Washington Coast Magazine, Spring 2020

WASHINGTON COAST MAGAZINE • SPRING 2020

DOGGIE DELIGHTS

Places your pooch is welcome to eat, sleep and PLAY!

DESTINATION: GRAYS HARBOR

Where to go, what to do

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Welcome to the Spring 2020 edition of Washington Coast Magazine!

This special expanded edition doubles as a travel guide to Grays Harbor. We’ve got lists of everything a visitor might need to plan a great trip to the Harbor — from chambers of commerce to art galleries to parks.

Marcy Merrill has compiled a guide to dog-friendly destinations from hotels to walking trails to beaches, we’ll show you where your pups are always welcome.

For those looking to go ocean fishing, Dan Hammock offers an overview of what’s available through Westport, and tips to prepare for an outing on a local charter boat.

Other features in this issue highlight the area’s tightly knit chainsaw carving community and an Aberdeen business that finds new homes for old architectural elements.

In addition, we have all of our perennial favorites within these pages. Jeff Bryant ducks around in “Bird’sEye View,” lifelong Harborite Lane Youmans tells us “Why I Love It Here,” and photographer Craig Nichols

360-532-4000 editor@washingtoncoastmagazine.com

Publisher

Mike Hrycko

Editor

Kat Bryant

Editorial & photographic contributors

shares a heart-tugging moment for our “Last Shot.”

Enjoy!

Kat Bryant, Editor

Doug Barker Chris Brunstad Jeff Bryant Dave Haerle Dan Hammock Patricia Jollimore Marcy Merrill Craig Nichols Lane Youmans

COAST DESTINATIONS

Editorial assistant

Karen Barkstrom

2470988

Editorial graphic designer

Jacie Landeros

Circulation director

Doug Ames

Subscriptions & distribution

Leslie Bebich

Beach Homes Aren’t Just For Summer

donna jones

Visit www.OwnOceanShores.com

Donna Jones Broker 360-580-5354

Advertising inquiries, subscriptions & change of address: 360-532-4000. Back issues: $8 plus shipping & handling.

Washington Coast Magazine is published by The Daily World, a division of Sound Publishing Inc., and may not be reproduced without express written permission. All rights reserved.

No liability is assumed by Washington Coast Magazine, The Daily World or Sound Publishing regarding any content in this publication.

A subscription to Washington Coast Magazine is $14 annually. Single copies are available at select locations throughout Grays Harbor and Pacific counties. For details, visit www.washingtoncoastmagazine.com

donnajones55@live.com

Real Estate / Ocean Shores 4

WASH I NGTON COAST MAGA ZI N E | SPRI NG 2020

©2020 by The Daily World 315 S. Michigan St. | Aberdeen, WA 98520

SPRING 2020

Contents

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PERENNIALS 4 EDITOR’S LETTER

DESTINATION: GRAYS HARBOR

60 BIRD’S-EYE VIEW

Where to go and what to do in every corner of Grays Harbor County

It doesn’t have to quack to be a duck

55 OUR FAVORITE EVENTS Special expanded calendar covers all of 2020

65 WHY I LOVE IT HERE Lane Youmans, retired coroner, is now a volunteer with PAWS and 7th Street Theatre

66 LAST SHOT “On Approach,” by Craig Nichols

14 MAP 16 INNER HARBOR 26 EAST COUNTY 30 SOUTH BEACH 40 NORTH BEACH 50 SEABROOK

ON THE COVER Destiny, a Great Dane mix, leaps from puddle to puddle on the beach at North Cove — one of many happy places for dogs around the Grays Harbor area. See story on page 8. PHOTO BY MARCY MERRILL WASH I NGTON COAST MAGA ZI N E | SPRI NG 2020

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SPRING 2020

Contents 40

FEATURES

8 DOGGIE DELIGHTS EARTHWISE 16 30 WESTPORT CHARTERS CARVING OUT A NICHE 40

More fun than you can shake a stick at

Recycling the old-fashioned way

For every fish, there is a season

North Beach chainsaw artists create a cooperative community

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WASH I NGTON COAST MAGA ZI N E | SPRI NG 2020

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More fun than you can shake a stick at

Silvia Washington of North River plays with her dogs at Grayland Beach.

T

S TO RY A N D P H OTO S BY M A RC Y M ER R I L L

rembling with anticipation as you slowly — much too slowly for their liking — reach down to unhook the leash. The “click” of freedom. A moment’s hesitation, and they’re off!

A wide-open, windswept playground awaits at Ocean Shores’ 6-mile-long City Beach. Dog-friendly, with only a few easy-to-follow rules (clean up after your dog, blah, blah, blah ... the usual), this stretch is awash with soft sand,

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WASH I NGTON COAST MAGA ZI N E | SPRI NG 2020

waves and all the smelly things dogs love.

As is the case with most of the beaches surrounding Grays Harbor, while you brace yourself against the wind, your fourlegged family members can have a great romp. They may top it off with an extended roll upon a rotten crab shell, a little splash in the surf, then a final leap back into the car. But of course there’s no need to worry about sand because — as the locals well know — sand is technically not dirt. It’s a simple

A guide to dog-friendly destinations around Grays Harbor fact of coastal life.

According to Tyler Newmyer, assistant area manager for Washington State Parks, there are two different sets of rules pertaining to dogs around these parts: There are beach rules, and then there are State Park rules.

“The waves can be very loud, and if you are walking near the water the dog will quickly be out of shouting range. I have seen many dogs get disoriented and start running around frantically searching for their owner in the wrong direction,” says Newmyer.

“I also see that people seem to try and keep their dogs a good distance from other visitors and their dogs, just out of respect and because there is usually plenty of space to keep some distance,” he adds.

Newmyer himself has two dogs who regularly frequent the local beaches. “I would say that the South Beach area is probably one of the better areas to take dogs, simply because our beach is not quite as busy as some of the others.”

He’s not alone in that assessment.

“Local beaches are great for dogs.

There’s plenty of space to run, not a lot of people around, lots for them to sniff and roll in. That’s what they like most about the local beaches,” says Tokeland resident Judith Altruda. “While the dogs are running, I enjoy beachcombing and hunting for sea glass and agates.”

Tokeland — known as the “banana belt of the South Beach” for its uncanny ability to draw more sun than neighboring beaches — is home to the historic Tokeland Hotel.

“We have 17 rooms total, 12 of which are dog-friendly,” says owner Heather Earnhardt. “Five of our rooms have dog cubbies, perfect for a dog bed or kennel. And we offer free towels exclusively for dogs and make homemade dog cookies.”

There are even tables in the hotel lobby where guests can dine with their dogs.

“If you don’t have a dog, or didn’t

Cap, a Grayland cranberry farmer’s dog, has been known to proudly lug his finds — including entire driftwood trees — along Washaway Beach. This is one of his lesser conquests. (His owner is Paul Brook.)

bring your dog ... our resident dog, Gus, needs all the walks he can get,” says Earnhardt. “Walk Gus and you get a free (human) cookie!”

What is the yellow Lab’s favorite treat? “Gus eats anything,” says Earnhardt.

Right around the corner from the hotel is a “secret” public-access beach for four-legged freedom. Just ask, and they’ll point you in the right direction.

But be mindful of the tide. When it’s low, a small creek can be crossed to gain access to a much larger stretch of beach. As the tide comes in, this creek quickly turns into a river — and the beach disappears.

Michelle, Ron and dog Lucy recently traveled from Sutherlin, Oregon, to gather with other dog-owning friends at Grayland Beach State Park, where they can rent dog-friendly yurts. They agree running on the beach is the biggest draw. However, socialization factors in as well.

