SO MUCH TO SEE SO LITTLE TIME.

  On our way to Oak Harbor we took the time to snap some pictures at Deception Pass Bridge.  Almost a constant stream of traffic across the bridge.
  Lower right corner is a picture of Oak Harbor Tavern.  The only different is now it has a concrete floor instead of wood.  I do not remember it being so small.

Here are the cabins where Charles and I fist lived on Fidalgo Island.  Can not believe that they are still there.  Wayne use to make me run barefooted on the gravel drive.
Here we are in Anacortes WA.  The picture of the marina was taken at Cap Sante Park, what a wonderful view.  The ship was at Altair American memorial Park.

Today started out with breakfast at Farm House Restaurant, Wayne had the works but I was good and had granola, yogurt, and fruit.  Posted a quiz on FB a "can you name this" kinda thing.

On to La Conner it has become a tourist place, only problem today not to many tourist around.  Here are a couple shots of things I found interesting.  The best is the ramp that looks like fish bones..... at least that is what I got out of it.

Wayne remembers taking Chuckanut   Drive to Bellingham.  It is a scenic windy curvie road from Mt Vernon to Bellingham.  Wayne remembers it being a scenic drive of the ocean, well..............that was 50 years ago, you just do not see the ocean that often now.  It was a fun drive.

Checked out Larrabee State Park and discovered not really a park for us.
Went by Swinomish Casino on our way back to the park.  Checked out the Smoke shop but not much there that we wanted.   The totem poles are always interesting.  The first one is in front of the casino.

Who knows what we will do tomorrow.......B

BACK AT PARADISE POINT

 While at the coast Trace went skateboarding, I did not go so there is only one pix.... understand he was a little "rusty" to start.  Sure looks like good form to me. 

Tami and the kids went hunting for seashells and here is a cute tenie tine one Tami found.  I went with Tami our last full day there, found a perfect small sand dollar, put it in my pocket and it broke.  Now I have to wait till next year and hope I find another one.

The sign for the buffet, "Saw Blade Buffet" I was going to sneak some pixs of the buffet and as you can see there are none..... once inside and could see all the food all else was forgotten.  Oh well they probable would have kicked me out if I started taking pictures.
 WE ARE AT J's IS NUMBER ONE FISH AND CHIPS ON THE COAST.  At least in my humble opinion.  It is three in the afternoon and all the tables are filled, there might be 3 more tables not shown here.  Had to make a close up of the potato chips they are my favorites.  You have a choice of fries, salt and pepper potato chips, waffle cut fires, or tater tots.  This year they have a lunch special which they never had before.
 Before you get to Lincoln city there is an Elks Club RV park, decided to check it out.  As you can see it is nothing fancy, but we had electricity and water what more could you ask for.  By the time we got back from town we had neighbors all around us.  I think we are in an overflow area, but hey who cares, it is just overnight. 

Now we are back at Paradise Park for the next 10 days, who know what adventures we will have.  B

FOUND GOOD FISH AND CHIPS

 Finally found good fish and chips here in Coos Bay, and the winner is 'Fisherman Seafood Market'.  It is on the wharf, we had seen the signs but could not see where it was.  Today we spotted the restaurant, if the tide is out you can not see the market since it a floating building.  Very small place only seats 8, two tables. Still not as good as J's but we both enjoyed the fish and the clam chowder. 

Stopped at the casino (I know your surprised) and for once I was betting 90cents a pull and ended up winning 70 dollars.  Tomorrow we will be back at the casino for the Sea Food Buffet, maybe that machine will be nice again.  I am just glad to have a gambling fund again. 

DOUG'S NEW HOUSE (or home when he is in the "doghouse")

Here is Doug sitting on the beach dreaming of all places he can take his new home. He is so proud of his new "toy". No more fighting traffic after the Ducks game. Hunting week end he has it handled. Sure is a cute little thing.

Now for the grand tour, living room, closet, kitchen stove, pantry and shower what more could you want.

Fun times ahead B ...... for Doug

TODAY WAS GRANDPA'S DAY

When it's Grandpa's day we head for Bandon OR. First stop was Big Wheel General Store, time to get a new sweatshirt, or what ever it is that his our fancy. Trace, Cassidy and Tami got sweatshirts, I decided to get sweatpants, even found a cute pink pair. Here is Cassidy and Trace shopping. From there we hit some of the other shops, only bought some things at the candy store. They have the best corn nuts so this year I got 6 packages.
Lunch time found us at Bandon Fish market, Wayne and Tami had fish, the fish is good (not as good as J's tho) I had a crab sandwich and Cassidy and Trace had Corn dogs.
After lunch we checked out the pier, if you enlarge the picture you can read about the pier if you want more info. Beautiful carvings, not sure if they are the same as last year but do believe they are. I think the world globe is new. Trace is such a lightweight and the wind was blowing so hard he had to hang on or get blown away.
This year the pier fence was decorated with dragon drawings from the Jr and Sr high school students. It was hard to decide which ones to post, and I still did not get a picture of all of them.
Our last stop before heading back to camp was the "C0quille River Lighthouse. Trace and I did the tower tour, it is only 47 feet high, I have been up there before but forgot I am older now, just took me a little longer to get up and down. Cassidy and Tami had flip-flops on so they could on to. Once again enlarge the collage and you can read about the lighthouse.

