Wow! Where did the month go?

Pacific Shores Motorcoach Resort

temps:48, mostly sunny
Newport, Oregon

I can not believe the month of January is almost over!  We have been just kicking around and chilling out!  After the cruise in November, the Holidays and our stint at counting whales as they headed south, we have just settled into a routine.

Depending on the weather, most days we head to one of the nearby beaches.  The photos below are from Beverly Beach which is just a few miles north of us.

Rainbow bubbles

Low tide at Beverly Beach

The highway above the inlet

Look at the size of this stump

The Central Oregon Coast offers so many things to do with hikes in the coastal range and walks along the beaches.  We met some folks that love to hunt for agates along the beaches so we tagged along a few times to learn the ins and outs of agate hunting.  We learned that you must stand facing the sun so the rocks shine and glitter and you better stay out of someones shadow!  To be an official Oregonian, I believe you must have at least two white paint buckets full of agates in your garage.  Everyone has them and they hunt for more.  We have not found the elusive large agates yet, but have collected a small dish full of little bitty ones.  These are size of my pinkie nail.  Since storage is a problem and I do not have space for buckets of agates, I am content with the small ones and I just enjoy the long walks on the beach!

Roger is showing Eric what to look for

The agate hunting position demonstrated by Eric and Roger

A seagull enjoying the almost sunset

We had one really big storm come in with wind gusts of 64.  We pulled the slides in, brought down the satellite dish and waited it out.  No harm came to anything and it made the Beast very cozy for the two nights it lasted.  What to do when the wind is howling?  Head to the lighthouse to experience the wind of course!

Cape Perpetua is located south of Newport and is a beautiful spot for a hike and whale watching.  There is a rock shelter built right on the edge overlooking the Pacific.  Look how cool this is:

Happy Hour Sunset from Cafe Adobe

Mowgli and Gidget love their walks on the beach and I have been working with Gidget on sticking close and coming back.  She is doing well as long as she knows I have treats.

And of course, after the fun in the sand, a bath is in order

We are really enjoying our time here and are so glad we decided to rest a bit.  Although we are not on the road, we are still having fun exploring in this area.  The weather has been wonderful with a couple of days in the low 60's.  Most days are sunny and have allowed for chores like washing the beast and car, a more gardening.

Our Vagabond 

Bonsai Garden

Always something to do

The pups love to visit the guard shack since they always get a treat

We took a little ride to Portland one day and saw lots of squadrons of geese flying overhead.  For desert rats like us, it was something we didn't see often and warranted a photo…(besides, look how cool the sky looked!)

And to sum up the month of January-Look at these beautiful Sunsets!  I never get tired of snapping photos of them as most nights they are amazing!

Pacific Shores Motorcoach Resort dog park

Seal Rock

Yachats

Pacific Shores Motorcoach Resort

Before and After

Pacific Shores RV Resort Newport Oregon

As promised, here are the before and after shots of our corner lot here at PSRV!  We picked this site as the view was just what I was looking for and the corner lot afforded some privacy and landscaping options an interior lot wouldn't allow.

Looking North from our neighbors lot

Looking East Straight in

From the front looking North East

From the rear, looking North West

Looking West from the rear

As you look at the before shots, the previous owners left a large opening in the hedge at the rear of the lot.  We wanted to screen that in a little more so the hedge will form a natural fence line.   The rear part of the lot was rocked with round pavers for access to the rear of the coach.  The bricked patio area was small and splattered with paint.  We had the bricks moved to the rear, removing the round pavers and rocks.  This will make it easier to sweep and provides a level surface for ladders.  It also gives us a little longer pad for that 42 footer I'm dreaming of.

You can see why it was best to stay out of the way

New hedge area with extended planter beds

New water spigot and extended planter beds

Extending the planting area for small seasonal flowers

AFTER!

OK so the project that was only going to take a few days ended up at 5 weeks.  Weather was an issue a couple of days and the holidays delayed things also.  I've been adding small flowers so it is almost complete.  I'll be continuously adding little plants, flowers and herb garden.  I'm waiting for the Hydrangeas for the big pots.  Spring and Summer items are slowly coming in to the local Walmart and Fred Meyers.  We have a stone table on reserve so as soon as it comes in the picnic table will be moved to the doggie park.    

looking Northeast 

Primrose and Cyclamen

The front where the bear was

The new hedge that will quickly grow together forming a fence

Bonsai Trees

Ruby Heart Rhododendron

The new patio area

Glorious Sunshine!

Well that's the small project.  The lot needed a little TLC as the previous owners stopped coming a while ago and kept the lot rented out.  We plan on enjoying it off and on the next year before we set off on the road again.  We are having too much exploring this area, more of that to follow! 

2013 is a Wrap!