“At home, Lucy is a solo dog,” says

Tess Glenn’s Basset mix, Mr. Hoffman, from Tacoma, calms his nerves by digging his toes into Washaway Beach’s warm sand.

Michelle. “Each of our dogs are solo dogs.

Socialization is a big reason we’re here.”

Another favorite activity is roaming with your dog along the Westport Marina. Besides the sea breeze and various oceanic odors, the

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Ocean Beach Roasters’ sheltered outdoor seating area is perfect for a post-beach libation. Here, Dave and Shay Jones of Ocean Shores enjoy refreshments with their dogs, Duey, Abee Norma, and Vinnie.

family-owned Westport Aquarium is a fascinating venue that is available for canine perusal.

“I think the thing that dogs like the best are all the variety of fish and saltwater smells,” says aquarium co-owner Kathryn Myrsell, “They probably like the smells of the other dogs that have visited recently. They get to the door, and their nose leads the way.

“It’s kind of like the kids who visit,” she adds with a smile. “They get to the door, and if the parents are in doubt about whether to come in, their excitement at the door makes a visit unavoidable.”

While visiting the aquarium, dog owners should keep their friends on a short leash — not only as a courtesy to others around them, but also to protect the ducks that live in the indoor pond.

If you happen to visit the Grays Harbor area on a stormy day and Fido is in need of a leg stretch, try an indoor dog-friendly shopping spree. After doing the things that dogs need to do outside, check out a Dennis Co. store.

This locally owned hardware chain 10

Gus enjoys many creature comforts as the Tokeland Hotel’s canine in residence.

He’s part of the family that owns and operates the historic — and very dog-friendly — venue.

welcomes pets into all five of its Harbor locations. They also offer a nice selection of dog treats and gear.

Another option is PetSense, located in the Olympic Gateway Plaza in Aberdeen. A leisurely walkabout there will

WASH I NGTON COAST MAGA ZI N E | SPRI NG 2020

brighten the travel day and give your dog a little distraction from the weather.

Plus, if the weather clears up while you’re there, you can walk over to the Chehalis River Trail for a more scenic meander.

Dogs welcome!

Please note: Th is list involved weeks of research, but it is by no means complete. For example, there’s no way for us to compile accurate information on how many local dog-friendly properties are listed through vacation rental services (though we know there are many). We hope this information provides a good start for those visiting the area!

Parks A Discover Pass is required for parking at all Washington state parks.

Visit DiscoverPass.wa.gov to fi nd out where to buy one so you can enjoy these parks around Grays Harbor: Pacific Beach State Park 49 Second St., Pacific Beach 98571

Camping, day use and dog-friendly yurts are available.

Griffiths-Priday State Park On Benner Road, just off State Route 109

Located north of Ocean Shores at Copalis Beach, this day-use park offers trails, a river and beach access.

Ocean City State Park 148 State Route 115, Hoquiam 98550

Th is one’s actually closer to Ocean Shores. Not only dog walking, but also dog sledding (with wheeled sleds) is allowed on this beach.

yurts ($15 nightly fee for dogs). There is direct access to an ocean beach that stretches for miles.

Be alert, as vehicles are allowed to drive on the hard-packed sand.

Deb Blake of Cosmopolis supervises as Cedar takes a tidepool plunge.

Lake Sylvia State Park 1812 N. Lake Sylvia Road, Montesano 98563

This park has a scenic 5-mile loop trail, which also connects with other trails that head out of the park and into the hillside.

Leashed dogs are allowed on the trails, and there is a dog walk area within the campground.

Bottle Beach State Park 33 Ocosta Third St., Aberdeen 98520

Actually located closer to Westport on State Route 105, this park allows leashed dogs only from November through February. (No dogs are permitted the rest of the year in deference to the shorebirds that nest here.)

There’s a boardwalk trail that leads from the parking lot out to a secluded beach along the south shore of Grays Harbor.

An excellent dog-walking spot, this park has fewer visitors than the nearby

ocean beaches — and you just might find yourself the only one there.

Twin Harbors State Park 3120 State Route 105, Westport 98595

Camping with a petfriendly yurt available. The park also has easy ocean beach access.

Westport Light State Park 1595 W. Ocean Ave., Westport 98595

Has a paved trail that leads to Westhaven and Half Moon Bay parks as well as downtown Westport.

The trail provides breathtaking views of the Pacific Ocean and Half Moon Bay. Leashed dogs are allowed on this trail, on the adjacent beaches and in the observation tower.

Grayland Beach State Park 925 Cranberry Beach Road, Grayland 98547

The park has a nice, large campground complete with 16 pet-friendly

City Beach Multiple access points along the western edge of Ocean Shores.

How often does one encounter a beach where dogs are allowed to run free? It’s wide open and goes on for 6 miles.

Beware of riptides, though — it’s safer to keep your pups on the sand here.

Damon Point Drive to the end of Pt. Brown Avenue in Ocean Shores and turn right.

Be sure to take a leash with you for a walk along this 2-mile land jetty, as a large part of it requires canine restraint (for shorebird protection). It’s also a good idea to check a tide chart before undertaking this hike, as high tides can strand you on the spit.

Dining Ocean Beach Roasters 841 Pt. Brown Ave NW, Ocean Shores 98569

Dogs are welcome in the outdoor seating area. “We are often asked to make a burger patty or bacon for pooches, and happily oblige,” the owner says.

8th Street Ale House 207 Eighth St., Hoquiam 98550

Dining with your dog is

WASH I NGTON COAST MAGA ZI N E | SPRI NG 2020

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allowed on the front and back patios.

Cranberry Road Winery 2858 S. Forrest St., Westport 98595

Dogs may accompany their people at the outdoor picnic tables.

Westport Winery 1 S. Arbor Road, Aberdeen 98520

The patio is open for dining with your dog, and the gardens are open to them as well — as long as they’re leashed. (This is to keep the resident ducks safe.)

Side note: Once you’ve turned onto Arbor Road from State Route 105 (the Westport Highway), you could continue down the winding lane past the winery to a little-known public beach. There’s parking for only about

two cars. It’s not an ideal spot for a long walk, as the sand turns to mud after less than a quarter-mile; but this quiet beach teems with wildlife. A leashed dog can truly enjoy itself there, as can its person.

Blackbeard’s Brewing Co. 700 W Ocean Ave, Westport 98595

Dogs are welcome in the outdoor dining area.

Lodging Tokeland Hotel 2964 Kindred Ave, Tokeland 98590

12 of this historic hotel’s 17 quaint rooms are dogfriendly. You also may dine with your dog at any of the tables in the lobby.

Hotel guests pay a $30

Michelle Laraux of North Cove visits the Westport Aquarium with her dog, Ollie, whose new fishy friend is a small lingcod.

pet fee for the duration of their stay.

Ocean Crest Resort 4651 State Route 109, Moclips 98562

Tradewinds on the Bay

First pet stays free at this popular and scenic North Beach spot; the fee is $15 per night for each additional pet.

4305 Pomeroy Ave., Tokeland 98590

This resort hotel overlooks Willapa Bay. The pet fee is $25, and they have a fenced dog play yard.

