Checking in from the Windy Oregon Coast

Here I am checking in from the Southern Oregon Coast. Im seated at a high table at a tiny little bustling coffee shop in old town Bandon. I've been out twice going through the shops and I still haven't even made it to half of them! So many adorable shops; so little time.

Mr Darling and Edward are back at the house with the kids. Wendy and my brother, Ben, are out on the mouth of the river where it dumps into the ocean. Their mission is to collect 12 crab each in the cages they have dropped into the ocean. Yes, we plan on dining on crab tonight. We can see them in the boat from the windows of the house we are renting. The water carries the sound and it wasnt hard to hear Wendy shout when she pulled up the first crab pot and found a crab caught in it! Im sitting here waiting for the call that they are loaded up and ready to take the haul to the docks. I want to be down at the dock when they come in to get pics. We are going to have the crabs cooked and cleaned right out there so we dont have to bring that smell and mess into the house. I figure if the people out here are all set up to clean and cook them then why should I?

My brother, Ben, and his family are staying in the campground right across the river from us. Last night we went over there and spent some time around their campfire, making smores and chatting. Ben can pull up right behind our house with his boat and never have to go on the road to get between the camp and where we are. It's pretty cool to use the river for transportation. It feels a little like going back in time.

This afternoon we are going to go up to Charlestown and tour the Lake Shore Gardens. I cannot wait. I suppose it comes as no surprise that touring these gardens would be high on my priority list!

Tomorrow we are going to drive an hour down the coast to the Rogue River. There we are going to do something that is very low on my list. We're going to go 104 miles up the Rogue River on jet boats! That is scary stuff! Those things are flat raft like boats that seat 10 to 12 people across and I dont know how many people in all but enough to be frightening! Spray from the white rapids sprays up over everything and you do the entire ride with your butt wet from the water on the bench you're sitting on. I cant swim a stroke but I have done it twice before in my life and lived through it so I spose I will this time too. It's an all day ride!

Well I'll be! Here come the crabbers into the coffee shop. Ben and Wendy just walked in, having pulled up the boat out here at the dock. They're stopping for a coffee break before going back out. I hope no one steals the crab out there in the boat! Ben thinks I'm ridiculous for worrying about it but you never know about people these days!

Well Im going to stop and enjoy a hot ham and cheese bagel with the two of them. Bens all antsy to scarf down his food and get out there. He informed me just now that he can just see a huge crab hovering at the edge of the net and if he dont hurry back out the crab will crawl away and his luck will be that it was the catch of the day and he lost it! Silly boy!

My parents arrive from Idaho some time today. They have a campsite beside Ben in the campground. They're going to go up the Rogue with us tomorrow and then leave on Wednesday.

I uppose I dont need to tell you that Im thoroughly enjoying this vacation. Im worrying about the heat back home. They are saying temps are in the 90's again this week. Its not good for a gardener to be gone when things are that hot but what can I do? On the other hand its nice being here because out here at the coast the temperature hovers in the cool 60's. We wear coats and sweatshirts everywhere.

Okay, I gotta go up to the campground and pick up Ben's wife and kids and bring them to the house. On the way back Im going to stop at a Pharmacy and get some suppositories for my dear little Tiger Lily who is so constipated all she can do is lie around and cry cause her tummy hurts!

I'll come back to the coffee shop probably Wednesday morning and update you all.