July 2020 Road Trip to Oregon: Florence Sand Dunes and Kayaking

Saturday, July 25, 2020, Becky Holbrook hooked us up. She was incredible, despite our only contacting her the previous afternoon right before we arrived in Florence. She (and Ollie, their youngest) took us in the morning to the sand dunes with their sandboards. It's an incredible place. The only downside was the wind. Becky said it is very often windy in Florence, unfortunately. If it weren't for the wind, Jim was about ready to move there. 

After the dunes, Becky dropped us and some of their kayaks where we could kayak up the Siuslaw River. Ever wanted to paddle her own kayak. Wren rode in a kayak tethered to mine, and Tiny rode in a kayak tethered to Jim's. It was really lovely.  

I enjoyed a little stretch of houseboats where you turn from the open harbor up the river.

Wrenzy really got relaxed behind me.

Ever liked to get adventurous and go around or through obstacles.

Tiny was so tired when we stepped out to go over a dam that she appeared liable to fall asleep on her feet.

I think we turned around about halfway up. I wished we could explore farther, but we were going so slow that we didn't really have time. Plus the kids were beat.

Ever looked like a pro on her knees.

Tiny took a page from Wren's playbook and tried to take a nap in her kayak (behind Jim).

Big purple flowers were spotted, and Wrenzy wanted them. Ever paddled over and picked some.

Tiny again, fully prostrate:

Given the wind, I was concerned about how we'd get back to the harbor once we rounded the corner out of the protection of the river. I was ahead of Jim at that point, and I took a "save yourself" approach. I just paddled and went for it. I looked back and saw Ever struggling and Jim with her. I didn't think there would be anything I could do for them, though, so I just kept going. It became clear that Jim needed help with Ever. Becky arrived to pick us up, and as I wavered on the shore wondering what to do, she ran into the water with a kayak and was off. She tethered her kayak to Ever's and pulled her the last of the way in. Jim was very unhappy with me for ditching them and said I could at least have helped attach Ever's kayak to his. Whoops. I just thought Wrenzy and I might get blown out to sea and didn't think I could do anything besides try to survive. Jim pulling into shore:

Becky told us about a time when she and her brother, Zach, went kayaking out there and the wind was so crazy that they were just getting blown out. Separately, they were making mental plans to just give up and allow themselves to be carried away and hope they made it. I didn't know until that experience why lakes are scary. 

We drove to Coos Bay and stayed at a humble but fine Motel 6 that night. Jim was curious to see Coos Bay, but from what we could see, there wasn't really anything there worth seeing. 

July 2020 Trip to Oregon: Kentucky Falls

On Friday, July 24, 2020, we ate breakfast at the Bennions', packed up some snacks and stuff, and caravanned out with Chris and her boys to Kentucky Falls in Siuslaw National Forest. (Jon had to work.) This is the hike we tried to do in April 2019, when we parked in the parking lot by the Kentucky Falls sign and then wandered around for at least an hour trying to find the trail. We were determined to get it done this time. We were still in the parking lot getting organized when we heard a girl calling for help. She followed our voices and came to us, thrilled that she had found us and been saved from near-certain death. She said she had been wandering around lost for hours trying to find the trailhead, and she was really freaked out. It was pretty funny in light of our prior experience. We set out together to find the trail. Somehow we ended up crossing the street and finding a little sign and the trailhead on the other side. So weird that the parking lot and sign are across the street and give no indication of how to find the trail. 

The girls actually interacted with the Bennion boys on the hike (I think the youngers made a game out of running away from Sammy, the oldest), and it made it easier and more fun for them. No kid complaints. Our interactions with the lost girl were a little awkward. I tried to talk to her some, but she didn't seem to expect to be fully integrated into our group and possibly wanted to hike alone once we got her on the trail. Eventually we parted ways when she decided she didn't have time to continue and had to head back. I think she may not quite have made it to the falls, but the awkward hiking-together-but-not-totally-hiking-together thing lasted a long time. Anyway, this is Chris and two of her boys bringing up the rear:

A little waterfall we passed on the way down:

At the bottom are two different waterfalls.

We scrambled up to the first one with the girls.

I don't remember, but I have to assume the littles asked us to take these pictures of them in front of the waterfall:

The Bennions weren't interested, but Jim and I had to scramble over to explore the other waterfall before we left.

Kringel girls and Bennion boys:

It was a pretty hike, and we were glad we succeeded this time. Chris had never done it, and it was fun that she could go with us.  

We said goodbye to the Bennions in the parking lot. They drove home, and we headed to Florence. The drive through the forest was beautiful. My car pictures don't do it justice. 

We contacted Becky Holbrook (Jeremy Wilson's sister), who lives in Florence, and she tried to offer up a friend's place for us to stay in. I think the friend used to list it on AirBnb but now just lets friends and family stay in it or something. We didn't feel comfortable taking a favor like that, especially when we had given no notice, so we rented a motel room. We ate dinner in Florence's cute little downtown. Tiny loved on Jim (as Tiny is wont to do).

The girls enjoyed ice cream before bed. I'm pretty sure this is Ben & Jerry's Tonight Dough.