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INNER HARBOR Aberdeen Central Park

To Port Angeles

NORTH BEACH Victoria

Cosmopolis Hoquiam

Port Angeles Everett

EAST COUNTY Brady Elma Malone McCleary

Montesano Oakville Porter Satsop

Seattle

Tacoma

Olympia Aberdeen

NORTH BEACH Amanda Park Copalis Beach Moclips Pacific Beach

Ocean City Ocean Shores Quinault Taholah

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Ocosta Tokeland Westport

INNER HARBOR

SEABROOK

From ABERDEEN to: Ocean Shores .............. 8 miles Seabrook.....................29 miles Pacific Beach..............28 miles Quinault ......................44 miles

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Westport .....................21 miles Raymond ....................25 miles Elma..............................21 miles Montesano .................11 miles

WASH I NGTON COAST MAGA ZI N E | SPRI NG 2020

To North Cove, Tokeland & Raymond SOUTH BEACH

EAST COUNTY

WASH I NGTON COAST MAGA ZI N E | SPRI NG 2020

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INNER HARBOR

WE ARE YOUR HOME PORT

Where old can be new again

Mal Moran of Aberdeen’s Earthwise store stands behind an antique hand-crank drill press, known as a post drill.

S TO RY A N D P H OTO S BY D O U G B A R K ER

S

o, you love old houses and bought one with great bones. But over the course of several previous owners, some of the cool old hardware and solid wood doors were replaced with whatever was on sale at the nearest bigbox home improvement store.

If you drag your spouse to one more estate sale looking for period light fixtures, it’s curtains — and not the kind that would be perfect for the kids’ room, if only you could find them (the curtains, not the kids).

Earthwise Architectural Salvage is here for you.

With stores in Aberdeen, Seattle and Tacoma, Earthwise specializes in salvaged, reused, reclaimed, vintage and antique items gleaned from old houses that are torn down, or from sellers who bring in everything from massive, old-growth wood beams to vintage brass keyhole covers.

If you can’t find just the right wall sconce to match the old one in your hall, come

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WASH I NGTON COAST MAGA ZI N E | SPRI NG 2020

Earthwise 416 N. Park St. Aberdeen 360-637-9324 ewsalvage.com Inland locations: 628 E. 60th St., Tacoma 3447 Fourth Ave. South, Ste. E, Seattle

INNER HARBOR

Earthwise salvages classic furnishings, tools and more from scrap heaps all over Western Washington for tourists coming back through town from the beach, and a lot of them stop, says assistant manager Mal Moran.

Many people from the Seattle area recognize the Earthwise brand. It’s been around for nearly 30 years, Moran said — started by his friend Kurt Petrauskas, a builder in the Seattle area who couldn’t stand the waste of building materials when homes were torn down or renovated. Petrauskas would take home that tight-grain, old-growth lumber and remove the nails so it could be reused, said Moran.

Moran was retired and living in Ocean Shores when Petrauskas coaxed him to start up the Aberdeen operation.

Moran loves the thrill of the hunt that takes him to basements, attics and barns that might yield treasure.

He fondly remembers an expedition to a barn near Lake Quinault that was packed with an accumulation of

www.firstharborrealestate.com • 360-532-2610

back later. Earthwise salvagers scour much of Western Washington, and trucks come to Aberdeen bearing new finds weekly.

Just about every decorating and architectural era is accounted for, and — despite first impressions — there is some rough organization to the place.

Sturdy old newel posts for the top and bottom of wooden staircases are mostly in one area, although you might run into others here and there. And the sections of old bowling lanes are all together, near the clawfoot tubs filled with old fishing nets and floats. (Just go beyond the collection of porcelain faucet handles and turn right just past the blubber cutter that’s hanging on the wall.)

The Aberdeen store opened about two years ago in what was once the Russ Ellison Pontiac dealership on Park Street. It’s right on the main drag

The shop gets lots of marine items, including these fishing nets and floats displayed in old bathtubs.

RIGHT: This item was a mystery to the folks at Earthwise until a visitor identified it as a flensing knife for cutting whale blubber. Note the whale fluke-shaped blades.

WASH I NGTON COAST MAGA ZI N E | SPRI NG 2020

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WE ARE YOUR HOME PORT

INNER HARBOR

years’ worth of stuff too cool to throw away. And the owner, an older fellow, had stories.

“That’s a dead man’s anvil,” he told Moran, pointing.

“A dead man’s anvil?”

“Well, he’s dead and that was his anvil,” the owner replied.

Now it has a place of honor in the Aberdeen shop — not for sale, though many have tried to buy it. (How do you put a price on a dead man’s anvil?)

Just down the row, hanging on the wall, is another NFS item. It looks like a short-handled shovel, but has a blade shaped like the flukes of a whale. They had it for a long time and hung a sign on it asking if anybody knew what it was. Eventually, someone identified it as a blubber cutter — maybe left over from when there was a whaling station on Grays Harbor, from 1910 until sometime in the ’20s.

The shop draws interior designers and architects looking for unusual and authentic pieces. A massive set of double doors made from thick, blond oak — strikingly carved and arched

Stained glass gets the best light in the space that once served as an auto dealership showroom.

at the top — caught the eye of one customer. It had been salvaged from a church in Seattle’s University District.

She was undertaking a major project and ended up having an architect design part of it around them.

Mostly, customers fall into three categories, Moran says. There are the ones who live in an old home and are looking for the right elements to make it period-correct. Then you have the ones who just want a good, solid wood

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INNER HARBOR

door, for example, and aren’t too fussy about wear and tear. And finally, there are the creative repurposers who’ll take those doors and make them into something like a headboard for the master bedroom.

The area’s plentiful vintage housing stock was a factor in choosing the Aberdeen location.

“With the amount of old homes in the Grays Harbor area, it was a perfect spot,” said Moran.

Old windows in all shapes and sizes are available.

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www.firstharborrealestate.com • 360-532-2610

Visitors can sift through various car emblems, cigarette lighters and what-have-you.

INNER HARBOR

D E S T I N AT I O N

WE ARE YOUR HOME PORT

Inner Harbor

The tall ship Lady Washington’s home port is the Grays Harbor Historical Seaport in Aberdeen.

Chambers of Commerce

Major Municipal Parks

Greater Grays Harbor Inc. Serves as both a regional chamber of commerce and economic development group.

ABERDEEN

506 Duffy St., Aberdeen 360-532-1924 graysharbor.org 20

Lake Aberdeen Recreation Area About 640 acres of timber with 5 acres of land developed for recreation, and 100 acres of water. Located on the eastern

WASH I NGTON COAST MAGA ZI N E | SPRI NG 2020

edge of the city just off Highway 12.

Swimming, fishing and boating.

Stewart Memorial Park Located in the northeast outskirts of Aberdeen, this 74-acre park boasts an elaborate trail system, a wandering creek and a rustic kitchen facility.

Bishop Athletic Complex A 38-acre athletic complex just outside Aberdeen along the Westport Highway

INNER HARBOR (State Route 105). Includes soccer, fast-pitch and baseball fields.

Pioneer Park Sports Complex On the south side of Aberdeen, this 24-acre park contains three softball fields, two minor league fields, a Little League field, a Babe Ruth field and a multipurpose area, as well as the city’s skate park.

Morrison Riverfront Park An 11-acre complex along the shores of the Chehalis River on the east end of Aberdeen. The complex includes picnic tables, a fishing and viewing dock, waterfront walking trail and modern playground equipment.

COSMOPOLIS Makarenko Park This park, nestled in the hills in residential Cosmopolis, encompasses 39 acres with more than 2 miles of paved and gravel trails for walking, running and biking.

HOQUIAM John Gable Park 23 acres directly adjacent to Hoquiam High School on the west side of town. Facilities include two softball fields, a basketball court, a playground and a skate park.

Olympic Stadium A 9-acre athletic complex in the eastern part of the city.

