We had false start in the Willamette wine country. We made an effort but at 25 bucks a tasting,I wasn’t up for the effort and moved on…
Lovely evening. We took several walks about the lake. Played several songs at the campground and Ringo was a dog.
We stayed at Ainsworth state park and stop, drop and rolled to the Bridge of the Gods. Then we headed down Scenic Hwy 30 through the Columbia River Gorge towards Mcmenamins Edgefield in Troutdale.
We tried to go to Multnomah Falls but it was July 4th and it was an absolute madhouse parking anywhere, so we figured we would catch it on the way home (Feel the suspense? You’ll just have to wait for it.) There were plenty of other waterfalls to see. Saw another old building (Vista house) but they wouldn’t let us inside.
We ended up at the Edgefield where a Grateful Dead cover band turned into a blues band with this guy. So this is how sasquatch like to spend their Independence Day.
What a glorious day. We started at trillium lake where we had to pay a day use fee to have a picnic, but we got to see how Portlanders beach. It’s funny. Their coasts are cloudy so they beach at the lakes at the base of Mt. Hood. I think there were 200 floatation devices out there.
After the nature walks, we headed up to the Timberland Lodge to take in the historic building. So funny story: Helen Abbott (one of Sadira’s friends) was describing a family vacay. We asked were she went? What she remembers: apparently the Abbott family visits museums on vacay. So we asked the Austin girls, what do we do on Vacation? That isn’t their experience; they both agreed that the old farts drag them in to old historic buildings alot… Especially old breweries. Here’s one
On the way home we passed Panama point and got a few shots of the Columbia Valley with Mt. Hood.
Yesterday was mostly a travel and errand day. We were traveling from the ocean to the Mt. Hood area. We had lunch at Mcmenamins in Kalama Harbor and walked along the Columbia River. Kids were playing in the water next to Fishermen reeling in salmon.
We stopped by and saw Rachael/Carson Shore and her boyfriend Armond for a picnic dinner. She lives right next to this amazing park.
We found this soft top on Facebook market on our first pass through Portland but couldn’t arrange a pickup. As we circled back around Portland we reached out . Now our wordly possessions can stay dry. (Frank got a toupee). Oh yeah, look at this campspot on the deschutes river over the fourth of July weekend.
Drove by a Mcmenamins on the way to Ft. Stephens. Since it served bfast we decided to grab a breakfast the next morning on our way to Ecola Beach. Yummy!
After breakfast, we rolled on down the road to Ecola State Park which was amazing. They’ve filmed 4 movies there (point break, goonies, twilight, kindergarten cop)
Then, yeah we did… We drove the truck on the beach at Del Ray. First, we had an appetizer (Chips and Salsa) watched a Ford get stuck and then worked up the courage to follow the rest of the four wheel trucks on the beach.
All in all it was another fantastic day on the OR coast. Glad we didn’t go to Utah and hike the narrows…
Very little to report. Started the day reading and relaxing and even some laundry while George worked. No pictures of that but it was a lovely part of my day.
We broke camp and traveled from Nehalem Bay up the coast to Ft. Stephens state park.
We went for a walk at Ft Stephens and literally ran away from a sworm of mosquitoes. Bikes are recommended so you can outrun them.
The fort is pretty cool. When we pulled up, all we could hear was screaming and laughing. Joy is such a lovely sound. Turns out there were about 30 to 40 kids at a camp playing capture the flag in the fort. How fun would that be? They wouldn’t let us play… I think they were afraid of our skills. #iAintScared
Yesterday we took an amazing and steep hike out to Cape Lookout. There were lots of cut off posts (trip hazards) neighboring the plummet-to-your-death-cliffs that made me grateful Brian Woods wasn’t there.
2 things to know about Oregon:
1) They love dogs. There’s a dog hitch outside the bathroom. They are cool to be off leash on the beach as long as they come back to you. George even saw several dogs in the safeway.
2) You still can’t pump your own gas in OR. It’s weird. You just sit there and watch them. Also, do you tip them if they clean your windows? Things I’d like to know.
From Cape Lookout, we traveled up to Cape Meares Light house and there we ran into the parents of the brewer at Burial Brewery in AVL… So strange. We must give of beer pheromones. They gave us recommendations for beers in Bend, OR. Boneyard/rpm is now on the list.
Going through Tillamook we stopped at the creamery for cheese, yogurt, and icecream. Yes, you’re officially on vacation when you wait in line for cheese!
Nahalem Bay wins the best beach award.
We are getting used to the conveniences of modern camping. Stop, drop and roll is my new favorite. On the down side, I’m still getting used to parking. Sometimes I just hawg spaces because I can’t park frank n furter yet. #parkingfoul
So, to the real business. We saw cool stuff today.
We tried to go to rogue brewery in Newport but they didn’t like us (twice) so we went to a seafood market, grabbed fish and chips, beers and Dungeness crabs and made tracks to cape Lookout.
Lots of fog and 60 degrees. I cuddled up with a hot toddy after dinner and a short with a longgggg jacket. I hear Portland was 115 today. #OregonCoast
Trecking down Hwy 101 towards Jessie Honeyman State Park. We’re stopping at several seafood markets hunting Dungeness crabs but it sounds like they are out of season because Halibut season just started. I guess we’ll just have to suffer through all the local smoked salmon. Yesterday we bought a salmon tube stick that resembled salmon jerky/salmon sausage. It was good, but the smoked salmon we got in Brookings at Pacific Ocean harvesters was the best so far.
We then went to the sea lion caves. I took lots of pictures and lots of videos and I’ll try not to bore you, but they’re like giant slugs. Incredibly funny in their posturing with thier tiny little flappy fin arms. The cave is the states largest sea cave. http://www.sealioncaves.com/
What I wasn’t expecting to see on the Oregon coast was little blue dune buggies in the sand. I kinda wish I had an atv.
We are eating blueberries like they are free because they practically are.
Ringo was so stinky from ocean water and sand after his SandDune romp that he and Dr. Bonners met in the campsite shower. While waking around the campsite drying him off we noticed this set up. I think it would be funnier to have a dangling step ladder instead of the step stool.
What a beautiful day in OR. Probably the first day we really relaxed into our semisabbatical. After leaving Harris Beach, we spent two nights at Sunset Bay.
We had our first t@g drop and roll out which was amazing. We headed into town for a delicious late lunch.
After a late lunch we headed to Shore acres (and gardens).
Then we played some music and ate some fresh halibut. #campgroundChef
It’s about the Journey….
spending all my money in all the best ways
Roll On
Roll On
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Austin Semi Sabbatical 