While finishing this post I became very frustrated with all the same first initials in our family and friends, since that is how I refer to people in my life to protect identity. So I decided to provide a cast of characters.
- J – my sister-in-law and best buddy
- K – J’s husband
- L – my father-in-law
- M – our son
- KP – our son’s wife
- LF – another sister-in-law
- JF – LF’s husband
- S – KP’s dad
- LB – KP’s mom, S’s wife
- N – our daughter
- MH – our son-in-law
- MD – David’s buddy since high school
- P – MD’s wife
I think that cover’s it….until it doesn’t
L was still visiting at the beginning of April. He stayed through Easter. David took him back to Washington that Tuesday. I stayed home sick. I thought I had a norovirus and after talking with a friend who knew more about the virus I pretty much confirmed it. Stupid virus knocked me off my feet for 3 full days and David and L never got it. Go figure.
After taking the entire week to recover I was a little stir crazy. So in the middle of the month we took a short camping trip. We needed to test out the cabin battery in the van since it had failed on us earlier in the year.
We chose Jessie Honeyman State Park. Another wonderful Oregon Coastal park. Honeyman is usually open year round and just a few minutes south of Florence on Hwy 101. This is a great family park. Lots of group campsites, sand dunes for off roading, a lake with paddle boards, and biker/hiker campsites. We love doing off season camping here since it’s close to home and so close to Florence. In the past we’ve always been able to pull up mid-week and find a spot. However, with budget cuts everywhere we learned we should have made a reservation. We were just making ourselves at home in the van ( drinks and a game) when the ranger showed up and informed us we were in someone else’s space and they would be arriving from California at any moment. She was very helpful in finding us a different space nearby.
Lesson learned. Make a reservation.
The following day we were low on power and although it was sunny it was very cool.
Field trip time.
We walked through Old Town Florence stopping at Traveler’s Cove for a very yummy Mexican lunch. We had stopped here years ago for a drink, since then the restaurant has changed hands and is much improved.
We did some more walking and browsing shops. At Crystals at Waterlilly Studio I bought a bracelet made from upcycled Indonesian glass. Simple, inexpensive and pretty.
Our lunch was very filling so dinner was simple. Cookies.
We had our first campfire that evening. Once it burned down the cold drove us inside for the night.
We slept very soundly in the van. So soundly that we didn’t wake up until 9:30 the next morning. It felt so good.
Again it was a beautiful sunny and cold morning.
We drove to the South Jetty where the Siuslaw tidal river meets the Pacific. I took pictures of pelicans, kayakers, and waves. We did our hour walk on the beach before walking back to the car. By then our breakfast of overnight oats had worn off. After sandwiches in the van we drove to Reedsport.
In Reedsport we found Two Shy Brew Pub. We sat down at the bar (our favorite seat in any pub or bar) and talked with Leah, the bartender on duty. We had a lovely conversation with her while we enjoyed our beers. I had a true Irish red. If you really want to know if the brewery is worth your time try the Irish Red. If it measures up you know you’ve chosen well. David had an IPA. Doesn’t he always.
On April 24th we drove to Seattle to celebrate my father-in-law, L’s, 99th birthday. David really wanted to get the family – as many as could make it – together for a day of fishing with his dad. L has always loved to fish. He has told us many stories of fishing with his father, Walter. When our children were young he and David would take our son, M, fishing at Silver Lake in Whatcom County(about 45 minutes from our house) David’s mom, our daughter, N, and I would drive up later with lunch. If it was raining we would wait until the three of them came home – soaked – to have lunch. Later when our son was in his teens the three of them would go deep sea fishing out of Westport WA. Our poor son had terrible motion sickness, but always wanted to go.
David and I arrived at LF’s house in time to go to lunch with L , J, and LF. After lunch David, J, and I drove north. J drove to her house in Lynnwood and David and I drove to our son’s house in Snohomish. It was good to see their house unpacked and the boys playing in a huge backyard.
Saturday morning it was baseball for the boys. M’s father-in-law, S, met us at the ball park. We watched them play until the game was done. When baseball is age 4-5 there is a finite time. 2 hours is maximum.
From the game we went to Martha Lake in Lynnwood to prep for the birthday party. It was opening day of fishing season! We met J and her husband K and started setting up food. L , LF and JF arrived soon after. David and his dad started sorting out fishing equipment. It was crazy windy so we had to weigh everything down.
David worked on getting himself and his dad set up on the fishing dock where they remained until food time. Our friends MD & P showed up to help celebrate as well as one of David’s twin nieces, M, and his boys. Everyone rotated between food and the dock. There were about five eagles on the lake doing their own fishing. (I was unable to get photos of the eagles. They are fast.)
There was a spot on one corner of the fishing dock where fishermen were pulling in their limit within minutes. Unfortunately, our fishermen never got their turn at the secret spot.
Early on we discovered there were no restrooms open – opening day of fishing season – K decided to go home and bring his camper back. Good thing. About the time our grandsons were in the camper with our son, grandpa decided it was time he checked out the mobile facilities.
Things started breaking up after yummy chocolate cake. People started heading home.
Once things were cleaned up and packed up we drove to M’s house where our daughter-in-law , KP, had been planting new shrubs (17) while we’d been at the park.
Soon we piled into our respective vehicles and went to KP’s parents house for a wonderful dinner that her father cooked followed by key-lime pie. I’d never had key-lime pie before. It was very delicious but a bit sweet for me. I’ve never had much of a sweet tooth.
Sunday we left M and his family for Eugene. Our intention was to get the van ready for a trip to Colorado to visit our daughter, N, and her family. And we did that.
What we weren’t expecting was a call the next day from J in Lynnwood telling us the spot at the assisted living for L had opened up and we needed to be there by Wednesday, April 30th to help move him.
So early Wednesday morning we climbed in the van with our coffee and our Builder bars (breakfast) and headed north…again.
David stayed at LF’s house where L was living while J and I took off for her house. David was staying to help his dad sort through his belongings.
So ended the month of April.
More to come in May’s blog.
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