Last week while we were staying at Otter Rock, we made a day trip north to Tillamook. It is a place that has been a part of my life always. My grandparents came from Switzerland and settled there - they were dairy farmers. My mother was born and raised there along with her three sisters. We still have family there and were able to visit a dear second cousin that we don't see nearly often enough. We drove by what was once Grandma's house - the heart of so many wonderful memories for us all. She was a gentle, loving woman - very hard working and lived to be 94. And she set many a fine example for us all - she never came out of her room in the morning without a smile on her face, she cooked from scratch and made meals with love, but most of all she was always happy to see you - no matter if you could stay for only ten minutes or a week. She would always take time to sit and visit with you - she was the essence of true hospitality and the provider of endless cookies and warm hugs!
We drove further up the coast to Garibaldi where we stopped for a bit and walked the docks in the boat basin, admiring the many pleasure craft and commercial boats. Just across the water from us was the site where a very large mill once stood that many of my family worked at through the years. We were gifted with breaks in the clouds and rain. We bought a freshly cooked crab to have later for our dinner - it was not a local crab as the commercial season had not yet started. The crab we bought came live from Prince Rupert, British Columbia! (We have always wanted to visit that area!) Next we drove back south to Bay City, where we stopped at Pacific Oyster Company. (Used to be Hayes Oysters) We used to come here to buy oysters direct from the processing plant before it ever became a tourist mecca. Now you can watch the "shuckers" in action through a glass window while you munch on some freshly prepared seafood. We bought a jar of oysters to take with us and also a meal of clam strips to eat while we drove. Being used to the usual tough clam strips served most places, we were pleasantly surprised at how tender and tasty these were. We drove on to Oceanside and Netarts to take a look see at all the building that has gone on since we last passed through some years ago. We also drove through our favorite park - Cape Lookout State Park. So many good times were spent there with cousins and later, with friends. Great place to hike and camp!
We did not make a stop at the famous Tillamook Cheese Factory. We have been there many times and miss the way it was years ago before tourism became a needed industry to supplement the loss of timber revenues. Tillamook cheese has been in our lives forever - Grandma and Grandpa were members of the Creamery Association for many years and we sure have eaten our share of wonderful Tillamook products - cheese, sour cream, yogurt, butter and of course, ice cream!
Where would be without a past to revisit?
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