Weekend with Taryn & Paul

Taryn & Paul are off to Montana today. It was so fun to see them. They got in on Thursday and we went to Rogue for some beers. I worked in the morning on Friday (Ken took off) and then we played frisbee golf in the afternoon. After that, we went to Sauvie Island (a little farming island about 15 minutes away from portland) and did pick your own strawberries at Kruger Farm. Together we picked about 20+ lbs. Insane. $1/lb. They have blueberry & other berry season starting in the next few weeks. I can't wait to go back. You can check out what's in season and when, here.

On friday night we grilled out in the backyard for dinner and then went out with paul's friends and drank too much tuaca. Saturday we nursed our hangovers in the morning, made strawberry jam and then drove an hour and a half to Cannon Beach and then to Oswald West State Park, where we camped that night (actually, for free since it was Oregon State Park Day!). It was the most beautiful site I've ever camped. Actually gives the Mogollon Rim, which I love, a run for it's money. Different type of beauty; just insane. They supply wheelbarrows to haul your stuff down to secluded spots right next to the beach in this private cove. Our site was totally private and surrounded by blueberry bushes and salmon berries. Surfers surfing. Fires on the beach with people grilling out, throwing the frisbee, and drinking beer. Everyone was our age too -- not the 20 year olds looking to party nor many families with young screaming children. Not even the RV folk with their generators and loud quads. Made a campfire and had reubens for dinner. Rained while we were sleeping and then the sun broke when we woke up. Perfect.

The next morning we got breakfast at a little cafe and drove back to Portland. Relaxed and made more jam (this time strawberry rhubarb) as well as some strawberry fruit leathers with the dehydrator. Took showers to rid the campfire smoke smell and then went for sushi, came home & went to sleep.

Ken and I worked Monday while T&P drove an hour down to Salem to visit one of paul's relatives. They got back around nine... just in time to see the new patio furniture we bought on craigslist -- 4 chairs and a table along with 2 rocking chairs and two side tables. Too bad it was a high of 62 yesterday -- not quite patio lounging weather, to say the least.





So now it's Tuesday and they're leaving for montana this morning after breakfast with some more of Paul's friends. They'll be heading out to the Columbia River Gorge for a little hiking and camping before continuing on to Missoula, which is somewhere between 8-12 hours from Portland (I'm not sure the distance). Then it's up to Glacier National park before they'll be back through sometime Tuesday-ish. Sounds like a fun trip. We're jealous.

It was so great to see them.