10/28/2018 Sunday in Oregon

Sunday morning, September 16, we four sisters with two husbands in tow, were up and ready for breakfast.  Beautiful, sunny Sunday morning.  Before packing the van with all the suitcases, we sat out on the find a breakfast spot.  Sure there were lots of places that were chains but we opted for an individual place.  Sis #1 was the one who spotted the place, Whale Bites Cafe.  Freshly made scones, quiches, biscuits and gravy plus many other options were available.  Most important really good coffee.  The chef/owner was from Arkansas which made the biscuits and gravy authentic southern style.  The six of us shared one order along with our individual orders.

The cafe over looked the world's smallest harbor.  It was, also, just across the street from the Pacific Ocean.  Breakfast finished and it was time for a few pictures.   


Sis #4 and I crossed the street and bridge to a nearby overview.  The fishermen were out enjoying the beautiful day.  A salty breeze made a refreshing feel to the morning. 

There appeared to be gold tips on the ripples of the inlet to the harbor.    

 
A group of white seals were resting under the bridge.

One of the folks at the small overlook noted a young humpback was playing just off the point across from us.   And a bit more whale watching.  No flukes this morning, though.  But oh, that beautiful blue ocean.

 The playful, young whale.

This trip was about Sis #2's granduaghter's wedding and a short visit to her home.  Yes, we were going to the newlywed's home one day following her wedding.   it was time to get packed up and head to Salem for the visit.  What a lovely couple with such a welcoming home.  The dining room held two treasures the couple had found while cleaning out the basement.  A gorgeous carved door had been found.  Behind a wall that was removed was the stained glass window.  Can you imagine how excited they were to find these?

A tour of the welcoming bungalow, pour over coffee and visiting filled the next 3 hours.   The bride's dad, our nephew, and his wife joined for the last hour. 

Barrel in shape of Oregon

Old BIL and Bride's step mother

A few snaps of the almost plate sized hydrangeas, aromatic roses, neighborhood kitty and the young couple.

Sis # 2, Nephew #3 and groom

Groom, Bride and Oliver the too friendly guard dog bid us goodbye.

Hugs, kisses, smiles, more hugs, kisses and maybe a tear or two and we are back in the van.  Now we were on our way to Portland for the next part of the trip.  Sis #1 had lived in that area for a few years in the early 1970's.  We were on our way to meet a man in a white SUV with a white bucket on the top.  It was Sis #1's neighbor and his wife from all those years ago we were meeting.  That bucket on the top was spot on to help locate a vehicle in the sea of look alike vehicles at Best Buy. 

Once Sis #1 was dropped off, we headed for the next home for two nights in Washougal, WA.  The drive along and around the Columbia River Valley was stunning.  Trees were beginning to change colors.  Even through the third window the colors were beautiful. 

Draw bridges over Columbia River.

It was late evening when we made it to the house.  A bit of mix up with the keys to enter the house took a bit longer.  We emptied the van, picked our rooms for sleeping and stopped for just a minute to get our bearings.   Checking the kitchen for staples showed this particular location had none.   We decided it would be easiest to just go back to the nearby town, have dinner and pick up what we needed for breakfast.  Nice dinner at a brewery, Starbuck pods for the Kuerig, and back to the house.  It was bedtime.  Again, I did not need to be rocked to sleep.

10-26-2018, Redmond to Depoe Bay

Saturday morning sunrise promised the possibility of rain.  My bed was in the loft with a wonderful view of the sunrise.  That morning we would need to gather our stuff and the food and head out for the coast.  Sis #2 and her husband, Old BIL, were anxious to get to Mo's, a seafood diner they had visited on two previous trips to Oregon.

The loft area was located above the kitchen/dining and living area.  Sis #1, Sis #2 and Old BIL are early risers, like 5 AM.  I am not usually but when in Rome.  We were on the road by 9:30.  But not for long.  Not a potty break but a thirsty van.  I was surprised to see this old symbol of Sinclair in front of a service station.  And it was a service station not a pump your own petro place.  Oregon does not encourage pump your self gas stations.  That was quite the change for all of us.  Of course all 6 of us remembered when you never pumped your own gas.  Oil would be checked and windows cleaned for no extra charge and not tip expected.  That went away about 50 years ago in Texas.  Aaaah, the good old days.

