Road Trip Stop:Tillamook Cheese Factory

Okay, so yes - our road trip was back in May.
 But I'm only just now finally getting around to writing some of the posts I wanted to share about our trip!
No more excuses, just content.
When Lori and I were not staying with family and friends, we attempted to find the least expensive lodgings available.
Some of the places reflected that fact in an unfortunate way, but we wanted cheap, and you get what you pay for.
Lesson learned.
We were delighted, however, with our accommodations at
  Surfside Oceanfront Resort in Rockaway Beach, Oregon.
I want to go back and stay there again for more than just one night. We had a family suite, which meant we each had our own bathroom, the separate bedroom had another TV, and there was a full kitchen, too. I was able to stay up late and not disturb Lori in any way. For us, that was perfect.
We were able to visit the Tillamook Cheese Factory while we were in the area.
 I took pictures of some of the large photos that were hanging up on the walls.
We had last been there in 1966! Our family took camping trips when we were growing up, and one of the longer ones {which was that summer} took us all the way up into British Columbia.
That trip included tours at not only Tillamook, but also the Olympia Brewing Company in Tumwater, Washington.
 (Daddy used to drink Olympia Beer. I just watched "The Graduate" last week and Benjamin Braddock was drinking it, too, in the movie!)
I didn't remember very much about the cheese factory tour we went on back then, other than huge long vats full of cheese curds, and getting a sample of their wonderful cheddar cheese at the end, which has always been my favorite.
We were only able to see their Temporary Visitor's Center, which  meant no tour this time. We still enjoyed the visit very much, and each of us made some purchases, and we also had some ice cream while we were there.
And, why not?

You have to know I could not resist a photo "op" inside this VW!

And here it is - and here I am:

Click here to read an article about what happened three years ago to their fabulous little orange VW mini buses that were being hauled with this rig:

I had to bring home one of the little mini VW orange buses - it was just too cute to pass up!
I hope to be able to go back there again after they have their Visitor's Center Grand Reopening in 2018.
And just in case you thought I was kidding about liking the cheese, this is what we happen to have in our refrigerator right now here at home:

We're cheese people, folks. Plain and simple.
I also bought a souvenir tee shirt for my husband's birthday, which was two days after we got home from our two-week trip. It was his favorite gift, so I'm glad I thought of it!

Back to the ice cream: I found the flavor Lori had tried at the grocery store when we got back home:

Yes, it IS as good as it sounds!
(The one I tried that day was Malted Moo Shake - also fabulous, by the way!)
And later at a different store, I saw this pint of frozen custard, and I had to try it, as well:

It was good, but I still mourn the fact that I can't seem to buy a peach ice cream at the supermarket like whatever we used to get when we were kids. It was probably either Safeway's Lucerne brand, or possibly Crystal.
 I think I'll have to try making homemade peach ice cream some day, and see how that turns out!
Some day... yes, but it won't be anytime soon.