You never really know who is out there in the online community reading a blog. I mean we know who the official Followers are or the folks that leave comments frequently, but we don’t know exactly who the non-following readers are. Well, we met one on Saturday in Long Beach.
Saturday morning Bruce was outside the motorhome with Annie and the girls while I was trying to write out a blog post. He called to me to come on outside for a minute. I went out and he was talking to a nice looking woman who immediately came to greet me with a handshake. She said, “I read your blog. We saw you guys drive in yesterday and I thought your RV looked familiar. Then I saw your license plate cover with Pismo Beach on it and I knew! It was confirmed when I saw your husband out with Annie.”
Her husband walked up then and they introduced themselves as Al and Debbie. They live in Washington also. Debbie said she enjoyed reading my blog and knew all about us spending the summer in Tumwater with the girls. We chatted for a few more minutes and then they went on their way.
I am still amazed at the power of the internet and the social networking that can bring us all together with some common interests. So, thanks Al and Debbie for reading my blog and letting me know you enjoyed it. (I mean at least she didn’t say my blog stunk or anything like that)
OK, now for our Sunday activities. Yesterday was our final day to stay and play at the beach. The girls wanted to go out to the sand again so we said, ‘why not?’ We took Annie with us this time and she enjoyed being out there. She seems to like to stand and watch the waves or check out the birds on the sand.
Annie keeps her eye on a seagull nearby.
The weather was OK but not super warm so I made sure the girls wore sweatshirts down to the beach. Mackenzie is still not completely over her cold. It has been a doozy. They were still just happy to have some fun by the water.
Some horseback riders came along and the girls like that.
Asking if they can get wet. Please, Papa?
We told them that they could not get completely wet. The water was icy cold (as they found out) and the air wasn’t that warm either. I didn’t care if they splashed around a bit but getting soaked was not an option on this day.
Yep! That water is cold alright.
I liked the reflections in the wet sand.
Ewwwww, something feels yucky on my foot!
Zoey is deep in thought.
It was a beautiful day even though it was a bit cool. Bruce decided to walk Annie back to the motorhome and return with the car. You can 4-wheel on this part of Long Beach. The girls played in the sand for a while longer while Bruce was getting the car.
After a drive down the beach and back we returned to the motorhome for lunch. We had plans Sunday afternoon to drive down to the Cape Disappointment State Park and meet our blogging buddies Carol and Dave. Carol and Dave each write their own blogs. We first met them in Astoria, Oregon in early June. They are absolutely the nicest folks you could ever meet and we were happy to learn they were camping so close to our area. This gave us an opportunity for another visit.
We got to their campsite and it was really a dandy. It had full hook-ups, complete with 50 amp. service in a lovely wooded area with nearby beach access. They greeted us warmly and made the Grands feel right at home. Carol gave Zoey and Mackenzie a tour of their new Bounder motorhome. Carol and Dave had gone out to the Kite Festival in Long Beach the day before and picked out these 2 flicker light things for the girls to play with and wear. How sweet was that for them to think of these 2 kids? We chatted with them for about 2 hours and then it was time to get the 2 monkeys back to our campsite so they could ride bikes and wear themselves out some more.
We said our goodbyes to Carol and Dave and thanked them for the nice gifts. I know we will meet with them again someday in the future and we look forward to that very much.
Here are the Grands with their flicker light necklaces on.
This morning it was time to leave our beach vacation behind us. Zoey and Mackenzie each voted for a return trip to the beach at some point in the future. We seconded that vote! We got back to Tumwater and settled into our usual spot. Stephanie came on her way home from work to pick the girls up and away they went.
Bruce and I are now listening to the quiet around us. It is nice and peaceful. Tomorrow morning we begin the babysitting routine at 5:30 am again. 16 more days and we’ll be heading down to Pismo Beach. I hope you enjoyed our visit to Long Beach.
Our count is 19 more days before we head to the coast.
ReplyDeleteEventually after the holidays we plan to visit Pismo Beach but until then Oregon, and Northern California coast for a few weeks of relaxation before starting our next job for 30 days.