The stadium accommodates youth sports and is the home of the annual Loggers Playday event.

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Walking/ Hiking Trails ABERDEEN John’s River Wildlife Area Off State Route 105, 12 miles west of Aberdeen, off John’s River Road. The approximately 1-mile trail is paved for about the first half.

Single-track trails lead off into the woods.

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Sam Benn Park A rustic, tree-filled 14-acre park that overlooks the city’s core, it offers picnic areas, playground equipment, tennis courts and a disc golf course.

Elton Bennett Park A 9-acre wooded site in north central Hoquiam, providing a picturesque mile-plus hiking trail through the densely forested landscape.

Chehalis River Trailway This 3-mile trail runs begins between the soccer fields at the Bishop Athletic Complex and runs along the shores of the Chehalis River to Mill Street.

Lake Swano Trail A 2-mile trail through 20 acres of forest on the Grays Harbor College campus, including interpretive signs.

Basich Trailway A 1.5-mile trail that meanders through Pioneer Park in South Aberdeen along Mill Creek, ending at the Cosi Lions Park in Cosmopolis.

Morrison Riverfront Walkway A 1.8-mile paved walking path along the northern bank of the Chehalis River.

Stewart Park Trail Just short of a mile of rugged trail up and down hills and across bridges in east Aberdeen’s Stewart Park.

HOQUIAM DOWNTOWN ABERDEEN SOUTH ABERDEEN OCEAN SHORES MONTESANO ELMA

Sherwood Forest Trail A rugged trail located off Bel Aire Drive, featuring miles of forested area to explore.

WASH I NGTON COAST MAGA ZI N E | SPRI NG 2020

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INNER HARBOR

COSMOPOLIS Makarenko Park Trail Two miles of gravel trails in the woods between Bell Hill and Cemetery Hill in residential Cosmopolis, just south of Aberdeen.

Mill Creek Park Trail Cosmopolis’ most popular park, on C Street past Cosmopolis School, offers miles of gravel trails around Mill Creek and Mill Creek Pond.

WE ARE YOUR HOME PORT

HOQUIAM Sandpiper Trail Located within the Grays Harbor National Wildlife Refuge on Bowerman Basin on the west end of Hoquiam near the airport, the trail offers great bird viewing along a wooden plank trail. The refuge is known as a prime spot in the spring to observe migratory shorebirds. The walk from the parking area to the tip of the Bowerman Peninsula is about 2 miles.

Hoquiam River Loop The loop begins in downtown Hoquiam at the corner of Eighth and L streets near Hoquiam City Hall, and takes walkers

around a loop that crosses both the Simpson Avenue Bridge and Riverside Bridge, and along the north and south banks of the Hoquiam River.

also includes farms in Elma, Oakville and beyond), contact the Extension office at 360-482-2934 or visit www. graysharbor.wsu.edu.

Elton Bennett Park Rugged trails in a natural setting in residential north-central Hoquiam, with trails that connect to offer a mile-plus of forested hiking.

KC’S Christmas Tree Farm

Sunset Memorial Park A popular walking area off Grand Avenue just up the hill from Elton Bennett Park.

Offers paved loop roads with gradual inclines and limited traffic.

Prospect to Endresen Walking Trail The trailhead is located just off Prospect Street, and the trail meanders over a hill and ends on Endresen Street, across from a boat launch on the Little Hoquiam River.

Farms Note: These farmers sell their products directly to the public. Information courtesy of Washington State University’s Grays Harbor County Extension. For WSU’s complete guide and map (which

Danish Noble trees and boughs; larger trees available. You choose and we cut, or you cut.

950 State Route 105, Aberdeen 360-580-1658 www.facebook.com/KCsChristmasTreeFarm Hours: 10 a.m. to dusk Friday-Sunday, from the day after Thanksgiving until Christmas.

Lily Lane Daylilies, potted Oriental and Asiatic lilies, perennials, fresh produce, retail gifts/antiques.

6 John Wayne Lane, Aberdeen 360-581-6184 lilylanefarm@comcast.net www.facebook.com/LilyLaneFarm Hours: Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day, Thursday-Sunday, 10 a.m.-5 p.m.

Lytle Seafoods Oyster Shack Oysters, Copper River salmon and other seafood.

1 Rock View Lane, Hoquiam

1915 Simpson Avenue Aberdeen, WA 98520 firstharborrealestate@gmail.com Real Estate: 360-532-2610 Property Management: 360-532-2635

PROFESSIONAL SERVICE YOU CAN TRUST, EXPERIENCE THAT GETS RESULTS. Residential • Multifamily • Commercial • Land • Full Service Property Management

www.firstharborrealestate.com 22

WASH I NGTON COAST MAGA ZI N E | SPRI NG 2020

entic h t u A s u o i c i Del od!

Mexican Fo Voted Best of Twin Harbors “Best Mexican Restaurant” 23 years in a row!

Two Aberdeen locations to serve you!

Gateway Plaza 533-5808

720 W. Wishkah 532-0940

INNER HARBOR 360-538-2654 www.lytleseafoods.com Hours: Daily, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Randall Street Garden Produce Naturally grown seasonal vegetables, strawberries, raspberries and blueberries, cut flowers and honey.

1015 Randall St., Aberdeen 206-898-5194 Hours: Friday-Sunday, 10 a.m.-5 p.m., through June 23. Call for late-season availability.

Farmers Markets

1956 Riverside Ave., Hoquiam 360-538-9747 Hours: Wednesday-Saturday, 9 a.m.-5:30 p.m.

J’s Farm Stand Fresh local fruits and vegetables available year-round.

307 E Heron St., Aberdeen 360-532-8842 Hours: Daily, 10 a.m. to 7p.m.

The Makarenko Park Trail in Cosmopolis is a 1-mile loop through a wooded area.

EXPERIENCE ABERDEEN

Founders Day Sat. June 27, 2020

Splash Festival July 4th 2020

Summerfest Aug 14th 2020

Winter Fest Dec 5th 2020

City of Aberdeen 210 South I Street P.O. Box 1593 WA, 98520 (360) 986-3494

www.downtownaberdeen.com

Aberdeen City Hall 200 E. Market Aberdeen WA 98520 (360) 533-4100

aberdeenwa.gov

WASH I NGTON COAST MAGA ZI N E | SPRI NG 2020

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www.firstharborrealestate.com • 360-532-2610

Grays Harbor Public Market Fresh local fruits and vegetables available year-round from Jay’s Farm Stand, plus an indoor craft fair. Nancy’s Bakery and Deidra’s Deli also operate on-site.

INNER HARBOR Aberdeen Sunday Market Local artists, live music and fresh foods every Sunday from late May through mid-September, rain or shine. Operated by the nonprofit Whole Harbor.

Where: Broadway Street between Heron and State streets Hours: Sunday, 10 a.m.-3 p.m. www.aberdeensundaymarket.org

Art Galleries Note: There are numerous art studios and individual artist galleries in Grays Harbor County. Here, we include only public galleries featuring multiple artists and forms, based on our research.

Aberdeen Art Center (operated by Harbor Art Guild) Represents numerous local artists and hosts First Friday Art Walks.

WE ARE YOUR HOME PORT

200 W. Market St., Aberdeen 562-208-4226 aberdeenartcenter.com Hours: Thursday-Monday, noon-6 p.m.

John Spellman Library (at Grays Harbor College)

1620 Edward P. Smith Drive, 1500 Building, Aberdeen 360-532-4050 www.ghc.edu/library/art-galleries Call for hours.

1611 Riverside Ave., Hoquiam 360-533-5862 polsonmuseum.org Hours: Wednesday-Saturday, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.; Sunday, noon-4 p.m.

