Oregon

Morning at the Brooks and Z man enjoying his relax time not knowing we are about to drive the coast down from Seattle to Oceanside...

I just love the North West and all the coffee drive thru huts on the side of the street, in parking lots and gas stations. It seemed the next one was more clever or more funny then the last. 

Leaving Washington State and entering Oregon. I wish we took more pictures of Washington coast... it was just breath taking. We found ourselves in aww and forgetting to take pictures. I love Washington, always have and always will. I can not wait to get back there and actually take some pictures .

Looking back across the river to Washington

Astoria Oregon.. full of characters and style. Drove around the town on the river at the bottom of a hill. Wish we stopped and looked around a bit more, but we wanted to see more of Oregon.

Totem Poll... so many of these all around the North West and there's a story behind everyone. Didn't find out the story for this one because it was right off of an intersection :(

After driving around Astoria we found ourselves back under the bridge we just crossed at a small local cafe. Got some coffee and some cookies for refueling ;) Enjoyed watching the people walking in and out of the cafe.. looked like some kids were looking for the twilight town and got lost...

We left Astoria and drove south to the town of Cannon Beach. Super story book out of the movies type of town. There were so many cute places to choice from to eat lunch... it took us forever to pick and finally we picked a log cabin that was family friendly... in other words, they didn't care if our kids were sick of sitting down.

Little Miss Eira and Daddy waiting for lunch

A walk along the beach before the wind turned us back to the town. The coast of Oregon is so beautiful. James loved how it went from ocean right into cliffs and evergreens.

The houses along the North West coast are so unique. Built for the woods and the beach. Dream homes all along the coast.

James and I took a few pictures of the turn outs, but soon they all started looking the same on the camera. We soon figured out our pictures were not going to do our story justice. But we kept taking pictures saying " we will know"

The 101 south drives right along the ocean the whole way, even up huge cliffs or along sand dunes. Here we are up so high, this pictures... again, doesn't so it justice.

Sometimes the Coast road would drive inland a few miles, take us along huge rivers and mountains so high you could not see the tops. Blackberry bushes covered the sides of the roads and any place there wasn't trees... blackberry bushes.

 Some locals out for a Sunday drive.....

It's a bit blurry, but the closest shot we had of one of them many rocks with trees on them. All the way down the Washington and Oregon coast are HUGE rocks out to sea or just off the shore or even in a little bay. They would have a few trees or maybe just one tree, sometimes they looked as if they were perfectly manicured Bonsai trees. I think I may have taken this picture while still moving. 

I just loved the coastal towns along Oregon. They all seemed to be proud but very welcoming. One of our most favorite places in Oregon was Lincoln city. We drove into it and decided to grab a room there. Found a hotel right here on this little river and close to everything else in town. We loved it.

We asked a local where he thinks we should eat. He sent us to a doggy looking bikers pub on the side of the road. So I sent James in all alone to see if it was OK before we brought the kids in. When we all went in, there was money plastered to the ceiling, stickers and neon lights on the walls and peanut shells all over the floor... covering the floor with buckets on the tables full of peanuts. So the saying "when in Rome " turned into "When in Lincoln City " We grabbed a booth for 4....

Dad teaching Z man how to open a peanut.... and then toss the shell on the floor... oh ya they had stop lights hanging too ;)

Money ... with this place looking like such a dumb and some characters getting around. It was some of the best food on our road trip. We walked away happy and full and a memory ... When in Lincoln City

The Nicest drive thru coffee hut and a very yummy one at that. James had a chat with the people who worked there while I walked around and took pictures. Found out the man who opened this one was from Australia. Small world in a way ;)

How could you not stop at these places ? So fun and sometimes good coffee and food. Good bye Lincoln City we head South.

I sometimes wonder why they went through all of this hard work to build these amazing bridges along the coast when they could move over 15 feet to the hill. I understand land slides, but I feel it was clearly for the art. We drove over so many bridges that were worth pulling over to just look at it.

A house with a view...

The further south we got, we noticed the trees started shooting more north. They kept getting taller and taller, but stayed so GREEN and mossy.

Took a side road cause it looked like fun... turned into a one way that took us to the Devils punch bowl and a cute little town we would never have seen. It was truly an adventure. 

Looking back at a little community off the one way road.. They have the best views on all four sides of their houses. At one point we saw whales enjoying the sights of a little town. Still can't remember what kind of whale they were, but it was still amazing to watch them make their way.

The Devils Churn.. If the swell is big enough it will shoot up over the highway.. My guess is 100ft... give or take... a lot ;) But we saw it on a nice calm day as you can see in the picture.

Weak devils churn....

Getting closer to California, but the boulders were still shooting out of the ocean and not getting old to stop and look at.

James tried to zoom in to see the surfers... he thought it was crazy to get in these Dark and cold waters to surf. He said " your worried about sharks in Australia ? "

Good Bye Oregon, amazing breath taking and full of so much life. I hope I can get back here and give Oregon at least two weeks to explore. Now on to California .....

The Greater North West part 2

I found just a few more pictures of the first part of Seattle. Here Z man is out front of the house my Dad got. It was  so beautiful and covered in Green !

A shot of the music museum and the Space Needle

Z man and his Space Needle. If he could live there, he would be the happiest boy. He just loved it.

