The kids caught this monster then let him (her?) back loose in the wilds exactly where they found it. I just spent 15 minutes during my lunch hour coloring it (the original sketch here). I’ve been needing to practice using digital color and sometimes these sketches prove to be perfect guinea pigs (guinea bugs?). We couldn’t resist taking a picture of this bug while my son Jack held it. Click here to see – WARNING: not for the squeamish!
That’s Joan in the foreground left holding the flashlight reading to the kids before bedtime.
The campsite (click to enlarge). Our tent on the left, sister-in-law’s tent in the middle, nephew George on the right. The Big Sur river was directly behind me as I drew this.
This is how Joan relaxes – by working! I shouldn’t talk, I guess I’m drawing while relaxing. She and my sister-in-law made lots of jewelry while the kids played. (Just for the heck of it – Joan’s web site.)
We had the old two-bedroom tent for about ten years and finally wore it out. Joan got a new one for this trip.
I found a French watercolor journal I’ve had for 16+ years and never used. Great paper. I tried to get the dapple-light filtered through the trees, with only moderate success.
The kids were constantly rafting down the river just behind the tent. Their swimming clothes were likewise constantly drying on a clotheline alongside the tent.
Driving by myself up highway 101 to meet Joan and the kids in Big Sur – in the middle of nowhere the power goes completely out of the car. I coast up the nearest off ramp, Los Lobos Rd (“the wolves” road). There was a gas station, but upon closer inspection it had been boarded up and abandoned for years, weeds growing around it. Luckily I still got cell reception and help arrived in a couple hours. Not a good start to the annual camping trip, but the rest of the trip would turn out fine, thankfully!
Well, I’m off to go camping, just like this time last year. The kids and Joan have already been there a week. There won’t be any posting for a while – until next weekend. Hopefully I’ll have some sketching to post!
Anthony Zierhut 
