Ocean Shores

We're almost as far north and west as you can go in the lower 48 states, at Oceana Resort, in Grays Harbor County, southwest of the Olympic National Forest. Our campground is one of the Leisure Time Resorts, part of the Thousand Trails family, so we're staying here under our membership with no per-night charge. That will help our monthly average! We have several campground system memberships, and we haven't been using them nearly as much as we should to get our money's worth.

Our site is on the end, facing an open area bordered by tent sites and a playground that's very seldom used, so we're enjoying some elbow room in spite of the narrow RV sites and the fact that the park is almost full for the Labor Day weekend.

From Ocean Shores

The local general store stocks a few essentials, and has a colorful wood carving outside, but we're driving into the town of Ocean Shores about 5 miles, or Hoquiam/Aberdeen about 25 miles away, to buy groceries.

From Ocean Shores

We're on the north edge of Gray's Harbor, originally charted by Captain Robert Gray in 1792. This coastal, mostly rural, area is full of character(s), with a rich history of farming, fishing and the fur trade.

From Ocean Shores

We noticed several signs that were a bit different from other places we've been. Wonder what happened to the water at this beach? Isn't it on the ocean?

From Ocean Shores

The motel sign below reads "When sign is submerged we are closed." Dad and Son Sasquatch carry surfboards.

From Ocean Shores

We made some new friends, most of whom are members of S*M*A*R*T (Special Military Active Retired Travel Club), and are headed to the 2009 National Muster later this month in Lacey, WA, about 80 miles east of here. They invited us along, as well as to a pre-rally of the Nomads group. Don decided to re-instate his lapsed membership in the club, and we are planning to attend the rallies.

Here are our new friends. Lena and Bill are at the table with Don, after finishing a spaghetti dinner at our place on Thursday night.

From Ocean Shores

Al and Tryna, Bill and Mary sat at the other table. It was a little too cool to eat outside, and it's pretty easy to fit 8 into our motorhome, or more if we eat out of our laps or off of tray tables.

From Ocean Shores

Don and I visited the Westport Maritime Museum yesterday, on the south beach of Gray's Harbor.

From Ocean Shores

A separate building houses the first-order Fresnel lens from the Destruction Island Lighthouse. It's "considered the finest first-order lens display in the world." The lighthouse still exists, with an automated beacon installed in 1995; however, it was decided that the lighthouse was unnecessary and the light was turned off in April 2008. This and other lighthouses are described at www.lighthousefriends.com/

From Ocean Shores

We had lunch at the place recommended by a few people we met along the way, and enjoyed the best seafood we've found in the Pacific Northwest so far.

From Ocean Shores

Then we walked out on an active fishing pier to a gift shop. I'm sure glad I didn't have to back this big rig out on the narrow dock!

From Ocean Shores

Workers were unloading a couple of boats. Large flash-frozen salmon were being loaded into big shipping containers...

From Ocean Shores

...and shrimp were being moved from a smaller boat into bins, with a few spilled in the process.

From Ocean Shores

These park models for sale (called "Cottages" here) face the harbor.

From Ocean Shores

This condo building offered great views as well. An auction is scheduled, with minimum bid $295,000.

From Ocean Shores

There's even an RV park with great views of the harbor.

From Ocean Shores

This fisherman found his own private place to pursue the sport.

From Ocean Shores

Grays Harbor Light Station, Washington's tallest lighthouse (107' tall, 123' above sea level), has been in the same place since 1898. Although it was built only 400 feet from the water's edge, it's now over a mile away due to the addition of a jetty and build-up of sediment over the years. Yet, it's still an active guide to navigation, using a third-order Fresnel lens with two bull's-eyes.

From Ocean Shores

Don waited at the view site while I walked out to the lighthouse, but I declined to climb the 135 steps to the top.

From Ocean Shores

On the way home, we stopped at Brady's Oyster House to see their fresh catch.

From Ocean Shores

Afterward, we took Shadow for a walk to the beach. He kept looking back to make sure I was following.

From Ocean Shores

This 'sculpture' made of beachcomber's finds marks the path.

From Ocean Shores

At first, Shadow was reluctant to run free after Don took him off the leash. Maybe he remembered running wildly the first day we went to the beach, and how tired it made him later! After all, in dog years, he's almost as old as we are.

From Ocean Shores

He picked up the pace a bit when he found the wet sand.

From Ocean Shores

Today we visited the Ocean Shores Interpretive Center. It offers lots of interesting displays and explanations of the history of the area.

From Ocean Shores

From Ocean Shores

Driving around the south end of the peninsula, we found lots of interesting houses, most of them having some way to view the ocean, either from a deck or windows or a top-floor belvedere. Many of them are for sale.

From Ocean Shores

From Ocean Shores

From Ocean Shores

From Ocean Shores

From Ocean Shores

From Ocean Shores