Our trip to the Oregon Coast was a spontaneous last minute decision. I knew about CBCC and it’s location. At the beginning of June I decided to check out their summer conference schedule (better late than never). There were two 5 night conferences with speakers that stood out to us but they were both full when we enquired and we got put on waiting lists. One of those conferences was from June 22nd until June 27th. A week before the conference was to start we got a call that there was an opening. We decided to go for it. Yikes. This part of the Oregon Coast is about a 9 hour drive from our home. We made another last minute call and asked our kids on the ‘Coast’ if we could spend a couple nights with them to cut our trip in half. They said yes!
It was nice to spend a couple days with our ‘Coast’ kids.
On Monday morning the 22nd of June we left Bothell for our 4 hour drive to Cannon Beach. We stopped on the way in Astoria for lunch and that post is here.
CBCC was founded in 1945. Some of the history can be found here.
More Than
75 Years in Ministry
Founded in 1945, Cannon Beach Conference Center has grown from humble beginnings to its place as one of the premier Christian retreat and conference centers on the West Coast.
The building above is the large dining room.
Across from the dining room was another lodge with the main conference check in lobby, a book nook, a store and a nice fireside area.
The above view is on campus lodging along with other buildings. I didn’t get photos of the gym and the chapel where all of our worship sessions were held.
This was our approach to the main campus from our lodgings each day for breakfast, our morning session, dinner, and our evening session. Our lodgings were about a half a block to the main campus.
The Pacific view lodge on the right is one of several lodges that house conference attendees.
We chose the older, more humble Beach Front Lodge that is located right on the beach.
Humble room and shower room with million dollar views and sounds.
The rooms do not have TV’s (on purpose), no coffee maker (coffee is provided at the conference center from 6:30am) no toiletries like shampoo and conditioner. They do have bar soap, towels, linens, tp, tissue, hair dryer, paper towels, microwave, refrigerator and internet. We brought our travel coffee pot, beans, grinder, and coffee cups which was a great decision for us since we like to have our cuppa when we wake up.
Looking back at the lodge from the sand.
Pelicans gathered during the day entertaining us.
What we learned as first timers is that these conferences are popular with large and small family groups who come year after year and have a kind of family reunion enjoying food and activities provided for all age groups.
We met some dear folk who we had many good conversations with. One couple who were missionaries in Japan for 27 years were especially good to get to know.
The worship/teaching time in the morning and evening was encouraging. Here are some notes I wrote down during the talks, The Invisible Hand of God was the overall theme from the book of Esther.
“Our unseen God is providentially working in our lives even when it feels like He is conspicuously absent or silent.”
“The unmistakable hand of God orders events to accomplish His will.”
“Don’t discount the possibilities of your ordinary days.”
A quote shared from the speaker’s father-in-law;
“Sin will…
take you further than you ever intended to stray
keep you longer than you ever intended to stay
cost you more than you ever intended to pay.”
We had free time everyday from about 11am until dinner at 5:30. We had lunch at different restaurants in town. We stopped and shopped along S. Hemlock street, the main drag which was always hopping with tourists. I didn’t get any photos of the street filled with tourists. We walked the shore and I’ll share those photos in another post.
We kept in touch with World Cup Soccer in the different eateries we chose in town.
It was delightful to fall asleep serenaded by the wind and the waves.
For those of you who might visit Cannon Beach someday these are places we ate and enjoyed the food and service, Driftwood, Bill’s Tavern and Brewhouse, Pelican Brewing, Screw and Brew (a hardware store and brewery), Public Coast Brewery.
We ate a lot of fish!
A shout out to Public Coast manager who kept the TV/bar area open after closing for us soccer fans to watch the USA v Turkey game on Thursday night! Thank you!
We also purchased candy and Salt Water Taffy from Bruce’s Candy Kitchen, making sweet memories since 1963.
Photos from our beach walks are coming soon.
The Happy Wonderer ~ ellen b. 