03-14-22 Monday – Depoe Bay to Oregon Dunes

03-14-22 Monday

Oregon Dunes, Oregon

Oregon Dunes KOA

Jeeps in Parking Lot: 0

Drive Time: 2.5 hours

Miles: 105.6

Arrived: 4:00 pm 

Today is a drive day. Up at 8:00 am, coffee and tea. We were out of the park by 10:30 am. Hit Walmart for a few supplies, mainly bananas. Had to stop and get gas and propane in the RV. Stopped at a Chevron (since we had points) for gas and propane. Unfortunately, the propane hose was not long enough. We ended up at a Fred Meyer gas station but had to remove the jeep to get into the spot by the propane. Had problems disconnecting the jeep. Barry cut his hand trying to remove the jeep from the tow bar. We lost a few hours.

It was pouring rain the entire way to the Oregon Dunes but an easy drive. We made it to the KOA about 4:00 pm. Pulled into our spot and set up. We decided to go see the dunes even though it was raining. We came this way to see the dunes and darn it we are going too, even if we get soaked. About five minutes away is Horsfall RV Recreation Area. We drove to the beach and walked out to the water. It was still pouring. We collected shells that are whole ones and some great sized ones. I had a blast choosing which shells to keep. I wanted to find a whole sand dollar but all of them were torn up due to the crashing of the waves throughout the storms. We drove into some of the parking and staging areas to see the dunes. Didn’t venture onto the dunes due to the weather plus we would have to let air out of our tires so we would not get stuck. 

We were soaked by this time and headed back to the RV. Changed out of our wet clothes into our warm pjs. Leftover fish tacos for dinner. It was a fun day and not letting mother nature stop us from having a good time. 

Copyright © 2021 by Jacqueline Threet Henderson, Jacqueline's Jaunts. All rights reserved.

03-13-22 Sunday - Depoe Bay, Oregon (Oregon Aquarium Day Trip)

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03-13-22 Sunday

Depoe Bay, Oregon

Sea & Sand RV Park Good Sam

Jeeps in Parking Lot: 4

Drive Time: 0

Miles: 0

Arrived:0

Daylight savings time. Crazy weather day. Gusting winds. It hasn’t stopped raining for two days. Checked in with Ryan and Amanda. No breakfast. We decided to meet the crew at Rogue’s Brewery in Newport for lunch then to the Oregon Aquarium. 

The Crew

We met everyone upstairs at the brewery. Ordered beer and food. I tried the only cider they had, and it was OK. Nothing to get excited about, which was disappointing. After lunch we went downstairs, and Barry purchased a few shirts and a flask.

Tucker showing off

Off to the aquarium before Tucker jumped out of his skin. What a great place. There is a section with jellyfish and was everyone’s favorite except Tucker. His was the sharks. 

The jellyfish were in all different types of tanks, but we loved the huge round one. They are so mesmerizing as they float up and down the tube. From here we went into the tide pool area and the kids were amazed at the sea animals in the smaller tanks. The colors were so vivid. The area with the touch pool was closed for renovation. I think Tucker was disappointed. 

Jelly Fish in the Giant Tube

  

                                                                                                                                                                           

Outside was the large bird aviary with local birds. Two volunteers answered our questions and provided lots of facts about ages, nesting, laying eggs, etc. Some of the birds were 30+ years old. We learned that puffins can live up to 50 years and come back to the same place and mate with the same partner every year.... amazing. How do they find each other? Around the corner from the aviary was a niche that contained an octopus. The tank was dark, and you had to look for him. A volunteer was able to help us find him. 

The otters were so entertaining. One otter liked to dribble a ball at the bottom of the tank. Look out Steph Curry!  It’s amazing. There was also another otter showing off right in front of us, doing summersaults, and banging against the glass. He was too adorable. See video below.

SHARK TIME... you walk into a tube and the fish swim under and above you. Very cool. This tank only had smaller sharks like leopard sharks. The tank also had schools of anchovies and tuna. The cool thing was when the anchovies open their mouths it looked like a light was shining out of it. The floor had rectangular cut outs with plexiglass over them so you could see the fish swim under you. Tucker had to show us each time one of the larger sharks swam under us. The amazement in his eyes was awesome to see. This kid loves the outdoors and learning about anything related to the outdoors. Seeing things through his eyes is so much fun. 

The gift shop was our last stop. Ryan and Amanda left ahead of us to pick up fresh fish at a local fish market for fish tacos tonight. We kept the kids, they picked out crystal rocks for their rock collection we helped them start years ago and the joke was don’t tell their parents. The last thing Ryan said before he and Amanda left was, “Don’t let them talk you into buying them something,” as if I’m going to listen to him. Of course Aunt J is going to buy them something!!!

We loaded the kids into the jeep and headed to the condo. The kids were chatting on the way back which I loved. Such cool kids and so much fun to be with. Amanda had started prepping dinner and would not let us help. She made a mango salsa to go with the tacos that was delish. We hung around the kitchen island and never stopped talking. Seems to be the norm! 

