There is always a bit of a thrill and a feeling of 'coming home' when you find a town in America that has the same name as a town in England. 

I got that feeling when visiting Exeter in the San Joaquin Valley in the foothills of the Sierra Nevadas, California.

We were greeted by a leggy water tower announcing the name Exeter and the date the town was first established in 1911. As we drove into town the solid brick buildings, now homes to local art and antique stores, spilled their goods out on to their doorsteps to give passers by a little taste of the unique treasures to be found inside. At every turn we were rewarded with hand painted murals that told the local stories of immigrants, citrus farmers, amish communities and the history of road and rail transportation. We found a moving war and POW memorial next to the civic center.

It was a far cry from Exeter in Devon, England.

Exeter in the Southwest of England began its life as a Roman stronghold in 50AD where a town and wooden fort were built on a hill by the River Exe. The word 'Exe' has Celtic roots and means 'the water.' It's an old and very beautiful city, now centered around the spectacular cathedral. I have spent many a happy day lazing on the lawns there. One summer, in the 80's, I remember watching a Punch and Judy Show in the cathedral grounds. It feels like another lifetime.

The name felt so familiar and it was odd to see it in such a different context. I lived very close to Exeter for 10 years. I went to Rolle College based in Exmouth, then a part of the University of Exeter and graduated as a young teacher waaaaay back in the day. I met Kim in Exmouth when he was stationed at the Commando Training Center in Exton, just outside Exeter where he was a youngish instructor in the Royal Marines. I began my teaching career in nearby Crediton and then Newton Abbot. 

I looked to see if there was a Trago Mills anywhere near the American version of Exeter, but unfortunately there was not.

So many happy memories of Exeter.

Henry turned 22 years old.

I can hardly believe it.

22 years ago, I went in to the Specialist's Center in Georgetown, Penang, Malaysia for a C-section delivery. Henry was stood bolt upright in my tummy, like a soldier standing to attention. His feet had been kicking my bladder relentlessly for months, or was it years, and his head was lodged between my ribs. It felt like he was sprawled leisurely across my entire body. We knew he was going to be tall as the measured length of his femur was very long, especially so in Malaysia. Turns out the measurements were right. 

Kim was given the task of delivering Henry by Dr. Loh. I had an epidural but was very awake for every single moment. Albinoni's Adagio was playing at his birth. It was calm but full of joy and a little tearful. What a beautiful day, the day our boy was born. Best day of my life.

After he was born, many of the nurses in the hospital came to kiss the baby with the bright blue eyes for luck. We were the lucky ones ❤️

My dear friend, fellow Rowdy Mama, award winning YA author, and the American half of a Japanese American family, Sara Fujimura has recently moved to Illinois and I miss her dearly.

As we wandered around the beautiful and well tended Shin Zen Japanese Friendship Garden in Fresno, my thoughts wandered to my sweet friend and the next chapter of her life. With the blossoms of Spring still on the trees speaking of new beginnings and affirming life itself, I sent her silent prayers and best wishes.

It was all peaceful and zen until Henry inadvertently scared a passing Canadian Goose and we had to quickly scarper as it leapt out of the water to chase us down. Lots of laughter!  

This is what happens when Mum is in charge of the itinerary for Spring Break. You don't end up in Cancun or Las Vegas, oh no, you end up visiting much stranger things.

First we sought out the World's Largest Swedish Coffee Pot in Kingsburg, California. 

Kingsburg is a quaint little town that pays tribute to its Swedish heritage. There are Viking restaurants, Scandinavian murals, and many Swedish references in town including the water tower that has been converted into an old fashioned Swedish Coffee Pot, complete with an authentic nordic design. It is located in a little park called, you guessed it, Coffee Pot Park, right in the center square of town. It's so tall you can see it from miles away!

After the joy of finding the Coffee Pot we drove a short distance on to the headquarters of Sun-Maid, the number one grower of raisins in the world, to find another little treasure, the World's Largest Box of Raisins, also in Kingsburg.

Henry could barely contain his excitement. 

After gently insisting everyone at least get out of the truck to take a look, we were all impressed by what we found. It was indeed a huge box of raisins. Now, I thought it was just a concrete block painted to look like a box of raisins but I was wrong. It was an actual box that actually contained thousands and thousands of actual raisins. Well, not now, but to gain the World Record, it had to be a functioning box of raisins. As we stood before it, there were no raisins inside, but it was still worth getting out of the truck to see this magnificent sight.

We had a lovely packed lunch by Lake Kaweah and were amazed at how warm it was considering we could see snow on the Sierra Nevadas in the distance. Then we went on for a hike at Slick Rock Recreation Area where we could see more evidence of the flooding due to the Atmospheric River. 

On the way we stopped at the John Muir statue carved from a redwood tree in Lemon Cove.

We picked up a huge bag of oranges from a cute fruit stand.

​And then we had chocolate from Reimer's. Yum!

​It was so green and lush it reminded us of home. 

We knew that California had been experiencing rogue weather conditions since before Christmas as we had been following news reports and first hand accounts from my bestie, Heather, who lives in Santa Clara. It was no real surprise that recent snow storms had led to park closures. What we had not anticipated was the massive flooding due to an Atmospheric River.

I had never even heard of an Atmospheric River. I was baffled. It sounded like an element card from a Kim Krans mystical oracle deck. I had to find out more.

I discovered an Atmospheric River is like a huge, invisible, out of control fire hose let loose in the sky. Long and skinny, uncontrollably spraying this way and that in a haphazard manner, dumping copious amounts of water in the region. The Atmospheric River in Tulare County led to serious flooding of the Kaweah River, Kings River and other rivers in the area. It was wet!

The Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Park was closed.

Indefinitely.

The roads had been ruined by the floods caused by the Atmospheric River.

We have been to the Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Park twice before but we were all disappointed not to see the red giant trees, the magnificent views of the Sierra Nevadas from Moro and Beetle Rock and walk in the enchanting meadows. 

We drove up to the entrance of the National Park and we saw for ourselves the destruction of the floods and the snow on the mountain tops.

On our very first proper outing as a family in our Grand Design 2930RL Solitude-S we headed to the Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Park in California from our home in Gilbert, Arizona for Spring Break.

We were excited to test out the trailer for two weeks and see how the interior space worked for us all, especially the beds- how comfy are they? The bathroom- how long does the hot water last for the shower? The fridge- can we fit everything in? And the pantry- will there be enough room for Kim's curry making ingredients as well as large bulk items like kitchen and loo roll?  

It was also Henry's birthday week, so we were buzzing and set off in high spirits.

​Our hearts and hydro flasks were full!