At The Beach

 Last Monday we headed south to the Oregon Coast, with the family cabin at Rockaway Beach our destination.

We made stops along the way.  In Seaside the Gibsons went to the aquarium while we strolled the promenade.

In Canon Beach we found the candy store and the ice cream shop.

The kids watched salt water taffy being made.  This batch was peanut butter, and fresh from the candy man, it was delicious!  Free samples.

At last we were on the beach!

Tom and I rented a small cottage unit just two doors from the cabin, where each morning I prepared my own breakfast and then went out for a walk before anyone was stirring at the cabin.

During the day we played and ate and read and sat.

One evening we hooked up with a local sports bar/family dining place in town to stream a Sounders game while we dined.

 Most days ended with sunsets and beach fires.

 Most mornings included donuts from the Garibaldi bakery.

 There was the required visit to the Tillamook Cheese Factory.  This time I passed on the ice cream.

 And more beach fires and s'mores.

 Isaac talked his parents into a train ride on the Oregon Coast Scenic Railroad.  I caught them as they passed the cabin.

 Late Thursday afternoon Jake joined us.

 Then it was time for serious damming of the creek.

 Saturday morning the low tide was late enough, 7:00 AM, that we could make to Hug Point State Park while the tide was low.

 This is an old road bed that was used long ago, before the coast highway cut through the headlands.  It was usable only at low tide.  Picture Model T's out here, and ladies in big hats.

 Beware the cave monsters!

 This is a geologically rich area, and beautiful!

 Corey was in heaven snapping photos everywhere.

 The weather at the beach had been sunny but with a cold wind blowing.  Saturday was calm, but I am told by this crew of wave jumpers that the water was very cold!

 On Sunday morning we all pitched in to pack up and clean up the cabin.  Then we headed inland, over the coast mountains, to Vernonia, Oregon, where my sister Ilene lives.  There she hosted our annual family reunion.


My mother's brother, my Uncle Don and Aunt Jeanne, joined us.

 We had lots of good food and good talk.  Then some of us took a shady walk.

 While others went to the river to catch crawdads.

Girl cousins.
And the whole gang us us.  A few are related to us through my dad, but all the rest are related to my mother.  Most are her children, her grandchildren and her great grandchildren.

We're at home today, doing laundry, catching up with yard and mail and bill paying.  Tomorrow we're heading to Whidbey Island for a few days.

On the road again, and another beach.