A Holiday

New Year's Eve found me with my youngest son Dave's family in cabins on Long Beach, WA.  Four days were spent exploring, walking, playing games and, for me and five teenaged girls, sleeping a lot.  Dave's family has 9 kids, currently aged 17 down to two aged four.  Several are adopted which is why there are 2 aged four, 2 aged 9, and a clump of teens. It's hard to find a place that will hold 12 people which is why this two cabin arrangement is nice.  Room for all but with someplace else to go. My amazing daughter-in-law Heather planned and cooked for all of us; we helped but I think sometimes we just get in her way.

Left is the large cabin's living room and it's very cozy fireplace. It was sunny and clear though the temps were 30° during the day.  On the right looks out of my cabin over the deck.  A few years ago you could see the ocean before the trees grew up but they shelter the place from some very vigorous winds.  There's a short path to the beach.

The start of our trip took us to a fish hatchery near Cascade Locks, Oregon. It was quite icy and Dave kept my less than agile self from taking a flyer.

Dave and Jacob on their way to the sturgeon ponds.

This is a going home picture, a view from the Astoria Maritime Museum looking north and west over the Columbia River towards the Columbia Bar. 

All the freighters/ships that enter into the Columbia from the Pacific wait for the pilot boat to come and get them.  The pilot comes aboard and takes over the ship and guides it through these rough waters into the river proper while the pilot boat comes along behind.  We were told the primary method of pilot boarding is by helicopter although it can be done by boat in calmer water.  You can read about the pilots here.  http://www.columbiariverbarpilots.com/ in business since 1846.

As I write this the Bar Pilot page weather says gales and high seas for today.  Many years ago on a salmon charter out of Westport, WA, our boat, one other charter, and a coast guard cutter got caught by a surprise Pacific storm outside the Westport WA bar and couldn't get back in or out of it.  Nothing can make you feel so tiny and respectful of the ocean as riding out those gigantic swells in your life jacket and then from atop a swell you see your tiny looking companion boats below you as your captain struggles to stay atop and not ride down on them.  Then its your turn and you see the Coastguard cutter many yards over your head. You can hear the engines race as the props come out of the water when are on the side of a swell while keeping the bow up as much as it can be.  I am so grateful I'm not prone to seasickness or panic. It was an amazing experience while I am oddly glad of it, I never want have to do it again. The pilots and the Coast Guard crews have my endless respect.

On a final note we had the best fish and chips I have ever had at Bowpicker's in Astoria.  Beer battered tuna, and wonderful fries.  Cash only, we had to clean out all our purses and pockets to scrounge up $ for 12 servings but yum, yum, yum.  http://www.bowpicker.com/  I feel like a traitor to my hometown but they were even better than the Totem House used to be in Seattle.

We had dry roads all the way home the last day missing the ice and snow that came the next day up the Columbia Gorge.  Happy New Year.