“One of the great things about making up lists of obscure objectives to pass the time in the rainy season is that the crowds will be elsewhere.”

Shortly after leaving our campsite, “Wide Open Spaces” by The Chicks playing on the stereo, I caught my first-ever glimpses of the Oregon coast.

Located between the towns of Florence and Coos Bay, it is the largest expanse of coastal dunes in North America. Towering sand dunes stretch for miles here, making it a hidden paradise for an adrenaline-fueled sport you may not even know exists: sandboarding.

The passage of time, itself, is a great forgiver.