Day 3

Eureka


We begin the morning like all great adventurers do: with hotel breakfast and the solemn ceremony of check-out. Armed with coffee and the determination of halflings setting out from the Shire, we point the car toward Scrapper’s Edge in Eureka—because when a true paper-crafter hears of a rare scrapbooking store in the wild, one does not simply drive past it.


And let me tell you, the place does not disappoint. Glitter, stickers, patterned paper beyond mortal comprehension— I roam the aisles like a dragon discovering an unguarded treasure hoard. One hundred dollars later, we emerge victorious, wallets lighter and scrapbook future very, very bright. Scrapbooking stores are as rare as ents these days—so when you find one, you pay tribute.

Road Trip


Then we hit the road toward Oakland, stopping along the way to admire vineyards rolling like green silk across the hills.


We find ourselves at The Grandfather Tree—a towering elder of the forest, complete with a gift shop, because even ancient nature has learned capitalism. We pay our respects, stretch our legs, and then continue onward.


Eventually, the stomachs begin rumbling like distant thunder, so we stop in Ukiah for lunch at a spot called Stars. Fed and fortified, we return to the noble steed (okay, car) and press on, crossing the shimmering waters via the John T. Knox Freeway bridge into Oakland.

Terraced hillside vineyard with neat rows of grapes against rolling hills and blue sky.
Hillside vineyard with orderly rows of grapevines on a sunny day in wine country.
Vintage barn with Dr. Pierce's sign stands among vineyard rows in wine country.
Symmetrical vineyard rows lead to distant mountain peak under clear blue California sky.
Towering evergreen tree stands majestically in a landscaped garden against bright blue sky.

Oakland A's


We arrive at the ballpark a full two hours early—because some journeys are guided by fate, and others by deeply unreliable travel-time estimation. We attempt to explore the surrounding area but quickly discover it consists mostly of warehouses and homeless camps, so we accept destiny and wait in the parking lot like stoic wanderers biding time before battle.


Soon, my mom and family join us, and together we march into the stadium. A coach for the A’s spots our Rockies jerseys and calls us out—good-naturedly, of course.


The game itself? Well, the Seattle Mariners prevailed 8–2, but spirits remain high. After all, on this journey we’d seen redwoods, oceans, vineyards, and scrapbooking glory. We had snacks, family, and a sunset ballgame. And if that’s not the stuff of modern-day epic adventure, I don’t know what is.

Baseball fans enjoying a game at stadium seats wearing purple team apparel.