Final day and trip home

How quickly our week together came to an end....luckily though we will be able to meet again back home in less that 2 days if we so desired.  After 8 months away I think a little acclimating and putting away may be required though prior to the visiting starting!

The Girls

Our last hours together were true family quality time - hard core sampling at Costco. And when we all arrive we are truly a force to be reckoned with. Let's just say the samples disappear quicker with the whole Harper clan in tow. And there was a fine selection today. And then they were off...... and we too were on our way.

The rest of the afternoon was spent repeating the trip in reverse back up to Port Angeles from Warrenton (Costco) - where a lovely dinner awaited us. What a treat.

And now here I sit writing this blog while Scrabble (Round three) takes place between Jim and Mom.

I wonder when and where my next adventure will be?

Last couple days in Seaside, OR

The last couple days have been quieter, and the warm sunny weather has been fading away, changing to cloudy skies and rain.

On Thursday I chauffeured and walked with mom around downtown Seaside, shopping as we went.  Scott and the family went to Fort Clatsop just north of us and we met up again mid-afternoon.  After dinner we all got together at the cabin and played "Things".  Oh the things you can learn about your family when you play games such as that - let me tell you! It is a little concerning.  Thursday night the rain just pounded down for the whole night and most of Friday morning.

Friday we got together for breakfast and then headed south of town in search of what is supposed to be the 3rd largest Sitka Spruce tree (stump) in the world.  We found it but only four of us were willing to make our way out into the rain to see it and snap a couple pictures.

Then after lunch we made our way back to large salt water taffy and ice cream parlour we visited the first day we were in town and were escaping the rain.  This time we had a winner at Spin the Wheel (the previous time we just got a free taffy each).

and then we  all partook in an ice cream cone (to be clear we had one cone each) - courtesy of Grandma/Mom - thanks again to our latest sugar fix.

Nephews' 11th Birthday Celebrations.

Today was all about Travis - whatever he wants to do to celebrate his birthday.  The day started off with gift opening and then a crepes breakfast, with bacon - so yummy. 

Then while he went off to the lounge to check his birthday e-mails the girls and I ran around the resort putting up the clues.

After all 11 clues were found it was time for Travis' first go-carting experience - he was just tall enough and the owner was so nice he let him (and Shae and Bradley) go for almost twice the normal time, and even let Scott join them for the last half so they could all enjoy the go-carting together.

Travis' lunch choice was the Pizza Hut lunch buffet; followed by a a really enjoyable walk on Cannon Beach.

Taking it easy the rest of the day - with plans for cake and sherbet this evening, pool time, hot tub and possibly an evening of family games.

Arrival and first couple days.

The last couple days have been full.  On Sunday we got up to blue skies, which lasted throughout the day with only a couple short showers.  The drive from Port Angeles, WA to Seaside, OR was very picturesque and the new car drove well.  Besides a stop in Hoodsport and the state park just after there (where we stopped for a lunch break), and Raymond, OR (where we stopped to see some amazing metal art located along HWY 101 and throughout the town) we pretty much drove straight through.

We arrived at Thousand Trails Seaside park (TT) in the middle of the afternoon and as I drove into the parking area in front of our cabin Mom mentioned how nice it would have been if Scott and the family were already here. Too bad they weren't (as she had been told by the park ranger). A convenient lie from where I sat - as I could see Scott's big blue van and trailer just a couple spots up across from us. Mom didn't see it and when I mentioned perhaps she should head up that way as she may meet someone she knows across the park I see a family of 7 running, ducking and weaving, trying to stay in the shadows as they tried to surprise her.

It was so strange seeing them all again - like no time had passed. Hard to believe 8 months have passed since they headed out on their big adventure last August! So much to catch up on, which we did as we toured the park, then had dinner together in their trailer.

We spend the evening laughing together as we ate popcorn and watched the Tim Hawkin's DVD Scott caught when they saw him in concert down in Florida.

 Monday - after having breakfast we loaded ourselves into our vehicles and headed for the Seaside Boardwalk down on the beach.

We wandered out in the sand to see the water then walked about 3/4 of the way to the other end when I felt a drop of rain hit me. Now the rain here comes in fast and furious so as soon as that happened we all made an about face and made our way (rather faster then the beginning of our walk) to the main road where all the storefronts had awnings. We killed some time in the Carousel ..... Mall then walked the rest of the way back to our cars - again in the sun.

We hit the outlet mall on the way back to TT and after lunch spent some time in the pool and hot tub.  In the evening Janet and I relaxed in the trailer and had some girl catch up time while mom and the younger kids visited in the cabin.

Tuesday - today we went to Astoria and again the weather cooperated and we had sun.  En route we went to the required number of thrift stores, Costco for lunch then made our way up to the Astoria Column.  Everyone but Scott and Mom made the trek up to the top (164 steps - 125 feet high).  The view from the top was absolutely gorgeous.  The trip back down the spiral staircase was dizzying.

With wobbly legs we then went back to another thrift store Scott and the family saw up our way up the hill to the column then went in search for the sea lions that congregate down by an old pier on the water.  Talk about loud - we could hear them blocks before we reached them.

In the evening the girls and I created a scavenger hunt for the following day - my nephew Travis` 11th birthday.  It was a lot of fun and we all hope he enjoys doing it tomorrow.

The journey begins...

The early morning after the late night before was not fun but thankfully the weather cooperated and we were able to load up the car before rain started.  I wasn't so lucky when I had to run through the Black Ball Coho ferry parking lot for the immigration part of the ferry loading process. 

The ferry ride was over before we knew it - partly due to all the concentration on the Scrabble game - very serious thinking was going on. 

Our first travel day has been a day of varied weather: rain, fog, sun, hail, snow, pounding rain, sun then rain again; with a most spectacular rainbow thrown in for good measure.

Yet in spite of it all we (Mom, Jim (our Port Angeles host) and I) managed to pick just the right times to venture out first to Madison Falls, along the Elwa River;

then into Sequim to one of Jim's favourite haunts Over The Fence - a fabulous interior/exterior design and home furnishing store. But boy oh boy did the sky ever open up on our way out of the store!

Once reaching home we enjoyed a lovely dinner, prepared and shipped over to us from Victoria by our favourite Khalil (thanks Anwar); which was then followed by another couple rounds of Scrabble for Mom and Jim; and this post by me.

Here's hoping tomorrow's weather for our drive to Oregon is more sun than rain.  In other words clear sailing all the way to the coast.

Getting ready for Oregon Road trip - April 2013

After being away for almost 8 months my brother and family are at last returning home.  But before they do I am heading down to meet up with them in Seaside, Oregon for a week of family time, and no doubt lots of fun and laughter.  I have missed them while they have been gone.

And I will be getting down there in my new (to me) 2009 Toyota Corolla!  And taking mom along as a passenger.  First road trip in my new vehicle....here's hoping for clear skies and warm weather.

Several more sleeps and we will be on our way, stopping at a friend's home in Port Angeles for our first night, then making our way down through Washington State to the Oregon coast.