After all this cooking and baking we need some R&R and others cooking and baking for us.
As always we look forward to your posts. Thanks for sharing.
I liked the reflections in the sand also.
ReplyDeleteOh that sounds like such a fun day! Meeting new blog readers, checking out the beach, and visiting at another campground. Don't think you had to wear them kids out too much after all that fresh air!
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Karen and Steve
(Our Blog) RVing: Small House... BIG Backyard
http://kareninthewoods-kareninthewoods.blogspot.com/
Oh that sounds like such a fun day! Meeting new blog readers, checking out the beach, and visiting at another campground. Don't think you had to wear them kids out too much after all that fresh air!
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Karen and Steve
(Our Blog) RVing: Small House... BIG Backyard
http://kareninthewoods-kareninthewoods.blogspot.com/
Love those necklaces. The picture on the beach with the girl's shadows is really great. You should make yourself a calender of those pictures. My daughter made me one a few years ago and I loved it.
ReplyDeleteOur hats are off to you...you and Bruce are AWESOME!!!!
ReplyDeleteIsn't it funny how you meet up with people you had no idea read your blog??? I had that happen a couple of years ago. Turns out it was a dad in our school and I didn't even know who he was! It was weird, but he comments now and then, which is nice.
ReplyDeleteLooks like you were having a "Grand" time.
ReplyDeleteWhat a fun filled weekend, you have given the Grands a wonderful summer and a memory they are going to have forever.
ReplyDelete16 more days, but who's counting, ha ha. You'll both be ready for a real vacation then.
ReplyDeleteLooks like alot of fun! Thanks for sharing!
ReplyDeleteCheers!
I sweated on the playground this afternoon...still feeling a wee bit jealous of those jackets you are wearing in August!
ReplyDeleteNow, that was a "Grand" weekend - one to remember for sure. I don't know why, but it's always surprising, shocking even, when someone says to me "hi, I read your blog"!
ReplyDeleteI guess it means that we're not getting too overconfident about our blogging skills!! That's probably a good thing!
The granddaughters have had a terrific summer - one they'll remember for years to come.
Margie, I love your blog's new look! The pictures are fabulous. And I agree with you about the reach of the internet. It is truly incredible! You turn out a nice blog so I can see where lots of people would be following you.
ReplyDeleteThe pleasure was ours, Margie and Bruce. I liked your pictures of the beach. Sometimes people like to say that California has beaches and Washington and Oregon have "the coast", but you've showed that Washington has the beach, too, the "world's longest", like the sign says in Long Beach!
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I meant to leave a note yesterday. We stopped somewhere along the Cranberry Coast before having lunch at Ilwaco mid July last year. The stop was to enjoy a long beach walk but too cold and windy. Instead we watched for a few minutes while someone practiced getting their kites up. It was a few days or maybe weeks prior to a Kite Festival.
ReplyDeleteSpecial memories. I love reading your travels as so often you enhance our memories of places we drove by or made brief stops.
I always find it a little unnerving when people approach with lines like, "hey, your the Bayfield Bunch, I read your blog." With some of the stuff I write sometimes, I don't know if the person approaching is 'friend or foe.' So far everyone has extended a hand in frienship & not taken a swing at me......
ReplyDeleteLove the picture with your vehicle on the beach with kids playing and beautiful sky...looks like it would make a great car ad!
ReplyDeleteGreat beach vacation with the Grandaughters, you guys are so lucky as I am to be able to have quality time with them, before you know it they are grown and have little time to spend with you.Thank God for Grandparents like you those girls will have cherished memories of the the good times for all of their lives, Nice to see you got to meet some more blogger friends, that is something we also enjoy. Be safe out there. Sam & Donna.
ReplyDeleteAh yes, how great the Internet is. We have met for lunch or dinner four RVing couples we have connected with on the web. We will surely meet more as we continue to travel. Every single one of them are fine folks.
ReplyDeleteAs for you two - anxious to hit the road I am sure.
Kids on the beach! What fun! You'll soon be on your own again, and I'll bet that you will miss the "Grands" now and again - - but not enough to turn around and go back even a day early!
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