Ryan cooked the ling cod on the George Foreman grill provided by the condo owners. Turned out tender and very tasty. I can’t believe Amanda got Barry to eat fish tacos. I have never been able to get him to do so. Tacos tasted amazing. 

Then...GAME TIME!!!! There was a Giant Sequence game in the closet, so we taught everyone how to play. Barry and I have played this game numerous times with the Reynolds and Irwins on our houseboats. This is actually a game Barry likes. We divided into three teams and played a practice round. We let everyone show their cards to help, especially Tucker, and ask a lot of “what if” questions. He wasn’t too thrilled with this game but was a great sport. It is a bit difficult for his age. We teamed him up with his mom and gave him a lot of flexibility. It was so funny; at one point you could see the light bulb go on in Amanda’s head and it was game on! Barry and I saw a competitive side of Amanda we have never seen. She was ruthless! Everyone loved this game and can’t wait to play it with their friends at home. 

    

Earlier in the week Barry collected flat rocks from the beach and invented an intense game. He called it Rock Jenga. The idea was everyone stacked a rock on the pile and the person who made the pile tumble got a point, five points and your out. We decided 5 points was too long and to make it three points. It was so much fun. All you need is a pile of flat rocks. 

After Rock Jenga, I was finishing laundry, Ryan almost asleep on the floor and Tucker went to bed. Addison zoning out and Amanda getting things together for tomorrow. We were all leaving the area tomorrow. We had such a wonderful visit. Hopefully we can do this again. 

For My Genealogy Friends

Family Trees

         

 

Additional Photos

           

                         

Copyright © 2021 by Jacqueline Threet Henderson, Jacqueline's Jaunts. All rights reserved.

03-12-22 Saturday Depoe Bay, Oregon – McMenamins Brewery, Home Made Pizzas

03-12-22 Friday

Depoe Bay, Oregon

Sea & Sand RV Park Good Sam

Jeeps in Parking Lot: 4

Drive Time: 0

Miles: 0

Arrived: 0

Barry and I each had a zoom call today at 10:00 AM. His was his weekly Saturday call with his Canadian cousins and my monthly CGS board meeting. Mine went until almost 11:30, a little longer than expected. After our calls, Barry packed up his BBQ and pizza oven into the jeep. I got together all the fixings and we headed to Ryan and Amanda’s in Lincoln City. Unloaded everything and Ryan and Addison helped us carry everything upstairs. We loaded the kids in the jeep and met Ryan and Amanda at McMenamins for lunch. Chowder, Scooby Dogs (mini corn dogs), salads and brews. Headed back to the condo after lunch. 

I had photos to take of just me. I wanted some professional looking ones to submit for my CGS Board member headshot on the website. Had to change into different clothes for that. We did inside shots because it was pouring and windy outside. Once again everyone had opinions of where to take the photos. I can’t wait to see how they turned out. 

Addison, Amanda, Tucker, Goofy Hair to Keep it Out of His Eyes

Tucker wanted to go swimming in the pool so bad he begged his mom and sister. Amanda broke down and said yes after about fifteen minutes of negotiations and then Addison decided to swim too. It was so funny to see how it evolved. So off to the pool we went. Amanda, Addison, and Tucker went in but the rest of us stayed out. The pool was slightly warm. Barry coached Addison on a few things and Amanda played with Tucker. We stayed at the pool until Tucker’s lips turned purple. That kid would live in the water if he could. 

Back upstairs to the condo and the three swimmers took showers and dried their hair. We had the pizza doughs sitting on the counter to proof and they looked good. Once everyone was ready to eat again, we started the process. Barry heated up the pizza oven on the balcony. He wasn’t sure how it was going to heat up with all the wind and rain. It was hard to keep the temperature up. I lined all the fixings up on the island. I promised each of the kids they could roll out their own dough and top their own pizzas. It was so much fun! We made a total of 6 pizzas. Barry did a great job of cooking them for the first time in his new oven. Clean up by everyone then it was GAME TIME!!!

Tucker Explaining How to Play Left, Right, Center

We started out with Left, Right, Center. New game for Barry and me but everyone made sure we knew all the rules. Turned out to be a fun game. I have no idea how many times we played it. Then we moved onto Yahtzee. I have not played this game for years and Barry has never played it. If anyone knows my husband, he is not a game player, but Tucker and Addison convinced him to play. He got the hang of it, and we played another game. Fun was had by everyone. It was close to 10:30 pm and Tucker was getting tired and so were we. We had a busy day planned for tomorrow and we all needed our beauty sleep. Once again, such a fun day. 

Tucker Convincing His Uncle to Play Yahtzee

Copyright © 2021 by Jacqueline Threet Henderson, Jacqueline's Jaunts. All rights reserved.

