by Michael Allen McCormick

Created on: May 05, 2008   Last Updated: December 07, 2008

It was Friday, August 27th, 1999... a repeat tour to accomodate the trip we overbooked. Not that I don't thoroughly enjoy going to the coast over and over. Every time I go, it is very much the same, and also very different. I never get tired of traveling these backup trips. Each time, you can take home a new and rewarding experience. Just seeing it all on a different day with different people makes the trip unique enough for me.

Now it just so happens, that I went to the coast the day before our whale watching trip as well. In California, they call it the beach. In Oregon we call it the coast. My family gets a little jealous when my work takes me to fun places. So now and then we have a family outing. This was one such trip. For the family outing, we invited my Dad, who was visiting from Los Angeles. I had to replace an alternator on my wife's big family van before we could leave. We didn't get out of town until 4PM, but never mind that.

I wanted my Dad to eat at Tidal Raves in Depoe bay. When we got there at dinner hour without reservations, we were told there would be a three hour wait. So we skipped on the idea of waiting, and took our herd of kids over to the Sea Hag. I Noticed that Ainslee's (next door to the Sea Hag) was open late with summer hours, so we stocked up on world famous salt water taffy. The best clam chowder to be had anywhere on the coast is at Sea Hag. They are famous for it. Dad said he was paying the check, and he proceeded to order Lobster, Clams, Dungenous Crab, and Shrimp Cocktails, which were merely to be appetizers for the food we had already ordered. A big seafood feast was had by all. When the waitress asked my Dad what he would like to order, he said," I can't decide, it all looks good, I will take one of everything on the menu." My Dad can be nutty like that. The total check came to over $600.

There was so much food, we all felt ill when we were finished. The check would have made me ill too. Gracie, the owner of Sea Hag, even came out to our table to greet us, and gave some shell wind chimes to the kids. After dinner, guts exploding, we shuffled back out to the van.

Heading back north up hwy. 101, we pulled out at the first beach access we could find (Fogarty Creek). I Noticed that the headlights were a little dim, and the alternator light was on again. I checked the belts and connections, but couldn't find anything amiss. I trotted out onto the beach to join my family and watch the sun drop below the horizon line of the ocean.

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