Beach House Part 2

The evening brought more food and humor than anyone should consume.  Neil, Carol and I went into Yachats to find internet.  We ended up at the Drift Inn at the bar, right in front of the blender.  We enjoyed coffee until Carol complimented the bartender on how pretty his product was (a marionberry daiquiri).  Her schmoozing resulted in him giving her the dregs from the blender, and it seems like the Rum had collected in the bottom because we all got a little buzz as we passed around the glass.  Yummm! 

We played games and did a puzzle and Neil proved superior at Hearts.  But that rivalry (adults vs. teens) will continue.   We bedded down Nick and Gal outside on the porch and Neil, Carol and I retired to the Queen’s room to enjoy a couple more episodes of WKRP before sleep took us all.

Sunday, Emily was again on breakfast patrol and she whipped up ham and cheese omlettes until we were full and groaning.  The weather was still cloudy with a little mist (sometimes almost turning into rain).  But we took a walk on the beach, Freddy had his daily swim, Ruben had his daily climb and wade in the surf, and it was time to say goodbye.  Emily and Ruben and Betsy and Robert were headed back to the valley.  The Duersts and I are lucky enough to have another day here.  We called Max and Haley and gave them strong words of encouragement to join us.  We need more reinforcements to keep beating the teens at Hearts! 

 A few more pictures from our walk on Sunday:

The crowd in the rain....Neil, Carol, Betsy and Ru (also Jetti and Fred)

Computer boys

Max got to the beach at about 4:00. Carol and I were in town getting supplies so we brought back clam chowder. After a walk on the beach, it was time for the final hearts game. It was all men and boys.  Neil and Max took on Nick and Gal.  Max took home the prize and the teens were skunked.....until next time!  After dinner, Max took off for home and the rest of us played games and enjoyed a quiet evening.  It sure was hard to leave today (Monday).  But we all feel renewed and refreshed.  I feel so lucky to be able to spend quality time with my family.  Truly a blessing and one I will never take for granted.

Searching for agates.....Nick and Carol each found huge ones.

Max and Freddy at the point

It got a little wet

Heading East 5/23/12

Three years ago, I realized how much I had missed not visiting my family back East,not being able to watch my 2 beautiful nieces grow up and resolved to make it back at least once a year.  Well, Laurie, my sis in law had sent me a photo album of family and I knew it was time.  A tortuous visit to the net and airline, hotel and car rental were quickly put into place. 

I got into Detroit at 7:30 P.M. and my brother/best friend whisked me to a mid-eastern restaurant for lentil soup and chicken shwarma - delicious and enough garlic to ward off any local vampires for the next week.

Thursday and Friday were spent on minor errands and me playing "Mister Handyman", have wrench, will travel.  The best part was spending Friday with Maia 4 1/2 and Rylee, 7 months.  What a joy.  Maia has blossomed into this bright, inquisitive, verbal, loving young lady that has supplied me with my quota of smiles for the next 10 years.  I spent some quality time with Rylee where I was amazed at her innate intelligence.  She responds to music so I did a few Jackson Browne tunes to rave reviews - obviously she is not too selective regarding vocal quality.  We played a bit of "This little piggy...", talked about the future, (she mainly listened to my ideas) and within the hour, my heart belonged to her forever.

Saturday, we were up by 7:30 and after a few false starts, made our way up to Bayfield, Ontario where my brother and sister own a cottage on the shores of Lake Huron.  We are talking about a wonderful, warm spot where laughter rules, warm feelings reside and tension melts away like today's polar cap, yes, there is global warming but I digress.

My niece Carrie and husband Nate, my niece Megan, husband Rick, Maia and Rylee were already there and deep into Cottage mode.  What is truly wonderful is that all of these people are very bright with varied interests which makes for interesting discussions over a wide variety of topics.

