Tues. May 28, 2013 - and still more rain !!!!

Mike went in to town to work today - filing Q2 tasks. I did two yurts by myself - seems like nothing:).  The rain was on again off again all day long.  I did a high tide beach walk after dinner during a break in the showers.

 Tonight we grilled Portobello mushrooms and ate them on a plate ( rather than a bun like we usually do) with stir fired bok choy and garlic mashed cauliflower.  A completely delicious and vege meal.

Wed. May 29, 2013 - last full day

This AM Mike went in to town, and I worked for a while, then enjoyed a fairly low tide bike ride north toward the point.  We have decided it is a 4.5 mile bike ride all the way to the tip of the land spit that closes in Netart's Bay from the ocean.  I only went about 3 miles out. 

                                                  I found some floating ocean trash

                                                           A Japanese water bottle

 

 

All I could carry on my bike - I forgot a bag when I left, or I would have more.

 

We were assigned three cabins today , so Mike came back in from Tillamook to help with the last two.  It takes about an hour to do one myself and there is only 3 hours between 1:00 check out and 4:00 check in, so 3 cabins is too many to do alone.

 

Tonight we had fresh steamed crab from Netarts Bay

In our cozy dining room in the rain

 

After dinner, Howard and Elna came over for a visit since they learned it was our last night here.  Then we took our final beach walk at dusk.  Did I mention this is a BEAUTIFUL park?

Mon. May 27, 2013 - More rain

Rain, Rain, Rain.  Poor tent campers - they are packing up wet.  The yurt people are still here, and they walk out to the ocean between rain showers, as do we.  It is beautiful.

The basil and oregano plants are doing well in the front end overhang where they stay at night and when it is raining.  If Mr. Basil keeps growing, he will outgrow his indoor home. 
We cleaned three cabins. and had Little Joes' from the freezer for dinner with a delicious farmer's market greens salad.  We finished Downton Abbby season two a few nights ago, so started Arrested Development, season 4 .

Sun., May 26, 2013 - Rain out

The park started to clear out today despite it being a holiday weekend, because it was wet.  This is what it looked like yesterday with a full campground along the beach dune.

 

We went back to work with two cabins to clean in the afternoon,  but otherwise, we stayed in.

I cooked chicken vegetable stir-fry for dinner with a chicken breast from Neskowin farmer's market, then went for a beach walk at dusk,  I thought it was clearing up ( sunny when I left) but I got rained on while gone.  It was still an enjoyable walk. 

I continue to gush about what a beautiful spot this is.  We are in our last week, so I'm getting nostalgic again.

Sat. May 25, 2013 - Campground Full

Today we had breakfast at home, then drove south to the small community of Neskowin to visit their first of the season farmer's market.

There were only about 10 stalls, but we got some delicious greens ( which grow well in this climate)

and some farm raised pork chops and a whole chicken which the farmer said was butchered yesterday ( poor gal).

 

After farmer's market,  we went back to Pacific City and Stimulus, the coffee shop across the road from Cape Kiwanda where we saw the bike race last week.  We worked there for a while, then had a late lunch at Doryland Pizza

 

 

On the way back to the park, we stopped to see the Sand Lake Rec area, and discovered it was for dune buggy riders - which we are not.

And unfortunately, we ran over a screw during our tour,

so we drove directly to Les Schwab in Tillamook to get it fixed.

  Notice the color coordinated "quilt" above the door.  This decoration is one of dozens in Tillamook - ( see Feb. 19 for a view of the green on the library front wall) a campaign whereby participating local business and government buildings display quilts to recognize the quilting and fabric industry in the area.  I will have to check this out in more detail on our next visit.

 

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This is the sign we saw at the front gate when we got back from our outing today.

Fri. May 24, 2013 - Low tide beach run

 

Mike gets up earlier than me in general, and when I woke up he was already gone on a run.  I read for a few minutes, then went for a run myself.  It was an EXTREMELY low time, so I ran toward cape cove - about 1/3 mile south until you can go any further because Cape Lookout stops you.  There were lots of people out and lots of beach to walk on.

and two waterfalls coming out of the cape from all the recent rain.

We went in to town for a late breakfast at The Fern ( Mike's now regular spot, but I don't go in much, so this is the first time I've been there in May and to Tillamook library to work.

 

When we got back, we had dinner at home, then went for a nice beach walk at dusk.  Lots of people setting up tonight in the D loop - running parallel to the dune which is trying to hold back the encroaching ocean on the right.

 

Thurs. may 23, 2013 - More rain

Today was REALLY wet.  We cleaned three cabins and enjoyed the warm and cozy motor home. 