We did not check out the Sisters Saloon and Ranch Grill since the goal was to get to the coast in time for a late lunch.  At Mo's.  Oyster shooters and a shrimp cocktail with more shrimp than you can eat were what we kept hearing from Old BIL.


We did not get very far before it was time to pull over to take advantage of a photo op or two.  First was an s overlook of Mt. Washington.  This area had experiences a forest fire at some point is evident in the picture.

Mt. Washington in background

 A couple of snaps of signs are always helpful for identification.

While we miss the beauty of the trees it is essential to keep a positive balance in the forest.













Next up was Youngest BIL's favorite venues, a big dam.  Gotta love a guy who made a good living by taking used parts for electric distribution equipment, refurbishing and reselling.  He loves power producing dams.

I chose not to make my #2 Sis crawl out of the van for me to crawl from the far back just to get photos.  So Y BIL was happy to take the photos.  His choice for a few of the photos were from a different perspective than mine would have been.

The reservoire, Detroit 

Opposite direction, the river

We have left the high desert behind as we cross over the Cascades.  We are traveling about 60 miles (95 km) south of where the Lewis and Clark expedition crossed the Cascades over 200 years earlier.  Looks like the folks that followed them have put quite a mark on the once pristine landscape.  Roads, dams and of course farms in this fertile soil.

Finally a sign selling the virtues of Mo's.  Old BIL has the scent of oyster shooters in his nose.  No stopping now till we reach that parking lot!  Good thing we paid to use that porta-potty a few miles back.  Mo's had a line but the wait was worth it.  The shrimp cocktail was crammed with about 2 cups of small shrimp.  Clam chowder and garlic toast were the perfect finish.

Our rooms for the night were a 1950's refurbished motel.  Clean but very spartan.  #2 Sis and BIL did not have power to the TV nor coffee pot.  Sis #4 and Y BIL had no TV sound on some stations.  Okay, let us just take a few minutes to rest and then go look at the beach areas.  We could see the Pacific Ocean from the parking lot.

Back in the van without all the suitcases seemed to give us all more room.  But who cared cause here is what we saw within 3 blocks of the motel.

 While at one overlook a friendly stranger noted there were whales in the bay.  Guess that is why the motel we were staying is names Whale Inn.  In just minutes I was able to get these shots.

Whale One:

Whale Two:

Whale Three was spotted from the van parked at a different location.  This was the first time Sis #2 had ever seen a whale.  Sis #4 was squealing every time the whales breached.  They appeared to be humpback to me.

Even though the sky was partially overcast the views were amazing.

Unfortunately at the next stop Sis #2 fell and bruised her arm and stressed her wrist.  The task then became getting to a store to get a brace for her wrist.  She would not hear of going to a walk in clinic.  She insisted we go ahead and stop at the light house that was on the way to the Walmart.   The sky began to clear somewhat giving 'sunspots' on the ocean.

Overlook at park where Sis #2 took her tumble

 By the time we reached the light house, the sky was just partly cloudy.  That lighthouse photo was taken through the back window.   A quick look around, bird photos and we were off to get the wrist brace.  By the time we returned to the Whale Inn it was time for a stiff drink.  The BIL's just wanted to go lie down.  We four sisters took off in the van to find a stiff drink.

 A great little place was located about a block away but we were too pooped to walk so loaded into the van, again.  That had to have been about the 30th time I had crawled in and out of that van on just this day.  There was a wait at the stiff drink place.  But the seats were soft.  We four attracted a lot of attention.  We had on our sister shirts.  One man asked if he could be our brother.  Other groups took photos.  Even though we were really tired it was still a fun time.  Eventually we did get our drinks and hor d vours (which we 4 country girls always call horse de veers cause we are silly).  You did not have to rock any of us to sleep that night.