Sauvie Island

We took an unplanned trip to Sauvie Island this weekend.  Its only 10 miles from Portland, so we figured we could wing it ;)  We'd heard the words "beach" and "berry picking" (soaring hearts)... and of course, just the word "island" is enough for those from Kansas ;)  The child, having grown up on an island was at least on board for the berries and beach.

Its farmland.  Gorgeous green pastures, grazing sheep, frolicking fillies, lavender fields, grape vines.  It actually reminded E and I of Kansas a little, with the flat and the farming.  Except for the undulating hills filled with the Red Cedars of Forest Park to the SW and the snow capped mountains to the North and East.   Oh, and the crazy cool floating river communities in the Columbia.  We drove with the windows down, listening to P's new fave ("Train to Barcelona" by Akufen - over and over and over...), taking in the view and the freshness.  We had no idea where to go, and the place isn't really well mapped (there's only one or two stores, total)... I was, again, shocked at the child's patience in the car;  completely content to look and chat and hum.  (Content could, actually, be used to sum up the child of late.  He wears Portland well:)  But eventually, he did start asking where, oh where, was that beach??

Fortunately, we spied a spot selling eggs and stopped to ask about these beaches.  P squealed when he saw the chickens running around pecking.  So, Super-Papa came out bearing eggs, just plucked from their butts :)  And the location of the beach.  The little info paper the lady gave E listed the 4 beaches... and which of them were "clothing optional."  Wait a minute, thought the kid.  I can pick berries, and go to a beach, naked, all in the same place?????  Heaven Eternal :)

We stopped before that particular beach, it being late in the afternoon and all ;)  And the child had a blast at this riverside sandy spot.  After skipping madly about, honestly wild with happiness (oh my is there anything more gorgeous than the passion of children?!?!) he took to digging a waterfall and enlisted Papa as water re-filler.

 The baby was low and achy, so I laid on the ground :)

Then they (er, E) dug a hole and the child tried it on.

In truth, the child preferred a longer time-line that day, but our tummies were growling, so I promised a revisit this Wednesday, when the u-pick berry patch opens for the season!  Satisfied but stalling, he took his sweet time from sand to car, collecting the whole way (You should see the back of our car ;)  And then sat back to happily listen to... "Train to Barcelona," again :)