We're back from Oregon

As many of you may know, Donna and I went to Oregon for my daughter's wedding this past week.
It was a much needed vacation, but more importantly, it was Stephanie's day.
She shined in her moment. This is an incredibly beautiful landscape, and she humbled it.
I don't have pictures of the wedding itself, as a photographer was hired for that event(rightfully so, since wee needed to participate).
The pictures below are from the days leading up to the wedding.
Donna and I flew into San Francisco, and drove hwy 1 North (after dark, and a story in itself).
Our destination was Gold Beach, just North of the California border.

The beach at Fort Bragg, California. Our first sunrise in California.

My intrepid voyager racing down her first dunes.

Long grass in the wind at Gold Beach.

Sunset.
More to come.

Most everyone showed up that evening.

The family.

Xander was lovin' it.

We pretty much had the beach to ourselves.

Looking toward Gold Beach from Sebastion Point.

Pounding surf.

The wind was blowing so hard it was ripping the tops off of the waves.

Donna capturing the moment.

Micro dunes.

Just a view of the beach.
I should have pictures from the wedding itself soon.
It was a great trip, and was everything Stephanie hoped it would be.
We all had a great time.
 

 
Some cracking shots there Bob.
 
This one is a real stunner ..... love it
 

That's one of my favorites as well, Steve. I wish I had video of it. It was mesmerizing to watch.
With subject matter like this, it's hard to go wrong.
James, yes he is, and yes, we have

Great photos.

Congrats on the special event.

Thanks guys.
Bill, if you ever get a chance to get up that way, go for it. It's worth the trip.
Craig, lol, I thought those were pretty cool, too. They were, at best, 1/2" high, and they formed while we were there, in a relatively small patch. Just the right combination of wind, water, and sand.
The whole scene is so incredibly dynamic, and everywhere you looked, something was changing.
Thanks Mike. I thought about you and your trip as we passed through the Redwoods. Unfortunately, our itinerary was a bit cozy, and we didn't spend much time there. What we did see of the big trees was pretty cool.
Rain, thanks. Yes, it was a great time for all. Too short, but full of precious memories.

Hello Bob , those are some very impressive photo's of your family trip   
James pretty much hit the nail on the head when he mentioned Xander having grown up so quickly . it only seems like a few song postings ago that he was just a baby …
time sure flies by a lot quicker these days …
it is a nice gift that your family was able to have and capture those moments 
 
Kenny

Awesome pics Robert! I love the Pacific NorthWest. My wife and I spent our honeymoon there.
 
Rocky

RobertB
Hi, Reece. It's good to be home, but I couldn't help but be struck by how extraordinarily plain Fort Worth is.
The trip was great, and I'm glad such places exist.
Kenny, I have fond memories of you announcing Xander's arrival in the songs forum, and the warm welcome he received. I still have Roflococopter's "Xander's lulaby" on my hard drive.
Xander had us in stitches whenever we talked to him. The untainted logic of a child is priceless.
i also got the hand-off on the Martin mentioned a few weeks ago.
I buffed the haze off of the wax, and put fresh strings on it. I'm really liking its personality, and I've been kicking some riffs around as I look at the pictures from the trip. We'll see what comes of that.

yes, but it's a whole lot cheaper to live HERE than it is in places like that!  so that's why I just like to live and work here and vacation in the cool places!

north central texas is typically cheaper than most of the rest of the US, way below average costs.
 
here's a comparison with Ft. Worth and Gold Beach
COSTOFLIVING  Fort Worth  Gold Beach  United States
Overall___________90_______109_______100
Grocery__________97.7______99.2______100
Health__________104_______118_______100
Housing_________68________114______100
Utilities_________108_________99______100
Transportation___100_______114______100
Miscellaneous____102_______106_______100
 
look especially at the housing...housing is CHEAP here compared to most of the rest of the US.
 
also notice that overall, Gold Beach is ABOVE national average.  ;-)

Rocky, thanks. Colorado will always be home, but I love the Pacific Northwest.
Reece, I suppose you're right. It makes those trips all the more special.
Kenny, I had previously thought it was  D-28, but it's actually a D-18. Similar build, but Mahogany back and sides.
It is early 70's vintage. No truss rod but the neck is straight. The wax had hazed a bit, but a bit of buffing brought out a lovely sheen. There are some minor cracks in the finish, but the wood seems to be in good shape. The pick guard is curled around the edges, but no damage underneath. That's an easy fix.
With fresh strings, it is noticeably brighter and has more presence than my Simon & Patrick Cedar top.
Both have their own character, and I'm looking forward to working them together.
It belonged to my sister's late husband, and she was glad to see it go to a home where she knows it will get some lovin'.

Here it is after 20 years in its case, meeting its new friends.
 

Hi Robert , that Martin D 18 sure is a Beauty    what a nice looking 40 year old handmade guitar .
 
Kenny