{"id":1429,"date":"2013-04-18T17:54:44","date_gmt":"2013-04-18T17:54:44","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/perrellas.com\/?p=1429"},"modified":"2014-01-27T00:48:50","modified_gmt":"2014-01-27T00:48:50","slug":"april-15-16-17-2013","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/perrellas.com\/?p=1429","title":{"rendered":"April 15, 16, 17, 2013 Newport Oregon Boat Trip\/Good-by Sweet Millie"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>One more adventure before we head back to Eugene and face the final weeks of mold remediation.\u00a0 We headed to the pier for a whale watching trip.<\/p>\n<p>Morning meal was a quick waffle and oatmeal at the Inn so we could pack up and be on time for our sea adventure.\u00a0 Arrived early and sat on the docks enjoying the sunshine.\u00a0 Just before boarding, a huge group of teens filed in, apparently our pay dirt as the boat does not go out with less than 15.\u00a0 Their chaperones were young but promising they would keep the teens on their best behavior.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/perrellas.com\/?attachment_id=1445\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-1445\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Our Marine Discovery boat\" src=\"http:\/\/perrellas.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/04\/Our-Marine-Discovery-boat-150x99.jpg\" width=\"150\" height=\"99\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>Our boat was large enough to instill confidence in its ability to carry us safely through the experience.\u00a0 Still, the gigantic swells further out past the protective reef and the dark ominous clouds hugging the coastline brought up Deadliest Catch thoughts and knotted my insides.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/perrellas.com\/?attachment_id=1434\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-1434\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Bate for the crab traps\" src=\"http:\/\/perrellas.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/04\/Bate-for-the-crab-traps-150x99.jpg\" width=\"150\" height=\"99\" \/><\/a>\u00a0<a href=\"http:\/\/perrellas.com\/?attachment_id=1443\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-1443\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Oregon State Marine Research Ship\" src=\"http:\/\/perrellas.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/04\/Oregon-State-Marine-Research-Ship-150x99.jpg\" width=\"150\" height=\"99\" \/><\/a>\u00a0<a href=\"http:\/\/perrellas.com\/?attachment_id=1440\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-1440\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Lighthouse, Oldest structure in Newport\" src=\"http:\/\/perrellas.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/04\/Lighthouse-Oldest-structure-in-Newport-150x99.jpg\" width=\"150\" height=\"99\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>Safety speech officially given by a Marine Naturalist, the on board \u201cgo to\u201d person for questions, followed by the boat pulling out into the protected harbor and heading out to sea. \u00a0Just outside the harbor but still in the protective area of the man-made reefs, we dropped two crab traps after loading them with the soup parts of fish and being invited to kiss the head for good luck.\u00a0 No one accepted the offer.\u00a0 John and I headed for the top, being reminded by the captain that the highest forward part of the boat had the most movement.\u00a0 Not wanting to miss anything, we clutched the cold wet rail and held on as the boat jostled us further\u00a0out to sea.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/perrellas.com\/?attachment_id=1432\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-1432\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" alt=\"8 to 10 ft swells hitting barrier reef\" src=\"http:\/\/perrellas.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/04\/8-to-10-ft-swells-hitting-barrier-reef-150x99.jpg\" width=\"150\" height=\"99\" \/><\/a>\u00a0<a href=\"http:\/\/perrellas.com\/?attachment_id=1450\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-1450\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Swells so big we couldn't see the shore\" src=\"http:\/\/perrellas.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/04\/Swells-so-big-we-couldnt-see-the-shore-150x99.jpg\" width=\"150\" height=\"99\" \/><\/a>\u00a0<a href=\"http:\/\/perrellas.com\/?attachment_id=1447\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-1447\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Rockin seal\" src=\"http:\/\/perrellas.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/04\/Rockin-seal-150x99.jpg\" width=\"150\" height=\"99\" \/><\/a>\u00a0<a href=\"http:\/\/perrellas.com\/?attachment_id=1446\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-1446\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Out to sea\" src=\"http:\/\/perrellas.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/04\/Out-to-sea-150x99.jpg\" width=\"150\" height=\"99\" \/><\/a>\u00a0<a href=\"http:\/\/perrellas.com\/?attachment_id=1448\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-1448\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Rockin the boat\" src=\"http:\/\/perrellas.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/04\/Rockin-the-boat-150x99.jpg\" width=\"150\" height=\"99\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>Monstrous 8 to 10 foot swells rising up, peaking with a quick pause then a roller coaster ride down, the ocean spray splatting out from under us.\u00a0 An exhilarating ride reminiscent of the Big Dipper, an old wooden roller coaster on the Santa Cruse Boardwalk that I rode as a teen.\u00a0 Thoughts of warm gloves temporarily forgotten as we white knuckled it out to a spot of sun in the distance. I always ask for lower deck aft on cruise ships and this outing was a harsh reminder of why.\u00a0 I haven\u2019t been this close to panic and terror in several decades but the thrill was worth the fright.\u00a0 With several pair of spy glasses scanning the horizon, we waited in anticipation for a whale sighting, all the while, being pelted with rain and violently bobbing up and down in the ocean.\u00a0 Good thing John and I don\u2019t get sea sick.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/perrellas.com\/?attachment_id=1439\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-1439\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Headed to calmer waters\" src=\"http:\/\/perrellas.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/04\/Headed-to-calmer-waters-150x99.jpg\" width=\"150\" height=\"99\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>After what seemed like endless hours, minutes actually, the boat turned towards the protective reef. \u00a0John and I laughingly shared the fact that had we seen whales, neither of us would have been willing to let go of the rails to take pictures.