Rockaway Beach 2020

Whew!  This lovely trip,  planned after Bar Harbor got cancelled in late June, happened without a glitch!  Not that I was worried or anything, but I was not sure my heart could take another family trip cancellation!  We rented an old boardinghouse - lots of bedrooms with half baths, some updates, and awesome views of the ocean and sky.  The old house could've used a bit more TLC, but we found the place clean and the beds comfortable.  Windows without screens could be left open for refreshing ocean breezes, morning and night.  Because of the pandemic we brought our own food and wore masks while shopping in antique and candy stores.  And, Colin, earned over 25 hours of practice driving, preparing him to get his license in November.  

 Bradleigh surprised each of us with a gift bag filled with a special T-Shirt, water cup, and favorite candies!

We were happy to have the Tie-Dye project on our first rainy day.  Messy, but fun!

Grandma loved her new shirt!

On the rainy day we spent time perusing local antique stores for Anne's new Fiesta Ware!

Family photo

O'Shaughnessy Family

Favorite activity - morning walks on the beach

More favorite activities - afternoon kite flying and evening fires on the sand!

One day we found a lovely hike through the Old Growth Cedar Preserve right in downtown Rockaway Beach.  Store owners told us a tourist tax provided the funding for the 1/4 mile boardwalk to the old growth cedar tree.  

This photo re-creates others taken in 2012 and 2015, but they are not in my photo stream!

The O'Shaughnessy's drove to Cannon Beach one day and took these lovely photos from the viewpoint above the Manzanita beach.  

Monday we all boarded a bike rail ride, led by teenager, Emma, from Oyster Bay to Tillamook

Karen and I could barely contain ourselves as we noticed these huge blackberries all along the tracks.

       

We hurried over to Nedonna Beach for final family photos sitting enjoying the driftwood!

Thank you, Duane, for amazing patience setting up the tripod and encouraging us to get closer...

Karen and Bradleigh as the sun goes down!

We also enjoyed playing games - Phase 10, Trivial Pursuit, Liar!  Jake showed us how he'd learned to shuffle cards and we sent this little video to Dan and Marilyn.

There are many glorious photos...of the sky, of the waves, of the kids and activities.  None of them capture the feelings of joy, love, and peace that I felt while there.  More so this year than any other time because of COVID and the Pandemic.  I'm grateful for the special family time!  Sad that the fishing trip got cancelled, but impressed that everyone managed their disappointment and made the best of the day.  

And thank you, Austen, for learning something new from my family, you are a welcome addition!