by Sharon O | Aug 1, 2016 | Uncategorized
We left for a two week vacation.
It was hot, very hot, but we had a safe drive and a good time.
I took lot’s of pictures, along with my husband. For the next few weeks I will be sharing them, so stay tuned.
It is a lot of filtering through the ‘most’ shareable ones and then writing about where we were at the time. I really hope I don’t lose your interest.
We started in Oregon then moved from there to Idaho then into Montana and then back home again. The weather was mostly in the 90’s with some relief at night. We were in our trailer and my husbands sister and her husband were in a tent.
We have many adventure stories to tell and many ‘good sights’ to share.
We named our ‘old black car’ Gibbs and the trailer Gabby.
Two reasons, we like the name Gibbs and I kept chatting to my husband while he was trying to drive in unknown territory.
So the name is a for sure thing.
by Sharon O | Jun 29, 2016 | Uncategorized
During one of our ‘travel days’ while we were staying in Florence we drove to a place known as Shore Acres.
It is beautiful to visit and take pictures and hike around. There is a trail that leads down to a very private beach.
We went there a few years ago and really wanted to go back and see it again.
This visit brought more tourist visitors, we were not sure why since it was in the middle of the week.
We were anticipating less people but it wasn’t bad, maybe a dozen were on the beach the same time we were.
The grounds around Shore acres have water falls, and beautiful flowers planted like a English garden.
Very beautiful.
When walking around the grounds you will notice there are a variety of roses, dahlia’s, perennial plants, all surrounded by carefully cut box woods.
It is a beautiful site to see and I have heard that at Christmas time it is even MORE outstanding.
On one side of the gardens there is a gate that leads down the path to the beach.
I loved the many picture taking opportunities it gave us as we went down the trail.
They have stairs that are pretty easy to navigate.
I always look for blog pictures and see if they can help tell a story or two.
As you walk the path if you listen really close you can hear ‘wild’ sea lions barking like a pack of dogs.
There is a place alongside the mountain you can climb while on an over look to see and experience them in the natural habitat.
We did that last time we were there, but this time neither one of us wanted to walk the uneven trail.
The beach is so pretty. The mountainside so rugged.
The beach has a drop off I have not walked out to it but it is there, I am sure of it.
Where the beach is higher than the water.
We want to go back when we can see the Christmas lighting and all the festivities in the park.
We have heard it is amazing and beautiful with thousands of lights and decorations surrounding the grounds.
Perhaps next year I can post some ‘holiday lights’ to show you the beauty of this wonderful place.
by Sharon O | Jun 22, 2016 | Uncategorized
In our trip down in Florence we were able to go sight seeing a bit.
Hubby is still recovering from his knee replacement, almost 11 weeks but still learning how to manage it.
I am dealing with a few new health issues so our hiking walking days are minimal at this time.
We did manage to do a bit of sight seeing. I love to look at watch clouds. They are fun for me.
Guessing what could they be or what do I see. I guess the child in me still loves it.
It is a very fun adventure for me and it is also a way for me to remember how grand and glorious OUR God is to make such beauty.
We discovered a path that went pretty high and my hubby said ‘let’s go find the ocean.’
I was not sure since we are not hikers in sand and it looked like a new adventure for us.
It looked like a lot of climbing to me. In sand which is way more difficult going UP. I was right because about half way up I was clinging to the grass for stability.
Both of us did it and we found ourselves pretty tired when we got done, going down was a lot easier than going up that was for sure, although going down you gain more speed.
I found myself digging my heels into the sand as I stepped in it to not lose my balance.
While we were UP a young ’20 something guy’ came walking up the trail as if it was smooth walking. Yeah NOT us. We told him he made it look really easy.
Hubby couldn’t figure out why he was so sore the next day and I went to bed that night at 9:20 totally exhausted.
Us old folks just can’t do the hard hiking right now.
The view when up on the high side of the hill was amazing. But we were done looking and all things had to come to and end, we needed to go back to our car.
The adventure continued and we planned on a new one the next day or later that evening, whichever we felt like on this ‘journey away from home’.
We do really enjoy the time together and our ‘long term’ vacation called ‘retirement.’
by Sharon O | Jun 21, 2016 | Uncategorized
After our adventure to Winema beach we came home for a short time then left again to the coast again.
Only this time we headed to a town on the southern Oregon coast line called Florence.
It was a port that is used mostly for fishing but there are also dunes there where people ride dune buggies.
We found it to be very strange when we saw large sand dunes right behind the local Fred Meyer store.
So much for beach life, very different from our ‘scenes in the valley.’
Our drive down was fun as the clouds were very dark and even rainy. Making a very good ‘picture taking’ opportunity for me.
I always anticipate the drive with joy and a bit of anxiety as I know traffic can create issues and especially with a trailer behind our expedition.
We followed hwy 101 all the way down the southern coast, with it’s windy roads and scenic views.
It really was a nice drive although it took us about five hours from our house to our campsite.
We had many bridges as we drove I think it must have been close to six and they varied in size some short and some longer.
The water was all around us on some occasions and we just had to keep driving till ‘solid ground’ reappeared.
We arrived at Port of Suislaw in the heart of downtown Florence and set up our camp. We would spend the next three days there exploring.
After getting settled I took a final picture of us, on our couch watching a bit of night TV before the evening got dark.
The view from our trailer on the outside near where we sat in our chairs, and then the view from the inside of the trailer.
Our home away from home is very cozy and we are really enjoying our time away.
Each time it is easier to leave and each time the ‘cats’ realize we will return.
Stay tuned as I share more of our ‘summer adventures.’
by Sharon O | Jun 20, 2016 | Uncategorized
The first trip we did out in our new ‘home away from home’, was at the beach. Our favorite place to go is a place called Winema.
It is a Christian camp and it has such quiet and beauty most of the time when campers are not there.
We happened to get there between activities and the weekend so it was pretty quiet and nice.
Our trailer is very comfortable and we enjoy going
out as much as possible now that we are fully retired.
The view from our trailer looking out from the campsite heading towards the beach.
It is a quiet pathway, not too rough of a walk and over the ridge is the ocean.
There are a few a memorial benches where one can sit and enjoy the oceans beauty if you don’t have your own chair.
We can sit there for a long time just watching the waves, and feeling the fresh air on our faces.
Sometimes we see birds and boats and other activities like kite flying or kids playing.
The beach is not private but the camp is.
Way on top of the hill next to the main driveway to the camp are the crosses I love to look at. Have always told my husband should I leave this world before him I want to be placed up there. I don’t like heights but it is a perfect place of peace and freedom.
The view from the beach side, high up on a hill are the crosses.
The view from the high perspective looking down.
The view of the camp to the left, and the bay outlet where one can use a kayak or canoe. 
It will always be our ‘favorite place’. Quiet and peaceful and most of the time very few people.
