Every year, we venture to the coast for our "yurt" vacation. We got home from our 2010 adventure yesterday and are still shaking sand from our bodies, clothes, shoes, toys and bedding.
Yurts -- or those canvas covered tee-pee-like things, fully equipped with electricity (read: heaters), futons and covered porches -- are very popular here in Oregon and can be found at most state parks. Our favorites are on the coast, just south of Manzanita, at Nehalem Bay. It is extremely competitive to reserve them, so Bill begins his 8 a.m. calling/online reservation campaign exactly nine months before our preferred dates (that's how far in advance you can reserve them). It usually takes several days, but he's been remarkably successful at getting a handful every year. It's become a tradition that we go with Bill's sister, Wendy, and her son, Kellyn, along with our good friends the Andersons and Snussells.
This year, summer came late to Oregon (even by Northwest standards), so there were a lot of hopes and dreams and bottled-up longing-for-the-sun vacation angst riding on this trip. I'm pleased to report, with the exception of a few misty mornings (which makes for fine sleeping weather) and cloudy afternoons, we had a wonderful time.
There were campfires (s'mores every night!), sand and forest explorations, digging and dune "surfing," plus a lot of Barbie fun, make-believe, kayaking, reading (Evan's new passion), knitting, singing and general hanging-out. There were few electronics (only the occasional movie), which forced the boys to resort to things like wood carving, bicycle races, and honing their fire-starting skills (all of which they enjoyed immensely). We even wore our swimming suits on the beach (sans sweatpants and fleece)! The only downside is that it's a sure sign that summer is almost over.
All in all, it was exactly the kind of vacation we had hoped for: the perfect opportunity to relax, recharge and reconnect with treasured family and friends. I can't wait to do it all over again next year!
FUN WITH FRIENDS:
AT THE CAMPSITE:
ON THE BEACH:
KAYAKING (START AT THE CRAB PROCESSING/FISH HEAD PLACE):
AT OSWALD STATE PARK (LOOKING AT TIDE POOLS):
Fun trip!
The blog is great. That princess and the pea story was unbelievable. My kids would have been hysterical. My kids often are hysterical. Don't even get me started on the "Ant in my hair" example or the "Cello sucks eggs" story. Imagine very loud sobs. There you go.
Posted by: Account Deleted | 08/19/2010 at 05:08 PM