Where is Jack, Day 112?

We were up very early this morning. Nancy went and showered and then we went for a long walk. The phone service in this site is not as good as the last site, but this morning Nancy spoke to Susie for quite a  while before getting cut off so she decided to try to call Gail. They talked for a while (Nancy says she misses her friends), then she had to charge the phone. It must take more juice when calling long distance. Either that or it's time for a new phone. Anyway, Nancy and I are going somewhere, today. We're not sure where. We're saving another trip to Cape Lookout for tomorrow, so maybe we'll head to Pacific City and up the coast a ways.

We had a great day. We did go to Pacific City and took a long walk. Then, Nancy went to the Pelican Restaurant and Brewery to have a hamburger. (Rich, Susie, Michael, Keely, and Peyton have been there).  I waited in the truck. Nancy said the burgers taste better with company. That's why she usually packs a lunch and eats in the truck with me. She meant to get a picture of the sign, but forgot. She did get a picture of the restaurant from the beach.

Then, we went out on the beach. I didn't feel like playing ball, I just wanted to watch everything that was going on. Cape Kiwanda is the home of the Pacific Dory Fleet. Nancy wishes she had taken her movie camera or at least knew how to use the clip function on her camera. First, you hear them beeping their horn and then they come racing in toward land and they slide up on the sand out of the water. It is a riot to watch. Nancy tried to get one in stages, and then found a clip on the web.

Dory Coming in At Cape Kiwanda (Video)

Another Landing (Video)

I keep meaning to tell you that Michael told Nancy when he and the girls got home, he was watching "One Flew Over the Cookoo's Nest" and part of it was filmed in Depoe Bay. Figures. We were in a zodiac boat and the waters weren't quite as rough, but our captain waited out in front of the harbor for the right moment to get in. You can see why, here.

Pulling into Depoe Harbor  (Video)Aren't you glad you didn't watch this before we went, Michael, Keely, and especially, Peyton?

Gosh, how Nancy loves the water. She's a wreck as a passenger in a car, but could ride waves all day long. For more videos of "fun on the water" do a search on You Tube. Nancy wishes she had known about Dory Days

Okay, back to the blog. I got carried away. Nancy took a lot of pictures (what else is new). I'll just put them here.

One going in

There were probably 10-15 of them at one time while Nancy watched from the restaurant.

Here comes another one. This guy came far up on the beach, but he was hidden behind the other boats and cars so Nancy couldn't get the picture she wanted.

Activity on the beach

Kids come barreling down these dunes like nuts. The waiter in the restaurant told Nancy that there have been quite a few injuries because hidden in the sand are sticks. Ouch

We had a great time watching everything around us, then all of a sudden, POOF everything was gone. Just that fast. Haystack Rock, the dunes, the boats by the water--FOG rolled in. That's what happened to us when we were whale watching, it was clear one minute and the next fog was between us and the coast. So, Nancy and I decided to move along to a new adventure. We didn't have far to drive when we came across another little sandy road. We parked, and look--another trail!

Oh, and there's water up ahead!

Everything looks very peaceful, but there are remnants of days when it's not so serene. Can you imagine how powerful the waves must be to throw this piece of wood up on the beach? It's a little hard to see, but in the background is a shroud of fog rolling in. Soon we weren't able to see that whole area, including the mountains.

All over the beach was netting that probably broke away from crab nets or fishing boats.

Oh, how we love this place. We came home to rest for a while, but will probably take an evening drive IF we don't fall asleep.

Where is Jack, Day 103?

Michael and the girls left a little while ago. Nancy and I miss them and are a bit sad tonight. We had a full day filled with fun, though. I don't think we could have fit anything else in the time that Susie spent with us or when Michael and the girls were here. Days were packed. Nancy was a little apprehensive about how we would fit four people in here, comfortably. She bought extra pillows and aside from sleeping, we used them to sit down at one end of the trailer on the open couch and table bed to talk and watch tv. We really weren't in much except to sleep so I think everyone was as comfortable as could be expected. Last night, Nancy woke up and was cold. She had put long underwear and sweats on to sleep. Peyton had the bed across from her (the girls switched every night) and the window was open and she looked like she was freezing. Nancy closed the window and covered her back up with the blanket and she sleepily said, "Thank you Gramma, I love you." Nancy turned the heat up and before we knew it, it was TOO warm.

The girls are very good to me, and Michael played ball with me this morning before we took off to take the Three Capes Scenic Drive.

We saw Tillamook Bay, Cape Meares Lighthouse, the Octopus Tree, and other beautiful sites along the way. They stopped for lunch in Pacific City at the Pelican Brewery and Restaurant—the same place Nancy and Susie went to—the same one where Nancy and Rich used to get lunch and eat outside. They didn’t have a patio, then. Michael got to see “his Dad’s haystack rock” and wanted to drive through Hebo once again. He also saw the little air strip that Rich always talked about. Nancy didn’t take many pictures because when Susie was here, she took pictures, but there are a few.

Michael really liked this part of the Oregon Coast. Okay, there are a few more pictures than I thought.

This is the sign on the lighthouse side. Michael and the girls took me, but Nancy stayed back and read her book. I can't remember if I told you, but the lighthouse was vandalized and suffered a lot of damage. They caught the teens who did it. From what we were told, they shot the windows out and damaged a lot that can't be replaced, i.e., the original glass. Such a senseless thing to do.

Michael always takes the time to explain things to his girls. He wants them to see as much as they can see as they grow up. 

You've seen the Octopus tree before, but not with Michael and the kids.

Nancy walked part of the way with us to take some pictures.

To top the day off Nancy and Michael took the girls to the Tillamook Cheese Factory. The girls saw how cheese was made, and then they and Nancy sat in the café waiting for Michael to come in. He was on the phone trying to seal a deal. Nancy and I have our fingers crossed that it works out and is very fruitful for him and his company.

The girls had ice cream while they waited. When he came in, they went and got him and Nancy ice cream. They are such great kids. I’m very proud of them and I know Michael is proud as a peacock, too.

Nancy had a great time, but she told me she's going to relax for a few days. Then she needs to have the oil changed in the truck, stop in the RV place, hopefully get the truck washed. The trailer will have to wait. She doesn't want to think about driving right now or where we're going next. We think it's Washington, but she's a bit burned out planning trips so she'll renew her spirit. This area brings many memories flooding back, and I think Nancy is tired mentally and physically. A little down time will help.