M&M: Oregon Coast - Partial Family Reunion

Five families crammed into the small vacation home of a distant relative in beautiful Nehalem, Oregon, just a short drive from Cannon Beach.

Highlights of the Trip and Favorite Aspects of the North Oregon Coast:

Mom seeing the Pacific Ocean for the first time
Indian Beach at Ecola State Park - Tide Pools with starfish
Wading through a tunnel from Cannon Beach to Ecola
Mini kites and Mark's big kite
Hatfield Marine Science Center
Spotting Whales offshore from Boiler Bay picnic area north of Depot Bay
Yaquina Head Lighthouse, in Newport OR
Huge sand dune at Cape Kiwanda - at night in the rain
The trail from Cape Lookout to the Campground - (We didn't get to run it this time, but it is probably my number one memory with Camryn from last time.)
The mile long bridge in Astoria over the Columbia Gorge, from Oregon to Washington
Throwing airplanes from the Astoria Tower
Cheese Tasting at Tillamook

We made it to the Super 8 Hotel in Pendleton Saturday night, just as the sun was setting. I wish I had taken a picture before descending into the valley. The view of Mt. Hood and other prominent volcanoes at sunset was fantastic.

James was clearly relieved to be out of the car and at the Hotel

Bryce stayed home for Drivers Ed - He wants to get his license when he turns 16. Still, it was a full hotel room. Below, you can see how well I slept with a room full of kids.

Sunday, after attending church in Boardman, we drove the rest of the way to the coast, stopping for a short hike at Multnomah Falls along the way. I absolutely love the drive along the Columbia River, and the waterfalls are magnificent. I wouldn't mind coming back just for the falls and green mountains - the coast is just a super bonus!

The trail was very crowded on a Sunday afternoon

At the top, with Emma on my shoulders. Jill and I took turns. James and Logan got an occasional ride as well.

We finally made it to the vacation home. This is it. Emma was happy to be there. So was I!

Mom made shirts and played a fun game with everyone. We missed family members who weren't there, Bryce, Mike, Rena, and their kids. But their names were on our shirts, and they were still part of the game.

Cousins!

Logan showed us that he can walk on his head. He actually scoots himself along with his hands while balancing on his head.

Camryn, Emma, Peter (Layna's), and Mariah

Nehalem River

Josh and Layna got made the best breakfast ever! They woke up early and slaved away for a long time, but it was worth it!

Astoria

Throwing planes off the Astoria Column was so much fun...and lots of exercise going up and down the stairs

Best Friend Cousins - Mariah and Camryn

Ecola State Park

Indian Beach at Ecola

Cousins playing on Indian Beach

Amazing Tide Pools

Cannon Beach

Some of us played at a park and ate lunch across the street from Oregon's oldest kite shop, while others when shopping in a quaint part of town.

We did some exploring on the north end of Cannon Beach. Ecola is on the other side fo these rocks, but you have to either swim, or wade through a tunnel at low tide to get there.

This is the tunnel leading to Ecola from Cannon Beach. It was scary, but we were glad we did it and fortunate it was low tide!

Ruel caught this huge king crab. And then we saw a bunch more.

Looking back toward Cannon Beach and Hastack Rock from Ecola

Tresa and Ruel walking hand-in-hand back toward Cannon Beach

We put about 2,000 miles on this car in one week

Emma with the vacation home in the background

Newport

Yaquinta Lighthouse at Newport

Aquarium Villiage at Newport - kind of a ghost town

Last time we were here (two years ago) Camryn and I ran across the bridge in the background

Mom and Dad were set apart as missionaries and just finished training in the MTC before we left. Needless to say, they were missionaries all along the way.

Cape Kiwanda

We made the long drive back from Newport even longer when we stopped by one of my favorite beaches and the girls ran up this huge sand dune in the rain

Girl Power

The Long Drive Home

I went for a run while the family ate some dinner at an A&W in the middle of nowhere (close to Pendleton, OR)

Camryn wanted me to grow out my beard on the trip, so I did. It's always nice to give my skin a break from the razor. I can't believe how white my beard has become however.