We began the day with a Forced March of Misery, long hand for “family walk” with appropriate bar setting.  Luckily, setting expectations low enough means we really do have a decent walk together on the nature trails that circumnavigates campground at Beverly Beach State Park.  It had a few kissing bridges and good trails set in the amazing coastal forest.

We broke up our 20 minute journey to South Beach State Park with a 90-minute break at Walmart.  We were not feeling confident about our sagging tires and the extra-long-hose air compressor I purchased did not reach the back tires when plugged into the cigarette lighter.  So, in addition to milk, we bought *another* air compressor that could be plugged in to a regular outlet.  At first seemed like a waste to carry around two, until we realized that it takes about 10 minutes to get the 80psi of pressure in a single tire. And we have six tires. 

After that spurt of adulting, we got to South Beach, which is on the south side of Newport and the northern end of Sand Dune lane.  [It will take us approximately 2.5 hours to drive to Sunset State Park tomorrow, which is the southern end of the dunes.]  Since we already had a reserved campsite, we headed right over the day use lot and straight away for the dunes. 

It was the earliest we had made it to the beach yet—hours before dinner time.  Optimistically, we thought the fog would clear up by evening, but we got more chilly wind than sunshine.  The kids still got plenty wet, and Wes realized that the sand in his eyes/ears/hair probably came from rolling down the dunes.  However, one by one, the kids beached out and headed back to the trailer. 

We hadn’t eaten at camp yet, so when I found myself finishing dinner at the picnic table, and not the beach, I took Susanne-the-Great’s idea, filled up two dish pans, brought them outside, and Kyla washed, Piper rinsed, and Wesley dried, while Dwayne and I put away food and clean dishes.  I love this.

Wes, finally having enough cell reception to talk to BFF at home, was the only one not wanting to explore the campground and surrounding trails on bike.  The girls’ memory must be lousy, because they voted me to lead the bike ride. I really do the best expeditions, but there are always stretches when we find ourselves in, er, challenging terrain.  Tonight, we explored some of paved paths out and around, and then went off-roading.  We were all surprised when we suddenly hit what felt like quicksand—really just puddles of sand on dirt trails that stop a bike cold.  But if we hadn’t gone off the beaten path, we never would have seen the velvet-antlered elk grazing out on the disc golf course, or matched pace with them as they galloped along with (well, perhaps, “away from”) us. 

Wes, in particular, has loved these days and evenings of sand, RV-ing, and little adventures.  The comforts of the motorhome has made us all really happy.  Except for that little time today. The kids may have started competing for who gets to push the slide-out buttons.  We had already brought the slides in when we realized that we hadn’t put Wes’s bike in its travel mode—on our bed.  Once we got it in, Piper was determined to be the first kid to press the “in” button…without looking 2 feet in front of her.  Kyla was putting a few towels away in the bathroom, and Piper closed the slide right into the open bathroom door, completely knocking the entire door frame out of the wall.  Mama was not pleased, and while Piper’s Cheshire grin might be her way of expressing “Oops, I shouldn’t have done that”, it is not really a personal acceptance of responsibility and consequence.  Dwayne and I and the Tool Bucket were able to fix it, and luckily, Dwayne was able to help Piper repair the bigger damage and guided her in a taking more responsibility for setting up the next campsite.

We have just one more night at the beach before heading down to Redwoods—crossing fingers for some serious sunshine tomorrow!

We woke up late to a rain (shoot! left some beach towels “drying” outside), feeling cozy and thankful for the fiberglass tent.  Not wanting to head to a wet beach, we slowly packed ourselves up and headed down to Beverly Beach, close to Newport.  It was still too overcast to enjoy the beach once we got there, so we drove a little further into town, with the hope the famous Oregon Coast Aquarium would be open. It wasn’t, but that just gave us a reason to visit the historic Bayfront, where the famous California sea lions can be heard long before they can be seen.

I spotted a shabby shack that just screamed “fish-n-chips to die for”, and we were able to snag an outside table.  Maybe the fact that we had no trouble getting any table there was an indication that authentic fishing décor does not good food make.  Kyla, bravely, wanted to try oyster stew. In hindsight, I should have prevented it, but we want to encourage the kids to try new things—but I don’t like oysters, and when she didn’t like it, I found myself eating her lunch, giving my fish tacos to Dwayne, so that Kyla could have Dwayne’s fish-n-chips.  You know the endgame: Mama loses.

But it was a fun part of town.  Between the fishing boats and seafood processing plants, industry mixed with ocean tchotchkes and salt water taffy.  The aquarium, our first destination, was closed, as was the very inviting Ripley’s Believe It or Not museum, but wandering the old town was a fun afternoon before we headed back toward tonight’s campsite. 

Like yesterday, we packed up our dinner as quickly as we set up the trailer and headed to the beach.  Dwayne did an extra walk to get us firewood, and the kids had their first beach bonfire.  We actually found a spot outlined in driftwood benches that had a fire so recently that some coals still smoked under the sand.  Which was particularly fortunate, because our campsite was a solid 10 minutes away…as were our matches.  But between the previous coals and Dwayne’s smoldering good looks, he was able to start a blaze with his toothpick-sized kindling. 

No magnet pulls a needle north more strongly than the ocean calls my children.  Eventually, my cold, hungry, and happy children happily came back for hotdogs before returning to cliff climbing and hole digging.  Dwayne kept building up the bonfire from half-burned driftwood, and we watched the sunset half-roasted ourselves.  We saw teens go in surfing and come out cold to their family, so we invited them over to warm up at what was truly a vanity bonfire.  Turns out, they are practically neighbors from back home, one town to the west of us.  Fun coincidence.

