"Coasting" through Oregon

Our insanely busy week prior to our vacation, and subsequent mad dash to the airport left us a bit disheveled upon arriving to Seattle. J&J were most hospitable and picked us up at the airport, took us out for the most lovely tacos, and settled us into a room in their condo. We took in Pikes Place, visited the Japanese Gardens, and spent the day canoeing on Lake Washington. I think I missed fifty amazing shots as we our canoe romantically glided through pink and white water lilies and while C sung me impromptu Gondola songs.


We paddled under bridges and freeways and even had a close encounter with a magnificent blue heron. C tossed him a wheat thin, to which he turned up his graceful neck, looked the other direction, and took to skies. I believe I heard him call over his shoulder, "Sir, I believe you mistook me for an Ivar's seagull, or a Pike's Place pigeon, which I am neither."


Clear skies and warm sunlight were our companions for the first half of our trip, and we would have welcomed it more if it weren't for the lack of A/C in our borrowed Rx-7. By the time the clouds rolled in, we welcomed them with open arms. There is also something to be said for photography in the rain. It's like wearing sunglasses while looking at the world; greens look greener, and everything takes on a romantic hue.


One of our visits included a former missionary companion in Oregon, who is an amazing woman with beautiful and charming little ones. Our drive down was so hot that we climbed out of the car at a an elementary school to dry off before arriving. I think we each lost three pounds of water weight that day. I didn't weigh myself, but am pretty sure I would have seen numbers that I haven't seen since before I was married.


After a lovely evening at their home and a beautiful and healthy meal, we settled into our romantic "theme room."

My only regret with that visit is that I had taken more photos of the family! They were so much fun and so talented! We did get to spend the day at the beach with them the following day, which was wonderful. Next time I will come better prepared for sand-fights and sandcastles, but you can catch some of the tidepool magic over at Whose-its. We did catch an ambulance racing down the beach, but decided we would not exacerbate the situation by joining the crowd.

We stopped by Tillamook where we saw some pretendee Pirates who were wearing matcy-matchy HD hats and Colombia jackets.

C was indignant at the treatment of the cheese factory employees, and practically began gathering data about the on-display nature of their work.

and I took a picture of the cheese trough, but couldn't bring myself to participate. Something about the setup just made me feel "udderly" livestockish. I don't do normal when it comes to cheese, anyway, so it was no loss.

Fortunately we found an abnormal cheese shop and purchased some lovely garlic herbed Brie and a baguette. I fell in love with their eclectic wares, while C fell in love with their leetle Burro.

After a little melt down from all of our pent up stress from work, we were sufficiently purged to continue our journey and suddenly life got easier, the clouds softened our blistering drive, and we could truly enjoy Seattle as it was meant to be.


The Oregon Coast was spectacular, filled with lovely surprises like the Kite Flying Festival and Hug Point:

A word to the wise, never stay at a B&B in Astoria. Take my word for it, but  we enjoyed our visit nevertheless, Goonies and all.

Alas, we could not visit the Oregon Coast without stopping in Willapa Bay for smoked salmon and spicy dry smoked oysters, and also visited the Seaside Strip. And now that I have overwhelmed you with all of these links to the photo-journalist aspect of these places, this may be a good place to stop. Allow me to hold up my red sneakers and hang my red cardigan in the closet, and say goodbye to trolley, then I'll sing the good feeling song and tell you that you are special. Perhaps we will see each other again tomorrow?