Home From the Sea

We had a good trip to the Oregon Coast.

It began, of course, with a Starbucks stop.

Next we arrived in the small forest town of Vernonia, Oregon, west of Portland, where my sister Ilene lives, and where she was hosting our Norquist Family Picnic, and Rockaway Cabin Trustees Meeting. 

 Ilene greeted us as we gathered and soon we were all sharing lots of good food and conversation.  We had sort of a small group this year, with families busy with travel and sports or just too much distance. 

 We sent all of the non-trustees off to play then, while we handled the business of operating our Rockaway Beach Cabin as a family trust. 

Laurie is the Financial manager, and I am the communications secretary. I was busy keeping track of everything. 

 My brother Hank and my nephews Tim and Stewart. 

Jill and her cousin Scott.

 Tom and Stephanie. 

Jill and the kids and Jill's mother and father-in-law were just returning from a week at the cabin, and Tom and I were on our way there. After the meeting we all went our separate ways. 

We made our usual stop at the Neakanie Mt. overlook, where smoke obscured the distant view. 

 We learned while we were driving that the Sounders had beat LA 5-0 in the match in Seattle that afternoon that we had to miss. Tom proudly hoisted the Sounder car flag.

After settling into the cabin, we had picnic leftovers for dinner and then walked into town for ice cream. 

Smoke from all of the Northwest wildfires followed us there too, and made for a red sunset. 

 It didn't deter vacationers from enjoying the beach though. 

We didn't do much on Sunday but hang out and read. We walked up the beach to the Kite Festival in the afternoon, but there was no wind, just smoke, and the kites were not happening. 

The old steam train was running though, three times a day back and forth between Garibaldi and Rockaway Beach, always with a good load of tourists. 

When we drove around Tillamook Bay on Monday morning to go shopping at Fred Meyer, the scene was ghostly. 

We stopped by the Tillamook Cheese Factory to tour the new visitors center. It was packed with people. We enjoyed looking around, but passed on waiting in line for ice cream. 

We bought some at Fred Meyer instead, to take home to keep in the freezer at the cabin. We controlled ourselves and only bought one carton, Oregon Hazelnut Salted Caramel, which we just managed to finish off by Wednesday evening.

Tuesday was sunny and somewhat clearer and we decided to take a little road trip to see some of the sights nearby. Cape Meares is one of our favorite places. 

I had a date with one of my favorite things, a big tree, in fact a giant among big trees. From the parking space at the entrance to the park, there is a 1/4 mile trail to the giant. 

This is the underside of the roots of a blown over big spruce, now inhabited by small trees and bushes. So it is with life in the primordial old growth Pacific Northwest rain forest.  

There it is!

It's hard to get a feel in photos of how big this tree is.

Big burls and a buttressing root on the other side. 

We lingered in its presence for a while before retracing our steps. Places like this are my cathedrals. 

 The light house was open for tours in the main part of the park, so we walked the trail to the light, enjoying the views. 

People were getting an up close and personal experience. We had taken the tour before, so we made way for others. 

Smoke obscured the view to the south. 

Then we walked to my other special place in the park, the Octopus Tree. 

We explored a bit along our route through Netarts, and then discussed if and where we might stop for lunch. We chose the Fish Peddler at the Pacific Oyster Company on Tillamook Bay.

 There was a whole lot of shuckin' goin' on. 

 Tom had his oysters fried, in a po boy, and oyster stew. 

 I had a taste, but prefer fried clams. 

Obviously our evening meal was light, but we had ice cream!

I have a few more photos, but this post is long, so there will be a Part 2.