We started off the trip with an overnight stay in Bellevue, WA. We drove through Seattle on the way (with a looooong pit stop at REI headquarters, Matt's personal paradise!). As we drove through Seattle we excitedly pointed out the Space Needle each time it came into view. "Do you see it? Over there? That tall, skinny tower with the round thing on top? Do you see it?" Because kids are remarkably awful at following a pointed finger, we weren't convinced that he actually saw it. But after a while, Liam piped up from the backseat "Why do you always want me to see the Space Needle?" So we toned down the tour guide bit a notch and headed for the hotel.
In hindsight, it might be a bit self-defeating to priceline a great deal on a 4 star hotel the night before you embark on a tent camping expedition. Hauling duffel bags up to your room is decidedly uncool, but so is that next night sleeping on the ground. But the novelty of a fancy hotel room will never wear off for me, and the kids shared my excitement. I'm not sure Sarah's shoes were off yet, and she had crawled into the comfy bed!
Is it mandatory to eat breakfast at Denny's at least once when on vacation in the USA? I think it might be. So after a super healthy grease-bomb to start the day, we made a stop at Pike Place Market in Seattle. It was a gorgeous day, and apparently we were not the only ones with this idea. Despite the crowds, we took in a pie eating contest (if it weren't for the aforementioned grease bomb, I may have participated in this myself!) and Liam almost caught a flying fish in the face. We bought some fruit and it was time to hit the road.
That boat behind Mr. Cool is the Norweigan Pearl - the same ship that Matt and I sailed the Caribbean on a few months before Liam arrived.
He, obviously, couldn't care less.
Sarah colouring a pig. Of course.
Note to self: we need to up the ante on kids entertainment for future road trips. The old Wheels On The Bus standby will no longer suffice. The drive between Seattle and Fort Stevens was Painful. We picked up a bag of gummy lifesavers at one of our (many) gas station pit stops and Matt came up with a game: if Liam or Sarah can spot a purple or pink car (their favorite colours, respectively) then they get a candy. Now, purple and pink cars are not all that common. After all, who wants a couple of sugar hyped kids in the backseat? So their attention was held for about 90 seconds and when they had yet to spot a purple or pink car the tantrums began. Good times, good times.
Our first night in the tent, the kids were wired. It may have been from the moonlit game of chase we had on the beach in front of the Peter Iredale shipwreck. Maybe. Okay, that was a big pre-bedtime mistake, and we ought to know better. But when we got back to the campsite we (Matt and I), were exhausted and cold, and crawled into our sleeping bags at the same time as the kids....some time around 9:30pm. And they just wouldn't sleep. Around 11pm all was quiet and still and I was sure Sarah had finally slid into dreamland when she sat straight up and announced: "Me like cookies. And nanas {bananas}.......And Coke." She laid back down. Then up again: "Bunny like fries." Anyone familiar with this book? That's pretty much what was on my mind.
So there we were in Fort Stevens, near Astoria. The weather was not fabulous, especially in the mornings, so we needed to find non-beach activities to tucker those little rascals out. We figured a 164-step climb up the Astoria Column ought to do it.
But first, you've got to stretch. Very important. :)
We were reasonably sure we'd be carrying at least Sarah up a good portion of the column. But they both kept a very quick and steady pace and marched their little selves the whole way up in no time!
Once that famous Oregon Mist took a break, it was time to ensure they would really sleep that night. So off to the beach, at last!
So. Did they sleep? NO! Another night of endless chit chat in the tent before they finally dozed off.
The next day we drove up to Longview, WA for something completely different: horseback riding on the beach! Matt would be quick to remind you of the first time we went horseback riding together in Oregon back in '04. They offered us helmets. And if you're going to offer a self-professed Nervous Nelly like myself a helmet, I'm going to assume it's necessary. So I convinced Matt that this was mandatory equipment for the ride, thereby completely ruining anything romantic about a horseback ride on the beach. At least, that's Matt's opinion. I'm pretty sure he still holds this against me. He brings it up a lot.
This time I had something to prove. Not only did we not wear helmets (okay, maybe they weren't even available) but I put my babies up on the backs of tall, skittish (old, lazy) animals. And I did not freak out. Much.
No helmets to ruin the romance this time. Just ugly hats. And maybe the kids. :)
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