The Roess Family Reunion - Balboa Island, CA - June 2012

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We're peeling away the dead skin from our sun-shocked shoulders and backs, now that it's been one week since we travelled to California to see family, have some fun, and get a tan that Seattle-ites will envy.

The Roess Family Reunion on Balboa was a blast. In commemoration of the late David L. Roess's 100th birthday, the Roess family and relatives gathered in Balboa Island, off the coast of Costa Mesa in Southern California.

Kaitlin enjoyed dragging Shaun around, showing him all her favorite spots from when she was a kid and teenager spending summers in Balboa.
The group photo - not a bad-looking bunch!

Highlights of the trip included:
  • family reunion lunch at the Grand Canal house with almost 40 relatives! 
  • riding the electric boat around the Balboa Bay 
  • watching old videos and slideshows of the family and friends
  • biking to the Sugar Shack in Huntington Beach for breakfast with the Van Wickles
  • spending an afternoon relaxing by the pool of Kathy & Lane's gorgeous house in San Juan Capistrano
  • jogging around the little and big islands one the morning and then hit up the Cinnamon Roll stand for another breakfast
  • kayaking with cousins Jake and Rory past Lido Island and John Wayne's "Duke's Point," and into the Back Bay
  • hitting the beach with Shaun's buddies Luke and Dawson
  • playing cribbage at the Grand Canal house
  • going for multiple rounds of Balboa Bars and frozen bananas on Marine St. 
  • eating breakfast with Mom at Wilma's Patio
  • biking with nearly the whole family through the Back Bay
  • riding the Balboa Fun Zone ferris wheel during sunset on our final night
What a great vacation! It was even better to spend time with family, getting to know our relatives in a more relaxed way than is possible during the holidays.
Location: Balboa Island, Newport Beach, CA 92662, USA

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