Saturday marked Eric's first year of retirement.  Our mantra this last 12 months has been Life really is Good!  I had to stay on at work until early March to take advantage of paid sick time and timing of 2011's performance incentives.  I was out on leave for 5 weeks, back to work for 3, then I was FREE!  So even though I was still working, I really wasn't, if that makes sense.  Saying Goodbye to old friends and coworkers we had worked with for almost 30 years was tough, but we had an adventure to look forward to.  Having the freedom to do what you want, when you want has been the best part of not working for me.  We eat when we are hungry, we sleep when we get tired and play the rest of the time.  It is very liberating!

Spending six weeks being close to Ashley was awesome!  She and I spent time with my aunts and my grandmother.  Every Saturday was spent getting dogs and cats adopted.  It was fun spending so much time with her and Nick.  They are a cute couple and we had a good time with them.

We ventured north to Jackson Hole and the Grand Tetons.  Our plan was to see the Tetons and Yellowstone but after a week or so we realized it was still frozen over and the southern entrance was still closed.  We hung out in Jackson Hole enjoying long walks and just being together.  The weather was freezing so we of course headed further north.

We wanted to do Alaska as our maiden voyage.  At the beginning of May we set off and made the long journey.  The highlight of Alaska was the Glacier landing on Denali.  The area was beautiful and even though it was still cold and the leaves hadn't even peeked out, we thought the area was amazing.  Homer was a lot of fun and we thought it was worth the drive to the end of the Kenai.  Matanuska Glacier trek was something I didn't think I would ever do, but I loved it!  After four months it really was time to go.  Our memories of Alaska are mixed.  The landscape is awesome.  The residents do give the impression they could do without you.  The campgrounds are simply dirt lots with hookups.  Most are so close together you couldn't open your awnings and your neighbors sewer is 2-3 feet from your door.  The management of their wildlife is still in the dark ages and the natural balance is out of whack.  The fishing is a combat sport and the thinking is the rivers and oceans are an abundant, never ending source of fish.  The otters are becoming a nuisance as they eat the crabs and clams we want.  It is a state of camouflage and gun racks.  We were glad for the experience and glad to get back to the lower 48.  

We have learned a lot about this lifestyle, ourselves and the Beast.  The Beast is unforgiving if you drag her across rough bumpy roads.  She performed well until she said enough is enough after a summer in Alaska.  Alaska was rough on her and we were beginning to doubt our full time traveling lifestyle.  A quick exit and fast journey through Canada and we ended up in Bend Oregon for much needed repairs.  

Since we were so close to the Oregon Coast and we needed a break from the repair shop parking lot, we decided on an impulse to head to the Coast.  We stayed a bit in Winchester Bay and enjoyed the walking path, the sound of the waves in the distance and all the fun things to do.  Another impulse and we headed to Newport, the home to our favorite RV Resort, Pacific Shores.  We arrived in a torrential rain storm and windstorm.  The waves were crashing, the wind was crazy, and the rain was heavy.  Our original plan was for a week, we ended up staying a lot longer and even bought a lot.  The plan is to use it in little bits and have a place to call home.  We love it here in Newport and all the fun things there is to do in the area.

A cruise to Hawaii in October/November was certainly something we were looking forward to.  We really enjoyed having no responsibilities and no cooking/cleaning.  A two week vacation from our full time vacation was just what we needed to remind us that this lifestyle is just our style.

Back to Newport Mid November and landscape planning was well underway.  The original time frame was a few days to maybe a week has turned into 4 weeks.  Good things take time.  All that is left to do is to plant the hedge, but the nursery's in the area are closed for the holidays until next week.  Hopefully next week I can post the before and after blog!

Before…...

We have met very nice people here in the resort.  We had a potluck get together for New Years and we met a very nice couple from the Seattle area.  It's funny how you can immediately make a connection with some people.  She is a long arm quilter and has done beautiful work.  I can truly appreciate the work that goes into these quilts as I am still a novice after 10 years of quilting.  My goal this year is to work on paper piecing, something I have not had the patience or time for previously.  We hope to meet up with them in the Seattle area for a Mariner's game and a little vacation from the Coast this Spring.  Our neighbors here are also from the Seattle area.  They invited us to dinner so we could get better acquainted.  We kept just missing them, they would be here and we would be gone and vice a versa.  We had a great time and we are looking forward to summer when we should be at the resort at the same time.  They have a gorgeous German Shepherd who is the biggest dog I have seen.  He is so good and so quiet, our dogs need lessons from him.

Our plans for 2014 are pretty simple.  We want to visit our daughter early spring, go to the Air Museum  and wine country in McMinnville this month or next, a wood carving festival mid January, Jambalaya festival in February, Wind and Seafood festival the end of February, Seattle area and Mt. St Helen's in May, Visiting my parents over the summer and having our kids visit us and be tourists this summer.  Of course everyday we'll watch the amazing sunsets and toast our decision to choose this carefree lifestyle.  It's going to be a fun, busy year all centered in the Northwest.  For a couple of desert rats, this place is heaven!

The pups love their beach walks!

love the designs the surf makes in the sand