Best Day of Summer- at Waikiki Beach in Ilwaco

Wednesday was the best day of the summer. We got lucky and spent it at Waikiki Beach- which is really in the Columbia River- but at the mouth so there is plenty of salt water wave action.
There are really short videos to watch ... see last photos.

Scouting ahead for the trip to Waikiki at Cape Disappointment

We made an advance scouting trip to check out Waikiki Beach. We walked on the driftwood, rocks, went out on the north jetty and the girls spotted a bloated dead Sea Lion.

Today we are packing a lunch, sand toys, towels and books for a long day playing in the surf and sand.

Kayaking by Bike

A rather interesting elderly man bikes around the area with his 2 kayaks. I suppose it makes sense. Wikipedia defines a kayak as a 'small human powered boat'. This man must take the 'human powered' part seriously and therefore use his bike too.

What makes it double interesting is his attire (kind of nutty professor/homeless person). I think he carries most of his possessions in the large basket on the bike. But I noticed some wrapped picture frames... very curious.

Notice, he has the sit above Kayak for Ocean and the nicer fresh water Kayak for the River.

Back at the Beach and Sea Lions in Astoria

We picked up McKenzie and Brooke and headed out to the beach for the last week before school starts. Their mother will arrive Thursday night.

Near the Safeway store in Astoria- the Sea Lions are a fun stop.

Check out the new Blogger video feature below.

Neptune and Cafe Allora

Monday morning, still in the Pearl... Cafe Allora for an authentic Italian lunch. Very tasty. The hearty red wine was the perfect relaxing compliment to the crusty bread and salami sandwich.

En route, I loved the King Neptune stationed at the Lawrence Gallery. Wouldn't that be fabulous in our front lot?

First Pumpkin Spice Lattes of the Season!

The sure sign of the return of fall leaves, pumpkins, crisp weather and sunny days.
Ahhh, Pumpkin Spice Lattes. We called the family Barista- Paris, to celebrate! She had mentioned last week that they were coming... and behold- Portland Starbucks got them one day before the Upper Peninsula! Hehe... but Paris gets to have them every day! Alas, the nearest Starbucks to us is in Astoria. A drive we make about every 10 days.

The update on Paris- classes started yesterday. She is busy with school, work (at Starbucks), track, volleyball (yup, you read that right) and she got a new (used) car! We are waiting for photos to post.

This is her senior year at Northern Michigan University. She will be studying for and taking her MCATS- expecting to enter Podiatry Medical School in the fall.

Cupcake Jones in the Pearl

It is so hard to make a choice, but fortunately they have little mini cupcakes so that you can try most of them!

These are the best cupcakes I have ever had!

Vancouver Wine/Jazz Festival with Kenny Loggins

Aura hobbled with her 'boot'. We sat in the very front row and enjoyed some wine and champagne. Kenny Loggins played a short set- but it was GREAT! We ran into Sally from Seaview (and Battleground) too. Aura made fun of the old people dancing and getting all excited over Kenny- but she knew all the words to the songs and danced along with us.

Trip into Portland/Vancouver

On Sunday, Aura and I brought the girls to visit their Mom, who dashed away with them to see the "naked bodies" exhibit at OMSI. She means 'naked'- without skin. The girls gave it mixed reviews.

Aura and I went off on some adventures of our own.

Long day in Menlo at Pacific County Fair

Last Saturday was our turn at the County Fair. The girls enjoyed the fair while we worked the GOP Booth and CCAP Booth. (Coastal Community Action Program- I am on the Board.) We had a big Cowboy Breakfast made by 4H kids, they went on all the rides (a few times), visited the cows, sheep, chickens, flowers, and ALL the booths. We ate Elephant Ears, Cotton Candy, Kettle Korn, Salmon, Corn Dogs, Pizza and any other Fair food we could stuff into our bodies.

They like Mexican food

U Village

U Village is so civilized and so pretty. We had drinks and Sushi in the evening. Strong coffee in the morning. Can you see Aura's boot? The bar at Blue C Sushi is open now.

Ron and Vicki's in Snohomish

The girls spent a night with their Grandparents in Snohomish. I packed the car up with Aura's belongings and we moved her out of the U District.