we made it to Tillamook. we were worried about finding a campground, all the ones on the beach were full. we found a nice one but no scenic spot this time. we stopped in the Tillamook factory to get some cheese and taste what samples they had out. that cheese is so good. not the best, but close to it. we got some good cheese in Sonoma also. no one was working in the factory since it was a holiday. we bought some medium cheddar for the trip.
we drove around town and found a goodwill. after buying a few things we headed for the beach. we heard the fireworks at rockaway beach were the best on the Oregon coast. we got a good spot right by the jetty. we were surprised there weren’t very many people. but it was early. it was fun watching the people with their kids and dogs, flying kites. little kids have so much fun in the sand. dogs have so much fun fetching sticks in the water. it was a good day.
I watched these boys at the end of the jetty, with the binoculars, dig the biggest hole. the were pointing and looking at the waters progress up to the hole. they were on a mission. the tallest boy seemed to be the leader. he had the biggest shovel but never used it.
I took a nap and when I got up they were gone and there was no big hole?????
one of the neater kites
I liked this pictue
it got later and darker but still not a lot of people
the planned fireworks didn’t start until ten o’clock. but fireworks are legal here, so everyone on the beach were doing their own. that was fun to watch kids with their sparklers. it brought back a lot of memories. remember cousins, all the fun we had at grandmas house. and then when our kids were little, you could do that on the beach in long beach. I remember stepping on those sparkler wires getting back to the car. I forget what year they banned fireworks.
as it turned out we found out why this beach was not crowded. we were at the wrong end. but…we could see them from where we were. just not so good. and we had watched big and little fireworks for an hour already. my camera has a fireworks setting that doesn’t work, so i used the sudden movement setting and got these pictures.
the ball looking things in the background are the real fireworks going off. we kept wondering when were going to see those here. but we did have some good ones. i just couldn’t capture them. but you’ve all seen fireworks anyway.
it was a good day.
stay tuned for another one.
(and remember i reply to all your comments)
Once in awhile-now and again-this is us 
That rock looks like it’s part of the seagull. Cool. We watched the fireworks over Lake Mission Viejo – 23 minutes of non-stop near-Disney-caliber awesomeness.
I liked the seagulls picture too. Pretty canny try at the fireworks. I don’t think a day at the beach would float Ray’s boat, but your pictures of it are lively and engaging.
Ray spoke at church today as the minister went on vacation. Might be the one time he would have preferred being on the beach!! He did really well.
Keep up the good work. I feel so connected to you through this blog and you’re building a record of the trips of a lifetime.
It sounded like a war zone until after midnight at my house as everyone had their own fireworks in my neighborhood. I was sick with stomach flu and Tootsie was nervous. So good to hear you had a great day at the beach. It just sounds so peaceful and carefree. That feeling is catching when I read your blogs. Ahh….. Loves ya, Sharon. Oh, I do remember the sparklers at Grandma’s house. Good memories.
I spent the 4th mowing both yards! And then a quite night at home . . . well, not so quiet as the noise of the fireworks seem to go on for hours. Hope those boys didn’t fall in their own hole – maybe they made it to China!
Thanks Jill, i love the Oregon coast. I think the boys are under the sand now.
You should have went out and looked.
thanks for all your comments. we are at a mcdonalds now in port angeles. had to stop and check messages. we’re going into Olympic national park for the night. no wifi at np.