I Said Yes

The Anniversary Trip – Part 2

Boy, that sure gave me something to think about. His comment about inviting people to join in? Was he just fucking around with me or was he serious…I was going to have to ask him that to be sure…We collected our belongings, and ourselves, and headed back towards the motel…all the while he was chuckling and grinning. There was a bounce to his step, and I chalked that up to his just having gotten a little…ha.

“Are you seriously saying you would invite others into a sex thing with us?”

“You wouldn’t?”

“Well I don’t know…it isn’t something I ever thought about”

“2 years ago, did you think you would be having sex with another guy?”

“Well…no…”

“So... would you?”

“Have other guys join us? I don’t think so…I think I am very happy with the way things are in that department…and I think I would get a little jealous if I had to share you in that way”

“Fuckin A”

“What?”

“That was the answer I wanted…so thank you!”

“You are an ass…making me think that’s what you wanted…ass!”

Michael laughed a hearty laugh and flashed his grin at me…we got to the room and both of us cleaned up a bit…I had to wash up a little…and then we went over to the Bistro to grab some dinner.

While the sun was somewhat covered by the clouds coming in you could still see the colors of the sunset and it was awesome. The Bistro was busy, but we were able to score a table on the patio with a prime view. Michael had ordered a bottle of wine and we both took our time sipping on our glasses. It was nice to have a normal evening out with him where there was no agenda…no work things to deal with…no drama…just something that felt normal. We finished dinner and had an after-dinner drink and decided to head back to the room. We both had been up early, and it seemed like a good idea to make it an early night. We both stripped and got into bed and just kind of held each other while watching random things on tv. I am not sure who fell asleep first, but I woke up about 3 in the morning…the tv still blaring and both of us had kicked the sheet off. I turned the tv off, covered us both up, played big spoon and fell back asleep.

I woke up sometime around 8 and I was alone. Michael had slipped out of the room and I never heard him. I guessed after I had woken up in the middle of the night I slept hard from then on. I crawled out of bed and decided to jump in the shower and then wander to the Bistro to grab some coffee. It was likely that Michael had taken off on a walk…something he liked to do when we were at the beach. Showered, shaved and dressed I left the room headed for a nice cup of specialty coffee from the Bistro and then I would cross the street and see if I could see Michael on the beach. Coffee in hand I wandered over and sat on a rock to wait and soak up the morning sun and crashing of the waves. Each time I was there, I understood better why I loved it so much. If there were such a thing as serenity this had to be the catalyst. Having traveled all over the country I challenged myself to think of a better spot to help soothe the soul…at least in my head anyway. The best part of that whole thought process was that I knew Michael felt the same way…or at least it came in as a close second to his mountain ridge and hot springs…After about an hour of just relaxing on the rocks I was startled by a kiss on the top of my head…I had been in such a zone I guessed I never heard him coming…

“Scare ya did I” (Michael)

“Yes Yoda, you did”

“Funny…did someone tell you along the way that you had a sense of humor or something? Is that you trying to practice it?” (Michael)

“You are such a smart ass ya know”

“Yeah, yeah…” (Michael)

“Where have you been?”

“Just wandering the beach…before I knew it, I had walked at least a mile or two”

“Find anything interesting?”

“No, sorry…I didn’t see those two college kids” (Michael)

“That’s not what I meant”

“Ha…I know. Found some cool ocean glass pieces but nothing else good” (Michael)

“Maybe we should wander the other way”

“Oh, I did see a spot up a ways where there was a bunch of driftwood piled up…almost like someone was gonna have a bonfire” (Michael)

“Maybe we should check it out later”

“Yeah…maybe there will be a big ole sex party around the fire” (Michael)

“What is it with you and the wanting to be seen thing all of a sudden”

“Trust me…that hasn’t happened all of a sudden…I’m just finally getting you into it…ha-ha” (Michael)

“Well…I have not gotten into it”

“Yet!!” (Michael)

“Now who thinks they have a sense of humor?”

“Whatever…So what do you want to do today?” (Michael)

“The only thing I know I wanted to do was go out to Haystack and check out the tide pools when it is low tide…doesn’t have to be a big deal…just want to check it out…what do you want to do…proly a hike right?”

“I wouldn’t mind going over to Ecola and hiking the trail…it circles back around to Indian Beach which is real close to Haystack…The guy at the coffee shop said low tide this week is between 11 and noon or 10:30 and 11:30 at night…” (Michael)

“It’s 9 now…if we do the hike, we would make it back at just about the right time wouldn’t we?”

