Day 26 - 35 - Our 2012 Trip to Oregon & Back

August 29 – September 7, 2012

Just a Note - sorry this is so long, but a lot was happening and not a lot of time to write.  Hope you enjoy it.  Love you all, Alan

I was going to get back to my blog before Annie and Ervin, Vonna’s cousins, got here.  But we have been a little busier than I thought we were.  Anyway, I will try and catch everything up.

I thought I would start this one with our move day.  We both had problems sleeping, thinking about new adventures and the trip ahead.  We got up and had a cold breakfast and started getting ready to leave.

I got the truck loaded, most items fit better than on the way here.  We are getting better at loading and getting ready to move.  Vonna had the inside ready.  Our neighbors were also moving today.  They have a motorhome and it took them about 5 minutes outside to put everything away and get the jacks up.  They left about 10.  I had to get up on the top and sweep off the slide out before we put in.  Vonna put the side in and we got the jacks up and truck backed up, and everything else.  Only took another hour or so. 

We had to dump the sewer on our way out.  As I was finishing up Vonna met the couple next to us that were dumping also, and found out their life story.  It is something about how open people are about where they are going, where they have been, what they like and don’t like.  A lot different than at home when we talk to people and don’t get much farther than a grunt. 

Anyway, we left the campsite, driving through Florence and getting ready for the next 15 miles of winding roads.  Vonna was really worried about it, but we did great.  We had to watch the sides a couple of times, but no problems.  After about 15 miles the roads were fine, but still a lot of trees.

We got to Pacific City about 2:30, and started looking for a spot.  We were both getting tired and we unhooked the trailer in a spot that looked ok.  We drove around a little and found a couple of other spots, but decided that we would stay where we were.  Vonna was not happy.  It was overcast and dreary, and a lot of trees.  We got the camp setup and we both went to take a shower.  We made dinner and prayed before we ate.  I prayed that the sun would come out and shine of Vonna…He did pray that & when he was praying I was thinking to myself I really don’t think god is going to rearrange his whole creation of trees just so sun can shine on me. 

Looking at Ocean from the
Clubhouse

A few minutes later the sun shined through the window on Vonna.  We both laughed, but I knew that God was with us and everything was going to be fine.  We are still not happy with our spot, and will move when everyone leaves on Monday.  We will have a good time no matter what.

We went up to the clubhouse the next morning to look around and get our email.  We drove around the area looking at the ocean, finding town, and looking at the area.  We found a drug store that had everything, including an ice cream fountain.  We had a malt and sundae.  We started back to the campsites, and stopped at the ocean to look around.  I said lets go get the dogs and come back.  It was almost 6 and I made hamburgers for dinner, we wrapped them up and headed back to the ocean to eat.  It was a great day, sun all day, and great company.

Vonna always finds a
place to phone home

A day or so later we made a trip to Lincoln City and walked through the few stores and antique shops.  People are not as friendly here as they were in other towns we have been to.  I don’t know what the difference is, but I don’t feel as welcome, except for the coffee shop.  There was a nice bakery and coffee shop, and I sat down to read and have a cup of coffee.  The lady was friendly in there, and said she was from somewhere else.  It was a nice, sunshiny day.  Couldn’t have asked for more.

We did a little grocery shopping and headed for Pacific Bay.  We stopped at the Pelican Pub and Brewery for dinner.  The food was great, and Vonna even got tips on where to get her hair and nails done if she wants to. (and I want to, it’s looking pretty tacky…Angie did it when she was here & she got the stuff at Salley’s for me to have it done while we are on our trip…yay!

Over the week end we stayed around the campsite, except for Saturday morning.  There was a sale at one of the shops in Pacific City, and we didn’t want to miss that.  And as long as we were in town we decided to try the Grateful Bread Bakery for lunch.  It was great, had fresh tuna sandwich.

We got back to camp just in time for the ice Cream Social.  We got our sundae, and sat down.  It was a little cool so we moved to the sun and sat with a couple from South Dakota.  They were full timers for 5 years and have settled part-time in Eugene OR and part time in Hemet CA.  They talked for a while and told us about the difference between having a motorhome and a 5^th wheel – they have had both.  Asked us to stop by and see it.

