Return to Tillamook Cheese Factory

I’ve learned that I should have told my Mom and Dad that I love and appreciated them more often than I did!

Michael and Justin showed up as planned early Thursday.  We could have taken them down to Jetty Fishery to do a little crabbing.  However, it was very foggy and very drizzly.  Obviously it wouldn’t have been a fun day to be out on the dock.

Remember the cheese line from the other day?

Even though we had taken Justin and Jordan to Tillamook Cheese Factory last week, it had been many years since Michael had been there.  However, once inside he adapted rather nicely to the line of free cheese samples, free fudge samples and the ice cream cone.  Isn’t it amazing how things like this don’t take much direction or training?

Jordan, Sandi, Michael and Justin

Was it 2004 that Michael was here last?  Well, I was certainly pretty brave when I decided to hop on a plane in Texas and take a vacation with all four of the grandkids on the Oregon coast.  It was just me and them.  I was definitely outnumbered. Most grandparents I know will take one or two at a time.  Not me.  I had to jump in with both feet and take all four of them.  How did it go?  Marvelous … we had a great time.  The Tillamook Cheese Factory was just one of the places we visited on our trip to the Pacific Northwest seven years ago. 

Sandi, Jordan, Justin and Michael

In addition to beach time, we also spent time at Multnomah Falls and visited several of the waterfalls along the Old Columbia River highway.

Michael, Justin, Jordan and Sandi  --  This was before the hike to the top of the falls.  You should have seen them afterwards!

Actually, I’ve visited these waterfalls many times and taken hundreds of pictures of them.  This year will be no different.  I just haven’t been there yet but I do have plans to return.  Just like I have plans to do another whale watching tour in the San Juan Islands.  I have lots of plans for this summer.  However, I’d like to slow time down a bit.  I have a lot I want to do and not a lot of summer left!

Now that I’ve shown pictures of my grandkids … on to the rest of the day.  It included another stop at the wharf in Garibaldi.  This time I did get to try the clam chowder at Fisherman’s Corner.  And, as usual, Terry had his normal oyster stew. It just seems that one little bowl of chowder can be made so many different ways.  Sometimes it’s absolutely fantastic and other times not so much.  This was not so much. I’m anxious to go back to Pudgy’s in Seaside for their killer chowder. It’s way past time I had another bowl of great chowder!

Tomorrow we're going to pull out those crabbing rings and try our luck again.  My mouth is already watering for some more crab.