Last Chance Day at the Beach

It was a gorgeous, fall day last Wednesday.  The sky was blue, not a cloud in sight.  The autumn colors were beautiful.  James had the day off work, so we headed to the coast.  

After all, this would be our last chance to make it to the northern Oregon coast before we move south, never to live this far north again.  No more opportunities to go to the Tillamook Cheese Factory.  

 The minute we started climbing the Coastal Mt. Range, we saw the clouds gathering.  By the time we got to the coast the sky had been darkened by a solid layer of clouds.  

Maybe if we go to the Cheese Factory first, the clouds will burn off by the time we're done.  (Yeah, right!  We know better).

We went to the beach anyway.  This is one of our favorite spots.  You never know what you'll find here.  

Once when we were here, the beach was covered with smooth, round rocks.  We've never seen it like that again.  This time, however, the area was overrun with jelly fish.  

 The kids found them fascinating.

Father and son serenely walking along the shore... okay, probably not so serenely.  Logan's most likely talking James' ear off about some Lego toy or something equally riveting.  

It just happened to be right at high tide when we got there.

But if you timed it just right, you could run over to these rocks while the waves receded briefly.  I know because I watched James and the kids do it.

Then suddenly I was separated from them by a wave that encircled the rocks. 

Taylor just wanted to watch the waves sweep up to the rock she was standing on. 

And Logan just wanted to climb as high as he possibly could, up the cliff.  

And I just wanted one good shot of my family.  Ah, there it is!  My sweet family, enjoying the coast, no matter the weather.  

 Studying the jellyfish again.

Then we said good-bye to one of our favorite little spots on the coast and returned to the valley and to blue skies.

 Good-bye... good-bye... we'll miss you...

 good-bye...  good-bye...