I’ve started a vacation blog post three times now and none
of them are really hitting my writer’s muse.
I should have written more
during our vacation, but I didn’t. My
mind was peacefully void of the voices that sometimes crowd my thoughts and
demand to be heard.
As I’m not motivated to write anything in particular about our trip, I’ll just try to post a few photos of our week at the beach and try to give you an idea of how perfect it was to be away from our life for an entire week.
As I’m not motivated to write anything in particular about our trip, I’ll just try to post a few photos of our week at the beach and try to give you an idea of how perfect it was to be away from our life for an entire week.
We left on time Friday morning, which was a shock in itself. I have all these plans for how car travel will work out and it usually gets left in the dust because my spontaneous spouse and my organizational self are at cross purposes. Add to that one teenager and one teen-who-thinks-he's-an-adult plus one worried (because his crate and bed are in the car), excited (because we're excited) and pacing (because he doesn't want to be left behind) dog and it's usually a recipe for failure. But, this one time in the universe, it all came together and the car was packed, the house was clean, the coolers were loaded and we pulled out of the driveway one minute after my "planned" departure time. Hey, one minute is nothing in the time-space continuum that is my universe!
We caught lunch on the road and after an interesting swerve-and-miss-almost-accident outside of Federal Way, we stopped three more times to walk the dog, grab some snacks and switch drivers. Last year we arrived in the dark to our destination, so it was a pleasant and relaxing beginning to arrive about 5 PM to a sunny beach house and the sound of the waves crashing just a short walk away.
We caught lunch on the road and after an interesting swerve-and-miss-almost-accident outside of Federal Way, we stopped three more times to walk the dog, grab some snacks and switch drivers. Last year we arrived in the dark to our destination, so it was a pleasant and relaxing beginning to arrive about 5 PM to a sunny beach house and the sound of the waves crashing just a short walk away.
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| Klipsan Beach Life Saving Station -- Keepers House |
Our friends were coming separately, so we unpacked and did the important things -- checked out the gift stuff and got the Wi-fi up and running, of course! Our friends arrived and we drove into town to have pizza at Chico's. The reviews on Yelp make me laugh every time as I think people expect a pizza place to be fancy and high class. It's PIZZA people! The staff are friendly, the pizzas are hot and prepared quickly, they have a (small) salad bar, big screen TV, beer, wine and soda. What else does a pizza place need? Oh, they also have garlic bread, hot wings and lots of tables.
We did start out the day with a 2.5 mile walk (thanks pedometer!) on the beach with delicious coffee, waves, broken sea shells and the dog chasing the seagulls...then after changing we stopped by Long Beach Roasters and got a DELICIOUS Mexican Mocha. I have been craving them all year long. I don't know WHAT they do to these "simple" coffees, but in addition to the hand-crafted Mocha with vanilla and cinnamon, I'm pretty sure there's an addictive substance in the mix.
Food is more expensive in Long Beach than in Redmond; partially because we don't bring our mayonnaise, butter, etc. with us. But, Saturday morning we took a trek into Warrenton, Oregon to go to the Fred Meyer. Partially because we needed a prescription refilled, but also because Oregon has NO SALES TAX!
There was sunshine in Oregon, but just a few miles after crossing the bridge into Washington, the sun disappeared. Here's the Astoria Bridge (Hwy 101)
The guys took our shopping trip as an opportunity to check out the go-carting and lunch out. We shopped and had lunch out too, then relaxed until Blake started cooking Fajitas for our dinner. We planned our meals this year and shopped accordingly, which actually made the shopping easier. We only went out once or twice extra for more wine, brownie mix and chocolate chips.
Kirsten made a delicious vegetable pasta Sunday night and we made chili for dinner Monday night. Tuesday night was leftovers and Wednesday night we had Chinese take-out from Chen's. Lunches were hot dogs, hamburgers, sandwiches and breakfasts were scrambled eggs, breakfast bars or breakfast burritos. Dessert was fudge, brownies and s'mores. We certainly didn't starve!
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| Astoria Column |
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| Burial Monument |
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| 164 steps up to the top! |
Not everyone climbed to the top of the tower -- I did -- but it took me some time and the top is beautiful but scary if you have a fear of heights (which I do!). There is a panoramic view of the entire Astoria/ Warrenton/Columbia River area.
One of the best things about this trip is it was mostly dog-friendly; we only kenneled him twice during the entire trip (other than at bedtime). We always had someone in our group of 8 who was willing to hold the leash or keep track of the dog. Mustang had a great time and enjoyed all the beach time.
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| Mustang found friends every where he went |
After the Column, we drove to the Peter Iredale wreck and Fort Stevens State Park. 
Tonight was movie night -- "Princess Bride" complete with all of us repeating the lines throughout the entire movie. Blake made those mint chocolate chip brownies.
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| Chocolate Chip Pancakes with Whip and Ice Cream |
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Monday was another beach walk and breakfast at Laurie's. We planned on eating at the Loose Caboose but it was closed. Laurie's was fantastic, but the servings were HUGE!
Then it was on to surfing. By the time the kids all had their wetsuits on, it was well past the 30 minute time (you know you hear your mother's voice) and Tyler gave all four kids lessons on getting wet. After two-and-a-half hours, the kids were wet, tired and well-surfed. Smiles all around (except when Ben swallowed a gulp of brown sea foam) and we went home for lunch and naps. We did manage to drag ourselves into town for window shopping and touristy stuff.
Dinner was chili and smore's for dessert around the firepit.
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| Sea vegetation |
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| Jelly Fish |
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| Sunset |
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| Boogie Boarding |
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| Playing in the water |
Tuesday we made yet another trip into Astoria to see the Firefighters Museum; but it was closed due to lack of funding. We grabbed some sandwiches and headed back across the bridge to Fort Columbia. A picnic lunch and walking around the old fort, then back to the house for leftovers. We split up for movie night -- the girls watched "Sherlock Holmes Game of Shadows" upstairs and the guys watched -- well, I don't know what the guys watched.
Wednesday the girls and Blake trekked back to Astoria to browse the shops while Russ and James drove to Tillamook to see the air museum and Cape Meares Lighthouse. We came back in the afternoon and spent some time on the beach reading, then movie night again. The guys watched a movie about the Red Baron and the girls watched 27 Dresses.
Thursday it was sadly, time to pack up and leave. One more walk on the beach, one more Mexican Mocha, one more trip to Jack's Country Store and home in time for football practice and 97 degree temperatures in Redmond.
Wednesday the girls and Blake trekked back to Astoria to browse the shops while Russ and James drove to Tillamook to see the air museum and Cape Meares Lighthouse. We came back in the afternoon and spent some time on the beach reading, then movie night again. The guys watched a movie about the Red Baron and the girls watched 27 Dresses.
Thursday it was sadly, time to pack up and leave. One more walk on the beach, one more Mexican Mocha, one more trip to Jack's Country Store and home in time for football practice and 97 degree temperatures in Redmond.
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| Jack's Country Store has AWESOME BAND-AIDS! |
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