Reminiscing

On Mother's Day, Nancy and I (and Milo) packed up the car and began our 450-mile road trip to meet two of my sisters in Manzanita, Oregon for a week on the coast.  Curiously, a few days before the trip, the photo above popped up on my PC as Bing wallpaper.  Coincidence or not?  Anyway, the photo in the wallpaper shows Ecola State Park.  In the background can be seen famous Haystack Rock at Cannon Beach.  Cannon Beach is a small resort town eleven miles north of where we stayed in Manzanita.  We visited Cannon Beach a couple of times during our stay.

Ecola State Park looking north from Cannon Beach

Nancy and Milo in front of Haystack Rock
(a very windy day!)

When I was young, the Oregon Coast was a much-requested destination for a summer family vacation.  Mom especially loved the coast, and Cannon Beach was at the top of her list of places to visit.  With mom's passing in January, we figured it fitting to return to the place she treasured as we thought about her and her impact on our lives on Mother's Day.

Haystack Rock and Cannon Beach looking to the north.

I could tell many tales about those early adventures exploring Cannon Beach, Haystack Rock, and the always fascinating tidal pools from more than 50 years ago.  The place has changed quite a bit in those intervening years.  What was once a quiet town is now a bustling tourist magnet.  The magnificent Haystack Rock, however, remains the same.  Returning brought back many happy memories of my time as a young lad.

For now, a selection of photos from our latest adventure.

Manzanita Beach and Neakahnie Mountain.
View from our AirBnB.

Sunset over Manzanita Beach.

Dogs exploring (Milo in the middle).

Arcadia Beach

Back home, we enjoyed the flowering crabapples trees in full bloom before we left for the coast.  Blooms were a week or two early this year.

Although hobby time has been much constrained this month with travel and the arrival of house guests the next two weeks, perhaps some painted figures will roll out from the painting desk soon.  We will see.