Lots of little things (and a hike)

This last week or so, we've done lots of little new things, so I thought I'd collect them all together into this post. Last week (before Asta arrived) we did some more things with the meet-up group. On the Tuesday we went for mini golf in the glow in the dark place we'd been to before which was fun and then we all went for food at a nearby bar afterward. We got to talk to the other British guy and his wife which was fun, as we got to do all our inside jokes about England which we miss. 

On the Wednesday I got to visit another new library. This one was up in the mountain town of Idyllwild. We've been for several hikes and a couple of camping trips up there, but haven't really explored the town. All of the buildings are built like log cabins, with lots of wood and rustic furniture out front. 

A viewpoint on the way

The deck in the trees where I had lunch

The library was very cute, with special sections dedicated to hikers, and pinecones everywhere. It was also fire prevention week, so the fire department was there with two fire engines and their volunteer fire dog. I took myself out for lunch in the town and then went to work from home for the afternoon. 

On Thursday, we both went to the dentist for the first time since being here. It was a little scary (and expensive) but we made it through and they only suggested cosmetic braces three times. 

On Friday, one of the international scholars, Marine, had a birthday party, so we went back to Makbule's house. We brought chocolate chip cookies and others brought cake and dinner, and we had a really fun night meeting lots of new people. 

Then Asta arrived and we had a fun weekend (hopefully you read that last week). 

The week after she left, we went to a board game night in a bar in Redlands which also had really good pizza. The next night we went to a new BBQ restaurant which, surprisingly, did have a few vegetarian options. We went with a group from meet-up which was nice, because as go to more events, we meet more people again and again, and it's nice to get to know so many people. 

Then we come to this weekend. We'd had a pretty intense couple of weeks, so we had a slow weekend. It was meant to be not so great weather that weekend too, but be did go for a hike in Oak Glen Wilderness Preserve on Saturday and have a little picnic. It was very misty as we drove up the mountain, and it was so thick that you could see when you went in and out of the cloud. 

The start of the trail was in the apple picking orchard we went to a few weeks ago, and although we'd layered up for a chilly mountain walk, it was actually very warm and sunny there. The mist started very suddenly a little way into the trail, and we could feel the moisture start to settle on us as soon as we entered. 

That first part of the trail was probably the mistiest, and the rest was a very nice day. It went through deciduous trees, and along a little stream. 

We stopped for lunch at a picnic area under tall conifers which was very shady and filled with birds. 

The trail then continued through an area called the Children's Forest, which had a clear path and trees all cut to exactly the same height. There was a campsite set up in the middle with a (quite wonky) tent, a picnic table and a canoe! I think it's sometimes used an an educational stop for rangers, but it was still funny to see a canoe in the middle of a forest!

After that, we completed the loop and made it back to the car. We passed the same patch of mist on the road down, and although it didn't rain until a lot later in the day, we did get some lightning that night. 

The petting zoo was right next to the car park

We have a very exciting weekend planned this week, so I'll be back then!

Lots of Love,

Emily and Mitchell

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