Part 3, Oregon, West Coast Road Trip 2011

Crater Lake, OR:  still too snowy to have the boat access open so no hike to Wizard Island cone,

Campground snow reminiscent of HVC in April. 

 but hiked up snowfield to pretty Phantom Ship overlook, . . .

The wonderful plus of the whole trip was good exercise almost every day.  Glad I had my hiking stick for this one.

Phantom Ship in the incredible blue.

 about 34 degrees in our tent that night—coldest of trip, . . .

Great little campsite.  Found a sweet sunny overlook for breakfast.  No bears at our site.  Showers don't accept state quarters--interesting!

 spectacular full moon.

Honeyman State Park:  through Coos Bay and stop at Umpqua Lighthouse . . .

Enjoyed the museum.  The only place I got lost from the rest of the family.  Don't ask me how.

. . . before meeting Heather and Brad’s family at the campground, . . .

Love these campfires.

fabulous fun on sand dunes, . . .

Probably our most challenging hike.  This doesn't do justice to the steepness.  Later learned from the Oregon cousins to crawl  up like a spider. 

Sand dunes are steep!  I recalled skiing with Ruth in CA after we bought our first skis we were so anxious to try them out.  What did we see here but sandboarders!

Lil and Zip at the dunes.  Love this photo of Heather's.

Ian

Lily

Zella

Fun cousin time.

Not sure what Griffin called his sculpture but I see dino molars.

Benny shared their delicious Dutch oven dinner, rained all evening but luckily Benny’s campsite had a table under an umbrella-like tree and the cousins played games until late, it rained all night and all morning as we packed up the tent, ready to go but the coolant light came on—Brad, Gus and Ian drove to town and got supplies so we could keep the car cool and get on our way sooner without a AAA tow;

Ben, Lil and Zip came up the coast with us to Heceta Head Lighthouse . . .

The lighthouse is in the mist above the house.

Heather rescued this stranded star fish.

Loved these foxgloves.  They were all along the roadsides on the coastal roads.

. . . and Cape Perpetua tide pools—we saw tadpoles in lots of tide pools and ate wild salmon berries and strawberries, . . .

Tasty tiny strawberries.

Love this photo of Polly and Heather.

Griffin making his way.

Thanks, Heather for the great fam foto.

we could have watched the waves crashing in the lava chutes all day

Cannon Beach:  past Otter Rock, Depoe Bay for caramel corn, Tillamook Cheese Factory for ice cream cones, and stayed with Mom’s college roommate near the Haystack Rock on the beach—

Early morning from our side of the house.

Sunday after-church brunch before we hit the road.

Jan and JillXan at a  serious moment speaking of husband/father, Bob and son/brother, Devin.  Bob's favorite blue becomes a favorite of ours also.

Darling Eeyore, everyone's favorite.

High tide.

Sunday afternoon stroll to Haystack before adieu.  Jan seemed to really enjoy are boys, perhaps reminiscent of her Mark and Devin.

Jan visiting with sandcastle builders.  Cannon Beach has a huge sandcastle festival earlier in the year.  When JX was a youngster it was small and fun to enter.

. . . fun walk even in the rain, found a beautiful assortment of egg shells instead of sea shell—must have been channeling Dad, 

. . . nice ward in Seaside.

The bishop of Seaside Ward has become a good contact for my Sharing the Gospel Online mission.   Loved the little flower kiosk at a rural home on our route.  So sweet to see people making a cottage industry of cut flowers and plants so beautiful in Oregon.  Jan knew all the flowers.  She and JX have carried on her mother, Hulda's, love of gardening.

Good-bye Oregon.