Tillamook

Avery loves shows like How It's Made and the several others just like it. A few months ago, after watching an episode, he randomly said, "I want to know how they make cheese." Travis informed him that the Tillamook Cheese Factory on the coast can be visited and ever since he's been on our case to go.
With family out of town for various reasons this last weekend, Travis' Dad was watching the boys' cousin Alli solo and we thought it would be a good time to head to Tillamook together.
First, we hit Pacific City for a stop at Cape Kiwanda.


I don't know what Travis is pointing at, but it works to point out that it was a stormy day.


Pacific City is the home of the Pacific Dory Fleet which launches from the Cape Kiwanda beach. This is the new Dorymen's Memorial Wall.


Time to go


Just south of Tillamook is the Tillamook Air Museum. It's a WWII blimp hanger and the largest wooden structure in the world. The fields were full of elk.


The Cheese Factory!


This is the Tillamook logo


And this is a replica of the original boat that inspired the logo. It was essential in Tillamook's early economy.


Moo




You can't visit Tillamook without buying cheese curds and getting some ice cream!




Avery and Carson did really well with their own cones of Grandma's Cake Batter and Cookie Dough, respectively, but Emmett shared Daddy's Cookies and Cream and Cookie Dough. Good thing too, since I would have been hard pressed to share any of my Chocolate Peanut Butter and Tillamook Mudslide... Mmmm...


After the factory, we made one last stop at the mouth of Tillamook Bay. It was definitely stormy. The waves were crashing hard on the jetty.


Unfortunately, I was so focused on catching the crash on the jetty, that I completely missed seeing the big waves coming in on the left side of this shot.


Here's a crop in of another big wave breaking


These birds were constantly flying back and forth, going after some source of food low on the rocks and then having to fly up with every wave.


A view of the beach from my spot on the jetty. I guess this beach can be pretty dangerous, trapping people with sneaker waves.


Notice anything wrong? Hint: Travis did an interesting job of re-dressing Emmett after changing his diaper at the factory.


It's been a while since I had a nice shot of Avery


Avery decided to sneak up on this seagull


Closer... He's watching you...


Too close.


It was a fun trip to the coast, even if it wasn't a great day for the beach.