We headed to the beach, just 82 steps (straight down) and spent the afternoon kite flying, sand castle building, tossing sticks for the dogs, watching the waves and catching up on life.  I could make a fortune if I could figure out a way to bottle the warmth and love I felt.  At 4:30, we headed up to make our 5:00 reservation at the "Black Dog", a crowd favorite in downtown Bayfield.

Bayfield is a storybook village that feels and is mellow on the banks of Lake Huron.  A beautiful harbor with multi-colored fishing boats bobbing on the tide, expansive green areas, century homes and small quaint storefronts without a Mc Donalds to be seen.  Dinner was wonderful, not for the food which was excellent but for the company around the table - laughter in abundance.

We picked up ice cream and celebrated Rick's birthday in song and Laurie's homemade Hummingbird cake which was delicious and no birds were injured.  Maia was strongly advocating for a s'more that she had been promised so Nate built a fire in the backyard and while Maia completed her sugar high mission, we just sat around watching the sunset regaling each other with stories from the past.

It's been a wonderful few days.  What would have only made it better if Kathy could be here to share it.

Joey, Nichols, Rylee and Laurie enjoying a moment

Maia, a bit pensive prior to swim class

Our little mermaid

Maia's favorite restaurant, The Lime Light

Beach time, Nate, Maia, Nichols and Carrie

Peace, easy to find around here

Jeff, flying a kite, got it up to 350 feet

Nate with Wren, a Blue Heeler

No stick, no matter how big was safe from Wren

Rick, picking at the coast

Dropping in at the "Black Dog"

The Crew

Is that a look of contentment or what!

The S'more has landed and all is well

The pictures can only express only so much, the memories will last a lifetime!!

Beach House Weekend May 25-28

The May trip to the beach house was eagerly anticipated.  I had been working hard at home and at school and was feeling depleted.  Even though we had been to the coast in April, and earlier in May, there is something about living at the ocean for however little time that is healing and relaxing.  I reserved the Beach house for Friday through Monday of Memorial Day weekend.  Lack of state funding for education provided me with another unpaid day off on Friday.  Not that I’m complaining……

Jeff left on Tuesday for his 3-week trip to Detroit/Cleveland.   We spent the week and weekend before he left getting things done around both homesteads.  Max and I took off the camper and hooked up the boat and towed the boat to the lake and launched it and put it in the  slip in preparation for summer fun to come.  Jeff and Max and I loaded Max’s motorcycle into the truck and he took it in to get the rear tire replaced.  And we did lots of yard work.  Jeff cleaned, washed and packed to get ready to go.  It was a veritable flurry of activity.  Here are some pictures from spring around the farm.

Beach House weekend was fast approaching, and Max and I still had to put the camper back on the truck without Jeff’s expert help.  I came home on Thursday in a pouring rainstorm that could only be described as torrential.  It was a little (more than a little) discouraging.  Neither Max nor I were eager to go get drenched.  I was ready to concede defeat and work on it Friday morning, when the rain finally stopped.  Max and I rushed out and got the job done in record time.  He backed the truck up perfectly, we dropped it in and tightened everything up.  Yay!  The rain was beginning again when finished.  Whew!  We felt very proud. 

So Friday I got a pretty late start (what with sleeping in and packing slow).  I picked up Carol at around noon and we decided to take the long way (my favorite way) south through Drain and Elkton and Scottsburg to Reedsport.  We followed the Umpqua while solving all the worlds problems with our superior knowledge and psychological insights.   Ok—we gossiped!  Anyway, time passed quickly and we were soon in Florence at the Fred Meyer picking up last minute supplies.  Boy, were we glad to get to Dulcinea!  I backed the truck up, we unloaded and off came our shirts.  It was cloudy but warm and we danced around in our bras celebrating being alive in such a beautiful place.  Carol got started on making a roast and I enjoyed a celebratory brew.  So glad to be here!

