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It’s nice to be back in Sacramento, the last time we were here was for friends Josiah and Heidi’s wedding in September of 2002! Friday night Josiah and Heidi had us over for dinner. We were able to dry-camp (stay in our RV without hooking up) in front of their place for the weekend which made it easy to spend lots of time together. We stayed up late Friday night visiting and catching up. Probably the biggest surprise was Heidi’s visibly pregnant tummy, they were expecting a boy around the end of September (Malachi made his appearance on September 27).

It was the first opportunity for Lance and I to meet their little girl, Arwyn. She just turned one in June and is a sweet, expressive young lady. Heidi, a teacher, knows sign language and she taught Arwyn some basic signs. Because of the way the human brain develops babies learn movement and motor skills long before their vocal chords develop enough to allow speech. Basic (or Baby) sign language works great to help babies communicate. It was amazing to watch Arwyn signal when she was hungry or thirsty and she even knows the sign for please! It seems like it could take some of the guessing out of raising a child.

Saturday we packed a picnic lunch, piled into Heidi’s car and drove to Oak Park where we met Josiah. Josiah selected Oak Park because it has a disc golf course. While Josiah and Lance played a round, Heidi and I sat under some large, shady oak trees and played with Arwyn. We were glad to have the shade as it was still quite warm in Sacramento. At least it was no longer over 100 like it had been a couple weeks prior to our visit. Part of the worst heat wave in California’s history.

After lunch we rested at Josiah and Heidi’s cool townhome while Arwyn took her afternoon nap. I think we all wanted to nap too but we got to talking and the time just flew. Still hot from their disc game, Josiah suggested a swim in the American River. So when Arwyn awoke we wandered over there. The girls watched as the guys jumped off the high bank into the cool water. The American River is a good size river with a healthy flow so Lance and Josiah were swept a ways downstream by the time they reached the far shore. They weren’t the only ones fighting the current, a couple otters were swimming too.

While the river refreshed them it also left them famished so we headed downtown to Zelda’s Pizza. They say people either love Zelda’s or hate it; its small and dark (reminds me of a tavern in Wisconsin), the service is sassy and basic but the place is always packed because the pizza is fantastic. Supposedly Chicago style, I put this pizza in its own category, I’ve never had anything else like it. We love it so much we eat here every time we come through!

Although it was a short visit it was wonderful to spend time together, Lance and Josiah have been friends since they were little boys. We said goodbye after dinner and headed north to Red Bluff, CA. We wanted to be close to Lassen Volcanic NP so we would have plenty of time explore it on Sunday.

Photos from our Sacramento visit.

Dates: We stayed in Sacramento, CA from 08/11/06 – 08/12/06.