Sunday, September 29, 2013

A Cool Place in the Woods

September brought us some of the hottest days of the year. On the hottest of those I had the day off, so we planned a trip to stay cool. We met my friend Brian at a place called Nellie Corser in the Gorge. It is an obscure little creek that few people know about, but it has lots of little waterfalls, moss, shade, and pools. We found a nice place on the creek with a few pools to jump and swim in.

IMG_8276IMG_8287

Magnus really liked filling his water shooter up and squirting it at things. Brian also found a frog that brought some joy.

IMG_8266IMG_8296

We had a great time climbing around on the rocks and falls. The water and shade protected us from the 95°F heat. And we loved the solitude of the quiet place in the woods.

IMG_8319IMG_8358

Sunday, September 22, 2013

Oregon Coast Day 4: Making our way back home

After a few stops at Les Schwab, we got the cars packed and headed out. We stopped at a nice beach that Else likes to look for rocks and fossils. It was a little chilly but we warmed up as we walked down the beach. Magnus found several special sticks that came home with us. Elina won the award for having the most rocks to bring home, but since she studied geology, we let it go.

IMG_4975IMG_4978

IMG_4989DSCF0634

We also made sure to make one last stop at the cheese factory. Magnus found the loaf van and spent most of the visit driving it.

DSCF0673

We made it all the way home and Ruth didn’t have to be in the car the whole next day. We had a fun time at the coast!

Oregon Coast Day 3: Blimp Hangar, Sand Car, BIRTHDAY

Ivan and Terry came out to the coast to help celebrate Anton’s birthday. We started by going out to look at the old WWII blimp hangar, now turned air museum, in Tillamook. We didn’t actually go in it though, we just wanted to see the immense size of the building: 1,072 feet long, 296 feet, giving it over 6 acres of area inside (you could play 6 football games at once); and 192 feet tall.

DSC_5766DSC_5769IMG_8134IMG_8144

After some good times with a flat tire, we went to the beach. Building another fort for Magnus somehow turned into a sand car with Elina inside.

DSC_5787DSC_5804DSC_5809

IMG_8169

He she is cruising the beach:

IMG_8183IMG_8175

We also had a nice walk. Magnus found this sand hill and wanted to climb it.

IMG_8194IMG_8213

Dana and Magnus climbed up onto a ledge on the cliff with a very nice view. You can even see a little Ruth, Elina, and Anton out by the water.

IMG_8220

And we ended the day with a birthday cake for Anton. Happy Birthday, Anton!

IMG_8255

Oregon Coast Day 2: Falls, Cheese, and Sand

Morning at the beach house was nice. Anton and Magnus played some Wii U and Ruth made some German pancakes. The view of the deck of Netarts Bay showed us that it would be a much nicer  day, weather wise.

IMG_7836IMG_7839

To start the day, Anton, Elina, and Dana went to see Munson Falls (the tallest waterfall on the Oregon Coast). It was very pretty.

IMG_7863IMG_7876

Dana and Anton had to climb around on these logs to get a better shot. It looks more like we are sneaking up on something.

DSCF0465DSCF0473

While climbing around on the logs we found this hollow log that had water running through it.

IMG_7896IMG_7926IMG_7911

After the falls, we met up with Farmor, Magnus, and Ruth at the Tillamook Cheese Factory, where cheese, ice cream, and fun awaited us.

IMG_7943IMG_7947IMG_7948IMG_7949

At the Blue Heron Cheese Company Store we got to meet some animals.

DSCF0522DSCF0507

We ended the day on the beach at Oceanside. Magnus loved playing in the sand and water, and Anton, Elina, and Dana loved exploring the rocks.

IMG_7967DSCF0549

They tide was particularly low, so we could make it to rocks normally inaccessible; we even found this cool sea arch.

IMG_8012IMG_8010IMG_8016IMG_8026

Magnus was also pleased when we constructed a sand fort for him.

IMG_8077IMG_8088

Driving home we stopped to enjoy the view of Netarts Bay.

IMG_8043IMG_8092