OREGON TRIP 2012

We finally went on our Oregon trip that had been planned for 13 months! We planned it with the intent of getting ALL of Tony's brothers and sisters and their spouses together with Art and Lynn for some good ole family  bonding experiences.  The last few days before we were to leave, we found out that Ken and Cory couldn't make it because they were moving into a new home and Ken was recently employed by a new company and couldn't get time off. We headed out early on Saturday morning the 11th of August and we stayed Saturday and Sunday with Jeff and Christa in Vancouver Washington. Jeff was working when we got there so Christa took us to the tower and Jeff had us up for a tour and some magnificent sites from the Portland Tower.

Sunday, we got up and went to the nearest church and afterwards we drove into Portland again and went to the Portland temple. We went to the visitor's center and took a tour of the grounds with a couple of Sister Missionaries. It was beautiful. They were doing some outside work on the grounds and the temple itself but it was nearly finished.

The ponds and flowers are phenomenal as usual! Simply gorgeous!!

Monday morning, we said our goodbyes to the kids and headed to Seaside. We sure appreciated them putting us up for 2 nights and thoroughly enjoyed our visit with them!  At this point it was just Mom and Dad Norton and Tony and I. We checked into our rooms at the "Seaside Resort" and both of them had a GREAT view!  This is the view from the balcony of our room. Mom and Dad's was across the hall so they looked out on the town and the ocean. WIN WIN in my estimation!!

Monday afternoon Jess and Diane and Debbie showed up. Debbie said that Robin's back was bothering him because they had just returned from a trip to San Diego so he stayed home. We waited for Daryl and Karla to arrive. We called several times and got no answer so we left messages. Finally at 10 PM, Daryl called and said they weren't coming. So the 7 of us made the best of things. we called Jeff and Cynthia Chandler (Lynn's brother) and invited them. They said they would come. Tuesday morning we hit the shops at Seaside and had fun shopping to start things off......

We went to a hat store and Jess "The Jester" found one that fit his personality PERFECT!!!

We decided we are a family with "HATTITUDE"!!  lol

We went into the information center at the end of the Blvd. and ran into "JAWS" himself!!

He got Debbie too! Looks like Diane's trying to save her! Everyone else just thinks it's funny! lol

After some shopping and horsing around in Seaside, we drove down the coast to Ecola National Park to see "Haystack" rock and the luscious coastal views! The clouds hanging over the water and rocks was spectacular!!

We went down to the beach as the tide was heading out and we walked a good two miles down the coast to the rock itself! THE CLOSEST TONY AND I HAVE EVER BEEN TO THE ROCK IN ALL OUR TRIPS THERE!

The tide pools and all the little creatures in them were fascinating! It was so awesome!

There was a ranger there making sure no one took things they shouldn't!! Jess looks like he's in charge!  lol

We even saw Elk in the park! You can tell that they are protected because we walked up pretty close and they weren't scared of us at all! They even had a baby!!!

On Wednesday while we waited for Jeff and Cynthia to get there, we drove into Astoria and went to Fort Clatsop and then to the Astoria Column. All 7 of us walked to the top!!  It's a long way up there! 

We needed nourishment after that workout so we hit the "Bowpicker" for the best fish and chips EVER!!

I just can't get enough of the flora and fauna on the coast! EVERYTHING grows thick, big and beautiful!!

We had to take a trip on the Astoria Trolley and enjoy the view of the Columbia! It's a given!!

And of course go to the docks to see the Sea Lions!!They are so entertaining!! Jess was gutsy and walked (where he wasn't supposed to) and was 4 feet away from them! We headed back to Seaside and Jeff and Cynthia showed up!

Wednesday, we went back to Astoria by way of Fort Stevens where we checked out the World War Two Batteries! You can't even see this one because we are standing right in front of it. We then hit the "Wet Dog" and ate dinner. We had purchased tickets for the play "Shanghaied in Astoria" for that evening so killed a little time by driving to a Danish Bakery and also to the Gooney house and the Kindergarten Cop school and then on to the play! We sat through it till intermission and then we left. It was a little raunchy this time and we were all tired so we left. That was a big disappointment.

Thursday morning we got up to head to Sunset beach for the 2nd time so Jeff and Cynthia could do some beach combing! (Mine and Debbie's favorite thing to do)  Cynthia found a Star Fish right off the bat!! Luckeeee!!

But this is what I love to find! Sand dollars!!!  Debbie and I had a great time looking for these. Diane found some too but she said she felt like a grave robber! lol

On Friday morning we drove inland to Mount St Helen's! It was simply the most gorgeous drive! It is amazing how the forest has been reborn since all the devastation! The mountain itself is very barren!

This picture was taken at one of the observatories on the way up. It was green and lush here. We got back late from this little excursion because it was a couple of hours drive to get there. BUT WELL WORTH IT!!

On Saturday  morning Jeff and Cynthia left early to head back to Boise. Jess and Diane were leaving that day too but before they took off Jess headed down to a little spot on the streets of Seaside where people perform for money by singing, playing instruments etc! Jess laid down his hat and started reciting poetry about the sea! He made $14.00 in just under a half an hour! It was fun to watch and listen!! We said our goodbyes to them and then there were 5!! Tony and me, Art and Lynn and Debbie. She decided to stay and ride back with us!

SO, Saturday after they left we headed to the Washington side of the Columbia River and hiked to Cape Disappointment Lighthouse!

It wasn't as bad as I'd remembered ...the walk that is! The Lighthouse was cool and it looks out onto the mouth of the Columbia and the ocean!  We all loved it!

We then drove a couple of miles to another lighthouse and took a short hike to it.

The views were incredible no matter where we were!

It started to fog up but it was still beautiful!

Sunday morning we drove to Astoria and went to church with Rick and Wendy. After church we went back to the condo and BBQ'ed on the condo's balcony. We barbequed steak and grilled green and yellow zucchinis and onions and Debbie made oven fries! Here's us toasting to a GREAT MEAL!

Sunday evening was the icing on the WHOLE VACATION!! Rick and Wendy invited us to join them and some of their friends on Sunset Beach for a Sandpit BBQ! We had already eaten our Delicious meal but we had a BIG POT OF CHILI that we warmed and brought down. They did tinfoil dinners! They dug a whole in the sand and threw in a bag of charcoal briquettes and did their dinners. They all helped us eat the chili too and then we had Dutch oven cobblers!

My beautiful sister in law Wendy! We are so happy she is recovering so well from her bout with cancer!

Tony, me, Charcie, Kate and Ben! Indy the dog is hiding! He was so funny! He would get wet in the surf, then roll in the sand, then shake all over us!

Me and my baby brother!! I remember when he was a little tike! He grew up and I grew out!

Wendy warming those skinny little legs by the charcoal pit!

And of course mom, Debbie and I used this last chance on the beach to search for some more Sand dollars and YES, we were successful!

I got a lovely shot of Ricks family (minus the 2 boys who weren't there)  in the evening!

Ben took one of Tony and I in the sunset!

And believe me ... they are incredible on the ocean!

Bye to the sun and bye to Oregon. We left bright and early on Monday morning. It was a magnificent week. All who went had a GREAT TIME!