ALASKA CRUISE - 2009

It was Marvin's 60th birthday so I took him on an Princess Cruise to Alaska.  We went with my cousin, Ruthie, and her husband, Jay.  It was a 7 day cruise through the Inland Pass.  We started off in Seattle and returned through Victoria, BC back to Seattle.  It was a great trip.  What I really liked, in comparison to other trips, is that you stay in one place!  Everything is on the ship - no moving to other hotels or finding a good restaurant.  It was all there.  

 

THE PUMPKIN PATCH

Yesterday I went with Miranda and Raeghan to a local Pumpkin Patch Festival at a local farm, EZ Orchards.  It was so much fun - the cutest petting zoo, pony rides (more like horse size), corn maze, live music, games and of course a HUGE pumpkin patch.  We also saw Gavin there with his other grandma, Melody, and her adopted daughter Ricky.  It was most fun watching Raeghan having a great time ...

L to R - Miranda and Raeghan

Gavin and Raeghan coming down the tube slide

Raegan wanting to venture out on the slide ...

I just love watching these little ones walk from behind ... so cute with the little jeans and sneakers ...

  Raeghan after a long afternoon with her little friend, Monkee.

PARD, MEGAN AND RAELYNN

Wednesday, September 28, 2011 at the Salem Hospital another granddaughter was born to the Bergevin family - Raelynn Elizabeth Bergevin.  Parents:  Pard and Megan. 

About a week before Raelynn was born ...

Raelynn Elizabeth Bergevin

Proud Grandma Kathy ...

THE OREGON AQUARIUM

It was Eli's birthday so we went to the Oregon Coast Aquarium located in Newport, Oregon.  Afterwards we went to my favorite restaurant - so far - on the coast called "Fishtails".  It's a mother, daughter and grandaughter that own, cook and run the restaurant.  Everything is homemade - even the fish is freshly caught each day by the son!!  GREAT FOOD.

At this one exhibit there is a bubble within a tank that you can get into and feel like you are inside with the fish!!

This was an actual jaw of a shark!!

I loved this guy ... who is watching who??

Raeghan was the cutest!!

DETROIT LAKE

Megan's family own a beautiful vacation home at Detroit Lake, located between Salem and Sisters, Oregon.  They invited us to spend a weekend with them and we just love it there.  Lots of hiking, cycling and a very cute town called Detroit!  Of course there is also a lot of boating, skiing and fishing on the lake as well.  I believe Megan was about 7 months pregnant with Raelynn about the time.

Gavin afloat ...

Megan and Raelynn getting some sun ...

Pard, Megan and Megan's dad, Mike

My toes ... this is about the extent I get into the water!!

This is the stairwell from the lake to the house ... quite the hike!!

LtoR ... Megan, Mary (Megan's mom), Pard and Mike



CAMPING AT FORT STEVENS

In July we went camping at Fort Stevens, up by Astoria, Oregon.  The old fort has a long history in Oregon dating back to the Civil War era.  This is also an area where Lewis and Clark made a stop as well.  It was added upon during WW1 and WW2 for protection on the upper coast.  Growing up in Oregon my family would often come here for our camping vacations.  Now I still love coming here - so many hiking/cycling trails, the beach and the camping area is just beautiful.  I also love Astoria - a very old, lovely town built on the hillside.  We went camping with our friends the Bakers.

View of Astoria.  Bridge crosses the Columbia River to Washington.

The Bakers - Larry and Chris.  There is this tower in Astoria that is located on top of the hill that Astoria is built upon,  After the long climb to get to the top, there is just a beautiful view of the ocean, the Columbia River, Astoria and East.  Just gorgeous.  At the gift shop you can purchase these really inexpensive cardboard-like airplanes that you take to the top of the tower and toss off to see how far your airplace can fly!  It is really fun and amazing how far some of these planes can go if the air current is just right.  Yes, I guess is does pollute in some ways, but unless the plane goes into the woods, people below are always picking up the planes they find and using them themselves - so there is a form of recycling!!  Besides, they are biodegradable !!

It's a bit windy at the top!!

The stairwell to the top of the tower

Fort Stevens will often have civil war re-enactments and they are quite popular.  This weekend, there was a small camp of people representing the Revolutionary War.  I just love it ... they demonstrate the type of rifles used, how they cooked, camped, and a little history.  Recognize the "Don't Tread On Me" flag???  This flag is often used as a symbol for the Project 912 organization today.  If you don't know what the 912 is then go to Project912.com and read more about it!! 

SMITH ROCK, BEND, OREGON 9-2011

In September we went camping - well, RV'ing near Sisters, Oregon with our friends Chris and Larry Baker.  We decided to camp at this RV resort instead of roughing it...well, as you can see we felt mighty small when those big RV's showed up!!   The camp trailer in the picture belongs to the Bakers - ours is not in this picture, but if it were between the RV and the Baker's camper you would probably see only the tip of our camper.  This RV was huge ... and there were many more of them at this resort.  The first day we were there Marvin and Larry went golfing.  While they were golfing Chris and I got on our bikes and had a great ride!!  I love it in this area of Oregon ... high desert and just gorgeous.  The next day we went to Smith Rock just outside of Redmond.  It is one of the most popular places for rock climbing in the country, and I think one of the most beautiful places in Oregon.  When looking at the pictures of the cliffs try to find all the climbers .. they were just all over the place.  What instill this need to do such things ...



This climber is that small speck on the upper left ...

Marvin is OK ... there is this area in Smith Rock where one can get equipment to help 'fallen' or injured climbers.  He was just trying out some of the equipment.

This is about the extent of Chris's climb ...

This climber was amazing to watch.

"Somewhere between the bottom of the climb and the summit is the answer to the mystery why we climb."    — Greg Child.