DAY 15 STILL IN OREGON

DAY 15

We got up a little before 8:00 and I cooked eggs and bacon. Then we headed out on the road to find another spot. We are just going to go until we find a nice little spot to stay through the fourth. We passed through a few small towns because we didn't see anything that stood out. Then after only an hour of driving, we found a little town called Rockaway Beach. We pulled over to a parking spot for the beach and there was a Lion's Club sign so Thad went over to find out about this place.

They gave us the information on this place. We had passed it because we weren't sure about it. Then after talking to them we found out that they do a big fireworks show at the beach and this campsite has crabbing. We decided to get our site and then head to town for groceries and to do laundry. We split up and Thad and Kali went to the store and the rest of us went to the laundromat. It didn't take so long that way. After we put the laundry in the dryer, we headed down the street to look in the shops. We went in one and the kids were so excited because they gave popcorn away. Then we headed back to get the clothes. I told the kids that they were a big help and that it went by so fast because everyone really helped out. Then we were able to head back to the campsite. We grabbed a bite to eat and then went down to the jetty for the kids to play. We stayed down there for hours then I took the little girls up to give them a bath and have a nap. Paisley had a nap anyway. Thad and the other kids walked over to a spot here at the campsite where they cook seafood to get some oysters and crab legs. Tomorrow we are going to let the kids go crabbing. They will clean and cook the crabs for free if you catch any keepers. We decided to do it tomorrow so that we will be able to fish all day. They came back from eating and brought me the code to get on the Internet so that I can catch up on the blog. They headed back outside to fish and play. Thad has made more friends at the campsite next to us. He has met a  guy from Japan that works for Panasonic. The guy is sleeping in his car in the spot next to us. He is married but his wife and kids are still in Japan and he could be here for up to 8 years. He said she wrote him a letter and said that is the happiest she has ever been. I said what else does she say? send more money. He laughed and said yes...Kali is bugging me to make her a grilled cheese because she saw one on the cartoon that she is watching. I will update you more later.

Kandi, read this....

Lawson has a tiny hermit crab in his hand. (Robin, Thad is wearing his tennis shoes on the beach)

Mitchell fishing

The view from our campsite.

DAY 14 HEADING TO OREGAN

DAY 14

Paisley woke me up early this morning. I think that she woke up hungry so I fed her some cereal as the others slowly woke up. Thad went out at 8:00 on the dot to start the generator. He started to make his coffee and he dropped the pot and glass went everywhere. He got the shop vac and cleaned up all the glass. We decided to have cereal this morning so that we could get on the road. We drove on through the park to see the highest point on the mountain. It was like 14,410 feet tall. We stopped to get a picture and to let the kids play in the snow.

We took a couple  more photos and decided to bypass the rest to head on to Oregon. Kali was taking her turn in the front with her daddy. She kept saying what does that sign say, what does that sign say?  Then all of the sudden she looks at me and says where are we going to put the new baby when we get it? I said where do you want to put it? She said I think with Paisley and I will sleep with you and daddy.  We pulled off to a view sight so that we could see Mt. St Helen and decided to have lunch, until we got a scare and we were leaking transmission fluid. We headed back to the town that we just left and had a mechanic look at it and everything was fine. We just needed to get more fluid and head out again. It wasn't long before Kali wanted to want to get in the back so I laid down with her and Paisley. Once they were asleep I came back upfront and we were in Oregon. We saw lots of barges and huge cedar mills. Then the ocean...whoohoo.

We found a campsite to stay called Cannon Beach RV Resort. It was really nice. They had showers, electric, pool, free shuttle to the beach, cable and wi-fi. The Internet was so slow that I could not use it. We didn't get here until after 4:00 The girls and I took  the last shuttle of the day and the others took there bicycles. It was only a 1/2 a mile. We had a short walk when the shuttle let us off and I told Kali that we were getting close because I could smell the ocean. She said what does it smell like? I said well it smells really good and really bad at the same time. She said all that I smell is cars. Thad and I decided that the mountains are beautiful but we are so happy to be at the beach even if it is cold. Everyone loves the beach. Paisley had a ball playing in the sand. The big kids got all the way in...they are crazy.. It is cold.



