Hiking The Continental Divide

Even though I think I'm on the West Coast of Oregon, I'm pretty sure I hiked the Continental Divide yesterday.  At the very least, it sure FELT like it!!  Here's the route I took at Tillamook Head, beginning in Ecola State Park where there is a $5 per vehicle charge.  DO NOT take your RV, no matter how small, into this park.  The road is very narrow with overhanging trees.  Just ask the guy who tried it and left his air conditioner on the road.  Seriously, how could you miss that big sign that said NO TRAILERS OR RV'S?

Park in the lot where you can see the ocean, but don't walk closer.  You'll thank me that you didn't take those few extra steps.  Instead, head to the North on this beautiful trail that lulls you into thinking it's going to be an easy hike.

Fairy like, right?  This is where the fairies fool you big time!!  This is the start of the first hill, not 50 yards from the beginning of the trail.  From here on, you are either going straight up or straight down.

I have to admit, the views were TOTALLY work the trek.  There are three great spots on this trail to enjoy the ocean, one of which is the view Lewis and Clark had.  Take food and water with you.  You never know when those salt cramps will hit your left foot because you're used to sandals, not hiking boots.  Also watch out for those sections of the edge that are eroding away ... it's a LONG fall to the bottom.

The rock farthest out has a big hole in the middle and the water is as clear as a bell.  It's very cool and breezy, but I'm sure my temperature has gone up ten degrees.  I checked my latest App (the map above came from there, courtesy of Patty and John Painter) to see the elevation changes and how far I had gone.  It's satellite driven, so you don't need a phone signal.

It said the elevation change at that point was 500 feet.  I made that change three more times before reaching the end.  If you're a hiker, this is a spectacular trail.  If you're not, you may not like the cliffside hang-on-by-your-toes part or the muddy clay you have to slide down.  About half way, it appears the Forest Service gave up on maintaining the trail.  The views definitely make it worth the sweat and tears to get there however.

Terrible Tilly was my main objective, but by the time I got there, I was exhausted and soaking wet with sweat.  Don't bother taking a coat, because you'll have it off in the first ten minutes, wishing you didn't have to carry it the entire way.  

Tillamook Rock lighthouse was built in 1881.  You can barely see her in the above picture, way up in the top left corner.  That made getting lighthouse keepers and supplies to her a pretty dangerous endeavor.

Over the years, the rock has eroded and the lens was shattered.  She was decommissioned in 1957, whereupon a private company bought her for a columbarium.  They stashed quite a few cremated remains on the island before Oregon outlawed the practice and shut them down.  

There's cool stuff to see all along the trail when you are forced to stop for lack of air.  Mushrooms, those big yellow slugs and cougars, although I didn't see any of the kitties.  I'm sure my gasping for air kept them at bay.

When you finally reach Indian Beach, only 1-1/2 miles later, you'll be happy to know you have to walk a little further to reach the trail down.  Those specks below are actually people who drove to the upper parking lot and walked straight down to the sand, however they missed the three amazing views from the trail I just hiked.

On the way back, I caught my second wind, slowly walked the uphill parts and ran the downhill sections, just to see if I could.  The old trail runner in me couldn't help herself.  This is Cannon Beach, the parking lot view.  

If you keep your ears open, you'll hear these little beauties before you see them.  They have a beautiful song they sing when talking to the ladies in the trees.  One more thing, take your bug spray. I have thee new bites to contend with.

I rested up a bit upon my return to the rig, but Joanna's kite flying advice kept running through my head and my hands wouldn't stay still.  So just because I love to inflict more pain on myself, I grabbed my kites and went to the beach, where I walked a quarter mile through the soft sand until I found an uninhabited spot.  

With not much wind, I pulled out a full sail (no vents) and went to flying.  Okay, not so much flying as crashing.  There wasn't enough wind to even keep the lines taut.  With steady consistent wind, it's a breeze.  I was dealing with something like the wind that was coming out of my mouth on that hike.  Lots one second, nothing the next.  I finally gave up.  Not completely though, I'll keep trying.  Gee, I remember the wind being SO much better last year!!

To keep my pain and suffering at a peak, I think I'll ride my bike along the Promenade today, maybe stop in for another pastrami sandwich and a bottle of pain reliever!!

Making Hay ... Or Rather Salt

It's pretty interesting, the things we take for granted today, like salting your food at the table.  Salt controls the way your muscles and nerves work, which I learned years ago from an old football coach when I worked in Yosemite National Park.  He just happened to be walking by when I had a horrible cramp in my calf.  He said I needed more salt.  Weird, right?  So how did those folks from the Lewis and Clark Expedition figure THAT out?