We got ready to go to the beach, but there was none!  It was high tide…..really high.  So we hung out on the porch and enjoyed the sounds and smells of the ocean.  We had dinner of pot roast, potatoes, carrots and ample amounts of chardonnay.  Does life get any better?  We were soon joined by Emily and Ruben, and Betsy and Robert.  Everyone went down to the beach as the tide went out and we explored the rocky south end of the beach.  Freddy nosed through the rocks, Carol scanned for agates and Em and Ru explored tide pools, and I just took deep breaths of moist, thick, sweet air and gave thanks.

Beach House in Bloom

Clover

I was exhausted, so after dessert and chatting, I was ready for bed.  I put up the roof of the camper, made my bed and crawled in.  I missed my TC.  There was no sweetie to talk to, and no honey to cuddle with, and no body to climb over when I needed to pee in the middle of the night.  Oh well…..we will be back together soon and our adventures together will continue.  

After an extremely restful night, Carol woke me up at 8 with an urgent request for coffee.  Luckily, I had remembered to pack some and she brought me back a cup to complete my wake-up.  Em was on breakfast duty…..and such a luscious breakfast! 

Then we all went to the beach so Freddy could swim and we could explore.  It was lowest tide I can remember at Stonefield.  No evidence of extraterrestrial life was evident.  I kinda missed the uproar.  We had fun following Tenmile Creek to the ocean after Freddy’s swim and getting our exercise with a quick walk down the beach.  Emily created a maze for us to walk, the “Old Man of the Sea” observed us, Freddy dug in the sand and met friendly dogs and I found a rock for my butt and observed the whole scene time.  The rest of the day was spent in various relaxing activities and positions.  

Wonderful Emily Breakfast

Ruben up high

The explorers

How far before it's too deep?

Em and her Labyrinth

The old man and the sea

 I will fill in more details of the fun next time I'm in town.

May 11 - 13, 2012 Humbug...

No, this is not a new rendition of a Charles Dicken's tale, it's our tale of new adventure and drama on our 2012 shakedown camping trip.  We were headed to the coast again (our favorite destination).

Kat had Friday off, the weather forecast for the weekend called for sunny skies so we really didn't need too much arm twisting to flee the confines of C. G..  Thursday had us loading the camper, washing the truck and gathering supplies. All the duties we had to do slowly came back to us as we hooked up and started up and stocked up the camper.  By the time we were done with all that we were exhausted and made it an early night.

After finishing the loading process in the morning,  we left at about 10.  Our destination?  Cape Blanco State Park for camping, hiking, beach-combing and relaxation.  The sky couldn't have been bluer or our spirits higher.  We were doing the thing we love the best.....traveling on the fly, with our home on our back and the freedom to enjoy the ride.  The familiar road toward Reedsport was a leafy tunnel that encased us as we drove along the Umpqua River.  It seemed like the grasses and trees were on steroids.....they were pumped up with green-ness We stopped in Elkton for breakfast and a loaf of bread for the road and were singing along to The Amazing Rhythm Aces as we turned south.

We got to the turn off for Cape Blanco after a stop to fill the fridge.  It's about 4 miles to the campground. We were aware of the wind, as the camper was being buffeted and the pines were bent sideways.  The campground was only about half full and we found a lovely spot with a view of the ocean through the trees.  We parked, got out to look around and realized we were freezing.  The temp of the warm day inland dropped considerably under the influence of a brisk north wind.  We drove to a more sheltered campsite, and again parked and tested the atmosphere, this time with our coats on.  Still windy and still cold.  I looked at Jeff and he looked and me and we immediately concurred:  keep going south to Humbug in search of wind and cold free camping.

We turned the corner at the intersection to Humbug Mt. State Park and knew we had come to the right place.  While Cape Blanco is on a windy promontory, Humbug is in a sheltered valley with a creek running through it to the sea, off of the steep mountain slopes.  Those slopes are protective, and the  temp felt balmy and the wind undetectable.  Perfect!  We quickly found a spot away from 101 and close to the base of the north slope.  There were no neighbors.  I would say the campground was about half full.

