Big Ships Passing

You can't help but love this bridge.  The Astoria-Megler bridge across the Columbia River is just an amazing site to see.  I showed you this picture before when I was on the way to Sunday Market.

What I didn't show you was THIS!!  As I came across the lower part of the bridge from Ilwaco, I saw a ship heading rather fast towards the bridge.  It being early morning and no traffic, I stopped in the middle of the road for a windshield picture.  That's not dirty water beside her, that's MUD.  That's how shallow the bay really is.  This is Ocean Wealth, a bulk carrier owned by a company from Panama.

WAIT ... she's going under the bridge!!  I just HAVE to get pictures!!  I raced as fast as I could down the ramp, around the corner to a red light.  RATS!!  Please, please change!!  Another quick left turn and I came to a screeching halt next to a building, grabbed my camera and raced to the back deck as fast as I could.  

Just in the nick of time, she started under the bridge.  YAY!!!  Making it even more dramatic, with the tide out, all the old cannery pilings are sticking out of the mud.  I happily snapped away.  I might even have to frame this one!!

She was no slow poke.  In fact, I was shocked at how fast she was traveling.  Don't they have speed limits??

It's funny, I don't know how many crew it takes to operate one of these babies, but you NEVER see anyone.  There's not a sole standing on the deck or any of the railings.  Ocean Wealth is a bulk carrier, moving coal, ore and steel around the world.  There is actually an App you can get called Marine Traffic, which will show you every ship in your area.  Tap on the ship and you can find out where it's from, what it's carrying, where it's going and info like how long and how much it weighs.  

Well THAT was exciting.  I headed off to Sunday Market, where I picked up a few pieces of corn.  Blog friends Rick and Kathy Rousseau showed this tip on their blog, so I'm passing it along.  Cut off the bottom end (I should have cut off a tad bit more) and microwave the corn for 4 minutes each piece.  

When done, using heavy gloves or a hot pad, cuz this baby is screaming hot and will burn you ... squeeze the top end like you were milking a cow, and the corn pops out, with NO silk attached.  Since I didn't cut off quite enough, it didn't pop out, but was super easy to peel, leaving those pesky silk strands attached to the husk.  To make it even better, when I ate the corn, the kernels came off the cob super easy.  Corn for lunch!!

For dinner, I had picked up a BBQ chicken pizza from Safeway.  They never put enough stuff on it for me, so I added some of my smoked chicken, sliced onions, more cheese and a little more barbecue sauce.  Baked in my Breville oven on the bottom shelf, it came out fabulous.  Edible at least, and that's a plus for me.  Of course you know I will eat anything with the name pizza attached to it.

I spent the afternoon yesterday in the Cannon Beach area at Indian Beach.  It was just SO cool ... go early and take a $5 bill.  I'll tell you why tomorrow!!

Don't Buy The Pie!!

It was Sunday and there were two things on my agenda.  The Sunday Astoria Market and Thousand Trails Seaside.  Apparently the longest days of the year have passed since it was pitch dark when I walked the puppies in the morning.  With everyone fed, I was off to Astoria.

It's amazing just how shallow the mouth of the Columbia River really is.  When the tide goes out from under the Megler-Astoria bridge, you can see nothing but mud, except for one snakelike section of deep water for the ships heading inland.  I mean really, you can walk almost the entire way across on the silt deposited from eons of rain storms.

With my usual parking spot right at the top (arrive by at least 9:30) I grabbed a bag and made a beeline for the bottom.  They have porcelain palaces of poo (Mike Rowe's words, not mine) that are still clean in the morning.  I should have taken one home with me.

Also in that general area were all the food vendors, this time packed with many more than before.  I was shocked and surprised to see my all time favorite spinach and cheese hand pie had returned.  I was in heaven.  Since I thought they were gone, I purchased all the things to make some myself.  I'm still going to give it a shot.

If you want to eat healthy, there are several vegetable stands here with homegrown goodness.  I've no idea if anything is cheaper in the store or not, but nothing is as fresh as these.  This is my favorite stand to buy butter lettuce.  By noon they are all sold out, so buy early.

I LOVE THIS!!  It's not just decoration.  I spotted this bike locked to a pole behind the vendors.  It belongs to a local who rides it to the market every week.  Yup ... that's a basket full of dirt-planted flowers in front.  How creative is THAT?

This is always my first stop, since sometimes they run out of product too.  Their marionberry jalapeño jam is the best.  I had to settle for raspberry this time.  They even have an entire table full of every single flavor along with crackers for you to taste test.  Go ahead ... you know you want to.  I tried about every one just for fun.  

