Excursions

Finally time to start work, augh!  The first week was spent in orientation, so not bad, but I'm not a desk job type person, so it was rough sitting for 8 hours a day.  While I was occupied, the boys kept themselves busy.  Jason and the boys have scouted out all the nearest skate parks, some are definitely better than others, but it means the boys are learning the evolution of skate parks here in Oregon (see, learning opportunities!).  Andre spotted a bald eagle while hiking in/around Lincoln City with Uncle Dan, he was so excited.  While it was rainy, drizzly at the coast, here in Salem it was blue skies.  We came to these neck of the woods to experience the beautiful summer weather.  So far we have run the gamut of weather; rainy, hot and humid, windy.  Thank goodness for a pool here at the resort!  The weather has been HOT lately.  The boys are swimming daily.  Well, I don't know how much swimming, more like horse-playing.  We have been keeping our eyes out for any events going on in the area, or surrounding areas.  We have taken in the World Festival in Salem in which many nationalities/cultures were on display.  Jason was there for the food!  It was really interesting, but also HOT (have I said that already?).  It was off to Corvallis afterward, to maybe float the river.  Well, the float didn't happen, but we did happen upon a few breweries. (yay for us!).  The boys are liking the ginger ales or rootbeers that are also produced by the breweries.  We then decided to explore a little bit of Portland, taking in Voodoo donuts, Saturday market, and numerous breweries.  There will be many more trips to Portland in our future!  I'm on a diet, eat really good, so I can drink my calories at the breweries.  We are going to up our activities so we can keep enjoying the varieties of beers that are around.

Enjoying Voodoo donuts

It was really nice to experience a true Main Street parade in "middle-America", aka Independence, OR on the Fourth of July.  The street route was lined with chairs.  The boys sat on the curb to catch candy that was thrown their way.  Jason and I found a wine bar/brew bar and had a pint while watching the parade from inside (fans!).  We have decided this was the best of both worlds, the boys had fun and we were comfortable.  We caught a great fireworks display from atop our COW.  Birds-eye view!
A spur of the moment plan had us traveling to Bend, OR, about 2 hours away over the Cascades, for the weekend.  We arrived to find that it was event night!  Woohoo!  Most of the downtown businesses stayed open late and were having music, food, drinks all around.  Deschutes brewery had us following their alley music.  After much walking and taking in the downtown area, we were entranced.  Bend seemed to be a mix of Mammoth Mtn and San Luis Obispo.  The whole town is geared toward outdoor enthusiasts and is very dog-friendly, which made Elwood happy!  Determined to take in as much as we could, we headed out the next morning to the Lava Beds, hiking around a cinder cone volcano, taking in falls created by the lava rocks in the Deschutes river, and walking over the lava beds.  We also went to the Lava tunnel that extended almost a mile, in a dark, cold, drippy environment.  Next we floated down the river into town.  The water was COLD!  It looked like everyone was out there on the river.  Our day wasn't complete without taking in another pint (or two) from another brewery.  Before leaving Bend, we traveled to Mt. Bachelor ski area, and visited one of the many Cascade lakes in the area.  Mt. Bachelor is 14 miles from Bend, and the only way back to the highway is going back through Bend.  On the way we happened upon Deschutes brewery.  We didn't stay for a tour, but did take some free samples :).

Alex on top of a 150 ft crater

Andre feeling muscular by picking up a lava rock

Squirrels???

Mt. Bachelor (left) and 3 Sisters (right)

Andre seeing his breath by flashlight in the lava tube

We have many plans on our agenda, in between working.  Tillamook cheese factory, the Oregon Coast, the Rogue River, Mt. Hood and if we get a chunk of time, Seattle and Vancouver.  Don't know if we will get to all of it, but we will do our best!

We have signed the boys up for "summer camp" for a couple of weeks during the summer, at the local community center/water park.  They should have a blast and it will give Jason a much needed break.  Their first camp starts tomorrow and they will be swimming, playing sports, learning to tie knots, enduring a climbing wall and playing with kids!  We are ALL looking forward to it!