The Anniversary Trip???

This was supposed to be the trip of all trips.

We left on Monday, Nov. 29th after dropping Madeline off with Paul's parents and Cameron off at school. We headed to Coos Bay, OR, by way of HWY 1 and 101 which travels along the northern coast of California. If you ever have a chance to take this drive, you have to do it. It is the most beautiful drive, a very long drive, but so worth it.

Upon entering the Eureka area (very northern CA) we received a phone call from the owner of the cabin that we had rented in Coos Bay. Quaint little cabin right on the bluff, overlooking the ocean on clear days. The owners previous caretaker, who had been fired a year previously had decided to show up on the property while the cleaning lady was there prepping the cabin for us. In the process he decided to chase her around the property with an axe. She in turn, called 911 promptly, the sheriffs dept. showed up, proceeded to try to arrest him, only to have to taser him twice, which did not stop him. They do finally arrest him, only to have the DA release him until his arraignment. Here is the hitch in our trip. We now have nowhere to stay in Coos Bay and are over half way there. I, for one, was not going to take my chances staying in a cabin where, at any moment someone with an axe could be standing over me in my sleep. I know this story sounds so far fetched, but anything is possible. Especially when you are married to someone in law enforcement.

We decided to still head up to Coos Bay and search out for another place to stay. We ended up at the Mill Hotel and Casino, which was a very nice hotel. They took pity on us and gave us a really great rate.

We did a lot of sight seeing. The Oregon Coast is beautiful, cold this time of year, but beautiful. We went and drove along the sand dunes in a buggy, which I think Paul enjoyed more than me (he was driving and did a very good job of making me fear for my life). I wish I could have gotten pictures, but it was so wet and I did not want to ruin my new camera. We did some shopping. Ate at the most wonderful Italian place ever. Got some souvenirs for the kids. And spent some very much needed time away together, without having to worry about work and all the jobs of being parents. We did check in on our kids by the way, we aren't that terrible at being parents.

We did check on the cabin for the owners, and also to see if we would come back with the kids sometime. We might just do that, but only if the crazy loon of a caretaker is in jail.

On a side note, I now know how big of a place I have to live in to be happy. The Coos Bay area made me feel claustrophobic. I have to live in a place with at least 50,000 people, a very large mall and shopping centers (Wal-Mart does not count) within a 30 minute drive, and be close to the mountains for snow and beaches for fun in the sun, but not in CA. I have my work cut out for me.

Pictures to come.