Memory served us well, and we got the camper and camp set up in record time. All those miles on the road last summer weren't wasted. After a sandwich lunch, we filled the backpack and headed down the trail and under highway 101 to the beach.  A group of 30-something testosterone filled boy/men were playing horseshoes on the beach.  A pile of dead soldiers gave away their state of intoxication.  But they sure were having a great time.  We had the rest of the beach to ourselves.  The wind was there, but not enough to keep us from walking into it.  We picked out a comfortable looking log a ways up the beach and headed to it.  We were amused by the antics of the pelicans diving for fish, seals sticking their heads up and eying us, and the frat brothers playing football.  Finally, it was time to go back to camp and settle in for the night.

The trail under Highway 101

Watching the pelicans dive for fish

Crashing waves

Marinated cube steak cooked over a wood fire, asparagus sauteed in garlic with a veggie packed salad with a chocolate ice cream bar for desert, wow, this ain't your father's camping.  A very nice night with WKRP playing on the computer for bedtime entertainment - still very funny after all of these years.

Saturday saw a veggie omelet, toast served with large quantities of strong coffee.  I talked Jeff into going for a walk to the front campground to get a map of the campground and all the trails.  We followed the creek up and back about a half mile there and the same back.  As we approached our campsite, we saw the same maps available 45 yards from our site - tenderfoots, I'm so embarrassed.  I talked Jeff into taking a hike up into the stratosphere to a guaranteed great viewpoint.  The trail started right behind out camp and zigged and the zagged pretty much straight up the side of a steep slope.  It was entirely wooded with pines, firs and myrtlewood shading the path until it met old highway 1 halfway up.  We took a breather and enjoyed the sunshine.  We could see remnants of the old pavement slowly being swallowed up by grasses and brush.  We kept going up, up, up until we came to a clearing and a picnic table.  And what a view!  Our mouths dropped open as we gazed, the Pacific stretched out before us meeting a rugged old growth coast line.  We took pictures and ate our PB and Banana sandwiches and lingered.  Then we found a trail to another viewpoint.  Sitting on the very tip top of the mountain and staring down at the sea, 1200 feet below.  We gave thanks to be alive on such a marvelous day.

Our lofty lunch spot

So happy to be here

From the top of the mountain looking south

And looking north.....Highway 101 below

Focusing--It's a loooong way down!

We started the long trek down.  The camp host came by and Jeff hitched a ride, but I hot-footed it down the hill in the cool shade.  With my hiking sticks I felt like a four footed graceful gazelle, but I probably sounded more like a rampaging grizzly.  Here's what I saw in camp.

J holds down the fort

A Stellar Blue Jay takes advantage of Jeff's inattention

I climbed into the camper and took a little nap and I believe I heard some snoring coming from outside also.  (She did)  After the rest, we had dinner and packed up to go to the beach for the sunset.  We decided to be comfortable and packed the chairs and beverages and soon found a spot on the beach to call our own.  This spot of our own was moved twice as high tide crept up the beach.  The sunset was beyond our expectations and then we hustled to get home and build a fire before it got dark.

Swirling birds

A comfy chair, an adult beverage, an amazing sunset.....ahhhh!

Sunset at Humbug Mt.

The fire was warm, the cocoa was hot, the marshmallows toasty.  A very good day.

Sunday - After a leisurely breakfast we broke camp.  What's nice is easily falling into old patterns where we each assume different chores and responsibilities and it almost feels like a choreographed dance.  We waved good bye and headed up the coast.

We agreed to stop at the Casino for one hour to try our luck.  We were down $10 and were about to head out when I sat down at a slot called Twin Win while waiting for Kathy on a bathroom break.  She came out just as I hit 3 seals which pays a dollar.  I explained how hitting 10 seals is a good thing as I pushed the slot one last time - 10 seals come up and Kathy looks at me with a quizzical look of, did you just call your shot, well yes I did - me and Babe Ruth.  It felt great walking out with more money in my pocket - $40.00 plus a bunch of warm memories of the weekend.

Wild Iris's, just a small part of the whole package

The lone pelican

Check out the smiles