Rather than "let's make hay" (my dad's saying, meaning get off your butt and get to work), I took a leisurely drive to the South of town for some picture taking ops and to check out the salt cairn, where three of the Lewis and Clark members replenished their stock of all important SALT.

In 1806, the men build a cairn of rocks and placed buckets of salt water on top, then built a huge fire underneath, which they kept going day and night.  In about two months, they had four bushels of salt to use in curing meat and for the return trip to the East.

In 1900, the historical society determined this to be the site based on testimony of Jenny Michel's Clapsop Indian father who remembered the white men boiling water here.  Every year they reenact the process at this very spot.  No the oven isn't real, but it's the thought that counts.  

On your way out to the beach, you will cross the Promenade, the mile and a half long concrete trail from one end of Seaside to the other.  I think I'll make hay and bring my bike here so I can ride the entire route.  

It was a bit of a walk to the sandy beach, which surprisingly had a lot of people camped out with their beach umbrellas, blankets and kids.  I wonder if the oceans have changed or if the Lewis and Clark guys really had to walk that far!!  It's beautiful, to say the least .... 

On the way back, after driving up and down all the little narrow streets looking for my "affordable" dream house, I spotted a little shop with decorator items.  Come to fine out, it's actually a Thrift store of sorts, with lots of consignment pieces.  There were a couple of Antique stores too, but nothing I couldn't live without on this day!!

That's when I happened to see The Gray Whale BBQ.  It's in an out-of-the-way location, but if you're in town, try their food.  On the recommendation of Ted Rea from Northwestern Kites, I ordered some pulled pork with cole slaw.  WOW!!!  Personally, I think MY bbq is pretty good, but this was even better!!  It's a HUGE portion, enough for at least three meals for me.  The cole slaw isn't you're mother's cole slaw ... it's big chunks of cabbage with a delicious dressing, NOT mayo based as far as I could tell.  Delicious with a capital D!!!

I got back just in time to take Miss Jessie to the Vet ... Seaside Pet Clinic.  If you need help for your babies, THIS is the place to go (at least according to internet reviews).  My appointment was at 4:00, yet I was in the door and talking to the man himself by 3:45.  My OWN doctor should take lessons here!!  

Dr. Robert Remensnyder was a wonderful Vet, asking lots of questions and finally checking out the lump on her hock.  The good news is she will be fine.  The bad news, next Wednesday, it will have to be removed.  More good news, they will only give her a little anesthetic and a local just on her hock.  Even better, the entire procedure will only be $175.  More BAD news, she will probably have to wear a collar, which totally freaks her out, so we'll see how that goes.  

With some GREAT advice from Joanna the Kite Magician, I'm going to spend the day on the beach practicing ... that is if the wind cooperates.  Really, I consider it a WIN if I don't break something, including a tourist's head!!

UGH ... Beach Hair!!

You know those women who have beautiful hair that looks great any time of day, whether at a Rock Concert, the Opera or the BEACH?  I'm not one of them!!  I spent a LOT of time yesterday morning washing and fixing my hair just for a trip to the Vet.  Not for me ... Jessie has a spot on her leg that needs looking after.

When they called to cancel (my appointment is now today at 4:00) and the wind began to change, I decided to go flying again.  Two seconds out in the misty, rainy wind and my hair was a hot mess!!  Visor time!!  Of course once a visor, always a visor ...

After a terrible Chicken Carbonara Lean Cuisine lunch (my advice is don't buy that one), I headed out with my bag full of kites.  THIS time I was smart enough to grab a large black marker and note which kite is which ... full sail, mid vent, full vent ... to I can choose depending on the wind and not get sand burns on my knees from being drug down the beach.

Even with the Shook kite, it was a little too windy yesterday.  If the wind isn't steady and smooth, it's MUCH harder to fly.  Most of the time it felt like a helicopter was overhead with gusts thrashing the kite right and left.  I think I got flying upside down pretty good (for me anyway) turning to the left, but turning to the right was another story entirely.  

How Joanna from the San Francisco area could just grab the handles, get the upside down kite to lift three feet off the ground and stay put while she walked fifty yards, is totally BEYOND me!!  She did that last year at the kite festival.  I'm in total AWE of that skill!!!

The beach has been really quiet.  With wind whipping the sand around and a little rain, most people have stayed away.  That's a good thing for a novice kite flyer!!  At least I won't whack someone in the head.

On the way back from flying I stopped in at a car wash on Roosevelt.  Do NOT go there.  It did a really crappy job for my hard earned $10.  There MUST be something better in town, I just haven't found it yet.  