Similar to Marie Powell, these guys were selling wood block prints.  Trouble is, they were crazy, wild designs of things I'm sure no one would want hanging in their house.  Sorry, no pictures.  I tried to buy their sign, but they said NO.  

This was rather interesting ... a motorized wheelchair with off-road tracks.  I've never seen anything like it.  It was filthy dirty, so I imagine he's been at the beach with it.  This would be perfect for us old folks who don't want to walk very far.  Pretty cool, but I rather think it has a high price tag.

This table full of cakes and cupcakes caught my eye immediately.  Actually, I purchased a mini strawberry pie from him last week.  This is a new adventure for him since his normal business is catering.  I tried one chocolate gluten free cupcake.  In spite of the almond and rice flour, the cake part was delicious.  It would have been much better had he slathered it with mounds of chocolate frosting.  Alas, the ooey gooey part was a letdown, light and airy but with little chocolate taste.  

Dogs are everywhere.  Please don't take yours if he's not truly dog friendly.  There were some loud barks and growls that turned everyone's head more than once.  This baby was okay ... he loved everyone!!

Back at the top, I spotted The Pie Guy.  Who am I to turn down anything sweet!!  You can taste any of his 10 different flavors.  I tried two and ended up with a small pecan pie for $6.00.  Let me just say DON'T BUY THE PIE from the Pie Guy.  Maybe it was a fluke, but after eating only one quarter of it that night I knew I was in trouble.  I was sick as a dog.  All night long!  

That porcelain palace would have been a good addition to my rig.  I didn't even take a picture of the pie ... I just tossed it in the trash.  It took four Tums and a couple more hours to recoup.  I suppose it helped that I was already awake for the early morning drive back to Seaside, but that's not my preferred method.

At any rate, this time at the top of the market was handmade patio furniture.  Although there are many vendors here week after week, some only come once a month, so you have to hit them up several times to see everything.  Don't miss it ... it's a fun market with lots of taste testing along the way, including beer, wine, salsas, hummus, vinegars, cakes and pies.

Once I left the market, I drove to Seaside to see if my new quilting friends were still leaving.  No one was home, so I left a card.  Upon my arrival at 8:00 Monday morning, they were getting ready to go.  Hello Karen ... are you waiting for our spot today?  Yes I sure hope so.  I'm pretty sure they had no idea who I was, but that's okay, because I DID get their site, the only one that came available in this section the ENTIRE DAY!!  Boy was I thankful for THAT!!

In an effort to heal up from the porcelain palace pie purveyor, I spent the entire day in the rig doing laundry.  FIVE loads of laundry.  I've got things hanging from every knob in the rig.  Feeling a little better now, there is a minus tide expected around 10:00 this morning, so I'm off to find someplace to take pictures.  It just might be close to the Cannon Beach quilt shop.

Table For 50

It was an interesting weekend.  I was exceedingly thankful that the parking space I coveted at the end of the row was NOT available when I arrived.  Why?  It turned out that was the location of a huge gathering of family and friends who took over the entire back of the park, including every picnic table they could steal.

For every meal there were 50 or more adults and children present, with the accompanying loud noise.  That was nothing compared to their Friday and Saturday games played at the top of everyone's lungs.   Throwing water balloons brought out more squeals than a pig farm.  SO THANKFUL I had to park up front.  When I was asked if I would mind trading spaces, I declined.  We had a good laugh.

To escape the weekenders, I was up early headed for the Ilwaco Market and my favorite picture taking subject, the red fish factory.  Yeah, I forgot my camera.  It's okay though, in a few short weeks, I'll be back.

Most all of the people who sell here also go to Sunday Market in Astoria.  Here however, it's not near as crowded, so you get a good chance to check out their wares and start up a conversation.  Shy as I am, I always try to do that ... after all, I don't know them, so it's easier.  Most are happy to talk and pass the time.  That also allows me to play with their puppies, a pastime I love.

Having walked by the Smoked Salmon Chowder trailer every time I've been here over the past five years, I finally decided to give it a try.  A small bowl, which is really huge, was only $4, along with a piece of toasted garlic bread for $1.  

I had a little trouble spotting the salmon, since most of the pink stuff was really carrot.  It didn't TASTE like salmon at all, but was rather a pretty good plain chowder, full of potatoes, celery and carrots.  The toast was delicious, except for those burned pieces of garlic.  It's hard to make a toasted slab of bread in a hurry.  All in all, worth the cost.  He's also at the bottom of the Astoria Sunday Market if you're starving.