Today is overcast so it is a lot colder than yesterday, do not believe I will be going to the beach today. B

TUESDAY, JULY 10, 2012

Home here I come. Big Brother is helping me. Found my old old blog this we in 2005 when the boys played Tball.


http://beckystravels.blogspot.com/

Here is the old blog, but who has that much time on there hands. Still think there is a third blog out there somewhere. Will see if I can find it too.

2012 CAMP COO'S BAY

 This year we are at the beach campground it will be nice to just walk to the beach.  In order to go play in the sand we will have to drive farther.  Dick and Grace has joined us this year, they are John's Uncle and Aunt.  So far the weather has been mild, not to windy and not really cold but not warm either.  Just typical coastal weather.

Have great Internet and phone reception here.  YEAH!!!!!     B

EXPLORING CHARELSTON

 Today was cold and overcast here on the Oregon coast but that did not keep us in.  We did a little shopping around Coos Bay and then headed for Charleston.  The best picture of all is the first one which I took with my phone.  The sea gull was at the marina.  If it had not been  so cold we just might have checked out some of the boats in the marina. 
 Was told by a caching friend that the fish at Fisherman's Grotto was good.   Well it was just OK the breading was really different, make me think that it was made with flour and water????  The chowder was OK but thin..... must admit J's in Lincoln City has me spoiled they are the best on the coast as far as we are concerned.

Tomorrow we move to the Dunes for the next 5 days.  Not sure how the Internet will be there, this year we will be at the beach so maybe there hope. 

B

FLORENCE OREGON

 Tested my geocahing app on iPhone while we were in McMinnville, made the find.  That is me holding the cache in the first pix...... the second pix I am telling Wayne he is "number one"! 

On to Florence, parked at the casion, had heard Three River Casino had a great seafood buffet, well last week was there last seafood buffet for the season.  On to one of our favortie places  "Seafood station"  What a dissappointment, the clam chowder was almost to salty, and then it went down hill from there.  Sorry to say we will not be back there again. 

Breakfast was at Bliss Hot Rod Cafe........ it was good just to much for me.  Todays special was mushroom, sausage scramble and of course W had to have his smotherd in gravy. 

Now parked at the Mill casion RV park, will be here two nights and then Monday everyone will be here and we will be at the sand dunes. 

Tell you next week about the Mill's seafood buffet.    B

EVERGREEN MUSEUM MC MINNVILLE McMinnville

Wayne had some work done on the motor home, while that was being done we headed to Mc Minnville to the Evergreen Museum. Hughes Flying Boat Spruce Goose is huge!!!! SG was built entirely of wood due to war time and metal was not available. The OR code will give you more info.
So much to see, exhibits from early flight, commercial aircraft, specialized aircraft, Private aircraft and Helicopters. For years we have been driving by this museum and I would comment "we should stop". Now I would recommend everyone to take the time and check it out.

In both collage I have a QO code, if you have a QO reader on your smart phone you can scan the code and it will tell you about that exhibit, you might need to enlarge the collage.

FAMILY FRIENDS FOOD FIREWORKS

makes for a successful 4TH of July celebration.  We had so many good salads and deserts and 4 different kind of meats.  Here is Father and Son manning the BBQ's .  We celebrated a Doug and Tami's house this year, what a great time we had.
After dinner we had time to visit while Doug and the Kids got the fire works set up.  There were a few that they could light off before dark, like the "pooping puppy".  OMG What a hoot!!!!
 After dark this neighborhood sounded like a war zone.  So many fire works but so hard to capture with my camera.  Took 555 pix and ended up with  103 usable pictures.  Now that the 4TH is over it is time to think about this years Coos Bay trip.  Anyone notice the pretty moon?


Now that the 4TH is over with it is time to think about  this  years Coos Bay trip.   We will be at the beach camp grounds this year.  Looking forward to ocean breezes and fresh crab........

Will let you know how that goes. B

PREPARING FOR THE 4TH OF JULY

Here is Cassidy and Trace practicing for the 4TH.  Of course "Chief" has to make sure the kids are doing it right.  Tonight the big fireworks are set off.  Tami and Doug are hosting a family BBQ tonight and then we will all bundle up and watch the festivities.  
Here we are once again at Gartner's, was here on Sunday bought hamburger, onion and cheese hot dogs and beef short ribs. The meat was so good we decided we needed more, this time hamburger, and pork ribs. The closer to the 4th the busier the market gets, the store was so busy they had people directing traffic.  Our number was 83 and they were waiting on 32 when we walked in.  25 minutes later we were out the door.  Oh so worth the wait.  
Here is Willamette Falls Locks. Opened 1873 and was partially subsides at the cost of 450,000. Hope you can zoom in and read more....if not Google can tell you more.