Day 3 - Josh tries to kill me

Up early again for a nice chat to The Bubster on her way to The Geezers. Glad to report all is well there, if a bit busy. Out here we were out of the house around 9 to head out to Ecola to hike the Clatsop Loop Trail and do the puzzle cache along the trail. This was our third time hiking the trail and it was good fun to do it with Josh and Jen. As the name implies it’s a loop trail up to the top of a rise, with a little spur off to the side to get a nice view of the Tillamook Head lighthouse. We got to the viewpoint and were met with a blank view of fog instead. But as we stood there the fog thinned and the lighthouse appeared, and then it disappeared again. It was a very good special effect. The trail is also notable for having two very distinct personalities – on one side the trail is very wide and smooth and steep, basically an unpaved road. On the other side it’s very narrow with lots of overgrown stretches and switchbacks. We have always gone up the wide way and down the narrow way, and we were thinking it would be interesting to go the other way since we notice we tend to see less scenery on the downhill side.

We solved the puzzle and Jen found the cache. On the way back to the car I noticed a bald eagle sitting in the forest. We drove out past there and it was causing something of a traffic jam. We were not pleased as by then we were all pretty hungry. The parking lot had been almost empty when we got there around 9:30; by the time we left at 11:30 it was very full and there was a good sized line (6-8 cars) waiting to get in at the pay station.

Lunch was Pelican, which is not one of Dave’s favorites but which the rest of us like. We got there before noon so there was no problem parking or getting a table. It was still overcast and humid, and we ended up sitting at a tall table near one of the big open doors. Both they and Buoy have big doors that they open so you are completely freezing while you wait for your food. Once it comes you don’t notice anymore, but w They have a big tide clock on the wall, but it’s wrong, which is weird. It had high tide at 1:00, when other sources had it as early as 11:42. I know it’s wrong because by 6:00 the tide had already turned and moved up the beach, which it shouldn’t have done until almost 7. These sorts of things disturb me, so Pelican may be off the list. However,  Pelican is conveniently located near the Midtown farmer’s market which is 1-5 on Tuesdays, so we stopped by and got some cherries and bread for dinner. We headed to town and got a parking spot in the secret back lot so we could go to Ecola seafood and get some smoked mussels and smoked salmon also for dinner. Then we came back home, realizing too late that we need more milk.

e might want to get a regular height table in the warm section next time. We had a very perky waitress and the food and beer were both good.

Josh and I took a nap while Jen and Dave did Art. Once I woke up Josh and I went down to the beach to “work out” – read, Josh tried to kill me. We did horrible exercises for a very long time. I’m already sore.  I do most of them at work, but not for that long. Afterwards I went for a walk out around Hug Point. The water is very warm, and the sun was mostly out.  I saw 1 starfish on the rock to the south, but that’s all.

It was home dinner tonight – fruit salad, cheeses, charcuterie and smoked seafood. It was nice to not have a schedule and the fruit salad was yummy. Meanwhile the wind has come up for the first time. It’s been so windless and the ocean has been very calm, like a giant pond. I like the wind. More bits and pieces: Dave has been having fun flying his drone off the deck. We’ve been having trouble with the circuit breaker tripping and there not being hot water. We put a down payment on a cruise to an eclipse and Antarctica. Josh’s work people can’t live without him and keep calling.

After dinner Dave and Josh went to town for milk, and then we hung out and relaxed until sunset. I was trying to knit but it didn't go well and I kept having to start over. It was still fun though. Then it began to clear out just before sunset, and we saw the green flash! It was unusually long and wonderful. Then we played two games of Carcassone. Jen won the first one by using one of the advanced play options, so the second game we outlawed the advanced play option. That made it so I won. I am having the winningest vacation ever.

Here are some other pictures for your enjoyment.

Mom Pets the Slug

Beginning the hike

Josh is Next To the tree

Jen is ON the tree

Dave is IN the tree

The Eagle is IN FRONT OF the tree

Mysterious lighthouse

Car lot at Sunset