Entry fee: Ranges from $1 for young children to $10 for a family.

Healing Gallery (at Grays Harbor Community Hospital) This collaboration between the hospital foundation and Our Aberdeen harnesses “the calming and healing properties of art.”

More information: www. graysharbormuseums.org

915 Anderson Drive, main lobby, Aberdeen 360-532-8330 Call for hours.

Car Shows

Museums

Riverside Run Revival The Push Rods of Hoquiam hold this show in downtown Hoquiam on June 27.

Grays Harbor Historical Seaport The home port for the tall ships Lady Washington and Hawaiian Chieftain, and future site of a maritime heritage center.

Midnight Cruisers Rod Fest This one is held every July in downtown Aberdeen. The datefor 2020 was still undetermined at press time.

500 N. Custer St., Aberdeen 360-532-8611 www.historicalseaport.org Hours & fees: Vary. Call to confirm.

GRAYS HARBOR FARMERS MARKET  Discover Local Produce  Delicious Pastries from Nancy’s Bakery  Fine Soups and Sandwiches at Deidra’s Deli  Anthony’s Meats  Fine Arts & Quality Crafted Items  Handmade Soaps & Sundries  Candles and Goods

Something For Everyone!

OPEN YEAR ROUND

1956 Riverside Ave Hoquiam, WA

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Polson Museum The mansion once inhabited by the family of logging tycoon Arnold Polson offers a snapshot of Hoquiam life in the early 1900s. The adjacent Railroad Camp houses large tools of the trade.

Hosts college and high school art shows, plus other works showcasing the best of Grays Harbor artists.

WASH I NGTON COAST MAGA ZI N E | SPRI NG 2020

Thank You Twin Harbors for voting us “Best Pies” * Cinnamon rolls, cookies, jams, breads, biscotti & more. * Our pie dough is handmade. * Everything is baked on site. * Baking since 1975 with the market. * Wild Blackberry products.

Mark your calendars and visit us at the following shows during the year.

• Home and Garden Show, May at Elma Fairgrounds • Cranberry Festival, October in Grayland • Country Christmas Bazaar, November at Elma Fairgrounds

Na

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y, Ya n

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Located at the G.H. Public Market 1958 Riverside Drive • Hoquiam 360-538-9747

DOWNTOWN ABERDEEN 31 BLOCKS TO CONNECT. EXPERIENCE. EXPLORE.

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• Tinderbox Coffee Roasters • The Tap Room • Steam Donkey Brewing • Grays Harbor Wine Sellers • Mount Olympus Brewing Co. • Waugh’s Wine Cellar • Nirvana Coffee • Westport Brewing Co.

SUP

• Rediviva • Ocean Palace • CakeCakes • Amore Italian Restaurant • Canton Cafe • Billy’s Bar and Grill • Breakwater Seafood • Mac’s Tavern and Cardroom • Pizza Hut

• VFW • La Salvadorena • Mr. Taco • Oh My Donuts • Finch and Bowl • Panaderia 3 Coronas Bakery • Arby’s • Illegal Donuts • Jack in the Box

STROLL

Wiitamaki Jewelry Store • City Center Drug • Furniture 2 Go • Northwest Surplus and Outdoors Selmer’s Furniture • Star Wars Shop • Harbor Blooms • Furniture World • Moore’s Flooring Boomtown Records • Aberdeen Sunday Market (Sundays June-September) • El Puerto Latino La Salvadoreña Grocery • Fantasy Shop • Gargoyles Tattoos • Eternal Love Tattoos North Pacific Utopian Wares • Q-Mart • Aberdeen Timberland Library • Colortyme • Grays Harbor Guns Quilt Harbor • Bella Vita Salon and Spa • Aberdeen Art Gallery • Past and Present Mercantile Mane Attraction Salon and Boutique • Grand Heron • Javier’s Barber Shop • Grays Harbor Spa

It is with great appreciation we thank our sponsors that made this ad possible

Hours: Monday -Saturday 11-5

210 S. I Street, Aberdeen, WA (360) 986-3494 Facebook: Downtown Aberdeen Association 98520

200 E. Heron St. Aberdeen, WA

www.downtownaberdeen.com

EAST COUNTY

D E S T I N AT I O N

WE ARE YOUR HOME PORT

East County

Lake Sylvia State Park in Montesano offers hiking, fishing and more.

Chambers of Commerce Montesano Chamber of Commerce 117 Fleet St. North, Montesano 360-249-5522 montesanochamber.org

Elma Chamber of Commerce 222 W. Main, Elma 360-482-3055 elmachamber.org

State Parks Note: A Discover Pass is required for parking at any state park. Look up where to buy one at www. discoverpass.wa.gov.

Schafer State Park Located off West Schafer

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Park Road outside Elma, this is a 113-acre camping park on the Satsop River. A big attraction to park users is the abundant fishing for steelhead, cutthroat trout and salmon on the Satsop River. Wading and swimming in the shallow water make it an equally attractive site for family gatherings. Rich in local history, the park is a state and national historic site as designated by the Washington Heritage Register and National Register of Historic Places.

Lake Sylvia State Park This is a 252-acre camping park with 15,000 feet of freshwater shoreline. The park is an old logging camp

WASH I NGTON COAST MAGA ZI N E | SPRI NG 2020

in a wooded area. Aside from the interesting displays of old logging gear and curiosities, the lake is good for fishing, and the rustic charm of the park makes for excellent day outings and group camping trips. Lake Sylvia allows for day use and has some 5 miles of hiking trails.

Major Municipal Parks ELMA Gladys Smith/ Lloyd Murrey Park This park was named for the those who provided the land for the city’s largest park, which is about 10-acres

and located in the heart of the city. It plays host to recreational activities, picnicking and a playground facility.

Vance Creek County Park This park sits just outside the Elma city limits and features trails and fishing.

The pond is stocked with up to 14-inch rainbow trout in April and May and is opened to licensed anglers. Vance Creek County Park, like Twin Bridges County Park, is owned and operated by Grays Harbor County.

McCLEARY Beerbower Park This park features a park kitchen with covered eating area, restrooms, a playground, softball and

EAST COUNTY baseball fields, a soccer field, and a basketball hoop, as well as a large grassy area for family activities.

Community Center Park This family-friendly spot features a fenced-in play area with a climb-on structure for children.

MONTESANO

Walking/ Hiking Trails MONTESANO Montesano City Forest The city of Montesano has its own 5,000-acre forest, and it’s lined with trails for residents and visitors. The Sylvia Creek Forestry Trail, a 2.25-mile interpretive loop meandering down the valley, crosses Sylvia Creek before climbing back to Lake Sylvia.

The trail was constructed in 1991 and was reconstructed in 2012. Mountain biking

is becoming more popular throughout the forest.

Blue Slough Trail Just off Blue Slough Road, between Montesano and Cosmopolis. The 3-mile Blue Slough interpretive trail wanders beside the Chehalis River. Along the way, the interpretive elements give outdoor enthusiasts a free tutorial on the biology of the trail.

Professional hiking gear or just tennis shoes would be equally appropriate on the groomed, well-marked trail (formerly train tracks). The trail connects to Preacher’s Slough, which features an observation tower.

turned-museum features the logging and homesteading history of East Grays Harbor County.

703 W. Pioneer Ave., Montesano 360-470-6181 Hours: Saturday-Sunday, noon-4 p.m.

Entry: Free

McCleary Museum & Heritage Center The history of McCleary’s founder, who operated a logging and door factory, plus more that’s happened in the area. The museum is in transition at this writing, moving to this new location.