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/perrellas.com\/?attachment_id=1437\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-1437\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Dungenes Crabs\" src=\"http:\/\/perrellas.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/04\/Dungenes-Crabs-150x99.jpg\" width=\"150\" height=\"99\" \/><\/a>\u00a0<a href=\"http:\/\/perrellas.com\/?attachment_id=1444\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-1444\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Osprey Nest with eggs\" src=\"http:\/\/perrellas.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/04\/Osprey-Nest-with-eggs-150x99.jpg\" width=\"150\" height=\"99\" \/><\/a>\u00a0<a href=\"http:\/\/perrellas.com\/?attachment_id=1435\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-1435\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Blue Heron\" src=\"http:\/\/perrellas.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/04\/Blue-Heron-150x99.jpg\" width=\"150\" height=\"99\" \/><\/a>\u00a0<a href=\"http:\/\/perrellas.com\/?attachment_id=1442\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-1442\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Microscopic live plankton\" src=\"http:\/\/perrellas.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/04\/Microscopic-live-plankton-150x99.jpg\" width=\"150\" height=\"99\" \/><\/a>\u00a0<a href=\"http:\/\/perrellas.com\/?attachment_id=1438\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-1438\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Harbor Seal\" src=\"http:\/\/perrellas.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/04\/Harbor-Seal-150x99.jpg\" width=\"150\" height=\"99\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>Back in calmer waters we were invited to help pull up the crab traps with discussions about Oregon crabbing, crab identification, trolled for microscopic plankton and saw it up close in the cabin, handled whale baleen and had a multitude of sea birds and tide pool creatures pointed out and discussed.\u00a0 No whales spotted although several people searched the horizon for a chance to yell \u201cthere she blows\u201d.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/perrellas.com\/?attachment_id=1451\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-1451\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" alt=\"the only whale we saw\" src=\"http:\/\/perrellas.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/04\/the-only-whale-we-saw-150x99.jpg\" width=\"150\" height=\"99\" \/><\/a>\u00a0<a href=\"http:\/\/perrellas.com\/?attachment_id=1433\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-1433\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" alt=\"1930s fishing boat\" src=\"http:\/\/perrellas.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/04\/1930s-fishing-boat-150x99.jpg\" width=\"150\" height=\"99\" \/><\/a>\u00a0<a href=\"http:\/\/perrellas.com\/?attachment_id=1441\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-1441\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Lots of starfish\" src=\"http:\/\/perrellas.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/04\/Lots-of-starfish-150x99.jpg\" width=\"150\" height=\"99\" \/><\/a>\u00a0<a href=\"http:\/\/perrellas.com\/?attachment_id=1449\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-1449\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Starfish under the dock\" src=\"http:\/\/perrellas.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/04\/Starfish-under-the-dock-150x99.jpg\" width=\"150\" height=\"99\" \/><\/a>\u00a0<a href=\"http:\/\/perrellas.com\/?attachment_id=1436\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-1436\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Crab traps\" src=\"http:\/\/perrellas.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/04\/Crab-traps-150x99.jpg\" width=\"150\" height=\"99\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>Back on shore we peeled off the wet, stopped at a local caf\u00e9 for hot soup and then headed back to our unintentional second home, La Quinta Inn,\u00a0Eugene.<\/p>\n<p>Morning came once again and a visit to Dr. Newman, a compassionate vet at Bush Animal Hospital, and then there was one.\u00a0 \u00a0Whatever the cause, disease, accident or just wearing out, life ends and those still alive are left with holes in their hearts. \u00a0Time passes, pain eases and we embrace happy memories to push us through the loss.\u00a0 I want to believe that Millie and Ash are together again.\u00a0 The Bash Sisters, rattling the windows of doggy heaven as they charge headlong into a universe of fluffy cloud walls, both feeling young and healthy, pain and cancer free.\u00a0 They will be forever in our hearts.<\/p>\n<p>The next two days pass quietly without much activity apart from watching TV and hugging the pug.<\/p>\n<p>One thing I wanted to mention about our travels\u2026TripAdvisor has been an immeasurable source of valuable information on eateries and things to do.\u00a0 The reviews are our safety net and we thank the thousands of people who write reviews so that we are able to make informed choices.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>One more adventure before we head back to Eugene and face the final weeks of mold remediation.\u00a0 We headed to the pier for a whale watching trip. Morning meal was a quick waffle and oatmeal at the Inn so we &hellip; <a href=\"http:\/\/perrellas.com\/?p=1429\">Continue reading <span class=\"meta-nav\">&rarr;<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1429","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-lilypad"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/perrellas.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1429","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/perrellas.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/perrellas.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/perrellas.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/perrellas.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=1429"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"http:\/\/perrellas.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1429\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1431,"href":"http:\/\/perrellas.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1429\/revisions\/1431"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/perrellas.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=1429"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/perrellas.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=1429"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/perrellas.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=1429"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}