Taking our leave at Lake Arrowhead

As I type, the rain buckets down on Sydney and I can't believe that just 1 week ago we were sweating it out in California.

Our trip culminated in a weekend chez the Wagners senior, in the mountains above Lake Arrowhead. We stopped "for gas" at the foot of the mountain and it was a whopping 104 degrees Fahrenheit (40 degrees C). By the time we had got to the top (I, somewhat shamefully, forget Bruce's statistics as to the height of the mountain and the lake) the temperature at 5.30pm was "just" 31 degrees centigrade. Phew. We set to work throwing open windows, switching on ceiling fans and prepared to sweat it out. Alice as ever took it all in her stride and napped happily in another strange room. Here, she relaxes in front of her view before the blackout blind is racheted up in front of it


Happily the Wagner family boat was on hand and we enjoyed a spin around the lake. Alice certainly has her sea legs and coped beautifully. We were asked a few times if it was her first boat trip (as well as if we needed a sweater/food for the ducks or Baby James's shoes), but of course I was able to point to her previous excursion on her friend Luella's cruiser - we have schooled Alice well by attending very well connected mothers groups.

It was a wonderful conclusion to our trip and the intrepid world travellers enjoyed some R&R - I even managed to finish a book. Not bad for a 6 week period. What an epic adventure young Alice has had and how many new friends and family members she has met. Not to mention gaining her own body weight in new outfits, which I had to post back separately.

Here we are, relaxing on our last night away, looking forward to our own beds, our own car and, although we weren't to know it yet, the prospect of sharing a bassinette on the plane home due to another Qant-arse screw up. Ho hum. These things are sent to try us.