Wow! Day 4 is here!

August 19, 2014 Carl

Flip is getting ready for his day in the Redwoods. Plans to have breakfast with his traveling companions before heading to the Trees Of Mystery.

Carl

Run 101

Day three and we saw Dinosaurs

August 19, 2014 Laura Sellers-Earl

The ’08 Gang at the Prehistoric Gardens outside Port Orford. No, the T-Rex is not biting Laura’s head off. That privilege belongs to Flip, alone, as he is the only passenger on her bike.

Run 101

Flip finds family

August 19, 2014 Carl

Flip found a relative in Bandon. One more step closer to filling in the family tree.

Run 101

Flip’s adventures – Day 2

August 18, 2014 Laura Sellers-Earl

Flip considers the salmon hash at Fishtails Cafe in Newport.

I guess he found the salmon hash to his liking.

Flip bids a fond farewell to his bestest Newport breakfast ever.

Nessie? Really, couldn’t they have named the Newport sea monster something else? Even if he was related to the Loch Ness monster, he deserves his own moniker.

Flip gets an eyeful of the pirate wench’s, um, assets.

Avast, matey. Me thinks I spy a lovely lass in the distance.

Flip has an undersea adventure in Newport

Laura, Flip and Sharon learn some underwater navigational skills.

Rolling on the river at the Aquarium Village in Newport. We had the place to ourselves.

Somehow, the Dread Pirate Flip doesn’t strike fear in many hearts.

Flip has much to share with the traveling gnome.

Good thing Flips don’t taste good or our traveling buddy might have become Flip floss.

Flip: My what big teeth you have! Wally: That’s a riot coming from a big-eared fellow like yourself.

Flip might need a little help at the wheel. Thumbs! He needs thumbs!

You aren’t a real pirate until you master the rigging.

Watch out sea life. Jacques Flipsteau is here!

This is the estuary deck overlooking the mudflats at the Oregon Coast Aquarium. Flip found this all very interesting, but turned up his nose and eyes at the native odors.

Never let it be said that Flip is not one creative critter.

Pondering the Passages of the Deep … but not too much.

Flip doesn’t know what kind of shark is sneaking up on him while he’s sneaking intel about the Oregon Coast Aquarium, but he finds the whole experience a little alarming.

OK, Flip’s definitely not related to this one. Although, we think we see some trepidation in the shark’s nostril flaring as it passes over our indominable Flip.

Flip ponders these shark-infested waters and the beauty of plexiglass.

OK, we made this little girl cry after she was introduced to the Flipmeister and then was not allowed to take him home. Way to mar an 18-month-old toddler’s life experiences, Laura. It’s just a burden we have to bear that Flip is beloved by all he meets.

I hope this is not my mother, Flip says.

I hope we aren’t related, because I feel a smooch coming on.

Flip would love for this walrus at Oregon Coast Aquarian to be his kin, except for the blubber factor. The peer pressure to keep is critter figure is enormous.

Yes, it’s a fake fish ladder. Yes, Flip really dislikes water, but hey, when in an aquarium, do as the locals do.

“Ain’t no mountain high enough …” for the Flip and his quest for every adventure to be had in every opportunity. Go, Flip, go! The Oregon Coast Aquarium poses no boundaries for you.

What are pinnipeds, Flip asked. There goes a few into the water as he arrives on the scene.

Molting Max, makes a statement at the Oregon Coast Aquarium, while Flip, impressed with his presence and grandeur, tries to strike a pose.

Flip thinks seals are sleek and sexy. An hey, maybe they’ll invite him for a swim, someday.

Caitlin, an OCA intern, tells us that she is tracking the seals, which she can totally tell apart, as they go about their activities. Are they playing with toys, eating, fighting, whatever. Flip is fascinated by the science of it all. Because the marine mammal field is so competitive, Caitlin with finish this internship then do one more in Connecticut before getting real in the job world. Really interesting information from the future of the marine science field.

