Enjoying the son

Because the sun has not shown much of itself.

We have actually had a few times of sunshine, but the moist or really wet times have been more frequent. It’s just like when we were in Prince Edward Island; there’s a reason why it is so green.

Nicholas was out of town the first few days we were here so that he could take a week off. We considered it a fair trade, and we did get some time with Lydia. We met up with her and went to a dog park so the dogs could check each other out. They had one good run and then it was too hot for Luna. All of them were mostly interested in drinking water so we went back to the apartment where they were all very calm. We didn’t stay long as we still had to set up camp at South Beach State Park in Newport. The ride in was long and winding but the scenery, especially coming over the bridge, was fantastic. The dogs love the beach. Luna especially thinks it is a big sandpile created just for her. Their only time off leash at the beach was on a cool evening and I didn’t think she would ever come… which she wouldn’t, but she finally got tired and hot enough that we caught her rolling around in the wet sand… not a good thing in a small camper with two people and two dogs on a queen size bed. But we long ago abandoned old standards of cleanliness. We also managed one hike through the woods by the beach to the jetty and a walk on a fishing pier on the bay before realizing that those paths belonged exclusively to the mosquitoes. We haven’t been able to cook or spend any significant time outdoors since our second day. This place reminds me of Canada in June. Not summer and bug city. But in such a beautiful abode. Our future trips will be in the spring and fall so we’ll have to deal with the condensation in our camper because we will be running the heat inside and the outside will be equivalent to our winters. But it will be where our children are, so worth whatever inconveniences we will experience.

Our restaurant experiences have been very flavorful if limited to outdoor patios where the three dogs can accompany us. We finally found a Thai restaurant where it was a little too spicy. In South Carolina, we always have to convince them that we really do want it extra spicy and sometimes have to convince them to bring the spices out for us to supplement. Both our meals, vegetables in peanut sauce for me and green curry for Kerry left our mouths burning…We even had to ask Lydia for some of her water. But on the second eating, (helpings were extremely generous) it was too much, having soaked for a day or so. Next time, we will order just plain spicy instead of extra spicy. It was Lydia’s birthday and Nicholas was still at work. Unfortunately, he came home early and just barely missed it so was sent back for his own dish.

Kerry and I have been binge watching Game of Thrones with Lydia and Nicholas as we did not have HBO before we left or obviously on the road, and they did not seem to mind a second viewing. Without spoilers, we just discovered the reason for Hodor’s speech. It was very moving. We probably won’t finish before we have to leave but it has been nice to share the experience with our beloveds.

There are boxers everywhere. This state park is definitely a two dog park, and we have run into many hikers carrying dog food and dogs as they walk the coast. That is true dog love. One our next door campers had a chocolate lab and a beautiful white and fawn boxer. There was also three boxers at the dog park on our second visit. However, Luna got two exuberant, and Kapu joined her in barking so that the owner got understandably worried and we had to leave. There have also been other boxers and part boxers here at the campground; and more larger dogs in general than you see in campgrounds we have been in.

Our best meal was the one fixed for us by Nicholas and Lydia’s friends, Michael Anne and Luke. Not only was it delicious, it had all the presentation and expensive wine to match. Michael Ann was worried about serving the red wine in a white wine glass, but I assured her that those subtleties were wasted on us. You have to spend a lot of time drinking really good wines to know the difference, and that would just be another glass to wash in my opinion. There was halibut with dungeness crab and crab legs on top of the halibut and the best scallops I’ve ever had. There were great vegetables, too, including asparagus, but I didn’t want to get too full to miss the dessert which included fresh blueberries and strawberries. What a wonderful treat, and from two people who have taken Nicholas and Lydia under their wing and been such good friends when we are so far away. They are older and actually have a son almost Nicholas’s age, but I love that that has not been a barrier to their friendship. I certainly treasure the people my children have introduced to me and cherish the time with them. I also think that Nicholas and Lydia are so wonderful in their own right that they have given as much as they have received.

Nicholas and Lydia  had a camping type wedding today. You know nothing really goes as planned when camping.  Lydia told me when we arrived that they wanted to get “legally” married while we were here. In deciding on a date that Nicholas might remember, today is the 16th and exactly six months after his birthday. Unfortunately, neither researched marriage laws in Oregon. It seemed that you couldn’t just go to the courthouse and do it. It varies from county to county and there is a 3 day waiting period. The waiting period could be solved with ten bucks but you had to find a clerk available to perform the service, which is not just any time. Anyway, they came down today to Newport (a different county from Corvallis) to get the license and planned to have the ceremony tomorrow. When they went there, the clerk said he could do it today…. the date was more important than our clothes or the white hand corsage that was in Corvallis so we left the dogs in a shaded car at the library and did it today. Kerry and I got to sign as witnesses, which was the whole point of doing it while we were here. It was a sweet little ceremony with a lot of laughter (beginning with the sappy hearts and love sign that they stood under) and continued when they had to figure out which left or right hand to be holding. Nicholas and Lydia had really already committed to one another so this was kind of a formality, but one they knew we would like to be present for. (They had decided to spend what money they had on a house instead of a wedding.) The three kisses at the end was my personal favorite part. I love Lydia and am happy to bring her in to my extended family in an official capacity. They are both good people.

So, this part of my trip is about enjoying my son. Soon we will be at part 2, enjoying my daughter.