Never Enough Bags, an easy-up big seller, had some of the best handbags I've seen, not to mention the perfect name.  They are made from fabulous fabrics and are full of pockets, zippered and slip-in, heavy enough for hauling all my junk around, yet light for the shoulder.  I LOVE IT!!  At $35, I don't think she is charging enough.  I might mention that the NEXT time I see her, since I already purchased mine.

As most of you know, I'm not a GALLERY person.  If it's in a gallery, it's too expensive.  I usually don't even go in to look.  It makes me feel bad to take up their time when I know I have no intention of buying.  I could buy a horse for one picture.  

On the wharf is Marie Powell Gallery.  As businesses have closed down, people are trying to revamp the boat dock area.  Marie has moved to a nice building and set up her artwork for sale.  She carves wood blocks, paints them and transfers the images to paper, as well as creating other types of prints.  Her work is amazing, with multiple layers of color and patterns.  Most of it is ocean related, not a good fit with Cowboy.

A local artist, Marie has other works in her gallery, also made by local people.  This is one of the most amazing baskets I've ever seen.  She gathers rope that has drifted to shore from fishing boats, cleaning it before making these creations.  All the baskets still have crustaceans on them, some including line weights and intact knots.  If you're ever in Ilwaco, you just HAVE to stop in.  No, they are not cheap.

You're right, I bought this one after pleading bankruptcy.  She made me a deal I couldn't refuse.  Marie also has a section of SALE items because she says everyone can't afford originals (no kidding), and even though these ARE originals, she puts some out at much lower prices.  Check it out!!

Even if you're not interested in the market, it's a very nice walk along the Port of Ilwaco.  Buy a pie, or some non-salmon chowder, or maybe some vegetables for later to help support the people here.  They could use it.

This morning I'm an early bird, probably waking everyone up as I head back to Seaside for a couple of weeks.  That will give me a chance to head South to the quilt stores, and maybe escape the mosquitos.

Mosquito counter ... 12 - 1 that finally quit itching

$12,000 Chaps

Off on a little shopping spree at the local antique stores, I spotted this beautifully carved sign.  It's new, just completed by a local artist and installed two days ago.  It says Ocean Park 7 miles.  The other side says Long Beach.  I LOVE that they use local talent.

Along the way I stopped at some geocaches that eluded me last year.  I found one after cheating and reading that the coordinates were about 45 feet off.  After clomping through the bushes looking for the BIG tree (they were all big) and getting even more mosquito bites, I finally located the box.

With that I required sustenance.  This is the Corral Drive-in, on the North side of Long Beach.  GREAT burgers!!  Yeah, it's kind of another dive, one I probably wouldn't stop at if I hadn't heard about it first.

If you like ooey, gooey, juicy, drippy delicious burgers, this is the place for you.   It was a five napkin burger, bacon and cheese hit of the day!!  I ate every single bite.  

Next up ... Ocean Park where I stopped in at Long Beach Peninsula Trading.  It's huge and stacked to the brim, a lot of which is not for sale.  It seems Margaret, or Judy or whatever her name was, decided to keep all the good stuff behind glass with lock and key.  

Not long into my visit I spotted a pair of goatskin hair chaps wadded up on the bottom shelf (pronounced shaps ... I know, everyone says it differently, but take it from an old cowgirl, it's SHAPS).  I'd love to have a pair hanging on the wall in the Arizona house.  Funny, when she took them out and looked at the price, SHE almost fell over backwards.  It was NOT a typo - $12,000.00.  Not really an antique pair, they were a modern version you can purchase new for $300.  No pictures allowed, so here's one from the net.  Had they been worn by Will Rogers or even Roy Rogers, I might have looked twice.

Thank you I said nicely, but your price is out of this world and over the moon.   There's no way you're going to sell these.  She stated it was in her handwriting, but she just wrote down what the owner told her.  Too bad I heard her speaking to a woman in the back about how she accumulated all of her "treasures", meaning SHE was the owner.  I told her if they were actually antique, I would only pay up to $500.  Thank you and goodbye.  She made a beeline for her computer to check my price.  I drove away.  

I made a quick run through two more antique stores ... more like junk stores really ... and came up with this $12 wooden horse and .....................

this gate for my walkway at the Lost Horse Ranch.  Check out the handle ... it's a horse shoe.  A pony shoe actually, but no matter ... it's perfect.

