Ocean Shores, WA at Gary & Colleen's house 7/2 - 7/7 2019

From: casarollnotes.blogspot.com 

Tim and Linda Bunyan

We arrive my cousin Colleen and Gary's Beach House at Ocean Shores.  Gary and Colleen built it over time and have a very positive outcome toward all their 'sweat equity'.  They have had many years of family gatherings here with all the comforts.  It is a well put together house and now Gary and Colleen are there to enjoy their time.  They even have space for our RV and a plug for power and water!

Woodstock, the kitty and Melissa's puppy, Charlie make friends.

Colleen has decorations on the table for the holiday. Even the neighborhood deer comes for a visit !!!

It is a family tradition over the past 15 years to assemble for the fourth of July and Tim and I just happen to have good timing to that and have experienced the Best 'hands on'Greatest Show On Earth for fireworks!!!

 elissa's friend Darius, rented a car 

Melissa's friend, Darius, visited for the day and drove out here to Ocean Shores to spend the holiday with Melissa and meeting the parents for the first time!  He is Regional Manager for the many Blazing Onion restaurants throughout the Sound.  So he began in the kitchen as Melissa was preparing egg and croissant sandwiches for all of us.

 Tommy was so excited to show us his Transformers!  It was the largest transformer I have ever seen.  I recall when Jason was a kid, about 30 years ago, his transformers were about 4" tall and usually a man that would transform into a weapon of some sort.  Tommy's transformer looked to be many subjects that can transform into a re-build.

Just around the corner is the Beach Access Trail and we are ON it !!!

A friendly game of Jenga between the 'Parental Units' and 'The Children'!  Everyone is a Star and the challenge goes on for quite some time.

Colleen and Melissa served up some dinner and Melissa prepared her layered (healthy for you) taco in a pan that was delicious.  


The second night Tim and I brought and prepared dinner for the group.  Melissa loved the grilled onions and Gary thought he could put a pretty good grill on the Pork Tenderloin on his Green Mountain Grill-Davey Crocket Model.

As a custom, Gary and Tommy and Melissa (Tim went with them) to the "Boomer", fireworks guy.  Gary ushered into the trailer where he chose his favorites.  Gary even picked up and felt the weight of some newer fireworks to judge if they were worthy of being a part of his demonstration.

The Supplies are loaded in the wagon and taken to the beach for our own fire ring where Tim kept the fire going strong by gathering beach driftwood.

A grand time was had by all.  We all had our favorite.  My favorite was called The Gorilla.  The Ladies Works were quite a laugh!

The walk to the open beach is just around the corner.  We even had a beach fire which Tim helped in piling up to keep the flames going.  

All up and down the beach fireworks were going and the families gathered around their fire and children were laughing and excited. 

 It was a beautiful sight to see.  

The dogs, of course, are the stars of the beach!  

They are getting acquainted and their difference in size is of no consequence to either.  

Charlie, little black fluffy is quick and Dak, the Blue-Heeler showed little fear and was able to keep up.

  
They ran around the beach and both were surprised when their paws got wet with their running into the water in their excitement!   

Our final dinner was Salmon that Gary had caught last week.  He has a Trophy fishing boat and he has it in the water now for the summer fishing season.  It is a delicous, huge platter

of the best-cooked salmon !!!

An engraving at their front step.

The final evening Colleen and I walked out to the beach and had a nice sunset view of this everlasting, ever satisfying ocean and lulls for peace, tranquility, and sound that surrounds one with security.

Goodbye Gary and Colleen and Tommy and Melissa and Charlie!  

HAPPY FOURTH OF JULY!!!

Cape Disappointment, Washington Cape Disappointment State Park 6/28 - 7/2 2019

From: casarollnotes.blogspot.com 

Tim and Linda Bunyan

We are at the Washington State, Cape Disappointment State Park while we focus on the destination of Lewis & Clark Corps of Discovery Expedition, the first American expedition to cross the western portion of the United States.  (5/14/1804 - 9/23/1985).

Cape Disappointment could not be explored by ship as the river's entrance was not locaed.  English Captain John Meares, 1788, named the headland Cape Disappointment located at the north side of the Columbia River, two miles southwest of the town of Ilwaco.

We set out along the Colombia River (North Side).  From the Station Camp (abandoned Indian Village) to Dismal Point.

  The below pic is the autual site Lewis and Clark climbed to view the Pacific Ocean.

  View to the Pacific.  Statement by Lewis "What a Handsome Sight"!  He worked (1801 - 1803)  for then President Thomas Jefferson as his personal secretary.

WE retraced their trail along the Colombia River as they arrived the mouth of the river.  It rained everyday.  The Corp could not cross the River.  They went ashore in a small cove, Capt William Clark called "that dismal little nitch.  Severe winter storm struck the area forcing them off the river for six days and preventing them from meeting the suplly ships.: 

Dismal Nitch is now a Rest Area.

This lady was raising money for the local Food Bank taking donations by offering Coffee and Cookies.

Station Camp, the last camp the Corp made on their journey.

The natives gifted their boat.  This boat was highly desireable to Lewis and Clark to cross the Columbia River.

 This Station Camp the Corps decided where to spend the winter.  They considered the climate, the possibility of an exploring or trading ship visiting the mouth of the Columbia and the availability of game and the salt to cure it.

Nearby the Long Beach Peninsula and a four-mile long bridge to Astoria, Oregon, Fort Columbia is in a secluded area.  There is a museum, spectacular views, cozy two-story building, refurbished open as a B&B.

Located on Chinook Apoint at the mouth of the Columbia

Artilery batteries and picnicking facilities make for interesting history and compelling place to be.

Fishing town at the mouth of the Columbia River: Ilwaco.

 Fishing Fleet

 Waterfront shops and restaurants at the Marina.

We head for the beach: Long Beach, north of the Cape.  From the street onto the large beach everyone enjoying the fresh ocean air and the waves and lots of beach space.!

Sand tire Bikes and Eagles.

 People with their Dogs play at the beach.

 Tim and I walking on the beach.  The background point of land is the Cape area and the uppermost mountain Lewis and Clark climbed to view the Pacific Ocean.........No vehicles on the beach then when they looked to the North. Just a journal notation of a long beach......28 miles of beach!!!

 North Head Lighthouse

We depart Lewis & Clark Corp of Discovery area.  They stayed on the other side (near Astoria) which was our previous stop.  The Columbia River still rules in strength challending ships to this day.

We are heading north.  We are going to stop to visit my cousin Colleen and Gary and their son, Tommy and daughter Melissa in Ocean Shores for the 4th of July holiday.  Colleen and Gary frequent their ocean shores house as a Family Tradition having built and owned it for over 20 years.

We drive thru Hoquiam, Washington a town where I lived in my second grade and half of my third grade before we moved as a family to California.

 Along the highway; timber industry remains.

Onward to Ocean Shores, Washington!