A Day of Rest
Sometimes you just need a day to rest. After 2 busy days traveling through California, we felt ourselves needing a breather. We were still on Ohio time, after all, and it was beginning to catch up! Our Airbnb in Forest Falls was just the place.
Featured photos: https://photos.app.goo.gl/zw8qVMVodFtD2Vee8
April 10th, 2023 - California Day 3
I don’t intend to promote Airbnbs very often, but this one was certainly an exception. Tyler and I have a soft spot for cabins, and this one was excellent! It was the perfect balance of rustic and modern. When we woke in the morning, we made coffee from a convenient Keurig. As the coffee sputtered into matching mugs, I leaned against the counter and envied the kitchen. Its cabinets were a soft green like the pines outside the window. The walls were white, and faux copper panels decorated the ceiling. I adored it! A guitar rested in the corner of the living room, and as my coffee warmed my fingers through the mug, I wandered over to it. I hadn’t played in several months, but the temptation was too great to resist. A cheerful fire crackled in the wood stove, our coffee steamed, and music surrounded us. It was the rest we needed. When my fingers finally grew sore, we tried out the barrel sauna on the back porch. We quickly learned that we aren’t much for saunas, but sweating in it for a few minutes was certainly memorable!
We stayed for as long as we could in that little cabin. When our checkout time finally rolled around, we were well rested and ready for more adventure. We were hoping to do a little hiking at a trail up the road, but we quickly discovered that this part of California had been damaged by the excessive snow and rain from the previous months. In fact, there was a house just down the road that had been completely swept off its foundation by a mudslide! It was sobering. Thankful for Ohio’s predictability, we found another hiking trail not too far away. We were in the San Bernardino National Forest, but this particular trail was also a part of the Sand to Snow National Monument. We didn’t go far, just down into a rocky river bed to appreciate the swift-flowing water and the tall mountains surrounding us.
After a bit more driving, we ate lunch at The Oaks, a charming mom and pop restaurant in the middle of the forest. I wasn’t sure what to expect, but the food was delicious! When our bellies were full, we made our way up to Big Bear Lake to stretch our legs. Still swathed in snow, the lake was picturesque. It was comfortably warm, but the snow was piled in such heavy drifts that it was melting slowly. We meandered along a paved bike trail, noticing how the snowdrifts contrasted with the dry-looking soil and thirsty pines. Despite the large lake, the landscape looked as though it had been water-starved for quite some time. Perhaps this was a hint to the chronic drought California had fallen victim to.
In homage to the lake’s name, I made a bear snowman along the trail. Then, noticing the time, we decided to get back on the road. As we made our way towards our next destination, the sun slowly set. The air was quiet. Our souls were at peace. It was good to rest.
Our Airbnb:
Hiking trails:
Momyer Trail (Sand to Snow National Monument)
Discovery Center Walking Trail and Cougar Crest (San Bernardino National Forest)
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