Wednesday, August 24, 2011
A Tale of Two Beaches
Lori and I both love the beach. However, the beach we are in love with looks a little different. This is very probably very much a product of where we grew up. Lori is a Southern California girl. For her the beach is sun, and surf, and sun. The beach is a place to go to lay out in the rays of the wark sun, to play in the waves, and perhaps to walk around a festive boardwalk.
I, however, grew up largely in the Pacific Northwest. For me the beach meant the Oregon Coast. It was scenic, and contemplative, and largely rugged. For a few summer months it could be sunny and useful for ocean sports that might be familiar to those from California or a similar climate, but even in July and August the weather could be pretty much a coin flip. While I always enjoyed the Oregon Coast it looks and feels very different from a California beach.
And I'm just guessing, but I'm pretty sure I would feel at home near the Ocean in Maine or Ireland or somewhere else grey and misty, and green beneath the salty air. Lori, however, would probably resonate more with the Florida Keys or Tahiti or some Greek Isle. I'm certain there are places where our notion of what the Ocean and beach should be do overlap--places like Kauai where there are daily rains and the mists hang in the rugged mountains overlooking a warm sandy beach with people playing in the surf.
Tuesday, August 23, 2011
Summer Vacations in Pictures: Disneyland
After we arrived in Anaheim we gave the grandparents some time to themselves and managed to hook up with some family friends, the Ploogs. We met together at Ruben and Beth's house which wasn't too far from the hotel. All of them were there, except John and Marilyn, the family patriarchs. It was a good evening with barbecued hamburgers, socializing, and oh, so many kids. The boys had a blast sword fighting, playing Star Wars, and who knows what else while the adults had a chance for real conversation with the kids busy distracting one another.
The next morning, though brought about the main attraction: Disneyland.
And that brought our Summer vacations to an end. Although we might have liked them to keep on going we could hardly complain after all the good times we were able to share together this year.
Monday, August 22, 2011
Summer Vacations in Pictures: Beach Camping
After a few weeks at home, the second leg of the summer vacation series began. It can be seen here on Lori's blog.
Lori and the boys left a week ahead of me, traveling to San Diego. After a couple quick days at
the grandparents, Lori, her parents and the boys headed out for a week of beach camping. I flew in a week after the rest of my family had left, but not before the boys had enjoyed a trip to Sea World, the San Diego Zoo, and many afternoons in the Sun at the beach.
Let's just say they boys love the beach. While Matthew is more content to play in the sand and get his feet wet, Garrett attacks the waves with abandon. I'm sure if we lived near the ocean I would barely know my son. He'd spend all day, every day trying to catch the perfect wave. For now he's content to attempt to learn how to boogeyboard and to persuade his grandpa to take him in a tube (with lifejacket) out on the waves.
Of course there was all kinds of fun to be had. Lori's brother and sister and law joined us at the campground for the same days I was there. My own sister and her brood came by for a day and delighted the boys with extra attention and the catching of small ocean crabs. We played (sort of) football and frisbee and generally ran about having a good time.
Lori and the boys left a week ahead of me, traveling to San Diego. After a couple quick days at
the grandparents, Lori, her parents and the boys headed out for a week of beach camping. I flew in a week after the rest of my family had left, but not before the boys had enjoyed a trip to Sea World, the San Diego Zoo, and many afternoons in the Sun at the beach.
Saturday, August 20, 2011
Friday, August 19, 2011
Summer Vacations in Pictures: Part Two, Oregon
Really though, the trip was about family and spending time with my parents, sisters, brothers in law and all their children.
Thursday, August 18, 2011
Summer Vacations in Pictures: Part One, Tahoe
This is the first leg of a four part series documenting our summer vacations, mostly in pictorial form. We had two summer vacations. The first was a nearly two week excursion that went from Utah to Lake Tahoe, to Oregon and back home to Utah again. The second was trip to Southern California consisting of beach camping and Disneyland.
Today we are looking at part one of the first vacation. Tahoe. I'm not going to remotely attempt to sum up the trip with words. That is more adequately done here on my wife's blog. Here are just some more pics with a few linking comments.
Following Sunday services we packed in the Santa Fe and travled out to our campsite at D.L Bliss in Tahoe. We arrived late, set up the tent in the dark and then spent most of a week enjoying what the lake had to offer. Halfway through this time we moved to another campground (per previous reservation) in Tahoe City. It was a perfect setting to enjoy time together in God's creation. You can see some of the beauty captured in this early AM photo taken by my wife our first morning at the lake.
We spent the 4th at the Lake observing fireworks from the distant South Shore. They were spectacular even as far away as we were. Earlier in the day Garrett made a couple friends from a nearby site. They spent time playing, waving flags and eating smores.
Part of the fun of camping is getting away from it all. Its amazing how much wonder can be found in a campground stump when it is not competing with television or handheld video games.
One of the highlights of our trip was Sand Harbor. It's probably our favorite beach at the lake. Sure, the day use fee is excessive put there is crawdadding amidst giant boulders . . .
And there is jumping off those giant boulders into the cold blue waters . . .
Garrett also enjoyed this facet . . .
Today we are looking at part one of the first vacation. Tahoe. I'm not going to remotely attempt to sum up the trip with words. That is more adequately done here on my wife's blog. Here are just some more pics with a few linking comments.
Following Sunday services we packed in the Santa Fe and travled out to our campsite at D.L Bliss in Tahoe. We arrived late, set up the tent in the dark and then spent most of a week enjoying what the lake had to offer. Halfway through this time we moved to another campground (per previous reservation) in Tahoe City. It was a perfect setting to enjoy time together in God's creation. You can see some of the beauty captured in this early AM photo taken by my wife our first morning at the lake.
We spent the 4th at the Lake observing fireworks from the distant South Shore. They were spectacular even as far away as we were. Earlier in the day Garrett made a couple friends from a nearby site. They spent time playing, waving flags and eating smores.
Part of the fun of camping is getting away from it all. Its amazing how much wonder can be found in a campground stump when it is not competing with television or handheld video games.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)