I made my chicken noodle casserole with the last chicken breast from the Encinitas farmer's market chicken.  Interesting to do it from memory because we did not bring any cookbooks from Woodhaven.  We did not want to take up the space, and there are recipes on the internet.  It turned out delicious.

The park is gearing up for Memorial Day weekend, but it is supported to me wet, so we'll see...  Right now it looks like this

But on Saturday it will look like this....

This is the view from our bedroom window, looking down the campground road to the ocean.  It is a constant stream of people walking to the beach.  The yurts are behind us, so even when the campground is empty, there are people in the yurts who are also warm and cozy.

Wed. May 22, 2013 - hoppin John and corn bread

Rainy day today. We were assigned one cabin, not too much, so Mike went in to Tillamook, and I rode my bike to "work"

The "pipe chase" supply room is the middle brown door of the day-use bathroom building - where we start each day we clean cabins.  Back at the Yurts, Howard was cleaning along and he had six yurts, so I helped him out before retiring for the day.

 

Still rainy, and Mike back from Tillamook, we stayed inside to make dinner - Hoppin John and corn bread with salad.  We discovered our de-humidifier needed it filter cleaned - it stopped working and in a couple hours we fogged up - see the blue hue in the front and side windows.  We took care of the filter ( you learn something every day:) )  and by morning were dry again.  Amazing!

Cook space and waiting for dinner

 

Tues. May 21, 2013 - rainy day

Today we both stayed in to work in the AM, then did the 6 yurt cleaning together in the rain.  We started early, finished early-ish and it was raining, so we drove in to Tillamook to work at the Library for a few hours and then got Chinese food in town.

Mon., May 20, 2013 - Laundry day

Today Mike went in to town while I stayed in the park.  I rode my bike to the building in the D loop nearby to use the laundry facility offered up to the park hosts. 

Six trips total with a sack of laundry on my back doing 4 loads of wash.  Quite pleasant with the ocean roar in the distance and the sun shining brightly.

My afternoon assignment was 5 yurts.  We had portabello mushroom burgers on the grill in the evening, then went for a beach walk with the picker.  There is not as much as beach debris as we experienced in Feb.

Sun. May 19, 2013 - back to business

Today was rainy, and a 3 cabin day, so we worked in the AM before getting our exercise cleaning three cabins.  It is such a pleasant place to work with the ocean roaring in the distance.  It was Sunday so lots of park guests around.  Two groups visited up to take a look a the cabins.  They reserve out online at Oregonstateparks.org for $76 per night during high season ( which just started May 1) and $56 per night off season.  Pretty good deal for the location. 

After work, the sun came out, so we sat in the "yard" and repotted the two herbs we are starting to grow - one basil plant we bought at New Leaf in Santa Cruz on April 17 and one oregano plant we bought at Sacramento Farmer's Market on April 28. 

They get moved in at night or when it rains, and there is not too much sun her even on sunny days because of the tall trees, but they both look pretty happy.

We were invited to a campfire - the first of our stay here - with the other camp hosts at Howard and Elna's campsite.  Dang - I wiosh I had taken a picture - the sun was setting brightly and it was a nice evening.

Sat. May 18, 2013 - Reach the Beach

2nd day off.  Today we left the park, drove south about 15 miles to Pacific City and set up shop at Stimulus

- the local coffee shop located right across the street from the beach parking lot which hosted the finish line

of Reach the Beach - a 100 mile bike ride that starts at Portland.  This is an annual event which kicks off the start of biking season.  When we were done working, we joined the throngs at the finish line party,

Haystack rock offshore at the finish line - bikers celebrating.

 

and got our exercise by climbing up the sand dune at the inland side of Cape Kiwanda. 

approaching Cape Kiwanda sand dune from the finish line party.

Mike climbing up

Mike still climbing up - see the finish line party tents in the distance

He made it!  At the top looking over to the other side.

We made it! See Cape Lookout in the northern distance.

See the tip of Cape Kiwanda and Haystack rock out to sea in the distance.

 

 

Then we had happy hour at the Pelican Pub and Brewery adjacent to the finish line party,

but the line was too long for dinner so we went further in to Pacific City and had dinner at a Mexican restaurant where we met some Michigan / Detroit Tiger fans.  Small world.

