Oregon Coast vacation: scenes and signs

The Oregon Coast was bliss. Absolute bliss. We watched Friday's newscast in which the meteorologist announced the end of the heat wave. "That was the heat wave?" James asked. Perhaps that weather report related farther inland. Nevertheless, Jeff and I thought the coastal climate was perfect: in the 60s all week, with fog and sunshine in a balanced tango, just enough of each to make you appreciate the other.

The fog was magical. On the beach cousins materialized out of air not thin, but thick. The mist beaded on our hair. I never needed the lotion carefully packed in my duffel bag.

The landscape is beautiful -- and accessible. The coastal highway is full of state park-run pull-offs for you to soak in the atmosphere. I couldn't get over the nearness of evergreens to beaches, slopes to sand.

This was at Cape Perpetua, one of the highest points on the Oregon Coast. Once again, Jeff gamely dropped us off so we could walk all ... the ... way ... down to the highway. The children bounded far ahead of me, and I never caught up. (Er, or tried to.)

I thought she was crazy when my friend said blackberries are like weeds in the Pacific Northwest. Something so tasty and expensive in my parts? Come on! These blackberries are growing through rocks near a pier. I'm a believer now.

 Light house at Yaquina Bay Head. Top light house photo by Jeff, bottom by me. It was fun to see him renew his interest in landscape photography.

Elise looks west toward the Yaquina Bay Bridge in Newport. This was NOT the bridge we repeatedly walked across; it had no barrier between sidewalk and the narrow roadway, which is a big no-no for mommy outings. One morning a biker went across the bridge in the fog. A big truck barely swerved away in time. Yikes!

 There were murals everywhere. I only happened to take this picture of Samuel and Jeff because we got separated and I was on the other side of the street. My family will not pose!

Samuel and James plug their noses in protest at the fish market. I loved that you'd be walking along and a forklift hefting that day's catch would cross the sidewalk right in front of you.

Yaquina Bay

A fun attraction we went to as a group was the aquarium in Newport. It had super cool tunnels with sharks, sting rays and other fish. The floor was also glass. 

Samuel loved the play area at the aquarium with a boat and fish market.

Samuel views a harbor seal through the glass.

Uh, ok.

So the weather was great, the company was great, the natural landscape was great. Could it get any better? Yes! The small towns we visited were a haven for a word nerd like me. There were multiple "Natural Selection" stores selling pet and people food.  Or how about "B. Ginner's Art Studio" and a hotel with Terry A. While, proprietor? Clever business names and signs were everywhere. This was my favorite:

I think we all took a picture of this one, given that Mari is the matriarch of the group.

I loved the laid-back feel of the towns, the concentration of toy stores, used book stores and candy stores. Where else could a store thrive selling nothing but kites? Sadly, however, I saw an older man push his cart of belongings, topped with an orange Halloween bucket, to a bench in front of a store. I saw him on that same bench two other days as we drove by. I fear he was homeless, and I'm very sad that we did not stop to see if there was something I could offer him. It's a sorry regret. 

This was a fabulous vacation that drew our family closer, and we already want to go back. I just need time to recover from the 15-hour drive home!