There are lots of interesting vehicles around here, including this one ... but I have no idea what it is.  Yes, it's a pickup, but look at the size compared to the car next door.  It almost looks like a Matchbox Car.

At any rate, I had been waiting all day for dinner.  The anticipation of a beautiful piece of barbecued salmon ran through my head constantly.  I couldn't wait to try my Nephew's recipe.  It's pretty easy, spread out several pieces of heavy aluminum foil, plop the salmon skin side down on top and roll up the edges to keep the juices in.  Then go to adding whatever spices flip your skirt.

Place the entire thing on the barbecue ... I cooked mine on low ... and 30 minutes later you have this.  The cool thing is, the skin sticks to the foil perfectly ... making slicing and serving a breeze, to say nothing of the TASTE!!!  

Throw a few asparagus into the handy dandy veggie bbq cooker and dinner is served!!!  I did get a little concerned when I heard rain while everything was cooking, but apparently it didn't matter.  The BEST part ..... no cemetery required!!!

I'll probably just hang out today, but it won't be quiet.  Between the big barking dogs at the permanent site two rows behind me, followed by the two SMALL barking dogs one site down, the drills going constantly from Mr. Tweety Bird and the screaming kids on bicycles, it hasn't exactly been restful.  Two of my neighbors left early shaking their heads.  What can I say .... it's your typical Thousand Trails where there are lots of rules that NO one follows!!

I'll let you know how Jessie does ....... 

WHAT Ladder??

Remember what I said about having too much food and not needing any more sweets?  Well that went right out the window the second I landed at the Astoria Sunday Market.  If you are ever in this area, it's a MUST see.  Happily, more than half of the upper parking lot was full of vendors.

Meaning it has expanded by another 20 or more vendors, with three more selling plants and flowers.  You could landscape your entire yard with the beauties found here, not to mention your home with the amazing arrangements the ladies make.

This is where it hit me.  The very top vendor is HUGE and has more cinnamon rolls and cookies than you can shake a stick at.  My sweet tooth kicked in immediately, dragging me all around the display table where taste testing is a MUST!  There are samples for each and every one!! 

To make it even better, as my tooth cried out with joy .... they have every kind of jam, jelly and honey you could imagine .... and you can taste test every single one of those TOO!!  Baskets full of crackers await you!!  I think I showed great restraint.  I only tasted three jams and NO cookies ... however, three cookies, one scone and some jam ended up in my bag.   Not bad for a sweet fanatic!!

I stored all that in the car and headed back down the three block long gauntlet of goodies.  There are samples of everything edible, lots of fruits and vegetables and tons of jewelry.  I skipped them all however .... I was on a mission.

THIS was my target .... they call them a POCKET, but really they are like a pastie (pronounced pass-ty) a traditional pie from Cornwall England.  They are also called Byrek (Albania) or Borek (Istanbul) or any number of other names, including DELICIOUS!!  It's puff pastry with filling, this one being spinach and cheese.  I ate every single bite!!  I'm going to try and duplicate it, after I take out a little more fire insurance.

There were lots of organic vegetables, but I opted only for lettuce and basil, since my fridge is already full of squash and tomatoes from Illwaco.  The good news is I'll be around here for another month, so I'll get all my required daily veggies.

The Canadian guy at the end is still making birdhouses.  Yes, MANY of these vendors come all the way down from Canada to sell their wares.  Made with the BEST Canadian wood, he said!!  Even the man who makes and sells cigar box guitars is still here.  

Meet Ariel.  My oh my ... what a sweety she was.  She tried to get in my pockets and succeeded in jumping up on my chest and giving me a nice big kiss!!  Ariel is promoting the goats milk soap her Mama makes and was attracting loads of customers, unlike last year.  There were at least three vendors selling goats milk soap, so having a gimmick as cute as this, upped her sales dramatically!!  I wonder if they can be motorhome trained??

Still trying to buy local, I saw the Nehalem Bay Wine Company was giving out samples ... pretty LARGE samples at that ... of their wine selections.  This may be the one Miss Terry of Miss Terrys Kitchen and Gypsy Journal Fame, purchased last year.  You're going to think I'm weird, but the Pear Wine makes a GREAT salad dressing!!

Feeling pretty good that I showed GREAT restraint, except for that 2000 calorie pocket I consumed, I loaded up my meager purchases and drove down the hill to the huge two story Antique store I visited the day before.  Phog Bounders on Marine Drive is the name, but I don't think there's a sign.  I really wasn't looking for anything particular, but once in the basement ... you HAVE to go to the basement ... I spotted not one, but TWO ladders.  