03-11-22 Friday Depoe Bay, Oregon - Lincoln City - Kyllo's Restaurant

03-11-22 Friday

Depoe Bay, Oregon

Sea & Sand RV Park Good Sam

Jeeps in Parking Lot: 3

Drive Time: 0

Miles: 0

Arrived: 0

A lazy Friday morning. Tea, coffee, banana, and email. Ryan, Amanda, Addison, and Tucker are arriving today. They rented a condo in Lincoln City, about fifteen minutes north of us. They should arrive around 3:00 – 3:30 and we will either meet at their place or ours for photos. We have never had decent photos taken of us so I asked her if she would. She was a professional photographer for a while. 

We headed out to lunch around 1:00 and decided to try Rusty Truck Brewing. Great little joint. I had a Caesar salad and Barry had a large pretzel with spicy hot cheese sauce. What I loved about this place was all the décor. Signs everywhere. But the best thing was a digital jukebox on the wall. I could kick myself because I didn’t take a photo of it. I’ve never seen one and was fascinated by it. Barry thought our server looked like Renée Zellweger. 

                   

                                               

Amanda called and said they arrived. They checked in and took a ride to the area of the beach by them to see if it was a good place for photos, but it was muddy. We decided to go back to our place instead. They have not seen our RV, and this was a good opportunity. They arrived and BIG HUGS all the way around. All of us were so happy to actually see each other and physical hugs instead of virtual ones. Addison is almost as tall as me now. Tour of the RV and we walked down to the beach and choose a few places for photos. There is a path from the campground that leads to the beach, so we decided to walk down and choose a few places on the path. Everyone got involved with choosing places for the photos. The kids and Ryan have been on so many photoshoots with Amanda they knew what to look for. It was truly a family affair and can't wait to see how they turned out. They left to go change and freshen up and we drove to Kyllo’s to get a table. 

The reason for going to freshen up before meeting at Kyllo's

The wait for a table was forty-five minutes. We went out to the deck and ordered drinks. It was chilly but what a great view. The restaurant sits on the beach. The crew arrived just as our table was ready. Great food, great drinks, and AWESOME company. Chatter never stopped. A wonderful evening. If you are ever in Lincoln City you have to stop and eat here. Perfect Day!

Barry, Amanda, Jacqueline (me), Ryan, Addison, Tucker

Kids playing with the slinkys we gave them

Barry's Dinner

My Dinner

Copyright © 2021 by Jacqueline Threet Henderson, Jacqueline's Jaunts. All rights reserved.

03-10-22 Thursday Depoe Bay, Oregon (In Camp Day)

03-10-22 Thursday

Depoe Bay, Oregon

Sea & Sand RV Park Good Sam

Jeeps in Parking Lot: 3

Drive Time: 0

Miles: 0

Arrived: 0

New Site for the Next Five Days

DEPOE BAY IN CAMP DAY

Cold this morning but our bed is nice and toasty. Barry made me hot chocolate with the new frother we bought at Walmart, so I moved to the sofa with my soft alpaca blanket I bought last September when we visited an alpaca farm in Nevada. I watched the waves and then noticed a bob (yes this is correct, per google) of a dozen seals playing in the waves. They would move in and out of the waves. As a wave would peak you could see the seals inside the wave. I watched through our binoculars as one did a flip inside a wave, such an awesome sight. They slowly moved north of us and played in that area for quite a while. After a while I noticed four separate bobs, floating on their backs with their tails and fins pointed toward the sky, amazing. We would observe them throughout the day.

Today was the day we had to move from our beach location, #107 to the hillside, # 81. We hoped there would be a cancellation and we could stay but no such luck. We had to secure a few things inside and off we went. Our new site is a 50 amp hookup which enables us to run both heaters at the same time.... big plus in this weather. The site is large, and we still have a limited view of the ocean. 

Utility morning for us. Barry called Leale’s RV to set up an appointment for the slide work we need, paid bills, called a guy interested in our houseboat. We’ve had four people interested so far. I answered emails.

We made lunch and sat outside in the sun since it turned out to be a nice day. For dinner we decided to make a pizza and try the new pizza oven. Barry set up the Camp Chef stove and prepared everything for later, including getting the pizza dough out to rise. 

I attended my Amigos call at 3:30pm and was happy to see Linda was able to attend. It’s been a few weeks since she has been able to. The three of us talked for hour and a half, some genealogy related subjects and some not. We could talk longer but Barry made a pizza, and I was excited to try it. He was already sitting outside munching on a few pieces. I joined him outside and the pizza was delicious. After we devoured the pizza Barry put the camp stove away because rain was on the horizon, and we didn’t want it sitting out in the rain. 

After cleanup we took a long walk on the beach and enjoyed the sunset again. We talked about how excited we are to hook up with Ryan, Amanda, Addison, and Tucker tomorrow. Hope all is well in your world. Sleep tight. 

Copyright © 2021 by Jacqueline Threet Henderson, Jacqueline's Jaunts. All rights reserved.