Beach #2
We passed this air museum multiple times on this day of geographical challenges. It is enormous, and finally, I shot a photo through the windshield (as a passenger, fret not).
This beach is known for a giant sand dune. I climbed it two other times and wanted to test myself, SIXTEEN YEARS LATER. (I’ve never been this old before.) It’s the mostly bare one with a little group of trees on the top left.
There was a less steep way to ascend, a bit of a trail, so I went back up that about 1/2 way to the top for a second thrill of step-and-sink-and-slide back down. It was on the pretense of accompanying my sister that way up, but I really just wanted to descend another time.
After we left the beach, our old friend called. She said she was so very sorry to have missed us, but that she was in town picking up flyers for the service.
“WHAT SERVICE?”
Oh, wow, oh no, her husband died. My wiser older sister put on her pastor’s wife hat, flipped a U, and we drove on those now familiar roads straight back to see her.
It was a very good decision.
It was a very good day.
P.S. I let my sister drive the whole day because she will miss that car and because she supposedly knew where we were going and because I wanted to sight-see.
9 Comments
Those dunes are gorgeous! I don’t think I’ve ever seen any that high!
Elisabeth, it was really unusual to this Californian. Another feature of that beach is that flat-bottom fishing boats roar up onto the beach at high tide!
That looks like so much fun! I’m guessing I’d have a hard time making it to the top, but it would be worth it for the view and the fun slide down!
Michelle, it was hard, especially knowing my sister was below laughing at me with my hiney stuck up in the air!
I think this post is especially fun and captivating, Jana, because it connects the reader to their own adventures of the past. It’s one I’ll keep and revisit.
Louise, we would have had a blast slipping and sliding our way up this dune together. Thank you for your kind words!
I’m not familiar with Cape Kiwanda, just the giant sand dunes that are located just south of Florence, Oregon, (Jessie M. Honeyman Memorial State Park). Between Florence and Coos Bay there are a plethora of state parks with large sand dunes to play in. A kitty-cat’s paradise!
During my time at the University of Oregon (Go Ducks!) I wandered over to Florence many times to oogle at the giant sand dunes and climb a few. “Oh, that small hill. That’ll be easy to hike up.” Yeah, no. 3 steps up, 2 steps sinking down and into the sand. How did your legs feel the next day? Oh, yeah, feel the burn!
And your older sister was wiser to drop your plans and minister to an old friend in her grief. I’m sure she appreciated your gentle presence.
Sharon, are you talking about Cape Kiwanda? I think that sand dune is so fun!! I am very pleased to say that I was not sore from the climb.
My sister has been a very good pastor’s wife throughout her marriage, an excellent example of stepping in to do the right thing. And it was such a privilege to be with our old friend from Visalia.
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