Another Lovely Day

So it started out pretty slow yesterday. Game days are usually that way as we (kiddos and I) wait for the other parental unit to figure out when he is leaving, etc, etc. So finally at noon I decided to load up the kiddos and make the loop from Harrisburg to the coast and back. Harrisburg, Florence, Newport, Philomath, Coravllis, back home. See kiddo #1 one is really into rocks right now, so I thought it would be great to head to the beach and look for agates, and if we found a few boxes on the way - well - bonus for me! My big concern was our late start and if the weather at the beach was going to be yucky and all.

My worries were for naught. The beach was gorgeous yesterday! No wind and short sleeve weather the entire time.

We found our first box - Pitchin' A Tent just before Mapleton. A lovely little campground that was closed for the season, so we jumped the gate and ran to grab the box. We found a hitchhiker here and left another one. Funny thing about those hitchhikers, you think you will finally be done with them and another one is always waiting for you. Hopefully, I did it right. I didn't realize people would get so upset about not quite getting the exact procedure down for how to handle the hitchhiker.

Then on to Florence, which we pretty much bypassed this time, making our way up to the sea lion caves. We enjoyed the caves, kiddo #1 found a thunderegg in the gift store, so her day was getting better, and we jumped back in the car and headed north. Admiring Haceta Head lighthouse from the road.

On to Neptune Beach, where we found a few agates, kiddos found walking sticks, we came across mushroom hunters, and we found the Let's Go Fly A Kite Series by Team Springamajack. A great series, with great carving, and a beautiful location.

From here we headed north again for just a few miles to Cape Perpetua and the Interpretive Center. Just so happens that we stopped by on the day the Forest Service was unveiling a heritage tree, but we opted to not go on the tour van and instead headed down the trail to see the Spouting Horn and Devil's Churn. I think this was the highlight of the day for all of us. The Spouting Horn was so cool and the views from here were AMAZING. At Spouting Horn, we found the first box in the Perpetua Pirates Series by the CoastalPirates. Another absolutely fabulous series. Back up the trail to find box #2 and then headed over to Devil's Churn and then back up to the intrepretive center, where kiddo #1 got to talking to the Ranger about agates and looking at the really cool display. The Ranger had a bag of agates that she let the kiddo pick several from. She was a rally cool lady! This is a lovely center, and I never would have taken the time to stop in the past - another reason why boxing is so crazy cool. All of the things we "see" now because of it!

Finally, we head North again just a few miles to find the Rock Shelter at another part of the Cape Perpetua Park. Realizing we are seriously low on gas, but still head up the hill. At the top, we hop out of the car and start up the trail where we ran into some bikers who had been whale watching. The views from the trail were stunning, the rock shelter really cool, and the last box in this series - another terrific pirate!

Another stop done, we load up and head down the hill, to start north again, praying we get to Yachats before running out of gas. Which, thankfully we do. Kiddos are exhausted and hungry. We get our gas and head north to Waldport and Newport, where kiddo #2 finally gives out and falls to sleep. He has worked hard for a three year old. All along the way I am thinking there is a box there, and here, and one in that park....

We grab our sandwhiches and head home from Newport. Ran into after game traffic in Corvallis, but all in all not too bad. It was a lovely day trip. Could not have asked for better weather, better companions, or better boxes to find!