Relaxing by the Pacific Ocean

Hello my dear friends, we're home from our week in our caravan/trailer relaxing by the sea.  I just wish I could share the salty air aroma and the sound of the waves breaking on the sandy shore.  I was a bit travel weary after the trip to New Orleans, so a restorative week by the sea was just what I needed.  This is the view right outside of our home away from home.

But I just had to show you the beautiful flowers that my darling grandsons picked out for me for my birthday!  We even packed them up and took them to the beach with us!  

Kristi surprised me with a yummy German Chocolate cake for my birthday - do you see a photo bomber?  :-)

I was only home from my trip to New Orleans for two days before we were packing up and heading to the beach.  We had a bit of rain on the way down to north of Depoe Bay where our RV park sits by the sea, but during the unhooking of the truck to the trailer it was dry.  I snapped this shot of a daddy with his children running happy and free by the waves.

As the family runs along I snap a photo from further back to encompass the waves, sea and horizon.

We then set up "camp".  Dayle does the outside hookups while I run the slides out and get the kitchen set up with coffeemaker, toaster and paper towel holder.  The sun came out and we sat out in our folding chairs and enjoyed the day.  The site we have is much more sheltered from the wind than the ones down the front row.  We now take the one on the side and are liking it.  I saw this boat and zoomed in for a shot, it looks quite filled with fishermen!

The second day dawned sunny and beautiful, and as I was looking out at the ocean I saw something very unusual.. so I zoomed in with my camera and took a photo.  I didn't realize what it was until I downloaded the photos onto my computer.. it's a big group of sea lions floating - when like this the group is called a "raft".  I got such a kick at seeing all their flippers in the air!

More children having fun on the beach, building sand castles and "lakes".

Now.. if you'll notice, most of my photos this time are capturing calm pursuits and not my regular "haunts".  I felt my beach posts were getting too predictable so I purposely did not take my usual shots.  Most of these images reflect the relaxing week we had.  I spotted this pretty kite flying right in front of our caravan and snapped this.

I enjoyed the roses on the table all week, I also brought my wooden candleholder that was made from a 200 year old spindle from the Laura Plantation porch rail during the recent restoration - and I brought one of my Japanese fishing floats from my collection to enjoy all week.

These are used to float fishing nets in Japan, some get loose and are eventually found washed up on shores all up and down the west coast of the USA and many end up in Alaska.

We were blessed with several days of sunshine.. this is a shot from our caravan door with the sun sparkling on the sea.. LOVE this!

While we were sitting in the sunshine I hopped up to get a close up of the beach plant called Salal which was in bloom.  Eventually they will produce black berries which were used by the native people and are still used today.  

One day we ventured to have lunch at the Embarcadero Hotel.  We had our boat, Stargazer, moored at this marina one whole summer and dined here often.  So, this was another trip down memory lane.  Our boat was right out of this window with this view of Yaquina Bay Bridge.  I will never forget being at the helm of our sailboat as we sailed out into the ocean and back.  

As we drove back through the Historic Bay Front of Newport, Oregon we snapped a photo of this colorful little fishing boat named "Sea Pup".

Dayle spotted this restored old car as we drove through Depoe Bay, isn't it cute?

Another drive through Newport I snapped a photo of this old theater, it's for sale.  Wouldn't it be fun to buy this and run great movies and have popcorn and boxes of candy and soda for sale?

Another brilliant sunset.  More relaxing.  :-)

We've been staying here for many years and have never visited the Indian casino named Chinook Winds - so we decided to give it a try for lunch at their steak restaurant with a great view of the ocean.  After a nice chicken lunch we decided to drop a few dollars in the slot machines.  I used a free $5 voucher on the Wheel of Fortune and won $49.50 which I cashed out on our way out.  :-)

A pretty sunset.

I snapped one shot of our caravan inside for those who haven't seen it.

How's this for a pretty sunset?

The only regular thing I could not leave out is our visit to the Yaquina Head Lighthouse.  I was happy to see the new paint on it - last year there was a scaffolding around it!

I thought you'd like to see a close up of the Fresnel lens (pronounce fur-nel).  I think they are beautiful.  

I love the little "house" on the front of the lighthouse.  It's actually where the lighthouse keeper's office was and on the right is the oil room.

I also zoomed in to show you the pretty iron railing and the detail of the walk supports.

Such a pretty lighthouse.

I never tire of seeing this against the blue ocean.

On our way out to the lighthouse I spotted some wild iris is bloom on the hillside, there were many of these, I adore them!

I talked Dayle into going to the kite shop with me.. :-)  For years I'd wanted a colorful banner to hang off our deck and since he hadn't gotten me a birthday present.. I found one!  We also got 2 kites to bring home to the boys as a gift.

Another sunset.. which one is your favorite?

On our last full day we just kind of drove around and near the Hatfield Marine Science and saw these gorgeous Balsamroot flowers in bloom.

We also saw these wonderful sea oat type grasses but for the life of me I cannot find the name of them on "google".  Do you know what these are?  (ETA: This is "Briza Maxima", or called "Quaking Grass" or "Rattlesnake Grass" for obvious reasons.  Thanks to Geraldine from Berkshire, England - she has these!)

From the same area we got a shot of the Yaquina Bay Bridge.

We drove out to the end of the jetty on the south side and I spotted this wild rose bush with beautiful blossoms.

The morning of our departure from the beach Buddy was looking fetching in his perch where he can keep an eye out for all the other dogs being walked down to the beachside.  When he spots one, he goes yip yip yip!

I directed Dayle to the trailer hitch and lowered the trailer onto the hitch - then waited in the truck while he finished all the hook ups - and the Coast Guard helicopter flew by.. I was happy to see him turn around and come back in time for me to snap this shot.  :::wave wave::

One last shot of our little slice of heaven as we pulled out.

We pulled in after a 3 hour drive home and I was so happy to see so many more flowers in bloom!  I put my banner together on it's bamboo pole and Kristi stuck it in a flag holder on the deck.  Isn't it pretty?

And so, home again.  Kristi got some new plants and planted them today after talking to me about where I'd like things.  She got me a dwarf lilac for my birthday!  How is your Spring going for you?  Do you have any fun trips planned for the Summer?  ((hugs)), Teresa :-)