We came back to the house and enjoyed the rest of the day having a small dinner, and playing games.  We play different dice games almost every night, and if we aren’t tired we will watch a movie on DVD or just read.  In this way it is a lot different than at home because we spend a lot of time with each other. 

Sunday we had to run into town to go back to the sale to see if they had a pillow that Vonna liked.  They didn’t, but it was a nice day.  We saw the people we had met the day before and stopped to say hello.  They invited us in to see the motorhome and it was very nice.  It was a 27 foot and had everything you would need.  We visited for a while and headed for town. 

Talk about a lot of people!  We stopped at the grocery store for a couple of minutes and stayed in the truck so Vonna could write and text for a few minutes.  Then back to another Ice Cream Social.  Keep eating like this and I’ll have to go on a diet.

Monday was a laid back day.  Spend some time at the Recreation Center updating our emails and other items.  Really didn’t do much.  Vonna’s cousin is coming in on Tuesday, and we thought that we wouldn’t have much time after they get here.  Well, be did clean the trailer because we wanted to have everything clean when Annie and Ervin got here.

Ervin & Annie

Tuesday morning we got up, had a small breakfast, and straightened up around the trailer and campsite.  Annie said that they would be here at about 11.  At 11:30 Vonna called to make sure they had our address.  They hadn’t left home yet, but were leaving in the next few minutes.  They had to have their garage door fixed.  Anyway, we read and rested till they got here.  It was our 47^th Anniversary and we were just enjoying each other’s company and talking about what we would like to do on our 50^th. 

Anyway, Annie and Ervin got here and we talked for a while, and then headed to Lincoln City for dinner.  Ervin said that they have the world’s shortest river and the restaurant was right on it, and the ocean and the lake.  We got to Kyllo Restaurant.  It was very nice, but the sun was coming in the window and was hard to see.  Ervin said let’s move to the table behind us.  And we did.  The sun was still coming through the windows, but we had our side to it and we could see.

The sun went down, and we had a great dinner.  The fish was fresh and the shrimp was fresh, and we talked for a long time.  It was a great end to our anniversary.  Watching the sunset on another day on the Oregon Coast, with friends and family.

We stopped for coffee at Starbucks, and then back to pick up our truck at their campsite.  We drove back to our campsite, and as we rounded one of the curves there was a doe standing on the side of the road.  Missed it by inches.  We got back to our trailer without wrecking the truck, and read for a few minutes.  Vonna was not real tired, after having a mocha that wasn’t decaf.  She tossed and turned most of the night.

The next day Annie and Ervin came to pick us up at the trailer.  We sat at the trailer for a while talking, and then off for Tillamook for the day.  Our first stop was the Cheese Factory.  It is really something the size of it and how much cheese they make each day.  The tour was self-guided and we enjoyed it.  We were going to eat lunch there, but it was really crowded so we just had some ice cream, bought some cheese and crackers, and did some shopping.  Annie bought Vonna a beautiful mermaid that we have sitting in our living room in the trailer.

Erv & Annie Driving the Cheese Van

Vonna drives crazy!

We left there and stopped at a good friend of theirs so that we could meet him and see his fishing boat.  Dave is a guide and takes groups out fishing.  We decided to go to lunch with him, and go fishing with him the next day.  We left his house with a ice chest full of crab.  It was good.

Annie can out shop Vonna -
Erv said it's in the genes!

We went off to Rockaway Beach, and looked around the town.  Back through Gibraltar, and then to Fred Meyer’s in Tillamook, OR to pick up our licenses for the next day and some groceries so we can eat.  There was also a Starbucks.  Vonna had decaf, but didn’t like it.  Took her a while to drink it.  We headed home and to bed a little early.  We have to be to the boat by 6am. 

I slept good, until about 2 am.  Worried that the alarm wouldn’t go off I guess.  Anyway, I was up a little before 5, and to the gate at 5:20, Ervin met me there and we drove to Gibraltar where the boat is docked.  We got there about 6:20, but Dave waited for us.  We both made sure that we took our pills – seasick pills – just in case.