It’s expected to reopen this summer.

Museums

426 S. Third St., McCleary 541-660-3633 www.facebook.com/ McClearyMuseum

Chehalis Valley Historical Museum This quaint church-

More information: www. graysharbormuseums.org

COAST SPRING 2470620 ELMA CHAMBER

Elma Washington WASH I NGTON COAST MAGA ZI N E | SPRI NG 2020

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www.firstharborrealestate.com • 360-532-2610

The city of Montesano is host to eight city parks: Fleet Park downtown; Crait, Nelson and Vessey Fields; a playground at Kelsey Park; and a park at each entrance to town on Pioneer Avenue — Bryan Park at the east entrance and Triangle Park at the west entrance.

Also, just west of Montesano is Twin Bridges County Park, which is free for day use. The park has access to the Chehalis

River, as well as restrooms and picnic tables. Take Devonshire Road and turn left on County Farm Road after the overpass. The road crosses railroad tracks and ends at the park.

WE ARE YOUR HOME PORT

EAST COUNTY

Folks enjoy floating down the Satsop River at Schafer State Park near Elma in summertime.

Farms Note: These farmers sell their products directly to the public. Information courtesy of Washington State University’s Grays Harbor County Extension. For WSU’s complete guide and map (which also includes farms in Elma, Oakville and beyond), contact the Extension office at 360-482-2934 or visit www. graysharbor.wsu.edu.

Chapman Farms You-pick pumpkins, squash, gourds, sweet corn and fall décor in September and October. Also hosts a corn maze and hay maze for kids.

239 Brady Loop Road East, Montesano 360-581-4177 Hours: 10 a.m.-6 p.m. daily, September-October.

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DEW Acres Vegetables and flowers, plus horse boarding.

64 Geissler Road, Montesano 360-249-5086 dewacres2@hotmail.com www.dewacres.com Call for hours.

Hidden River Farm Organic wheat, peas and barley and pigs.

627 Wynoochee Valley Road, Montesano www.hiddenriver.farm Call for hours.

Hockett Family Christmas Trees Noble, grand and Douglas fir trees. You select, they cut.

Timberview Lane, Montesano 360-249-5209 Hours: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily, starting the day after Thanksgiving.

WASH I NGTON COAST MAGA ZI N E | SPRI NG 2020

Lubbe Farms Yellow Finnish potatoes available from Oct. 15 until sold out (around Christmas).

211 Brady Loop Road East, Montesano 360-581-9954 Hours: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily, during the season.

Shaffner Farms Vegetables, berries, dahlias, Japanese maples, jams, jellies and preserves. Also hosts a pumpkin patch and corn maze starting Oct. 1.

158 Geissler Road, Montesano 360-249-6722 www.facebook.com/ ShaffnerFarms Summer hours: TuesdaySaturday, 9 a.m.-6 p.m.; and Sunday, 11 a.m.-4 p.m.

Wynoochee River Winery and Gardens Berry plants, potted flowers,

vegetable starts and locally produced wines.

Wheeler Road, Montesano 360-580-4452 www.wynoocheeriverwines.com Hours: Wednesday-Sunday, 1-7 p.m.; or by appointment

Wynoochee Valley Meats (C&R Cattle) Full-service meat shop, from pasture to freezer.

92 Old Wynoochee Road, Montesano 360-249-6328 wvmeats@centurylink.net Call for hours.

Wynoochee Windmill Farm Custom hanging baskets and vegetable starts, including 50 tomato varieties.

1381 Wynoochee Valley Road, Montesano 360-249-3755 Call for hours.

EAST COUNTY

Farmers Markets

facebook.com/Montesano-SaturdayMorning-Market-575651482612157

Montesano Saturday Morning Market Local artists, live music and fresh foods every Saturday in July and August. Hosted by the Montesano Chamber of Commerce.

Car Shows

Fleet Park, Montesano Hours: Saturday, 9 a.m.-1 p.m.

360-589-8926

COAST SPRING

Historic Montesano Car Show This annual show hits the streets again on Saturday, July 18. The show typically draws more than 200 registered cars, featuring streets rods, classic cars, muscles cars and specialinterest vehicles of all kinds.

Heat on the Street Elma’s annual custom car and motorcycle show is held the first weekend of each August. Friday’s events include a poker run and a free cruise-in party, featuring a preview of the cars and a night of music. On Saturday, the show and shine starts at 9 a.m., with music, a raffle, vendor and food booths and beautiful cars, trucks and motorcycles. Public admission is free.

AWARD WINNING FRUIT WINES

2470623 CLARKS REST

Tasting Room: 79 Wheeler Road . Montesano. Washington (360) 249.5022 . www.wynoocheeriverwines.com . wrwinery@gmail.com

WASH I NGTON COAST MAGA ZI N E | SPRI NG 2020

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www.firstharborrealestate.com • 360-532-2610

The annual Historic Montesano Car Show, which usually draws about 200 classic cars, will line several blocks near the county courthouse July 18.

SOUTH BEACH

WE ARE YOUR HOME PORT

For every ffiish, there is a season

T

S TO RY BY DA N H A M M O C K

ucked inside the south entrance to Grays Harbor, the Westport Marina is home to about 20 charterboats gearing up for the 2020 fishing season.

Starting in early spring, those vessels will haul clients out for rockfish and lingcod. For a few days in the spring, halibut reaching more than 50 pounds are targeted by charter captains. Then, in late June or early July, they’ll go out in search of Chinook and smaller but more plentiful

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coho salmon.

Westport has a long, rich history of recreational charter fishing, starting in the early 1950s, according to historical information from the Westport Maritime Museum. It’s attracted governors, mayors and celebrities — including, on at least one occasion, Bobby Kennedy.

Seagra Carkonen worked for about 17 years on fishing boats out of Westport, first as a deckhand, then as captain

SOUTH BEACH

SPRING COAST

Westport charterboats will take you ocean fishing — when the time is right

2470608 ALOHA

www.firstharborrealestate.com • 360-532-2610

DAN HAMMOCK / COAST

Anglers pose with their catch after a successful June Westport halibut trip.

WASH I NGTON COAST MAGA ZI N E | SPRI NG 2020

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SOUTH BEACH of her own charterboat.

Now a Westport Marina office assistant, she runs us through a typical charter season there.

WE ARE YOUR HOME PORT

BOTTOMFISH “Bottomfishing usually starts in March and tends to be slower that time of year,” she said. “The weather is still kind of crummy, and a lot of days we have to cancel.”

That’s one thing to keep in mind when setting up charter trips out of Westport. Even if it’s sunny, calm and bluebird weather elsewhere, you’re heading out to fish on the open ocean, and trips do get canceled because of stormy seas.

Still, the springtime is a good time for bottomfish because they haven’t been bothered while the season was closed the previous five or six months.

“And that’s when the big female lingcod come into the shallower water to spawn,” said Carkonen.

Regulations protecting other species, including yelloweye and canary rockfish, limit bottomfishing to a max of 30 fathoms through June. Some of the larger lingcod of the season are caught after that restriction is lifted. Good numbers of lingcod weighing close to 30 pounds have been taken the past few seasons. But the majority of your catch will be black rockfish, which can approach 10 pounds.

You’ll tend to have more elbow room on the early spring charter trips, according to Carkonen. “The loads are a lot lighter,” she said. “If a customer wants to go out on a big boat, March and April are really good times of year to go bottomfishing.”

