Ilwaco WA and our lighthouses!

We left Seaside and had lunch at Gearhart at McMenamins's...a really good burger for me... and aren't I really the most important... When we are all done we took off for Astoria to visit the Light Ship at the Museum there. After all, as we were telling Halley and Dan, it is a light house, only on a boat and mobile. So interesting, plus there were about seven large ships anchored about in the Columbia River. We forget how large that mighty river is.

Then we traveled on to the huge Astoria Bridge and made our way to Washington State. This trip has had quite a bit of construction, and the bridge was no exception. So funny to see a portapotty on the bridge deck...Wait, I digress...We got into Washington and made our way to first the Northead Lighthouse....The coast guard was having a practice exercise with a helicopter just out on the shore... working with a rope, etc... interesting. Took in the view, a whole bunch of pictures and then up to the gift shop.... of course. No trip with H and D is complete unless you visit the gift store!

We left Northead... and went on to Cape Disappointnment Lighthouse... but managed to get our official Bridge Picture... a walkway over the wetlands in Beards Hollow... pretty nice. The whole area use to be open to the ocean until the 'bar' and 'jetty' was created at the mouth of the Columbia. We learn so much on these trips...

So, after all that, we finally were on our way home... OH WAIT! Had to stop at Clarks, near Artic, for, you all who know, ICE CREAM shakes...Such a nummy treat! We were home and unpacked by 7:00pm...and as they say... There's no place like home. Oh, and nothing like a puppy dog so happy to see you!

An exciting dinner in Seaside!

And... we topped it off with... a Seizure... Really felt bad for Dan... He even brought Halley down with him... so it was quite the scene... But, He recovered quick enough, and we could enjoy a yummy dinner.  Sad to say, his big toe is suffering though... Halley didn't get injured, at least that we can tell so far... That's a plus. 

Tomorrow, home... Tomorrow, Happy Dance by Me!

Rockaway Beach, Cannon Beach and Ecola Park

A quick stop at Rockaway Beach...

The glassworks shop in Cannon Beach... Always cool to see their work!

We went on to Ecola Park to hunt for the Tillamook LightHouse....That's Halley trucking on her scooter behind Jerry in the picture below... I keep hearing that background song from "Wizard of Oz", during the hurricane when the scene with the bicycle and ToTo in the basket.... it's an orchestration... da da da di da da, repeat... Okay... I know no one will get that... dang...

Aren't we cute?  Cannon Beachin the backgroud... sorta...

Tillamook Lighthouse.... Mission Accomplished... we got a pic for Halley!

Oregon Coast Wildflowers

See Halley in front of our room... in front of the forsale sign... scootin' away... and I hear that music again....

Tillamook Cheese... lets go !

So Halley really wanted to see the Tillamook Cheese Factory... I really wasn't sure I wanted another car trip...(does anyone know why???).... Anyway, I actually got it organized and off we went this morning... Had brekky about 8:30 and then hit the road. The Oregon Coast truly is beautiful... This is one of the first trips that Dan has remained up and alert the whole time. Jerry figured it was cuz the scenery here is so different and intriguing compared to what he normally sees. Dan got a great pic of Jerry and I at one of the lookouts. Halley was always opting to stay in the car. Frustrating, cuz there was no reason she couldn't walk out the 40 feet!

Yup... the views are gorgeous!

We hadn't been to this factory for about 15 years.... It's much more toursitie now... but still interesting.  They have a HUGE Ice Cream Shop (actually in two locations) and then the store where you can buy all kinds of Food Stuff, not just Cheese.... And, of course, you can't forget the Gift Shop!

Below, you see this octopus piece of equipment very interesting. 

A grand day in Seaside Oregon... with the SUN OUT!

The morning started out a little overcast, with spots of blue. But, Boy, The sun finally broke through and it was gorgeous. Halley even got a sunburn.... We spent some time with both of them and showed them the lay of the land. Halley had the scooter, so that enabled she and Dan to spend a bit of time doing her chotske shopping. We also were able to give them some independence going up and down Broadway.... ahhhhh, nice for us! Jerry ended up sneaking out to the golf course for a bit of an escape!
The beach was gorgeous in the afternoon... and, as you can see by the pictures at the bottom, the sunset...spectacular... We are right on the prom, here in Seaside, and the view is uninterupted! Right now the sky is still orange and it's 9:45pm. The Pacific Northwest is gorgeous.... unfortunately, this year it is a bit chilly... We think summer is skipping us entirely while the rest of the country seems to be baking....It'll be interesting to see what rain records we break this summer!
Tomorrow we are off to Tillamook to see the Cheese Factory. Halley is uber excited bout that!

 

Spent some time in the minimall with the Merry Go Round...

 

 

 

 

Our favorite decadent treat!  Only here to we get our Elephant Ears.... nummy!

 

 

 

 

 

The Whole Fam Dam !

 

 

On our way to Seaside Oregon....

My sister suggested to stop by the High Desert Museum on our way to Seaside... so glad we did... Very interesting... And, can you tell I'm tired... I just want to say, it was nice to wake up to the smell of the salt air and the waves landing on the beach.... I need to re-energize for a bit.... Oh wait... I have to post the Foss Family Foundation picture... next blog...