As soon as we got there Dave gave us his safety talk, and we took off. There were four of us on the boat, including Dave.   It was cold and rough.  The Coast Guard was out and started out of the bay.  Dave was talking to the Guard and found out that we couldn’t go out to the ocean because of the danger of the change in-between the bay and ocean.  It would be maybe a couple of hours before the tide changed and we would be able to get out. 

Dave said no problem, changed the rods, bait, and we started trolling in the bay.  Within 30 minutes I had pulled in my first salmon – Chanouch – on my first time salmon fishing.  It was really great and Ervin got it all on his iPhone.  We got a few pictures, but wanted to get back out fishing.  It was going to be a great day.

We were watching others getting some fish, and it was cold and a little rough, but I really wasn’t noticing it.  John, the other person there, brought in the next fish.  He wasn’t feeling to good – didn’t take the pills – but got the fish in.  It was a nice salmon, not quite as big as mine.  A little while later Ervin brought in the next one.  Three fish on board.

We were getting a little hungry – all of us but John.  He had already lost his breakfast.  Ervin said how about a banana, and I said there were a couple in the bag I brought.  Dave asked if he could see them, and wanted to see both of them.  I thought he was going to pick the best of the two or something.  He threw them as far as he could.  My jaw dropped a little, and Ervin was laughing and pointing at the sign on the other side of the front seat – a banana with a line across it.  Having bananas on board is bad luck.  He said we would have caught our limit by now.  I will remember this next time.

Not a good picture of
Pulling in the Crabs

A few minutes after this I was reeling in the final catch of the day.  The Coast Guard opened the bay and we headed for the ocean.  Our first stop was for crab.  We got about 21, or 7 each.  We put the pots back out and was going to pull them up after we got our salmon limit – which I had, but we needed four more for all of us to get our limit.  John looked at Dave, and said “I have to go in”.  Dave said ok.

We headed for the barn.  Took the crabs to the cooking pots, and took a picture of the fish.  Ervin and I helped Dave get the boat cleaned up and everything up to his truck.  We went over to where the crabs were, and while Dave was fileting the fish, we cleaned the crabs.  John took off, was going to sleep for a while and head for home.  The rest of us headed for some lunch. 

Ervin and I stopped in Tillamook so that I could have some of our salmon smoked.  Then back to the trailer.  The ladies got there just a few minutes before we did.  It was about 7 and it had been a long day.  Vonna and I cut up the rest of our salmon and put into bags to freeze.

The next morning we were up early.  We were meeting Annie and Ervin in Lincoln City for breakfast.  They were headed home, they have a sale this week-end and had to get back.  It was great spending time with them and getting to know Ervin.  We sure will make time to stop every time we get up this way at their home and see them.  We had a great time, and are looking forward to the next trip, more fishing, and more time to talk and see what is new in their lives.

They left for home about noon, and Vonna and I headed for the grocery store.  After a couple of hours and a couple of hundred dollars we headed for the house.  We stopped at the post office and had a package from Tammy.  She had sent us an I Love Lucy DVD of first season and Popcorn, M&M, and Wherthers for our anniversary.  It was really a surprise.  Guess what we will watch tonight after our games?  Right, I Love Lucy.

We decided to take our dinner to the beach.  I BBQ'ed the hot dogs while Vonna got everything else ready.  We loaded the food and dogs and headed for the ocean and got a front row seat.  It was foggy, and we couldn’t see the big rock, but we still had a great time.  It cleared up enough to see the rock and the surfers.  We talked, Vonna got to talk to Tammy, Pam, and Brenda, and text with Debbie.  We both got on FaceBook, and I ordered a couple of items from Amazon.  We headed back to the campsite at about 7:00 or so.  It was starting to get dark and cold.

We got back to the camp, finished getting the meat out of the crabs, and called it a night, after we watched I Love Lucy.

Getting crabs ready for eatting!

It has been a great trip.  We are enjoying every day together.  It was nice seeing Annie and meeting Ervin.  It was like we had known him before.  We are looking forward to a restful weekend, and then we will go exploring more.  We leave here on the 19^th and I will get back on before we leave.  Have a great week.  We love you all.