Desperate for some time away, we had planned for a weekend of hiking and biking in Santa Cruz when sweeping wildfires closed down I-80, necessitating a last minute change to an Airbnb further north in Fairfax to escape the smoke. We delayed our departure Saturday to clear out some rejuvenated bermuda grass, but arrived in time to enjoy Creole fare at the Hummingbird including beignets, gumbo, chicken n’ waffles, and shrimp n’ grits, followed by a scoop from Fairfax Scoop. Unfortunately, the smoke had penetrated into our area by afternoon, which kept us indoors and baking in our moutainside rental. We delighted in the eclectic interior which sported old family photos and equine decor to reflect the hosts’ farrier service, but Westley’s favorite were the toy chest, bunk bed, and loft bed in the master bedroom. Feeling too lazy to venture out, we shared leftovers and instant noodles for dinner before calling it a night. On Sunday, we awoke early to hike Cascade Falls by Canyon Road before enjoying curry, thali, and biryani at Cafe Lotus. We spent another afternoon lounging in the cabin to work on Westley’s new Lego race truck while watching a squirrel steal from the bird feeder. A brief reprieve in air quality gave us a chance to enjoy izakaya dinner take-out from Village Sake on the balcony, but was cut short when Melody got stung by a yellow jacket. We left Monday morning, stopping briefly in San Rafael to hike the Turtleback Point Loop, then hurried home through the smoke to get our 4-year-old home to use the bathroom.  I agreed with Westley that our trip was too short, but we were thankful for the chance to get away for a weekend.