The end of the school year brings more attention to fishing trips in general. Charters tend to expand to seven trips a week by the middle of June, around the time the salmon season typically opens.

HALIBUT Halibut fishing is open only a few days each year and is subject to a strictly regulated quota. Carkonen said you’ll want to book your trip a good two or three months before the season starts.

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DAN HAMMOCK / COAST

Captain Derek Gochanour and deckhand Dylan Jorgensen filet salmon caught on the Predator during an August trip out of the Westport Marina.

DAN HAMMOCK / COAST

The charterboat Gold Rush makes its way to the fuel dock at the marina.

Preliminary 2020 Westport halibut seasons have been set from April 30 to May 17. It’s generally open two days a week: Thursday and Sunday. Halibut are prized for their delicate white meat — and they can get big. The average is 20 to 30 pounds, and last year’s derby winner weighed better than 60 pounds.

You’ll be leaving the docks early to get the halibut grounds.

WASH I NGTON COAST MAGA ZI N E | SPRI NG 2020

“Halibut are the longest day trips,” said Carkonen. “You leave pretty early — depending on the charter, between 4 and 5 a.m.” Depending on the weather and the size of the boat, it’s a good two- or three-hour trip to get out to the 600 to 700 feet of water where you’ll be fishing.

This is a fishery that has benefited from the strict quota and short season.

SOUTH BEACH

RESERVE A TRIP Westport Charterboat Association members: Advantage Charters 800-689-5595 AdvantageCharters.com Captain Geoff Grillo

Ms Magoo Sportfishing 360-648-3017 MsMagooSportfishing.com Captain Dave McGowen

Blue Eyes Sportfishing 360-268-8158 BlueEyesSportfishing.com Captain Ryan McKitrick

Ocean Sportfishing 360-268-1000 OceanSportfishingCharters. com Angler, Captain Chris West Ranger, Captain Don Davenport

Gold Rush Charters 360-591-9044 GoldRushCharters.com Captain Kevin Vasareno High Life Charter Fishing 360-589-9525 FishTheHighLife.com Captain Nick Scafturon

Westport Charters 360-268-0900 WestportCharters.com Cormorant, Captain Jonathan Sawin Hula Girl, Captain Steve Westrick Predator, Captain Derek Gochanour Sea Angel, Captain Brian Mirante Swifty, captains Chris and Tom Sawin Tornado, Captain Dwight Sawin Westport Seabirds 360-268-9141 WestportSeabirds.com Monte Carlo, Captain Phil Anderson

Discover the natural beauty and coastal tranquility to be found in the South Beach communities of Westport, Grayland, North Cove & Tokeland. As Winter transitions to Spring you will find plenty to do and see along our 18 miles of pristine sandy beaches. Contact us for information on events, festivals or to ask about the affordable real estate on the

www.firstharborrealestate.com • 360-532-2610

Deep Sea Charters 360-268-9300 (information) 800-562-0151 (reservations) DeepSeaCharters.biz El Matador, Captain Marty Rogers Fury, Captain Mike Harris Slammer, Captain Rhett Weber Stardust, Captain Jonathan Banasky Tequila Too, Captain Ken Culver Ultimate, Captain Phil Westrick

WESTPORT

coast! We look forward to hearing from you.

OCEAN VIEW

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COURTESY WESTPORT MARITIME MUSEUM

12-year Washington Gov. Arthur B. Langlie was a big promoter of recreational charterboat salmon fishing in Westport. He’s pictured here in the mid-1950s with former Aberdeen Mayor Walt Failor.

Windermere Real Estate/Westport Inc. Mike Coverdale, Broker/Owner 2601 Westhaven Drive, Westport, WA 98595 360-268-1234 www.windermerewestport.com

WASH I NGTON COAST MAGA ZI N E | SPRI NG 2020

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SOUTH BEACH “It has been phenomenal the last couple of years,” said Carkonen. “I can think of maybe one day in the last 10 years where we didn’t limit.”

Fishing has been improving to the point where quotas and days allowed are expanding. For the 2019 season, the fishery was extended several extra days.

“If they have time, they will go bottomfish or lingcod fish,” said Carkonen. “The unique thing is even though that 30-fathom rule is in place during that time, you can actually deepwater fish for lingcod and come away with a lot of fish.”

A weekly lingcod derby winner often is caught during these halibut trips, she said.

WE ARE YOUR HOME PORT

SALMON There is still a viable salmon fishery out of Westport. Seasons have shrunk, and you don’t see the 50-pound fish you did decades ago, but make no mistake: There are still some big Chinook (or king) salmon to be found every season — and smaller, hard-fighting coho will make up the bulk of the catch.

Just when this year’s season will begin had not yet been decided at this writing; that information will be released in April. Last year the season started June 22, with fishing allowed seven days a week; in 2018, the season got off to a later start and was limited to five days a week.

The season typically ends Sept. 30.

Carkonen recalls the largest Chinook she’s ever seen netted out of Westport, an honest 58-pounder.

“There are some big fish to be caught,” she said.

DAN HAMMOCK / COAST

People come from all over to try their luck at a Chinook salmon in Westport.

Diandra DeCampos-Kundahl came from Pensacola, Florida, in August to wrangle in this 25-pounder aboard the charterboat Sea Angel.

COMBINATION TRIPS You can book combination rockfish and salmon trips when those seasons overlap. This involves longer days on the water, but you can go home with quite a lot of fish.

Carkonen said combo trips vary depending on the tides, where the salmon are, and a lot of other factors.

“Generally they go for rockfish first and then go for salmon afterward,” she said. “Last year they were really biting on the tides, so they worked around the tides to fish for the salmon, and fished for bottomfish either before or after.”

THINGS TO KEEP IN MIND As previously mentioned, bad weather can result in trip cancellations. When you book a trip, be sure to ask your charter operator about their cancellation policy. And if you’re prone

to seasickness, be prepared: It can get rough out there even on the nicest days.

The cost of trips varies by charter and size of vessel. In general, halibut trips go for about $300, bottomfish around $150, salmon charters $150 to $180, and combination salmon and bottomfish around $250. Specific rates can be found on the individual charters’ websites.

“I think a big thing to remember is not expect to (catch your) limit every single time, or in a couple hours and come in,” said Carkonen.

Another very important note: Your captain’s responsibility is to put you on fish — and to do it safely. So pay attention when they speak!

If you want to book a trip for a shot at the best fishing, keep up with the charter operators’ Facebook pages.

If you want a trip with fewer people per boat, book during the week.

If you’re planning a stay in Westport for your charter trip, ask the charter office about lodging options when you book. There are motels and RV spaces in Westport, but they are limited. You can also check the Westport-Grayland Chamber of Commerce website, westportgrayland-chamber.org, for a list of the area’s lodging options.

Finally, do not leave the dock for your trip without purchasing a $5 fishing derby ticket! Daily and weekly prizes are awarded by the Westport Charterboat Association throughout the season — and at the end of the year, the ticket holder who records the largest salmon takes home a cool $10,000. There also are annual prizes for the largest lingcod and halibut of the season. And every year, potential winners miss out because they didn’t buy a ticket.

COAST SPRING Beach & Home Décor Brighten up your home with exciting colors and fragrances.

• Candles • Fashion accessories • Gourmet Foods • Gifts for that special person 2036 State Route 105 • Grayland 360-267-0205

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WASH I NGTON COAST MAGA ZI N E | SPRI NG 2020

Clam Licenses, Clamming & Camping Supplies!

