PAT'S GAZETTE: September 2003

Tuesday, September 09, 2003

SEPTEMBER 8, 2003
NEWPORT OREGON

We left Long Beach Washington early September 7, drove into Portland for a “pit stop” at Camping World where we purchased a new door for a compartment that we lost en route. We headed toward Lincoln City, Oregon. We missed our turn off for Lincoln City and decided to go to Tillamook instead. Ken remembered touring the Tillamook Cheese Factory at the age of eight, thus an interest in Tillamook was in play. The drive through over the mountain to the Coast was picturesque as has been most of the scenery on this trip. As we entered the outlying area of Tillamook the lush green pastures that provide the food for the “raw material” that make the cheese that is the foundation to this town’s ecomony, or at least we thought so. However, when we went to the RV Resort where we planned to spend the night, we found out that this is high season for this Oregon coastal resort. It is fishing season and the salmon are running. Consequently, we decided to shine “Tillamook cheese” on and headed toward Lincoln City. We ended up at a resort between Tillamook and Lincoln City which was adequate though not a “Gwelda Park”.

This morning we continued our drive down the beautiful Oregon Coast which contains some of the most spectacular coastline we have seen. I have decided I am turning into a “specialist in coastline viewing, marina hopping and boat analysis because Ken rarely passes by a body of water of any size without stopping to personally inspect the facilities, the boats and the surrounding amenities. As we drove through Lincoln City we were impressed with the size of what we thought would be a small town. It is a very nice medium sized coastal community surrounded by beautiful farms with happy “cows” just waiting to provide the main ingredient to the dairy up the road.

As we drove through Newport, we chose a RV park next to the marina which has a view of the bridge that connects Newport to South Beach for our overnight stay. We did a “walk about” Ken explored the docks and we drove through town and paid a visit to “old Newport” and the waterfront of yesteryear.

A weather front came in last night thus our drive down the Coast today (September 9) was wet and dreary but the weather stirred up the sea with awesome action adding to the adventure of maneuvering an exciting road on its own.

We are safely at rest in a lakeside park just outside of Coos Bay relaxing and waiting for the rain to pass us by.

SEPTEMBER 6, 2003
LONG BEACH, WASHINGTON
Happy birthday to our daughter in law Marci.

We wish we were there to help her celebrate but we look forward to celebrating with her when we return. When we tried to call to wish her a happy birthday we discovered we were out of cell phone range. Our Verizon coverage has been very good but occasionally we get lost in the span of space.
We are in Long Beach Washington, which is located on a ten mile long peninsula of the same name that runs from Ilwaco to Oysterville. There is a major fishing port at Ilwaco from which Ken caught a salmon fishing charter at 6AM . He has been yearning to catch a salmon since our arrival in this State and the charter boat seemed to improve his odds.
It is very cold and overcast today. Yesterday when we arrived the fog was still hanging over the horizon and when we walked on the beach, it was very foggy. Today we are experiencing a weather front and the fog simply has not go away. We arrived in this little village to find that it is hosting a vintage car event with 2 - 3,000 vintage cars expected for the weekend. It is amusing to see the small town anticipation, enthusiasm and celebration of these events. The residents of small town America seem to show a great appreciation for the brief interruption to their regular schedule. No doubt this is due to fewer opportunities to escape their daily routine. As we drove into town through the only main road connecting it to the mainland, residents were lined up along the roadway in their chairs, drink and in some cases food to watch the entrance of the old cars into town. In Hoquiam, the town just before Ocean City where we were before Long Beach, they were having a "loggers playday" today. They, too, were preparing for their celebration with special breakfasts, barbecues, ice cream socials which would all be capped off with a logging event at 6PM that would include events such as log rolling, chopping wood and whatever other "activities" that are unique to loggers. We have concluded that September signals the approach of fall and these events reflect the last hurrah of the season for the inhabitants of people in this area before the onset of winter.
Ken just returned from fishing with two salmon. They are small ones and it would have been much cheaper to buy them in the market but he would not have had the thrill of "the catch". Our diet for the next few days will be salmon, I think. Tomorrow we will be off to Portland and South. If possible, we hope to stop by Ashland, Oregon to say a quick hello to an old friend and co-worker, Jane Davis. Jane recently relocated to Ashland and if possible, we hope that we will get to see her as we pass nearby her area.
We have decided to cancel our planned trip to The Dalles on the Columbia River because of fires in the area. We learned that travel on Highway 84 is escorted one lane traffic and we feel that we have had enough smoke and forest fires for this trip. Like Lake Louise, it was a highly anticipated stop but alas, another time when the haze of smoke will not deter our sight.

