When we first started going to Cannon Beach, we played in the water running in and out of the water as the waves licked their ankles. They chased seagulls and splashed around the tide pools.  As they grew older, we added skim boarding to our water play. They watched videos of tricks and worked on jumping on the moving board at the beach. Thinking the next year they would be better. A couple more years went by and we graduated to boogie boards. We found the best save play beach is at Ecola State Park, just a few miles from Cannon Beach. The surfers haul their gear, often times building small fires to warm up and setting up camp net to the cliffs. Donning wet suits, we brave the cold Pacific waters to ride the waves into shore. Over and over again, the waves crash over us as we wait for the perfect one. As soon as we feel that lift, we paddle like crazy with our feet to keep that momentum going. After a few minutes, our legs become numb to the cold and we feel as if we could stay hours in there but our strength is zapped and 20 minutes or so is all we can last, even with wet suits. Once out it is so difficult to get back into the water and yet we do. We repeat that cycle until our stomachs tell us it's time for real food and dinner. We gather our belongings and make our sandy way back to the van, dragging more sand with us that could fill a bucket. We laugh and talk and plan for this next year.  Wondering about better wet suits and more boards.

So this year Isaac has gotten into pickle ball. He has played with a couple of friends and has John playing it as well.  He has pulled Job and his friends into it. This has become the thing to do. So before leaving for vacation, Isaac purchased a portable pickle ball net so that he could use the tennis courts by the conference center. Every afternoon and evening, Isaac set up the net, hauled out his rackets, and got a game going. In fact, other guests started asking us if there would be a game later. They played until it was dark. They quickly learned where the lights were so they could continue to play until late in the night.

Smash ball is the perfect beach game. It's light weight, portable and easy to set up. We were introduced to this game at various church events. We hauled this contraption down to Crescent Beach so we could play in the sand. Teams were quickly chosen, four being a good number. Me, not being quite coordinated enough to join happily watched and laughed, cheering my family on as they jumped, dove and slammed the ball into the net. The sand added another dimension to the game and there was much banter as the ball would sail towards opponents and teammates alike.  After a few rounds, and different teams, it was time to cool off in the ocean before playing again.

Two vans, not quite alike but together.  A symbol of friendship that spans the years cementing kids and parents together as we walk through difficulties and celebrations. Sometimes paths don't run parallel anymore but the core is still there. These vans also show an end of a season as kids grow and move.

The small two lane street at the north end of town ends at a dead end but before that there is a right turn that leads to Ecola State Park. This road quickly becomes barely wide enough for one car. It quickly leaves town and winds through a typical Pacific Northwest Forest with towering trees, lush ferns and under brush and teasingly points of the ocean peaking through the branches every now and then. The speed limit is slow due to the pot holes and curves and bends the road takes around the hills to the end point where you are spit out into a long slim parking lot at the top of a hill overlooking the ocean. We come here to this beach every year and the key is to show up early, make the trek so as to find a parking spot. Once parked, we empty the back of the van, grass mats, towels, wet suits, food, boogie boards, skim boards, cameras, tripods, frisbees, soccer balls, smash ball and more. We load it up on our backs and arms and make the short little walk down to the beach which google has tagged "intimate ocean hangout with tide pools".  It isn't very intimate as every surfer and their dog is down there. Fires are built all along this sandy beach so surfers and boogie boarders can warm up after being in the frigid waters trying to catch waves.  The south end offers rocky tide pools and a view of Tillamock Rock Lighthouse. While the others are busy at our staked out bit of beach, two of us set off for the south end where the hills come down to dip into the water. We scamper over rocks, peaking beneath the water at the life that wasn't pulled back to the ocean, chatting about nothing and everything in general. I cajole this man cub into taking photos and wonder what adventures and life lessons he will encounter this upcoming year. 

Ever since John bought me this car I have wanted to take it with us to Cannon Beach. I imagine driving down the coast stopping at cute coffee shops and bakeries, lounging on the beach, or going on small hikes overlooking the ocean. This year, John and Lona drove down in the convertible just so that Lona could make it to the Corgi Festival on the beach. Which meant that I took the van and the boys the next day with me. And my car made the first leg of the trip to Cannon Beach. Early one morning John and I decided to drive over to Girabaldi and Mantazama just down the coast a bit from Cannon Beach.  We rolled the top down, grabbed a cup of coffee for the road and started driving. There was no time limit, no agenda, nothing pressing us which allowed us to explore various overlooks, bakeries, and beach access points. We slowly made our way down the coast from Cannon Beach to Girabaldi taking in all the sights. At Girabaldi, I made John pull over so I could photograph the historic Coast Guard Station. Then I found the station's Facebook page and made contact. I was hoping to schedule a tour and maybe ask some questions about life in the Coast Guard but it just didn't work out.  In my mind I half hoped that Job would be stationed here.  It isn't too far away from Bellingham but far enough that I wouldn't crowd him.  We will have to see.