What the heck does she need a ladder for??  As a quilter, you are always looking for ways to display your quilts.  Hanging them all over your walls is one option, but really my walls are not suitably wide enough where I want to hang things.  This idea came from seeing the ladders Indians used to access their rock wall houses .... and of course I've seen it in many a quilt store.

The best part is this ladder is wider and taller than most, making it perfect for it's new occupation.  Unfortunately with bike and ladder in the Jeep, no one can ride with me.  Maybe I can fit it in the basement of the rig.

The fog never lifted and the wind never blew yesterday, so the puppies and I lounged around the campground watching late comers fighting for spaces.  Being Sunday, it was nice and quiet last night as the horde of tent campers and weekenders filed out the gate.  I can actually see a tiny bit of blue in the sky this morning, so here's hoping there a nice breeze on the beach for kite flying.

Farmers Market Bounty

I took off early yesterday morning to Illwaco Washington for their Saturday Farmers Market.  I'm not sure if these are clouds or fog, but there were a LOT of them.  Funny ... there was NO traffic for a Saturday morning ... I just breezed right along.

Pretty soon, I began to think maybe everyone else knew something I didn't.  As the clouds parted and blue sky appeared, I figured I had it made!!

Not so much .... those clouds in the distance didn't move at all, and within minutes, it was pouring as I drove through the little town of Chinook.  All I care about however, is getting a parking spot at the Port of Illwaco.  Not a problem though, the Tuna Classic doesn't start till NEXT week.  That's when this place will be packed with boats and fishermen trying to win the big prize.

Most of the people here are the same vendors from years past.  It was nice to reconnect with them.  The lady selling homemade purses from beautiful fabrics, the lavender girl, the guy who hand cuts birdhouses, along with a couple of new bakery vendors.  

Pretty soon the rains came down again as I took shelter under the cinnamon bun, pie and cookie tent. Not on purpose I assure you, but my camera was getting soaked.  She had a new sensation she wanted everyone to try, so she immediately heated up FOUR bacon cinnamon rolls.  Now I'm not one to turn down such a treat, but this time I tried to pass.   She just wasn't going to let me, despite my protests.  

I figured a bite or two wouldn't hurt, until she handed me an entire bun about five inches across.  My stomach did a flip ... really, I've eaten too much over the last few days, and I didn't need any more.  Not to offend her, I took a bite.  The cinnamon bun with orange glaze was yummy ... the bacon, not so much.  

So here's the thing.  If you want to make a bacon cinnamon roll, chop that bacon up pretty small and fry it crispy crisp!!  Those huge one inch chunks of extra thick slabs with uncooked fat are just NOT appetizing, even if it DOES taste like bacon.  NOW WHAT??  I don't want another bite, let alone have to eat the whole thing!!  I nibbled until she forced someone else to take one, whereupon I snuck off down the street to locate a suitable depository.  I'm sure the seagulls will be in seventh heaven!!

It was good to see Jessie's Fish Company still in business.  Several small restaurants on the harbor front haven't fared so well.  The little ice cream store and two restaurants have closed their doors.

After getting the sweet taste out of my mouth, these veggies were looking pretty good.  Never mind that little cranberry-cherry pie ... it's SMALL!!

The Quilt Guild ladies were again selling raffle tickets for this cute boat quilt, made by the gals.  All the money they collect goes to local charities providing food for children and their families.  I buy TEN tickets every year.  Just like Bingo, I never win, but it's for a good cause.

There were not so many pups this time around, but this little beauty Pretty Girl on the right was trying to meet up with every single one.  Her maid and chief caretaker said every time she gets in trouble, she attributes it to being blond.  I get that .......

When the rain finally let up, I took a few harbor pictures ... there's nothing like grey skies and boats!

Until the rain came in again ... you can see it on the other side of the harbor coming our direction.  Since I really didn't want to take a chance on another bacon cinnamon bun, I made a quick exit to my Jeep.

The clouds never went away, making it look like this is the bridge to the heavens above.  STILL no traffic.  How lucky can I be!!

In spite of the closeness to my neighbor, I drug out my barbecue so I could try my new fangled gadget on the grill.  I think I'm getting the chicken part down pretty good, but the veggies may need a little work.

Actually, both could have stayed on the grill a little longer, but at least they weren't burned.  Not quite cooked enough, but NOT burned!!  YAY for me!!!

By 6:00 we were all curled up on the couch and asleep by 7:00!!  That only lasted until the volleyball game began again at 8:30 pm.

Another even BETTER market is today in Astoria, so I'd better get cracking.  I have to make room in my Jeep for that ladder I bought!!!