Friday, May 17, 2013 - All Hands pot-luck

Today we attended an all-hands safety meeting / pot-luck lunch in the community meeting room (which is also available for camper groups to reserve - there have been two groups here so far in May).  The pot-luck was a "rice bowl" theme, and I made taco seasoned ground beef and delivered it in my motor-home sized 6 cup crock pot.  We met a 5th camp host couple who are lodging in a different camp ground loop than we are.  They are here to act as lighthouse hosts at Cape Meares.  Kris and Scotty - they have ties to Sacramento, so it was interesting to talk to them.

It was a rainy day, so rather than go out on our day off, we stayed in and worked until evening, then drove in to Tillamook for a nice dinner out at Pacific Restaurant - had some fine dining seafood.

We tried to find some live music, but no go - the town was pretty quiet before dark - it stays light until after 9:00, so I guess any night-life that does exist doesn't start until after our bedtime:). 

Se we went back home and took a really nice beach walk at dusk.  Then home to have a Martin Sexton you-tube concert in honor of his being live and in concert tonight at the Coach House in San Juan Capistrano - the very first place Mike and I saw him in 2005.  Mary was lucky to be close enough to go see him tonight.  Here is  a picture from when we saw him together at Belly Up in Solana Beach.

Martin Sexton - go see him if you can!!!!!

Wed and Thurs. May 15 and 16 - settling in

I have no unusual pictures to share for either day.  Mike went in to Tillamook each day to work there and bring back groceries - it is difficult to stock up for several days with a 6 cubic foot refrigerator.  I working in the morning on business, then cleaned yurts in the afternoon for exercise and out of doors enjoyment.  Dinners are delicious and nutritious - soup and salad on Wed, salad and fruit smoothie on Thursday.  We are watching Downton Abbey on Netflix at night - we are engaged with that show now - watching Season 2.

Tues. May 14, 2013 - The new Home Depot and PG&E

So in February, when we discovered how inconvenient it was to drive in to town to fill up the propane tank, we asked Tillamook RV repair shop to install an extended stay propane hose fitting so we could add an external tank and avoid the drive in to town.  Well, we had trouble getting the tank connected, so once again, we packed up, drove to town and visited our new version of Home Depot...

Tillamook RV Repair ..... where we got the issue resolved and while we were there.....

Got a refill at an example of our new PG&E supplier - propane! 

Mon. May 13, 2013 - Three Bays

Last week on Thursday, we cleaned three cabins - each named for one of the three local capes in this area, Mears on the north, Lookout in the middle and Kiwanda at the south.  Today we were assigned the other three cabins to clean - each named for the three local bays in the area.

Tillamook on the north end,

 

Netarts in the middle

and Nestucca in the south.  Interesting that the cabins are all positioned in the forest in a manner imitating real geography.  Someone took some time to figure that out - effective feng shui naming convention for state park cabins:)

Sun. May 12, 2013 - First beach bike ride

Today was my 2nd most important "day of days" during the year - Mother's Day - so I get to choose and I choose a beach bike ride to the end of the land spit that forms Netarts Bay.  The tide was especially low at 9:00 AM, so we left about then for the estimated 5 mile ride out to the end. 

This is a stop on the same low tide dry spot we were wading in last Saturday when we WALKED to the end.

This is Mike riding by the landmark driftwood log which supports a rope swing someone made with ocean debris dock line.

This is Mike riding on the inner actual shore while I am farther out on a low tide dry spot

This is Mike riding through low tide pools and runoff with foggy Cape Lookout in the background.  We are really enjoying the tide action here - it makes every day different and interesting.

 

Sat. May 11, 2012 - Two Capes - Kiwanda and Lookout

Today was a fun and break from work day ( after a short morning work session of course ).  We drove south about 20 miles to Cloverdale for brunch

at the Cloverdale Garden Café -

the place owned by the couple we met last Sunday at Cinco de Mayo happy hour.  They were not there, but the brunch was good.

Then we toured the coastline driving north on the way back to Cape Lookout.

First stop was Bob Straub day use area - where we climbed a 100 yard sand dune from the parking lot to get our first look at........

sandy Cape Kiwanda and it's signature rock outcropping.

The Bob Straub beach was wide and long, and the idea of climbing Cape Kiwanda was hatched. 

 

That hike must be another day, however, since today our objective was to hike to the end of Cape Lookout - 2.4 miles one way from the trail head.  It was a beautiful Saturday, and we saw lots of people - many of them coming out from Portland or Salem to enjoy the good weather.

 

Midway out Cape Lookout looking back at Cape Kiwanda.

Cape Kiwanda again from the tip of Cape Lookout

Where we rested with 20 or so of our fellow hikers.

We caught a good view of Netarts Bay and the State Park land spit on the hike back to the car.  We'll be bike riding to the end of the spit tomorrow at low tide.