Oregon

First week of August and our annual trip to the Oregon coast!
We decided not to leave on the Friday night as we usually do, due to the fact that we always seem to get stuck in traffic in Seattle and spend 7 hours doing a 4 hour trip (normally staying at the Red Lion in Olympia).
Saturday we left bright and early and arrived at the border to a 3 minute wait (yay Nexus).  Then we were off - after a couple of hours our first stop was Starbucks for a coffee and snack; then on to Portland and a lunch time stop at VOODOO donuts TOO.  I had investigated this and found there is a second location that does not have the hour line ups.  So we arrived and managed to get a dozen donuts in no time flat.

Then we were on the road again and 45 minutes we arrived in Salem.  We drove to the Super Walmart, Subway and groceries were in order.  After an hour of shopping the Chandlers had caught up to us and we packed their car with all the groceries and on to the coast.

Arriving in Neskowin exactly at 5pm, just in time to pickup the key and make our way to our house- "Mermaid Cove" for the week.

After unpacking and realizing that none of us wanted to cook we were back in the cars and off to Pacific City.  We arrived and had a 2 hour(!!!) wait at the Pelican Pub before they would serve us.  So we sat and enjoyed the sunset- the kids all climbed the dune and we waited.  After our 2 hour wait we were eventually seated and had an okay dinner.  The views are what we come for but I think a 2 hour wait is crazy- especially when we could see lots of empty tables.  So at 10pm we were done and done and back to the house.

The house was pretty chilly when we got back and we realized the heating was not working- luckily there was an indoor fire and wood to be had- so a nice cozy fire was in order.  Then off to bed.

Monday and we were socked in.  A very foggy day was ahead of us.  The kids all headed to the beach, the young 'uns building sandcastles and the older ones skim boarding the day away. Denise and I headed down the beach for a lovely foggy walk.  We spent the day lazing around and having an all round relax.  Then the kids all headed down to set up for the fire- what day would be complete without a campfire (no fire bans here!)

Tuesday we woke later- had a bit of a laze about.  Then we were off shopping- the outlets were calling our names.  We all got a bit of shopping in (not too many bargains as the dollar is not that great for us at this time.)  Then we carried on south to our favourite Fogerty Creek.  After a great hotdog bbq lunch we started our agate hunting.  Not too many agates to be found- it seems that there have not been enough storms and the agate hunting is not too good right now- boo.  So with a tiny handful of stones we left a while later and back to those for some afternoon chilling and of course a campfire.

Tuesday was another gorgeous day on the coast!  It seemed like the ideal day to head to Taft beach- we arrived to a bit of a windy day- but the tide was out and it was gorgeous.  We settled in the kids skim boarding and the little ones floating out on the river.  They made it to the other side and then a gust of wind took their floaty and we realized they were running and running and not seeming to catch up to it.  We watched for a while, then Denise decided to cross the river and go help.  By this time the tide was not the way back and the river was getting high.  A lot of running and catching up to the floaty ensued, Denise caught up to them but by this time there was no coming back, so they had to cross on the highway bridge- Ian went to rescue them!  What a scary thing.  But all safely back we hung out some more- all the while I was burning to a crisp- I guess the 50spf didn't suffice.
After a few hours we were back in town and doing some Lincoln city shopping- antiquing, candy land the ushe!

Later after a dinner of steak, it was casino time.  Denise and I headed to the outlet mall beforehand, to get some quick, quality shopping in (sans kids)- and then it was casino time.  The craps tables were not our friend though and we were done after a couple of hours - the sunburn had really set in by then too- so home we went and bed.

Wednesday dawned another gorgeous summer day and we stayed around the house- took a walk in the Neskowin village- always so quaint!  After lunch we had the Louden family stop in - what a treat to see them after 9 years!  A great catch up on the beach for a few hours.  Then they had to leave as they had to make it to Woodburn and outlet shopping for the boys.  We had picked up pizza for the kids in town and they had pizza, while we headed off to the Hawk Street Cafe for an anniversary dinner for the Chandlers.  As always the meal did not disappoint - halibut for me was so good, mahi mani for the boys and seafood pasta for Denise.  We  also met a very interesting lady - who had an affinity for the Beatles and talked our ear off for some time- hilarious!  Then we waded back across the river and back in time for a night of games and hanging out- another amazing day on the coast.

Thursday seemed like a good day for a road trip- Newport bound we packed up the car and headed south.  The hour or so drive down the coast was stunning- the skies blue and the views as always breath taking.  We stopped in Depoe bay for a look at the ocean and to see if we saw any whales.

Then on down to the waterfront in Newport.  After an amble along Front street we had a lunch of pizza, hotdogs and clam chowder for some; we spotted all the sealions; then headed with the kids to Ripley's Believe it or not.  That was interesting for sure...

A bit of "antiquing" found me a good book stash :)  Then home to Neskowin.  After another amazing dinner we headed down for our bonfire on the beach.  Another wonderful day on the coast.

Friday- our last full day, we woke up to fog.  The day was a lazy day- we went to the outlet mall quickly for a few last minute things.  Denise and I popped in to the Christmas store and I got my tree ornament.  Then we were home with Papa Murphys pizza and our last night was spent packing and chilling. Saturday was an early morning departure.  Until next time....