Small Towns, Good People

Rain, heavy fog, mist, then breaks of sunshine and warmth. Small, blue-collar towns, rich in shipping, fishing, logging, and farming. Long, winding roads brilliant in fall colors with nothing but the occasional logging truck to rock our RV in passing. The beauty of the land, the people, and the small towns made us fall in love with the Pacific Northwest Coast.

We left my parents and headed north toward the Straight of Juan De Fuca. We found the most beautiful state park and settled in to explore. Being at the top of the Olympic National Park we spent time exploring in the park, hiking, and earning our Jr. Ranger badges, but our favorite memory was time spent exploring the tide pools right at our campground.

Canada is right across the Straight!

Tidepooling!

Coves perfect for exploring off the Straight of Juan de Fuca

A rainy day at Olympic National Park's Visitor Center

Earning our Jr. Ranger badges

M lost a front tooth!

We had no intention of leaving, but a typhoon was brewing and we decided it was best to get this top-heavy box off the coast. We headed to a park tucked off the coast in what they call a “rain shadow.” Our research showed it to be a calm area during a storm. Just as we set up a ranger came by and kicked us out. They were closing due to the storm. Awesome. We found another park only to be told the area was suffering from root rot…problem? In a heavy wind, the roots of 250 ft trees could give way. Not cool. We bolted and found refuge at, you guessed it, Walmart.

We spent the next three days hugged up against the Walmart in Sequim, WA with a few others as the wind and rain rocked our RV. We filled our days with school and rounds at Costco, Walmart, and Petco. Brutal.

 

When the rain let up, we headed down the coast and landed at Cape Disappointment. Amidst overcast skies and a bit of rain we explored this spectacular coast and its history.  Little did we know we had set up camp in the same spot as Lewis and Clark. The whole area is dedicated to Lewis and Clark history. We hiked to stand where Clark and his men did when finally reaching the Pacific coast, we went to museums operated by the National Park Service to learn more about the expedition, and earned our Jr. Ranger badges. What a find! On rainy days, we made ourselves at home in the town’s cozy library and got our school work done.

Cape Disappointment lighthouse.

Post typhoon the weather was still a bit windy!

Sunset 

We explored WWII bunkers up and down the coast

Statue of Sacagawea

Lewis and Clark's Fort Clatsop

School days!

We had fun exploring Astoria, Oregon and even attempted to photograph the Goonies house to no avail. It’s illegal! We also learned a lot about Native Americans along the Pacific Northwest Coast. We are fascinated by their history, their legends, and their art. 

We climbed to the top of this column depicting Lewis and Clark's Expedition

Astoria, OR

We will never forget hiking to the lighthouse on Cape Disappointment only to be surprised by Coast Guard rescue training in progress. We sat watching as the helicopter hovered and trainees dropped into the ocean to rescue dummies. AMAZING!

Cape Disappointment is the most dangerous inlet on the Pacific Coast.

We pushed on to escape the continued rain. Driving down the Oregon coast was thrilling as we rounded corners and mom leaned away from the edge of the cliff with the ocean crashing far below. The immense beauty on this drive was matched only by our immense worry. After enduring heavy rain for days we had discovered leaks in our RV. As I watched our fearless leader drive I knew worry had reached its max and I prayed for a solution. We rolled through the town of Tillamook, Oregon at 2 pm on a Saturday and passed an RV shop. What are the chances it would be open and willing to help us? Not likely. I called in and explained our situation. Only a man named Stumpy in a small town would hear my plea, call a few of his guys back to the shop, and do a major job at closing. Stumpy sent us across the street to the Tillamook Cheese Factory… and who doesn’t like cheese? We learned a ton, ate grilled cheese, indulged in Tillamook ice cream, and went through the free cheese sample line a few more times than we should have. We picked up our RV grateful to have found such a good man, found a place to camp at Cape Lookout, and enjoyed hikes along the coast that brought perspective.

Tillamook Cheese Factory

Sampling it up!

Yes, I cut his hair again.

Lighthouse at Cape Meares

Cape Meares

As struggles with the RV and rain continued, emotions ran high. We needed to recenter. Sunday morning we Googled, picked a church, and headed out to see what God had in store for us. I had been reading the book of Joshua and as I closed a chapter the night before I reflected upon God's word. I shared with Shawn what I felt we could stand to gain from the passage and we prayed over this. Sunday, we walked in the door and were handed a program. Their current study? Joshua. The message? Exactly what we prayed over the night before. The more we seek God in our journey the more we realize how powerfully present He is in our every day.

After church we meandered into the coffee hour and met the Price family who welcomed us with open arms not only to their church, but to their family farm! The next day we toured their dairy farm and loved learning all about their cows, their farm, and how their milk goes directly to the Tillamook Cheese Factory! We will never forget their hospitality! More than once we have met people on this trip who leave an impression on our hearts and we think, “If we lived here, we would definitely be friends!” They were such a wonderful family.

These babies were just born!

Too cute!

Fun on the hay bales!

From Cape Lookout we moved onto Newport, OR in hopes of finding a few kids and a fun town in which to trick or treat. We lucked out at South Beach State Park where our campsite had a playground in our backyard! Not only that, but we met another traveling family with girls the same age as ours! We could not wait to get out of the door each day to play. We geared up for Halloween and trick or treating in the Newport area. Three different sections of town offered trick or treating at their shops and businesses. The girls racked up! I have to admit, at one point as my children were trick or treating at the marijuana shop (legal in OR and yes, I still confiscated that candy) and Elsa’s dress trailing through I don’t want to know down on the docks with the smell of fish wafting through the air, I felt guilt. I was missing our neighborhood. Yet on the drive home with both girls all laughter and smiles and sugar, I thanked God for such amazing children who see only good and beauty in every situation. Days like this it is clear that we are the ones lucky to be traveling with and gaining perspective from them.

M looses another!

Ready for Halloween!

Shop to shop trick or treating on Nye Beach!

Trick or treating down by the docks in Newport.

LOOT!

We loved learning about lighthouse life at Yaquina Head.

We pulled out of Cape Lookout with a devastating toss of our pumpkins and headed down Hwy 101 toward California. Meandering down the coast we stumbled upon Cape Perpetua and had to stop to hike amongst this beauty. 

As we cross into California, we move closer to seeing friends and family. We are so excited for this opportunity, but will not forget the small towns of Oregon where perfect strangers became perfect friends with whom we are so grateful to have crossed paths.