Kali in front of Haystack rock in Cannon Beach, Oregon



Mitchell, Lawson, and Alexa in front of Haystack Rock

Being silly

Thad rode his bike to a market a few blocks down to find us some fresh fish for supper while the kids played. When he came back we headed to the campsite. Thad put Paisley in the backpack and Kali and I walked. When we got back I took the kids over to have showers...we had sand EVERYWHERE. Thad put the fish on the grill and I put some potatoes in the microwave. We all tried the fish and even the boys liked it. He got smoked salmon and then we grilled salmon and halibut. It was so good.... I think that Paisley ate the most. She just kept eating and eating. I tried to catch up on the blog but the Internet was so slow that I decided to go to bed while the kids watched a movie.

DAY 13 Mt. Rainer National Park

DAY 13

We woke up around 8:00 and the kids took over a load of clothes because we want to wash up all the shoes and towels before we go. The kids are using the wi-fi as much as they can while we wait on the clothes to dry. The clothes are done and we are heading to Washington. It didn't take long for Paisley to be ready for a nap and again when I got her to sleep and came back up front ...we were in Washington. When we were going through Spokane, Washington we ran into traffic because of road construction. Today is taking forever.. we haven't seen any animals and the terrain is not as pretty to look at as before.

We thought that this was funny.

We stopped at a gas station and I was able to use tango to call Kandi. Kali was so excited.  We are getting closer and we are starting to see some mountains now.

I saw 4 mule deer on the side of the road. Kali started to look for more but that was all we saw. We finally got to our campsite in Mt. Rainer National Park. We got there to late to use the generator and there was no water, electric, or phone service. The National Parks campsites are a joke... It is bad enough that they don't have showers, but the last ones that we have been to don't have soap or towels or hand dryers..... I guess they are afraid that you might take a shower in the sink. It makes me appreciate the sights that have everything.....There isn't a view here, but the area is very pretty. The trees are huge and the kids found a big rock to climb on. It is cold here so we decided to have chili for supper and then off to bed.

Look at this huge tree.

Kali and Alexa balancing on a tree

The boys doing the same thing

Updated state map

DAY 12 HEADING TO IDAHO

DAY 12

We woke up at 8:30 this morning. The wind blew so hard last night I thought it was going to come a tornado. I was so thankful that we were not in a tent. We all started eating breakfast and I made up some tea while the generator was running. The kids have been begging me to make tea..Mitchell went over to try his luck at fishing this morning. While I was straightening up the camper, Mitchell came running over to tell us that he caught a fish. We all took off to check it out. We almost got over there when Kali announced that she needed to pea. We were too far to walk back, so I told her to squat between a couple of trees and go. I guess she hasn't  had enough experience outside, because she peed all over her clothes. I called Alexa over to grab Paisley so I could take Kali back to clean her up. I cleaned her up and then we finally headed over to see the fish. We were all so excited... Finally, someone caught a fish.

The happy fisherman caught a lake trout.

Lawson decided to go get his pole...but he only got hung up.

Kali wanted to play with the fish.

Believe it or not I cleaned the fish....I know it was so gross. I was the only one who was going to do it and I wanted some fish. We got directions from Robin ( the ultimate fisher woman) and I did the best that I could until I could get some service on the Internet to see if I did it right. We put it on ice and in the cooler and headed out to Idaho. We are not sure what town we are headed to, just stop when we get tired. Kali and Paisley laid down for a nap, and it seems like it is taking forever to get there. We finally crossed the line into Idaho and we are 2 hours behind TN time now.

We found an RV site called Blue Lake RV Resort. They have water, electric, and wi-fi..woohoo.....They have a catch and release lake, but it has just been stocked with baby catfish and I do mean BABY CATFISH.

 

We got tired of watching him catch baby catfish so we headed up to cook the fish from this morning.

I cooked the trout and it was so good. It tasted alot like salmon. I had the kids put the laundry in the washer while I grilled burgers. When I was done we went to the pond to rent kayaks for the kids. I put life jackets on Paisley and Kali and Paisley thought that she was getting in the kayaks too. Thad decided to get in with her so she would stop crying.

she is happy now

she loves it too.

Mitchell fishing from his

Lawson and Alexa making circles around the pond.

Paisley after I took off her life jacket .

She was so mad. I took the little girls with me to check on the laundry while the others finished riding the kayaks. Then everyone came up to eat burgers and Thad watched Paisley in the bathtub while I took the other girls to the bath house. Then Thad took the boys over while I got Paisley asleep and Kali watched Bolt again.....Then we all went to sleep.

Updated picture of the map.