Thursday, September 04, 2003

AUGUST 31, 2003

We were up early this morning in preparation for our departure from Canada. We found the RV Park in Richmond comfortable and well suited to a Vancouver commute. The ferry to Vancouver Island was just 30 minutes from the park as well as the park provided quick access to downtown Vancouver. We ended up our visit in the area with a visit to Steveston Village, a marina restaurant complex where fisherman "hawk" their catch of the day from their boats on the wharf and restaurants prepare fresh seafood items (presumably fresh from the boats) for ones eating fare. It was a nice finale to our Canadian visit.

Saturday afternoon a London type bus arrived in the RV park that appeared to be a combination bus, sleeper and camper. It was home to an estimated 20 German tourists who have been touring Alaska and Canada for the last two months. A man and woman who are the apparent "guides" prepare the meals, keep things ship shape and look after things while their tourist guests are out and about seeing the sights. It was a rather neat approach to camping "communal style". We didn't talk to the inhabitants of the bus inasmuch as none seemed to speak our version of English and we couldn't speak their German. Nevertheless, they smiled and nodded friendly like so we felt accepted in spite of our language barriers. They seemed like a jolly lot in their late 60's - early 70's gray headed with a spring in their step and a smile on their face.

All in all we did not think that the Vancouver people that we met were as friendly as most of the Canadians that we encountered. We attributed this lack of cordiality (they weren't rude - just distant) to a more cosmopolitan populace and a significantly greater number of tourists who like us, were just trying to find their way around. Nevertheless, it was a most pleasant visit and we look forward to a return trip to this beautiful country.

Our next ordeal was clearing customs back into the U.S. We had forgotten our passports which we had been told was a recommended accompaniment . Terri expressed mail our passports to Monica for us to pick up before we left the States. We did not need them going into Canada but we thought that we might need them to speed our return. However, we met another American couple who had entered at another entry location and they had undergone a thorough inspection before they were granted entry. We just answered place of birth and purpose of visit and were waved on through As it turned out our reentry was complicated by Ken going into the wrong line as we entered the border station. Our reentry was somewhat confused between agriculture, immigration and customs so everything went as well as could be expected though there was a certain air of intolerance at the gate for our failure to properly read their posted CLEAR instructions. However, the man in customs was very nice in spite of some concern about the meat in the freezer that I had repackaged at home for quick meal preparation for two. He explained that in our best interests Customs is particularly concerned about meat coming in from Canada because of the "mad cow" problem. (Little did he know that he might be speaking to a "mad cow" if he confiscated our meat.) Luckily for him and us, he believed our story when we said we bought it in the States. Our "larder" was spared. As he talked and explained the guidelines, I could only think that we should not have eaten so many meals out, but alas - all was well. It is good that our "big brother" was looking after us.

Customs cleared we proceeded down the highway where Ken noted fishermen on the rivers and grew excited about the prospect of salmon fishing. All of my plans for Seattle and vicinity went out the window as he prepared to fish for the big ones. As it turned out he didn't catch anything in Seattle but his fishing urge was motivated.

Tuesday, September 2 - People to see and things to do, we departed our Tall Chief RV Park abode at 9:30 AM. After a brief stop for a telephone call, we departed Redmond for Ocean Shores near Ocean City, Washington where a cold wind welcomed us to the Coast. Ken had looked forward to our visit to this area because of its rugged coast and as we surveyed the landscape and drove along the beach, the breaking surf ignited our fantasies as to what the storms along this coast must be like. We then drove up the Coast to Pacific Beach where Ken found a fishing river. Another man was already in residence along the banks there so Ken joined him and threw his lines out in hopes of bringing in a big one. Alas, no such luck. However, as the two men pitched their line out and reeled it in a good sized salmon jumped not five feet from them as if thumbing its nose at them. So, at least they know there are fish there - whether or not Ken can go back tomorrow and catch one will be the subject of my next report. It is time for bed so will catch you up on our fishing luck tomorrow.

Wednesday, September 3- Ken spent the day alternating between fishing from the rocks and fishing the rivers. So far, no fish but he is a "happy camper". In the meantime, he messed up my travel schedule but alas, I am just a fellow traveler who goes where my master bids! DUH!

Thursday, September 4 - A drive around the bay to Westport where Ken checked out the deep sea fishing opportunities. He finally concluded that we should be on our way so we are prepared to depart ocean Shores in the morning with a stop in Vancouver Washington before going on to the Dells on the Columbia River in Oregon. This has been a very comfortable, private and nice park for rest and relaxation. Ken's back has chosen to be a little "off" today so he has been a little more cautious with his rambling around so alas, still no fish. A fishing trip from Westport would cost him $80 so that will buy a lot of fish in the market but it won't entertain "his nibs". Isn't that just the saddest story you ever heard?