75 degrees is more like it!

Saturday we fled the heat wave for Astoria and Ft. Stevens. And was it ever worth it! The weather was beautiful-- seventy-five degrees, clear skies, and just a light and constant breeze. We couldn't have asked for more. We enjoyed a gorgeous bike ride around the park, which went through the historical area, camp grounds, beach front, and around Coffenbury Lake. The beauty and diversity of the park was a pleasant surprise. Although we were primarily just seeking refuge from the high temperatures and humidity in Portland, we ended up discovering a new destination that we will return to.

The highlight for Franny, though, was when we made our final stop at the beach. She absolutely loved the beach and especially the water. And she was completely uninhibited--I think she would have dove in head first if we had let her. Restrained but undaunted, Franny waded all the way up to her waist and didn't even flinch from the cold water. Everytime we even slightly retreated, she strained to break free and run back into the ocean. The waves coming in thrilled, rather than intimidated her, and she laughed, splashed, and kicked with fearless abandon. Her adventurous nature never ceases to amaze me! Because we were having such a great day, we left for home much later than planned. Franny fell asleep in the car not long after we departed Astoria--dreaming of dancing with the ocean waves, no doubt!