Now, this is a life Flip can aspire to. Lolling around on his back, scratching what needs to be scratched and being fed all manner of good, crunchy grub. But wait, they’re in water and water is bad. Daggnabit!

This may be the closest-looking critter who belongs in Flip’s family tree. Look at the cranial shape, the beak, the bigger than everything else belly. Is Flip part puffin? Enquiring minds want to know.

Flip feels a part of the aviary, just needs the cover shot to add to the board.

Flip sincerely hopes this guy is not a part of his DNA package. Although, we were all impressed with the pie hole on this one.

Yes, it’s jellyfish, but it totally looks like Flip is blowing a gold four-leaf clover out his snouth (snout/mouth). Gesundheit!

It’s all about the bonding time – with family and nature.

From the inside, looking out through a porthole at the Oregon Coast Aquarium.

From the outside, looking in through a porthole at the Oregon Coast Aquarium.

No one gets past Flip and his color-coordinated stanchions.

Even the rocks have cute critters at the aquarium.

Flip bonds with Ichabod, the Stanovich’s biker duck at Yaquina Bay Lighthouse.

Flags were a flapping’ at the Yaquina Bay Lighthouse as the winds threatened to flip Flip on his tail.

Flip does his part by barking for donations at the lighthouse.

Flip is captivated by the Fresnel lens. Gaze into the light …

Freakishly small, winding stairs, but a beautiful place.

Flip takes a gander at the fogged in bay from the lighthouse.

Lighthouse keepers can also keep a garden, apparently.

Flip and Ichabod hang out waiting for Jim to fix his fix ins’.

Dang, the weight gain on vacation. Flip’s up to 1.25 pounds on the Yachats Farm Store scale.

Oh my! Things must get rowdy at the Yachats Farm Store.

Flip was fascinated by the body outlines and decided he needed his own.

Among the chalk art at the Yachats Farm Store was this creature, the Flip needed to do an up-close dental exam.

There once was a critter named Flip, who wanted a biker trip. He bleeped and cajoled, ’til the humans were sold. Now, he is the captain of the ship.

Flip, meet Lucy, a fixture at the Antique Virgin boutique in Yachats. Lucy wasn’t wild about the experience.

OK, Jim has some undisguised lust for this particular table. There were talks of coming back with a trailer to save the fair mermaid. Flip agrees.

Yep, Sharon. Bunny ears are so mature, Flip says. Just wait until I give you a wet willie with my nose.

Jim convinces Flip to pick up the dinner tab at Blue Heron Bistro.

Late-night gymnastics to get ready for another day of hanging out, literally , on the back of a bike.

Tired of the adult banter, Flip turns to The New York Times to catch up with current events.

Run 101

Day two with Flip

August 18, 2014 Laura Sellers-Earl

Run 101

Captain, my captain!

August 18, 2014 Laura Sellers-Earl

There once was a critter named Flip, who wanted a biker trip. He bleeped and cajoled, ’til the humans were sold. Now, he is the captain of the ship.

Run 101

Quote of the day!

August 17, 2014 Laura Sellers-Earl

After shooting Flip in one of his “I’m here poses, Laura said to the Stanoviches: “I’m glad you guys aren’t easily embarrassed.” Sharon said, “I don’t get embarrassed. Jim dresses like a pirate, and I live with him!” >

Run 101

Starting the Day two

August 17, 2014 Laura Sellers-Earl

Getting ready to start our second day. Sun is beginning to breakthough the clouds in Newport. Plans are to have breakfast at Fishtail Cafe, then pack up and hit the Oregon Coast Aquarium. Then head south. Someone said we had to have tuna in Yachats.

Run 101

Flip had a great day

Gallery August 17, 2014 Laura Sellers-Earl

Ready to ride! Kickstands up at 8:30 a.m. Club ’08 is off for its Run 101 Ride to the Redwoods.

Club ’08 mascot Flip gazes adoringly off Neahkahnie Mountain. We don’t know, but suspect he has some sperm whale in his genes.

