We have stayed here at the Embarcadero two times before, and from both trips, my boys' favorite memories are the sights, sounds, and fishy smells of the bay front, and the hours spent crabbing on the docks. So that is exactly what we decided to do on our first full day in Oregon. Well, the first thing we did was sleep in, trying to catch up on the meager sleep from the night before. THEN we decided to explore the bay.
Oh yes, just like we remembered it.
Caleb and Luke spotted some jellyfish bobbing about in the water.
What is it with boys and boats?
First stop: sign Nate and the twins up for some deep sea fishing for later in the week. The twins peruse the flier. Dennis really wanted to join them, but last time they went he got so seasick he had to stay in bed for two whole days. Sorry, buddy. Not this time.
How does this thing work, anyway?
The walk to the bay front was just beautiful. The bay was lined with Queen Anne's lace, purple thistles, and other delicate wildflowers.
Oh yeah, and wild blackberries! Everywhere!
Picking the berries was easier said than done as the berry bushes were covered with nasty thorns and the ripest berries were always out of reach.
Hop on a nearby boat dock,
and check out today's catch.
More jellyfish.
We walked by stacks and stacks and stacks of crabbing cages.
I loved the colors and textures. They were fun to photograph.
My kids think I'm weird taking pictures of this junk. The fishermen probably thought so too.
There is so much to take in.
More fabulous colors and textures. I love what the sea air does to stuff.
More berry pickin'.
Found one!
Sweet!
While Luke was busy harvesting berries, the rest of the gang had been gawking at Newport's newest and nosiest residents..
a bunch of snarky male sea lions who had just come in from California. Wish we would have known. Maybe we could have travelled together.
These guys sure were mouthy!
Luke tries barking back to them. Try a little deeper and more guttural, Luke.
Those male sea lions were so funny to watch! They were totally laying on top of one another, and when one of annoyed another one they would lift up their heads and start hollering at each other and try to bite each other, and make a big noisy show, but were too lazy to actually get up and move or take some real action. Then the others would all jump in and start hollering too, just for good measure. Then they would all just stop, and lay back down again like nothing ever happened.
Those are males for you. It reminded me SO much of all my boys on the long drive up here. A bunch of large males, piled up together in a small space. Someone annoys someone else and they all start tussling, yelling, and baring their teeth, and then settle back down. Oh yeah. Just like these sea lions.
We could have watched those guys for hours.
The bay front is an interesting place. It is a fun touristy spot full of fun shops and restaurants, of course. But it is also a real working commercial fishing port. The smell of fish is everywhere, and fishermen in their rubber leggings are pushing wheelbarrows full of fish or shrimp onto big trucks that weave their way through the tourists. There are also these big fishery buildings that are painted with huge murals of the sea. A fun backdrop for snapping a few pics of the boys. But just one each - that is all they would allow me.
Everyone except for Alex, of course.
"Oh, but Alex, what will I remember you by when you leave me for two whole years?"
OK, maybe just one, but he's not going to smile.
Yes, I'm gonna use the guilt trip when I have to.
Um, Mom. Did you see this?
I lost track of the guys for a few minutes while I was taking pictures and found them again behind the noodle place waiting for noodles. Oh goody. Dennis had read my mind!
Still waiting and getting hungrier by the minute.
Finally the order of seafood udon was ready! Yay!
But wait, why are they only two? Long gone are the days when we can just order for ourselves and let the little guys nibble from our plates, Hun.
It was a feeding frenzy.
Oh well, at least we all got a taste, and that would have to do for the time being.
Another shop was full of hand blown glass fishing floats. I noticed that they were offering glassblowing classes, and having always been fascinated by glass blowing I decided to sign myself and the boys up to try our hand at making our own glass floats later in the week.
Luke's not sharing this time.
At least the small lunch left plenty of room for more slat water taffy.
We came upon a bait shop, and picked up some live shrimp for fishing later. But the kids were enthralled by the squirming smelly little things and played with them while I explored a pretty girly shop that smelled wonderful. Something for everyone.
Still hungry, we picked up a couple shakes made with local Tillamook ice cream. Yep. Just two to share with 8 people. That's how Dennis does things
More berries on the walk back to the room. Well, what did you expect? These hungry fellows were starving!
You want food? You catch it yourself!
The guys pulled out the nets and poles and spent the rest of the evening crabbing and fishing.
Aw, there's that smile I love! I'm sure gonna miss this kid.
I love Derek's curly blond locks due to the salty sea air.
Yes, he is 10.
We spotted a few curious seals.
Pretending to be trying to pull in a whopper, but the straight pole gives them away.
Plucked a jellyfish right out of the water. Anybody got some peanut butter to go with it?
Oh yeah!
Did I mention? Derek loves crab.
Red rock crabs. Pretty, but not worth the trouble for the small amount of meat they have. Throw it back.
The dungeness male. Much better.
This crab has separation anxiety.
Well hello there, Mr. Crab.
Crab fights.
Come on, give me a big hug!
On this trip Alex spent hours and hours on the dock watching over the crab nets. We are all going to miss this guy!
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