They get away with so much

Tutu and Z man ! We finally made it to Federal Way and for our first meal Diane took us to Salty's, my most favorite place to eat. We sat out on the back deck, when you looked down you could see the water through the cracks and if you looked in the water, you could see fish and scuba divers. I had a Dungeness crab stuffed salmon over and amazing risotto. I didn't take any pictures for I was enjoying every bite of that meal.

James getting ready to go to his first MLB game. Dan got him a shirt and hat of the local team, so he was good and ready to cheer on the best team... at least that's what I think ;)

Little Miss Eira and Tutu

Eira was fast into wrapping Tutu and Kapuna around her fingers.

Kisses for Kapuna

Eira just fell in love with Shannon, She would do anything with here. That included a heap of laughing and smiles. If I recall, I think Eira taught Shannon to play 52 pick up...

At this point Dan and James would have been on the train to the game, but there was a hold up back here at the house. Little Miss Eira decided when Kapuna gets to leave

James was holding it in, but I could see he was ready to see this game. He talked about it the whole way up to Montana and then all the way over to Seattle.  But as I said before, Eira decides when they go ;)

Need I say more ;)

Now I didn't go to the game with them, So these are pictures Jameso took and he took a whole heaps of them, I just picked a hand full.  But here they are at Safeco  Field ready for cracker Jacks and $15 hot dogs...

James said he could hear the ball when someone would throw it and even catch it... a big smack into the glove.

James still loves how Americans show their team spirit. Every team, if they suck or if they are kicking butt, they are there at the games dressed in team colors and with pride.

I had said from day dot, if you're going to go to a MLB game, you have to go with Dan. I can't think of anyone else more passionate about the game of baseball. Plus James could ask Dan all the questions I couldn't answer... and there's a lot of them. When you get into the baseball terms and stats, it's another language to me. I love the game, but I know 3 strikes your out.

I feel these colors look great on James... I know he's a Phillies fan, but this colors look good

Some things to remember his first game by and a little gift for Z man.

So after the baseball game the battery for our camera died and we couldn't find the charger. So we depended on our phone which was almost dead too. So we had also hoped for Diane's phone too. So we don't have nearly as many photos as I wish we did. But here we are on a Ferry ride to Bainbridge Island. Z man just loved watching the Space Needle get smaller and smaller.

We looked for whales and dolphins... didn't see any, but we saw plenty of seagulls. The weather had a perfect break for the ride over. We didn't get to see Mt. Rainer, but we were able to see the surrounding Islands. Seattle holds a special place with me for it's amazing beauty. I just love how green it is. Every where you look... green.

Another Ferry going the other way, Again... Mom and Rich used to take me and my two younger brothers on these all the time when we lived in Seattle. So it was another memory we got to share together.

I'm pretty sure if I dig enough, I will find the pictures of me looking like that on my ferry rides.

Kapuna showing Eira how to take a ferry ride in style. No joke, he's like the baby whisperer, any time Eira would start to get a little cranky or extremely cranky, Dan would pick her up and start talking to her and she would stop... maybe even fall asleep. Amazing

" Kapuna ! Space meedle ! " yes I still haven't fixed it into "Needle"

I believe they are looking for dolphins. there was so much to look at and with only 20 minuets on the boat we had to take it all in.

We picked a Mexican place to eat at... Yes this plate could have fed us all and the table next to us. but this would be one meal and one meal to put anyone into a food coma. Didn't finish it... no where near it, but James loved having Mexican food while in America. That's one thing Australia needs to get... Real Mexican food... not so much this heart clogging  meal, but close to it.

On the Ferry Ride back to Seattle from bainbridge Island.

Looking back to Bainbridge, I'm so happy Dan and Diane took us to this Island. It was just a perfect little town on and amazing and beautiful island. I kept saying the whole time we were there... I am meant to be living on this island. Right out of a book or movie, cute little shops and cafes with local artist and foods. Just another world and all you need to do is jump on a boat.

It was cold on our boat trip back, so Z man found a great spot inside... He got to watch the Space Needle getting bigger and bigger as we got closer. He got to watch the seagulls chase us back to the mainland, He loved out little boat adventure.

My old house... right across the street from Dan and Diane. I had so much fun living across the street from my best friend Chelsea. I have had so much fun sharing this place with my family and I can only hope we make it back here more.

Out front looking at the moon and watching the planes fly above

Daddy's little girl for sure

On our last day in Federal Way Dan and Diane took us to Salty's for a goodbye Brunch... All you can eat most amazing seafood and sweets and crepes and... well everything was just over the top delicious. In the left hand corner of this picture, Dungeness crab legs.... all... you... can... eat. Bring it on

James knows how to enjoy a vacation.... Yum and they tasted like some pastry chef was out back making them. 

After brunch we played on the beach Chelsea and I used to play at as kids. Little Miss Eira jumped right into playing with the rocks... good thing Tutu was there to take the rocks out of her mouth and keep her from jumping over head first..

Again... we didn't have a camera, so we took pictures from the phones and not enough. But James and Dan got right into teaching Z man how to skip rocks on the water and to miss the scuba divers. I can't even begin to tell you how amazing our trip has been so far. We made it from California to Montana and now Washington and we will be making our way down the 101 back to So Cal. I always feel at home when I come back to Federal Way, The brooks went out of their way to show us a good time and we will always remember our few days in Federal Way. James and I still can't decide what place was hardest to leave.