July 4th in North Bend/Coos Bay, Oregon

During July, 2014, we headed back to the North Bend/Coos Bay area and stayed again at the Mill Casino RV Park.

Coos Bay view from the Mill Casino RV Park

The bay-view slots in this park continue to provide us with some of our favorite views.  Watching the sea birds and commercial shipping vessels, and the interplay of the tides in the bay is fascinating to BB and me.

Henri has not voiced his opinion on the view, but when pressed, simply said "meh."  I think he prefers the ear-flopping, four-legs in the air, salt-air-in-your-face freedom of running the sand beaches near Bastendorf Beach, out past Charleston, Oregon on the Cape Arago highway.

Ear-Floppin' Fun

We hosted Kelly, Tammy, and Devon's good friends Gordon, Patty and Logan, in partial payment for all the hospitality they have shown us, and especially being invited to their beautiful home for barbequed oysters and salmon.  Some Texas-inspired fajitas had to do for this evening.

Gordon, Kelly, Devon, Tammy, Logan and Patty

Not only are Gordon and Patty gracious hosts, but they are church friends of Kelly and Tammy, and were their sponsors into the Coos Bay Yacht Club.

Sailboats at the Yacht Club

The Yacht Club hosts an annual 4th of July celebration of sailing and fellowship.  Kelly, Tammy and Devon took BB, Henri and me sailing that afternoon.  It was a beautiful day with excellent (although swirly) wind.  We had a ball!

BB, Henri and Me inside the Sailboat

Devon and Tammy

The Admiral (Kelly) at the Helm

He taught us landlubbers all kinds of sailing terms like "prepare to come about," hard a port", "fire the port torpedo", "no you idiot!  you fired the STARBOARD torpedo!"

Then in the evening, many of the boats journey up (down?) North Tenmile Lake to moor near Lakeside, Oregon.  From that excellent vantage point, we enjoyed the City of Lakeside's 4th of July fireworks show.

Kelly, Tammy and Devon's Sailboat

Kelly keeping a sharp eye out on his crew

Gordon's sailboat "Saline Solution" coming alongside 

Logan showing off

Gordon Setting Anchor under Devon's Watchful Eye

Boats getting Ready for the Show

We had a wonderful time and enjoyable 4th!  Hope you did as well.

Going to be an exciting next few weeks.  Our Granddaughter Lydia (brand-new teenager) will be coming in this week.  We will join Kelly, Tammy and Devon on a joint vacation to the San Juan Islands and Anacortes, in Washington State.  Devon will celebrate his 13th birthday on this trip as well.

Following Lydia's trip, our Grandson Grant will come up and meet us in Seattle for a week or so.  We can't wait.  We'll post pics from those outings as soon as we can.

Till next time.