With very few (read zero) local happenings this fourth of July and a long weekend at our disposal, Kevin and I decided to find a new surf spot on the Oregon Coast. Last summer, Matty took us around the North Oregon Coast so we decided to go a little farther south to the Central Oregon Coast, staying in Otter Rock (between Lincoln City and Newport). We left 80 degree Seattle and headed south. It got hotter and hotter as we went; until about a mile away from the coast when my heart sunk. And then I started to swear.  A lot.  WTF?!  We left perfect, beautiful Seattle weather to come to stupid marine layer Oregon coast? What were we thinking? It was (un)Belize(able) all over again. Fortunately it wasn’t rainy, just cloudy and the sun came out to play periodically.

The goal of the trip was to find a new surf spot. That we did! Matty joined us on Saturday and took us to Agate Beach. The first hour we were there was so perfect and so much fun. Wave after wave, pop up and then back out to do it again. After awhile the wind got REALLY BAD, still surfable, but when we were on the beach, it was super hard to walk into the wind (which of course was where all of our stuff was). At the end of the day it was an AWESOME surf spot and we were so happy Matty could come all the way down from Portland to visit with us for the day. We celebrated our good waves at the Rogue Brewery with a round of Kobe Burgers. Yum!

For the night, we planned to come back into Newport because their fireworks are touted to be the best in Oregon.  We had an extra fun bonus because on Friday we got to see the fireworks in Depoe Bay.  Two nights of magic – yay!  The Depoe Bay ones were fun because it felt like Gasworks.  Friends and family all gathered on the grassy knoll.  Kids were running around, people counting down for the show – it felt like the 4th.  The Newport ones turned out to be an amazing show.  For awhile, we weren’t sure we would see anything.  There was such thick fog in the bay it was rumored they would have to postpone the show.  We had found a fun restaurant to get dessert and drinks at while we sat on their deck.  Although cold, we were content to stick it out until there was some sort of official cancellation.  Thirty minutes later, the best fireworks show in Oregon began.  Seeing two shows, it appears firework people have gotten away from the happy faces and peace signs.  I appreciate that as I enjoy the ones that sparkle as they trickle down and the huge ones that light up the sky.

Sunday, we had planned to surf again but the waves weren’t that hot so we decided to drive down to Florence, Oregon where all of the sand dunes are.  We stopped at Mo’s for lunch. Mo’s is pretty much in all of the major cities up and down the Oregon Coast and is known for their chowder.  When in Rome…right? WRONG!  Mo, I’m sorry, you’re a cute old lady and all but you ain’t got nothin’ on Ivar Haglund.  The chowder was edible, the restaurant very kitchy, but overall was over-rated.  Oh well.  After lunch we hit the slopes…of sand!

We rented boards and went to Honeyman State Park, where the “locals” go.  Kevin sandboarded. It’s just like snowboarding but, obviously, in sand.  Despite the guy telling us the sand is much softer than snow (turns out he was right – it didn’t hurt at all) I sandsledded (that’s not an official term) because, well, pretty much I’m a big weeny.  There are two bad circumstances that come with sandsledding.   The first is the massive amount of sand you get in every part of your body, in your pockets and up your nose.  I learned very quickly to “scream” with my mouth closed because sand does not taste good.  The second is there are no lifts to take you to the top of the hill.  You have to walk.  Walking uphill, in sand, is really hard!  Despite my unwanted body exfoliation, we had a ton of fun.  I’m glad we took the day to try out something different and new.

Our last day we had big plans to drive an hour north, surf in Pacific City, then hit the Tillamook Creamery (which we’d never been to!) and make our way home.  Those plans changed right off the bat when the surf was garbage in Pacific City.  We were sad but it just put us on schedule to hit Tillamook at lunchtime – which meant grilled cheese AND ice creams for lunch!  Holy smokes, it was like the lactose version of Disneyland.  A ton of strollers, parents chasing kids that were running around with ice cream dripping off their faces, old ladies analyzing the assembly line workers.  It was madness!  And I just wasn’t expecting it.  I had pictured us meandering through the ice creams deciding what to order, snacking on cheese samples as we decided.  NOPE.  We didn’t bother to wait in the cheese sample line and my ice creams order was rushed – but still delicious!  You should definitely check out their 100th Anniversary, Sweet Centennial flavor. 

With full belly’s we decided to continue on the PCH to check out the Indian Beach surf and stop in Seaside (since neither of us had been).  We lucked out and surfed about an hour at Indian Beach (near Cannon Beach).  My hands got so cold they felt like they were going to fall off and the Tillamook baby belly I had was not loving the only ok surf – so I didn’t last too long.  Fun Fact: Indian Beach is where they filmed the final scene in Point Break!  We continued on to Seaside, which was cute.  We didn’t stay long, just walked a bit of the promenade and the main drag of shops.  It was really crowded there, I was getting tired and therefore too easily irritated.  The rest of our drive home felt like it took forEeever.  The Oregon coast is so beautiful and such a fun drive, but man, it makes for a long day.  We were super exhausted by the time we got home but we were so happy with our weekend.  Our quest to find the perfect surf spot continues!  Next stop, Neah Bay!