Yurt Summit 2017: Very Wet, Very Sunny, Very Cold, Very Happy

 Last year March 2017, I headed out to the beach with 8 year old Amy, and two friends to join a Yurt Summit at Nehalem Bay State Park. Because we are adventurous and to save on costs, we decided to camp in tents. We drove on a Friday evening through the unrelenting cold rain to the coast. When we got to the camp we set up tent on the edges of the flooded campsite we had been assigned.

Three of us made it through the night semi dry. Amy's clothes got partially wet on the side of the tent. However, our fourth friend had a completely flooded tent. She ended up finding the community yurt and warming up around 2am.

Having made it through the very rainy night, the sun came out and we were able to enjoy the beach and the community at the yurt summit.

The kids and adults played a game where a group was blindfolded and followed the sound of a moving drummer through the sand as a mindfulness, sensory activity. I helped string a tarp up and the kids dug canals to drain the puddle in the fire pit which we were able to use later for a campfire.

Wearing my snow pants and jacket to stay warm and dry, I dipped my toes in the water and enjoyed the sunshine.

The spring sunshine on the beach was wonderful and warmed our spirits as well.

We enjoyed communal food and conversation and were very grateful for the offer of a yurt spot for those of us whose stuff had not dried out during the very wet night. My friend Corrine and I were able to dry tents out enough to enjoy a rather cold but clear night in our tents.

This was quite the car camping adventure, but we were glad for the time together.

Can't wait for some upcoming spring adventures. A word of wisdom- be prepared for a wet night if camping on the coast in late March in Oregon.

Neahkanie Ocean Views and Toes in the Sand

This trip happened in May.  Analise was 8 months old.  The spring weather turned warm and it was time for a trip to the coast.  I hoped that the cool breeze and sunshine would entice Amy to the short climb up Neahkanie Mountain.









We started by walking a little way to a viewpoint overlooking the ocean.









As is her favorite pastime, Analise was excited to play in the dirt and rocks.  She was also fascinated by my hat string.









The ocean view was beautiful.  After soaking it in we headed to the south trail head and started our gradual climb to a viewpoint.









There were still some late Trillium hanging on.  We enjoyed the sun shining through the trees and mossy branches.









Analise got a few chances to wiggle with her sister.









We headed up the final scramble to the viewpoint.









We would have enjoyed the view more but there were very large flying ants.  Amy was very unhappy about this and wanted to head back down quickly.









We went back down to the trail head and drove out to a good beach access spot.









It had already been quite a long day so we were not able to give the beach as much time as it deserves but we really enjoyed playing in the sand and the ocean view.









Amy is rather scared of the ocean but she was pleased to have a stream to play in nearby where she did not have to contend with waves.









Analise had been to the beach once before but this time she really was able to experience sand between her toes.









Amy enjoyed writing in the sand and hugging one of the giant trees on the way back to the car.









It was a day full of small mountain climbing, breathing in the ocean air from on high and down below, avoiding flying ants, and playing in the sand.

Cascade Head and fun in the sand

 We headed toward the coast for a day of ocean fun!  It was the end of October and the very end of the season the road to Cascade Head's upper trail is open.









We got to the trailhead to meet my mom and her long time friend, and went for the short mile long hike through the mossy forest.









Once at the windswept upper viewpoint we stopped to enjoy it.









Baby Analise took steps in the grass.









Amy enjoyed her Nana.  We all enjoyed watching the girls and the view.









Possibly against better judgment we headed down the steep hillside toward the lower viewpoint since we needed more of a challenge!









Nana took the course of wisdom and stopped at the warning- steep trail sign with the picture of people falling off a cliff.









The rest of us trekked down but I spent too much time arguing about safety with Amy who was convinced she should be the leader down the steep hill.









After seeing the view from below we slowly trekked back up the steep trail- meeting up with Nana and headed back through the woods where we enjoyed the nurse logs.









We drove to Neskowin where Nana was staying and had a great time at the beach house and on the beach.









We walked on the sand, explored, built sand castles, demolished sand castles, and made sand angels.









The ocean was beautiful and the company was amazing!









Baby Analise is doing a great job with her walking.

On the drive home I even snuck in some Stumptown Coffee!  An excellent end to an excellent adventure.

Sweet Creek Falls- Paradise to make the long drive worthwhile

 Amy, Sarah, and I set out on a rather long day for an adventure.  Amy is always asking for "a long drive with a short hike" and today she get her wish. 










We headed down to Eugene and were fortunate to find an amazing coop to stop at then continued driving West toward Florence.  The Country Fair was happening, making traffic pretty bad along the highway toward the coast.  We took a less traffic "short cut" route and eventually ended up at the trailhead.










We stepped into this amazing, enchanted forest with old growth and nurse logs everywhere.  It was so green and amazing.  I fell in love with this forest.










We hiked along the creek and there were small waterfalls all along the way.  The water was so clear and amazing.  We decided hiking to the largest falls came first and swimming would come on the way back.










We enjoyed taking in each of the falls and spent a lot of time just enjoying the water and the forest, noticing nurse logs and mushrooms and climbing on mossy rocks.










After a very pleasant hike through the woods, we arrived at Sweet Creek Falls.  The lower falls was the perfect place for lunch and a swim.










I was the only one brave enough to dive.  Amy and Sarah just wanted to dabble.  It was COLD though and I did not have the stamina to swim out to the falls, just jump in and hurry back to shore.










Then I had to show off my 31 week pregnant belly- 7 months along, and feeling awesome, especially after the swim.  Though I'm sure the baby was thinking, "What is mom doing to me?"  Maybe she'll be a water baby like her sister.










We took time to check out the upper falls and then started the trek back.  On the way back we found another swimming hole which also doubled as a dabbling spot.  Sarah used it to get wet and Amy used it for sun bathing.










When we got back to the car we had found ourselves so consumed by the hike that the afternoon had flown by!  It was already early evening and we had plan to drive up the coast, so we continued our drive as planned.













We stopped at Devil's Punchbowl to enjoy the swirling ocean view.  It was nice to end our day at the coast after such a special time hiking in a beautiful place!

We stopped again for dinner, hot cocoa, and delicious pie at a nice little place in Depot Bay, dropped Sarah in Salem, and did not end up getting home to Beaverton until after 10pm, but what a gorgeous day- so worth all the driving!