Party in the Night, Party in the Day, Party on the Bay

A clear weekend with summer sun and warmth is a blessing on the Oregon coast. Add in the company of some really fun Hood River peeps and it's good times aplenty.

Keg stands on the mini Heiny...

...are a lot more complicated (and entertaining) than you'd think.

About 14 of us partied and camped at Saddle Mountain, about 20 miles from Cannon Beach. Polish Horseshoes, wood runs by headlamp and a well-stoked campfire were some highlights.

We kicked off a morning of crabbing in Netard's Bay with some warm sun and ice cold Vitamin R.

Jim, Sam and Erin float by. "Ay! You lik-a da pizza pie-a?"

We took turns casting and retrieving the net. Andrea's ready to deal with some crustaceans.

Gary, Jim, Erin, Andrea and Abe enjoy some shade.

Blue and green.

We caught a bunch of crabs and had them steamed on site where we rented boats. This big daddy is coming back to camp. Mmmmmmm. Dinner.

Ladies, Ladies, Ladies

We spent some time exploring Short Sands, which is the beach at Oswald West State Park. Oswald was our top choice for camping, but as we found, the ENTIRE systems of coastal parks books up quick on summer weekends.

Surfers and sunbathers soak up the sun.

Andrea and I hiked the 2-mile trail out to the tip of Cape Falcon, which leads through a wonderful coastal forest—sweeping views, birds playing in the wind, shafts of sunlight beaming through the conifer branches and trickling creeks. At the end, we enjoyed a bottle of red on the grassy, treeless cape.

Bathing beauty.

Weird in the woods.

Camping, hiking, playing and partying is always better near the ocean. A great weekend out no matter how you slice it. :)