A little bit of serendipity, which is what this jaunt is really all about. The Old Iron Show was just there, beckoning as we cruised through Tillamook. We had to stop and play a bit. Nice people, cool stuff.

The Flipster goes international on this double-decker bus at the Old Steel Show in Tillamook. Catching a ‘Flip’side ride on the London Bridge Lorry.

Just what is this? We were thinking waterpark ride, kiddie aquarium feature, product of an alcohol-laced daydream? No, it’s a monster sea lion ice chest. Yes, it’s for sale, and if we weren’t on motorcycles and heading the wrong way, Flip almost convinced us to take it home.

Flip is the star of his own “Green Acres” episode.

Look close to the right for milepost 101, which happens to be on U.S. Highway 101, as we are grooving down the highway on our ’08 Club’s Run 101 ride. Notice the single finger raised in salute; and yes, it’s an index finger and there is a smile on Laura’s face. Epic!

A motley crew if ever there was one. Hanging out on Neahkahnie Mountain.

Flip takes a ride on a friendly gray whale in Depoe Bay.

The Traveling Goofbury’s point out gray whales in Depoe Bay. We saw at least a dozen spouts, surfacing and, even got some tail! The whales were very close to shore, making us wonder why you would go out on a whale-watching cruise.

Flip again tries to reconnect with his ancestors.

Hanging out waiting on whales at Depoe Bay. Flip’s feeling a little small.

Flip makes a friend in Depoe Bay. Not sure of this critter’s parentage, but I’m not sure they hit it off. Bones was traveling with priates in town for a festival.

Avast. matey! This pirate tried to barter a bunch of bones for Flip. We declined and ran.

The King’s Men take Flip to task for various transgressions while in Depoe Bay, including not wearing a motorcycle helmet, traveling in the company of known hooligans and raising a ruckus loud enough to scare the pirates away.

Yep. A touching moment, brought to you by the folks at Ron Popeil’s Pocket Fisherman.

Are you my mother? Flip is on a mission to discover his roots. This whale skull at the Whale Center in Depoe Bay.

Thar she blows! Criminy, but she’s a cutie!

It’s just Depoe-lorable that we have to hang out with the whales in the sunshine on the very first day of our journey. Most excellent, and thank you to the vacation planners that arranged it so.

The Stanoviches pose by the bridge in Depoe Bay. Such cuties.

Some random guy in Depoe Bay totally captures Flip’s attention. I think it’s the word “plaque.”

Flip’s not sure what to do with the Sea Hag and her overwhelming, er, assets.

Timeout for Laura and Flip in Depoe Bay. This is the way we bond.

Flip seems to be channeling some alien powers to overshadow the most-excellent bridge in Newport. Really, all I see is the Magnificent Flip.

The Stanoviches share quality texting, social media time in Newport. Me thinks we have been an excellent influence on their relationship.

Top of the day with Flip and Laura in Newport. Really, this journey has been the bomb, so far!

Flip thinks this may be his inroad to exploring like Jacques Cousteau. His method of underwater conveyance, a crab pot. We asked him to wait until he’s off our insurance.

While working on his selfies, Flip has an epiphany in Newport. The sharper in focus I am, the fuzzier the world gets. Is this true in all things?

Flip’s Rogue-version of Twister. No mascots were injured in this adventure.

Well, “we’ll see you on the ‘Flip’-side,” as the Flipster is fond of saying. Although, since he is on his lips, it sounds more like “I’ll flip you on the seaside.”

Run 101

Flip’s time at the Old Iron Show

August 16, 2014 Carl

Flip and his entourage wandered the Old Iron Show, which included black smithing and turned wood demonstrations, old engines powering all manner of machines. Ogled classic cars and a tractors. Yeehaw!

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Welsh Pups

Wow! Day 4 is here!

Day three and we saw Dinosaurs

Flip finds family

Flip’s adventures – Day 2

Day two with Flip

Captain, my captain!

Quote of the day!

Starting the Day two

Flip had a great day

Flip’s time at the Old Iron Show

Living the Dream