I know I’ve already mentioned the fact that the roads around here are not on a grid system. Let me add to that the fact that because the land is not one big flat desert, the roads wind up, down, and all around as they work their way over mountains and hills and up the coast. There is only so much you can do to make the road straight when it is climbing a mountain or following the coastline. It’s not like you can straighten out the edge of the Pacific to make your road more linear. Having said that, just know that Malia and I will be rocking the Dramamine for the remainder of our travels so that we aren’t car sick the entire time. This is one of those times when I feel like the boys all lucked out as they seem to have avoided the motion sickness gene. Seriously, I’m not sure they realized just how lucky they are. They get to actually view the scenery as we drive by while even with the Dramamine, I have to keep my eyes on the road so I don’t end up queasy. Oh, well. Such is my life.
With that preface in place, we left Albany this morning and headed to the coast. Our first stop was in Tillamook which we were all super excited about. We are kind of cheese snobs over here, preferring Tillamook to the other brands. The Tillamook is just more flavorful, creamier and melts more smoothly than many other brands, particularly the cheaper ones. And we all give high marks to the Tillamook yogurt and sour cream. The ice cream is also delicious, although we don’t purchase it often since it isn’t safe for Malia. Even Matthew, who can’t eat any of those things, was excited about stopping to tour the Tillamook factory. He was there in April with the high school band but was out of money by then and he has been looking forward to buying a Tillamook t-shirt.
Ok. Now we need to talk a bit about being a food allergy mom. It is an all-day everyday kind of a thing. And being away from home is an increased challenge because the world at large is one giant allergen. So, I have to admit that walking into a cheese factory with a son who is allergic to milk was kind of a stressful experience. I honestly had to stop for a minute and remind myself not to panic. As I was fighting with the overwhelming need to tell Matthew not to touch anything and to hold his breath while he was at it so he didn’t accidentally breathe in any milk particles, Matthew could see my anxiety and reminded me that he was not a first timer, and he was just fine. I knew that of course, but the rational mind sometimes has a difficult time overcoming the mama bear gene.
Once I had my mini panic attack under control, we made our way through the self-guided tour that shows how cheese is made in the factory. It was pretty interesting to see how mechanization has made cheese making in the modern world very fast and incredibly efficient. It only takes a few hours to actually make the cheese although the aging process takes much longer. And the amount of cheese that can be made in a day is impressive. Like I said, it was pretty interesting. And the free cheese samples at the end of the tour were tasty. I tried some sharp white cheddar and I have a feeling that sharp white will be making its way into my shopping cart on a fairly regular basis. We ate lunch in the Tillamook café where cheese of assorted varieties was on the menu and finished our visit with some delightful ice cream. Of the flavors we sampled, the white chocolate raspberry was my favorite. Once we get home, it might just become one of my occasional guilty pleasures. While neither Matthew nor Malia could safely eat fare offered at the factory, we did promise them some allergen safe ice cream once we arrived at our next rental house as well as some yummy dinner choices-homemade mac and cheese featuring a goodly amount of Tillamook cheese for Malia and potstickers for Matthew, one of his favorites.
Once we left Tillamook, it was not long before we reached the coast. And while Malia and I pretty much had to keep our eyes on the road, the boys enjoyed the amazing views, and we made a variety of stops so we could all enjoy the grandeur of the Pacific Ocean. We stopped to see Haystack Rock at Cannon Beach, but honestly, there were so many people there that we really only stopped for a couple of minutes so we could say that we did and then kept on rolling.
But those tantalizing glimpses of the beach had my crew super excited. And once we arrived at our temporary abode, they were even more jazzed up. You see, we selected a condo that not only had the number of beds and other amenities we need, but an absolutely fantastic view. In fact, there is only a small stretch of trees between the condos and the beach, and we are on the third floor so the view is uninhibited. Once we arrived, the first thing the kids wanted to do was head out to the beach. So we dumped all our stuff, ate dinner, and headed out to the water.
Because I visited the beach often when I was a tiny child, sometimes I forget that my kids have grown up in a land locked state and have only really seen the ocean once or twice before. For most of them that was at Rialto Beach (which is a rock beach, not a sandy one) in the pouring rain during our Seattle trip some years ago. Matthew was also at Cannon Beach in April, but it was freezing cold and raining like crazy when he was there, so the experience was much the same. So, while they have seen the ocean, none of them have had the opportunity to walk barefoot in the sand and play in the surf. It was not raining today and while it was chilly, it wasn’t downright freezing, so it seemed like an ideal time to give them a chance to experience something brand new.
As a parent, one of my joys has been seeing my children experience new and exciting things. You might think that all my boys are too old to be carefree and playful, but you would be wrong there. All four of my children were absolutely giddy. Their faces were beaming, and it reminded me that we are never too old to find joy in the wonders of nature and the amazing experiences that life has to offer. As I watched them wade into the waves and discover how the sand shifts with the water, my mama bear actually had to call them back and give them a spur of the moment crash course in “the ocean is a huge and powerful force, here some guidelines, don’t be stupid.” It might seem like a topic we should have discussed long ago but remember that these are landlubbers and there has just never been a need. We have had talks about earthquakes and wildfires and mountains and deserts and all that, but the ocean is just not a big enough presence in our lives to have made me think to talk to them about sea safety. But they are quick learners and smart to start off with, so they were all just fine and gave the appropriate amount of respect to the water while still enjoying their experience. At some point I need to get these kids of mine to a beach where it is warm enough for them to actually swim in the water. Because that is another indescribable experience.
As the daylight faded, my crew returned to the condo and took advantage of the amazing view from the balcony of our condo while the sun set. It was overcast so the sunset itself was not the most glorious we’ve seen, nevertheless, it was exactly what a summer evening on vacation should be-relaxing, peaceful, calm. Great end to a day of driving.
