any topic.  Tuvya included a number of his friends and teachers from school and from PTS in the service, including singing a song with three friends and his brother.

Two of Carol's sisters and spouses, and Roger's sister and spouse were all able to be here.  We were delighted to spend a little time with Janet and Jeff, Deedee and Gary and Carolyn and Ralph.  Carol's other sister, Nancy, was unable to attend as her son got married last weekend in BC, Canada.  Congrats to Dov and Robyn.  We were sorry to have missed their lovely wedding.

Tuvya and his friends sorting books

There was a Sunday afternoon party for book sorting/packing (the culmination of Tuvya's bar mitzvah project)   Tuvya wanted to collect 1000 books for a school library.  He has over 3500 so far, so he is giving some to a local literacy project, as well.  After packing the books, he and his friends had pizza and a DJ.  We got to help pack books and occasionally peek in on the kids.

And more books.....

Bubbe and Pops putting out MORE sweets

 Doing what we do best.

Adults packing books

This does include 2 pair of bike sandals

Along with all of this, we did manage to pack, although I am not sure how that happened.  Thank goodness for FexEx where we weighed the suitcases and bike cases - two of each - to see if they are under 50#. They needed minimal rearranging, two pair of bike sandals moved from Carol's bike case to suitcase, and then somehow still zipping the suitcase.It is a challenge to pack for all four season, and biking, in one suitcase each.  Carol's is carry-on size, although zipped open for expansion.  Roger's is airline regulation sized.  Fortunately, all of Carol's bike clothing is packed into the bike case for extra padding for spokes, etc.  Every time we pack the bikes, Carol is thankful for having couplings, so it breaks down completely.  Roger's bike does not have them.  It also means he can't put much in his case other than the bike.  

A special thank you to Lita for using her talents in t-shirt printing to make us L'Avventura Grande shirts.  We decided to try to get photos of us in them every place we stay.  So, here is San Carlos, CA, May 4-Sept 10, 2013 (with 2 bike boxes, 2 suitcases, and carry-ons

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Leaving 100 Laurel Street with mixed feelings

This photo is not appropriate for pre-teens.

Next is some final cleaning up - returning everything we borrowed from the kids - and then we are off for Part II of our adventure.

We promise more photos and fewer details of daily life on future entries.  We have no bar mitzvah photos yet.