“I dunno…you are pretty fucking slow on the hike thing” (Michael)

“Seriously…fuck off you”

“Ha ha…but yes…that will give us enough time if you want to do that…then we could wander down on Hemlock St. and grab lunch or drinks or beer…there are several restaurants and pubs there…” (Michael)

“Since we didn’t really go down the main drag last time that would be cool”

“It’s a plan then…let’s just run to the room so I can get my boots and we will go”

“I will grab some coffee and a couple bottles of water from the bistro”

“It’s a date then…ha” (Michael)

We grabbed our stuff, coffee and water and headed over towards the trail head. There are five different trail heads that took you to different parts of the park. We chose the shortest, about a mile and a third one way. The trail is basically a horseshow that ends really close to Haystack Rock which is the one thing I wanted to explore that weekend. The trail was easy to navigate…there were a few inclines that posed challenges for people out of shape like me…but it was even keel as far as hikes go. It was really muddy from the recent rains and there were a lot of Memorial Day hikers out and about. The trail took you into some dense woods quickly and we saw lots of critters and colorful birds. Every once in a while Michael would drop back behind me and then play grab ass…I laughed out loud at one point telling him I thought he must be disappointed we were not able to have the opportunity for him to hike naked with all the people around…his response was typical…like other times when I made fun of him. Funny thing was I knew if, given the chance, he would shuck his clothes at any given time to be “one and naked with nature”.

Ecola Point has the best views south down the coast over Cannon Beach and islands like Haystack Rock. The sands of Indian Beach are broad and inviting, providing views of the lighthouse on Tillamook Rock…another remarkable natural wonder. The hike between those two points crossed through the dense woods…which was unique as it was basically a forest by the sea. The other thing that struck me, as you walked the rolling trail were the several viewpoints with incredible ocean views! Though I would never admit it…well I probably would…I was glad he decided this was what he wanted to do that morning. I would not have initiated a hike on my own…it’s not in my nature to go on hikes but he had managed to change that part of me a little bit. The various hikes up to the hot springs and up into the hills and valleys of the vineyard and this cool ocean front hike would not have happened if he hadn’t nudged me along and, again, this particular hike served as a means to an end for me as I wanted to get over to Haystack.

We got down to Indian Beach and everything that anyone has ever said about the beach was true. Crazy white sand…fine and clean and soft…not course like you normally see on an ocean beach…but more like the bagged sand you buy for your kid’s sand box or play area. The color…the bright whiteness of it…gave the place where the water merged with it a unique color and lots of contrast. It is hard to appreciate it on paper…I know I never did…until I saw it first-hand. Haystack Rock is probably the first or second most recognizable thing on the entire Oregon Coast (along with the Lighthouse on Tillamook Rock) and it is a site to see. We were told that during low tide the rock rises out of the water some 240 feet from the shoreline. It was kind of funny to get close as the darn thing really did stick out like a sore thumb so to speak…a massive rock formation, covered with thousands of birds (Tufted Puffins… for the bird enthusiasts), just sticking up there all by itself. Pictures did not do it justice and, until you are up close, you just don’t get how gigantic it really is.

Michael was right about the tide. We got there at the perfect time and could literally walk right out to the rock. There were people there to guide you around the tide pools and for safety reasons…it is, after all, a huge jagged rock so one had to be careful when walking around the base. The guide told us that above the high tide line, Haystack Rock is protected as part of the Oregon Islands National Wildlife Refuge, providing habitats and viewing of a large contingent of seabirds, including the most accessible colony of Tufted Puffins (I had never heard of nor seen these-seemed to be a big deal) in the Northwest.

Haystack Rock's tidepools are home to many intertidal animals, including sea stars, anemone, crabs, chitons, limpets and nudibranchs. Again, most of those species the average person had never heard of. What did intrigue me more than anything…The most colorful and visible creatures we saw were the sea stars (starfish) that are exposed at low tide and the large green anemones just below the water surface. We couldn’t believe the all the different colors of the stars, and the volume and colors of the anemones was crazy…seemed like a million of those in all different colors. I took a shit-ton of photos with my phone but none of the pictures did any of it justice. I found myself wanting to get closer and closer…even wandering out away from the crowd but…alas…I got caught and then lectured by a guide…I found out that the rock’s protected status required that no creature or material be touched or removed from within 300 yards of Haystack Rock and climbing above the “barnacle line” is strictly prohibited to keep from disturbing the marine life and nesting birds. I felt like I had been schooled by my 6th grade principal…who happened to be a Catholic Nun…so you get the picture. Michael had great fun watching me get scolded…all the while, he was crouched down at one of the pools with a Starfish in his hand…of course the asshat didn’t get caught himself! I thought to myself Go Figure.

Once I was done being schooled, we wandered back up to the beach and started to make our way to the small downtown area to grab a bite to eat. It was a short walk and there were a ton of options…I told Michael to just pick a place and it would be good with me…I didn’t want to do the “What do you want to eat…I dunno…what do you want to eat” thing. He laughed and said he was ok with that…we would hit a brew pub or tavern for lunch and then go hit a popular local place for pizza later for dinner. I was all good with that plan and I told him I liked him being in charge…and then I got the famous evil grin…made me wonder what he had in store…but that was for later on…..