Finally, it was fully dark and the beach almost empty.  We gathered up our detritus and wearily, but satisfied with another adventure, made it back to our campsite and mostly fell into bed…taking a good part of the beach with us. 

We began the day with a Zoomed memorial service for a neighbor of ours.  He had died a week ago, and I was grateful to be able to at least participate this way. 

After saying good-bye to Brian and Sandi and their girls, we were able to meet old friends at George Fox University, where all the kids were able to run around outside and play on trails in and in cool stream.  Ice cream o’clock found us walking to a local book-and-ice cream store before we had to say our goodbyes.  The drive out to Pacific City is so beautiful—as gorgeous as home is, nestled between the Olympics and the Cascades, western and coastal Oregon is special. 

When we arrived at the Thousand Trails campground, we took our few minutes to set up camp, threw together a picnic dinner and headed over the highway to our first steps in Oregon sand.  Oh, how we love the beach!  I ran with the kids straight for the water, but with more experience than enthusiasm, I stayed dry north of my ankles.  The kids dashed in and out, and Kyla just dove straight into the waves, as a powered glider did tricks for us to my enthusiastic waving.

Mama Duck stayed near until all the kidsicles came out and buried themselves in cool towels, warm sand, and hot sandwiches.  Wes just stuck his hair right into the sand to immediately dissolve any hope I would ever have of not cleaning out sand from the trailer for the next 8 years we will own it.  Luckily, we have an outdoor shower, and I quickly set up a head-to-toe cleaning system before any of them were allowed in to collapse in exhaustion in their bunks. 

Oh, we are going to love this vacation!

We love Beaverton!  Sure, it has beloved family but we love them no matter where they live.  But this “little” town outside of Portland has charm, tidiness, and lovely walkable parks and neighborhoods. My nieces are particularly adorable and Piper loves to be with her young cousins, happily carrying Taryn on her hip on the walk back to the house after a “black booberry” fest and family walk. 

Getting out of the house took two full days and 3 hours on Saturday morning.  It can be complicated to leave for 3 weeks, and we’re lucky to have a family house- and pet-sitting for us while we’re adventuring, but there are lots of details to manage to get a house ready to be occupied by a whole new group, the RV completely ready for our first long journey, especially while prepping the cabin AirBnB business for my absence and our home property for major construction in the next month.  Maybe not a great time to leave, but if we waited until the perfect time, well, we’d never leave home.

In the meantime, we started the trip well, getting to see my brother and his beautiful family, enjoying the best of their beautiful home, and our separate sleeping quarters, and being fed rather fabulously.  Thanks, Brian and Sandi, for hosting us so well!

Dwayne and I celebrated our first anniversary at Salish Lodge, but it was less a romantic gesture and more a nod to 2020 Covid-world to return on our 18th, where we could eat outside and stay overnight in what felt like safety.

The falls are delightful, and we (accidently) timed dessert with the sunset. I’m at 561 written reasons why I love this man! None of which I will share now, for I hope to show not tell. XOXO

For the first time in 10-and-a-half years, I got to take a kid out for half-birthday breakfast! Thank goodness for Dwayne’s intermittent keto dieting, because this boy is FUN to hang out with…when we don’t have to do school.

Wesley’s breakfast of champions was four pieces of cinnamon rolls cut into slabs and turned into French toast. It was as tasty and calorie-laden as it sounds. And since we’re not eating at restaurants these days, we went to the local park and soaked in the sunshine, pretending the fresh air made our fare healthier. Because it couldn’t have been more satisfying!

Flowing Lake is my favorite close-enough place, and it seemed like a good time to get out for a few days–the sunniest of 2020, thus far!

The lake is a little too cold for me, but the kids all dipped toes in a few times while I read my book. [I finally finished the one it took me 6 weeks to get through. This camping trip put me back at a book-a-day pace.] I prefer the nature trail and the wooded sites and the kids spent plenty of time there, too.

In fact, one might say Wesley spent half his time in the hammock.

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I brought two sisters with me, and Wes taught them all sorts of bad habits, like how to hang upside down.

The girls had only roasted marshmallows before, so we taught them how to roast hotdogs. Piper did graduate level roasting by toasting my bun over fire. De-lish!

I only blog the good parts–hard to take pictures of annoying jibberjabber, or me reminding kids for the 4th time to not leave trash or dishes for me to deal with, but I love my mobile toy! I had my first pull-through space (there is no bad site at Flowing Lake, but I wouldn’t mind getting #29 again!), I did the entire camping trip solo (not counting kids), and the weather was an 11 out of 10. I hope for more of these adventures. Let me know if your kids want to tag along next time!

If the world had spun on its regular, non-pandemic axis, we would have arrived home from our 16-week world adventure, flying in after a grand finale of a week-long cruise through the Fijian islands. Our long-planned-for adventure would be over, and now we would be just figuring out how to reenter our world and what lies next for our family. However, now we still have anticipation of that trip–even if accompanied by weird uncertainty.

It was most amused two years ago when Wes put 1 and 2 together and came up with a flying machine. He recreated the moment after cleaning off the driveway for me today.

I didn’t get my Emily time since making it to the island, so we made our way over to their homey paradise on our last Whidbey afternoon. The kids frolicked in the pond, and I could not take enough pictures of their antics amidst the greenest setting.

I love all my island peeps.