Of course I was really on the hunt for a wine bottle opener.  I hit up three Thrift shops and found nothing.  Since I was already in Ocean Park, I stopped in at Jacks.  You can find anything at Jacks.  Sure enough, there was the 7" cheesecake pan I needed, the small pizza peel, silicone pot holders for cast iron handles (because the cloth ones catch fire, personal experience speaking here) and of course the bottle opener.  

Just because I haven't seen this little gadget before ... have you?? ... I bought it.  It's a pot gorilla  Who knew?  I'm hoping this helps with my cooking skills.  Every time I cook pasta, it boils over because the lid won't stay at an angle.  Attach this little red beauty to the edge of your pot and VOILA!!  Your lid can never close, letting the water make a gooey mess of your stove.  I know, it's cheesy ... but you have to admit it's also very cute!!!

Already thinking about breakfast, I headed back on the East side of the peninsula and stopped at Baileys Bakery in Nahcotta.  I've heard great things about their pastries.

Wasn't I surprised to find hardly any had been made that morning.  I settled for some scones, a delicious peach (buy this one) and a blackberry (do NOT buy this one).  They were okay, but to be honest, I can make better.  Shocker, right??  The peach really was good with my morning coffee.

Much better was THIS ... did I show you before? ... a beautiful tiger paw from the Bakery in Long Beach.  Are you getting hungry yet???

Since it's Sunday, I'm headed back to Astoria for the market.  I really don't need anything, it's just an excuse to go back to the Thousand Trails park in Seaside and check on my new Quilting Friends parking space.  They are scheduled to leave tomorrow and hopefully I will slip right in to their empty space for a two week stay.  

Mosquito Counter ... 10

Vacuum Review and Footprints

Meet my Dirt Devil REACH 24v lithium battery vacuum.  I admit I'm terribly spoiled by the Dyson cordless that I purchased several years ago.  It's the best one ever, with great suction, attachments and a handy dandy holder/charger.  After not that much use, it has a loose connection somewhere, making it not want to run continuously ... as in three seconds and it quits.  At that price ($300) I'm not throwing it away ... I will have it repaired.  In the meantime, with a dog that sheds like a black lab in Yuma, I have to have something.

After searching online for several hours, I finally found another cordless that didn't cost an arm, a leg and five fingers.  I went to every store within an hour's drive, but couldn't find it.  Finally at a place that I knew would accept shipments, I ordered this one from Amazon.

So here goes .... it's lightweight, has a great brush head and picked up an entire cup's worth of fine dirt and dog hair in a flash.  I even had to empty it before finishing the job.  There's definitely not as much suction power on the first setting.  But here's the deal ... hit the ON button again and it roars to life on maximum power, even picking up little rocks.  Of course the battery won't last long on that setting, but the little blue lights on front tell you just how much life you have left.

It didn't really take long to charge up ... it comes partially charged so you can have the immediately satisfaction of knowing it works.  It's even about the same size as a Dyson.  It worked great on the tile floor as well as the carpet and rugs.  This is not for a whole house, but perfect for my motorhome, only because you will have to dump the canister constantly.  The only down side I see is there's no way to hang it on the wall for charging.  I had to prop it on this cabinet.  When the job was complete, I had to find somewhere to store it.  

All and all, definitely worth the $129 I paid for it, $140 including tax with free shipping.  I actually think there is another model (same vacuum) but with a "holder" of sorts that you hang on the wall to keep it from falling over.  I went cheap ... no holder.  There are several models available with long cords.  I hate cords.   This one worked perfectly in my rig, cleaning everything on one charge.  Maybe I can order the holder as an accessory.

With housekeeping out of the way, I wandered back to the bird refuge on the North end of the peninsula.  The sky was pretty spectacular, but kept spitting at me the entire time I was there.  No it wasn't the birds ... it was rain drops.

It's sad when there's nothing to photograph so you resort to dead tree stumps!!

I did find more tracks in the sand ... these from a raccoon looking for tasty morsels at the water's edge.  Too bad the water was half a mile out.  That's when it dawned on me.  High water brings the birds and fish to the edge of the beach.  That's when the coyotes and critters are out hunting.  They aren't dummies ... why go all the way out and get their feet muddy?

I was hanging out at the wrong time of day.  I reached for my phone to check my tide charts, just as I remembered I left it on the table at home.  My next trip out will be at high tide.

Here's a few more tracks from the guy flying below.  These blue herons are huge and leave 5-6 inch tracks in the sand.

Breakfast is served.  This once tracked his food for several feet, being SO stealthy, then BAM!!  He hit that little fish, brought him up and swallowed all in one quick second.

He might have been after one of these guys.  Can you see the little crab under the wood?  There was a nice looking log on the beach (maybe 12 inches long) that I rolled over.  The little crab ran back under for cover.  I rolled it again and he quickly scurried back under, trying not to be a bird snack.  I left him to his cover as the water began to return.

The weekenders have returned to Long Beach.  Amazingly, there are many vacant spaces in the "trailer" section, but the camping part is full to the brim.  Thank goodness they are all at the FAR end of the park.  I just can't help it ... fifteen kids riding around on their bikes screaming at the top of their lungs (with absolutely no parental supervision) makes me crazy.  Apparently that's why they come here ... they just park their butt in a chair and drink, leaving the kids to their own devices.

I have to say the new Management here is considerably better than before.  I saw them admonish kids for their noise and actually chase down one of the parents who FORGOT to pay at the front gate.  Six smoky fires caused me to close the rig up tight at 6:00, but that's okay ... it kept the noise out too.

Tomorrow ... $12,000 for a pair of chaps!!!

Tracking Coyotes

I wonder why so many of my adventures take me down narrow one way roads?  I couldn't stand it.  Cleaning is not my thing.  I headed out to Leadbetter Point State Park in spite of the bear warnings.  If it's early in the year, don't take any food with you.  No use making yourself appetizing.

Sticking out into Willapa Bay at the very end of the Long Beach Peninsula is a bird refuge full of interesting creatures.  It's a short hike ... take mosquito spray.  I've never found mosquitos here before, but this year they are HUGE and there are LOTS of them!!  

Actually they were only bad on the way down the forest trail.  In a hundred yards, you arrive at the waters edge where they disappeared.  Except for those two that kept following me ... which are now dead dead dead!!!

I went fairly early, hoping to catch Miss Coyote.  As you can see above, about 9:30 the water was coming back in.  Here's the half mile long beach I wanted to walk, looking for treasures and critters.  This section is usually full of clam shells, but none were to be found this day other than broken bits.

That's when I spotted the tracks.  Coyote tracks ... and they were FRESH!  Keeping a close eye on my back for dangerous things like bears and people, I began following them.  

Here is where she came OUT of the trees.  See that dark sand in the middle?  The wet sand fell from the top when she stepped down, right where her tracks in the sand begin.  It happens that this is right next to a sign ... the same one she passed by last year.  Animals have their territories and tend to follow the same trails.

More fresh tracks.  See the light sand in the prints?  She has disturbed the wet top layer down to the dry sand below.  She was just by here this morning.  

I followed her down the beach.  Occasionally she made her way closer to the water on the hard pack sand, then wandered back up the hill, jumped up a little incline and went back into the trees.  How cool is that!!  

I figured to stick around and see if she came back.  Hiding in the trees, I fended off an elderly gentleman who wanted to yell at me from 50 yards away.  I tried to melt into the sand.  He continued talking as he passed by.  I gave him directions for the walk-around (bad Nancy) hoping he wouldn't return to the beach.  How are you going to see anything if you don't be quiet???

I was rewarded with lots of Blue Heron sightings as about six of them wandered the water's edge, occasionally dipping their head into the water for little fish.  

Pretty soon they would squawk really loud and take off, flying to another spot just down the beach.

At long last I gave up.  There would be no coyote pictures on this day.  I did find a HUGE print on the way back, but it was a dog.  Coyote prints come in pairs, like the picture above.  These were all spaced far apart.  Not cougar or mountain lion since THEIR two front toes are not even .... kind of like your middle finger, one sticks forward of the other.  Their claws don't show either, since they are retractable like a kitty cat. You can also draw an imaginary X through the middle of a dog's print.  Can you see it?   Lucky for me, I saw no bear tracks.  

I figured the least I could do was show SOME kind of coyote pictures, so here's a few I took last year from this exact same spot.

Isn't she a beauty?  Back in my part of the world, they are much darker and scroungier looking.  These guys are red and gorgeous, not to mention fat!!

I'm not giving up ... I'll go back.  Surely I'll run across more critters to photograph!!

One thing about all these parks, you have to have a Discovery Pass, which isn't even available at every park.  Although I have parked here before with NO pass, I would recommend going to Cape Disappointment State Park and picking one up.  A $90 ticket is no fun.

If you remember, last year I got stung by the Park dispenser machine when I punched the button for a DAY pass and got hit with a $30 charge on my credit card for a YEAR'S pass.  I left it in my Jeep.  It happens that I actually found it yesterday and it is good until the END of the month one year later (August for me).  I can do lots of park hopping on that $30 hit!!

Mosquito Bite Counter .... 7