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SOUTH BEACH

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SOUTH BEACH

WE ARE YOUR HOME PORT

A line on sportfishing history

COURTESY WESTPORT MARITIME MUSEUM

Former Aberdeen Mayor Walt Failor, left (in cap), and Bobby Kennedy pose with a Westport salmon haul in August 1962.

W

estport expanded on its commercial seaport footprint with an influx of recreational charter fishing boats in the 1950s. A fleet of eight charterboats grew quickly to more than 200 by 1964 and accounted for about 90% of the statewide sport salmon catch during the decade.

Support from a couple of Washington state governors, notably Arthur B. Langlie in the 1950s, spurred the popularity of Westport charter fishing. Invitations to other states’ governors and elected officials captured some attention and some notable dignitaries, such as a young Bobby Kennedy, were known to take a trip or two. Photos from the era show Chinook salmon in the 50-pound range, including a postcard that was carried by Gov. Albert Rosellini after the 1957 season to show off Westport’s position as a top salmon

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WASH I NGTON COAST MAGA ZI N E | SPRI NG 2020

fishing destination.

The fleet shrank after a peak between the mid-’60s and the mid-’70s, when Westport twice accounted for one-third of the state’s recreational salmon catch during record-setting years. Changes in fish management led to tighter restrictions on recreational salmon fishing and seasons, and limits decreased.

Westport remains among the top commercial seafood landings in the nation, and the recreational sport fishery still attracts anglers from all over. The length of the season has shortened (as have the fish), but Westport remains a top sportfishing destination.

Information provided by the Westport Maritime Museum.

SOUTH BEACH

D E S T I N AT I O N

South Beach

Chambers of Commerce Westport-Grayland Chamber of Commerce 2985 S. Montesano St., Westport 360-268-9422 www.westportgrayland-chamber.org

Willapa Harbor Chamber of Commerce 916 W. First St., South Bend 360-942-5419 willapaharbor.org

State Parks

feature. Mud flats in the area support a rich supply of invertebrates that attract shorebirds as they migrate from Central and South America to their breeding grounds in the Arctic. Grays Harbor is considered the single most important shorebird feeding area on the Pacific Coast, attracting more than a million birds each spring.

Twin Harbors State Park Located off State Route 105, just outside Westport, is a 172-acre camping park. Beach activities predominate, including kite flying, surf fishing and beachcombing.

WESTPORT

Westport Light State Park Located in Westport is a 212-acre park. The Westport Lighthouse stands on adjacent Coast Guard property. A boardwalk connects it with Westhaven State Park, 1.3 miles away.

Bottle Beach State Park Located between Aberdeen and Westport, off State Route 105, is a 75-acre, day-use park with 6,000 feet of shoreline on Grays Harbor. The open tide flats are the park’s most significant

Westhaven State Park Also located in Westport, is 79 acres with 1,215 feet of shoreline on the Pacific and Half Moon Bay, with beach access to both shores. The park is a popular destination for surfing and fishing.

Note: A Discover Pass is required for parking at any state park. Look up where to buy one at www.discoverpass. wa.gov.

GRAYLAND Grayland Beach State Park Located just south of the town of Grayland, this park is open year-round for camping and day-use. Reservations are accepted year-round. And highly recommended even in the off-season due to events such as razor clam tides and holidays. Grayland Beach State Park is a 412-acre marine camping park with 7,449-feet of spectacular ocean frontage. The park offers 55 full-hookup campsites within easy walking distance of the ocean. There are five short, marked trails leading from the campground to the each.

Museums

Westport Maritime Museum Grays Harbor’s original Coast Guard Station houses information and artifacts showing all aspects of the area’s maritime heritage.

2201 Westhaven Drive, Westport 360-268-0078 www.wsbhs.org Hours: Summer (June-August): Thursday-Monday,

WASH I NGTON COAST MAGA ZI N E | SPRI NG 2020

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Bottle Beach, near Westport, is one of the Harbor’s focal points for birders during shorebird migration season.

SOUTH BEACH 10 a.m.-4 p.m.

Off season (September-May): ThursdayMonday, noon-4 p.m.

Entry fee: $5 adults, $3 youth; free for children 5 and younger

Grays Harbor Lighthouse At the state’s tallest lighthouse, discover the technology that was critical in developing the area’s maritime industries.

1020 Ocean Ave., Westport 360-268-0078 www.wsbhs.org Hours: Seasonal. Call to confirm.

Entry fee: $5 to climb the 135 steps to the top; must be at least 5 years old and 40 inches tall.

Art Galleries

WE ARE YOUR HOME PORT

Note: There are numerous art studios and individual artist galleries in Grays Harbor County. Here, we include only public galleries featuring multiple artists and forms, based on our research.

SBAA Gallery (operated by South Beach Arts Association) This combination gallery, studio and classroom offers local handcrafted

pottery, textiles, paintings, ornaments, tea, silver jewelry and more.

800 N. Montesano St., Westport southbeacharts.org Hours: Monday and Tuesday, 1-4 p.m.; Thursday and Saturday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.; Sunday, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Farms

Walking/Hiking Trails Westport Lighthouse Interpretive Dune Trail This 8-foot-wide ADA-accessible concrete walkway meanders 2.8 miles along the shoreline from near the Grays Harbor Lighthouse to the Port of Grays Harbor Observation Tower in Westport’s Marina District.

Car Shows Eastside Street Rods Show & Shine Vintage vehicles are placed on display along Westport’s Westhaven Drive for this annual show, which will be held July 18. ’Vettes at the Marina Scores of classic Corvettes will grace

JOIN US FOR COLD BEER, HOT FOOD & GOOD TIMES JUST A SHORT WALK TO THE BEACH AND THE DOCKS OPEN 6AM - 2AM

the parking spaces along the Westport Marina Esplanade during the Seafood Festival on Sept. 5.

Note: These farmers sell their products directly to the public. Information courtesy of Washington State University’s Grays Harbor County Extension. For WSU’s complete guide and map (which also includes farms in Elma, Oakville and beyond), contact the Extension office at 360-482-2934 or visit www.graysharbor.wsu.edu.

Brady’s Oysters Inc. Oysters, crab, fish, shrimp, prawns and razor clams. Hosts an annual Oyster Feed on the second Saturday in September.

3714 Oyster Place East, Aberdeen (Actually closer to Westport) 360-268-0077 www.bradysoysters.com Summer hours: Seven days a week, 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Winter hours: Seven days a week, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m

Basket House T

A OPENM A 0 1

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KNOTTY PINE BAR & GRILL Where knotty meets nice.

DRINKS • FOOD • POOL • SHUFFLEBOARD 201 E Dock St, Westport, WA 98595 (360) 268-0591 38

WASH I NGTON COAST MAGA ZI N E | SPRI NG 2020

ESTABLISHED IN 1960

Classic Souvenir Store Toys • Gifts • Kites • Games • T-Shirts

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SOUTH BEACH

www.firstharborrealestate.com • 360-532-2610

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WE ARE YOUR HOME PORT

NORTH BEACH

The remains of the 10th annual Burning Bear bonfire from 2018 are still on display at Ocean City Marketplace, which has become a social hub for the region’s chainsaw carvers.

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Carving

NORTH BEACH

Beach out a niche North chainsaw artists

create cooperative community

E

S TO RY BY K AT B RYA N T • P H OTO S BY PAT R I CI A J O L L I M O R E

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very February, rain or shine, chainsaw carvers from all over gather in Ocean City to enjoy camaraderie, create art and make a difference.

At the Burning Bear festival, chainsaws roar for three days as visitors witness the transformation of raw logs and planks into everything from soaring eagles to furniture to, yes, bears. The finished pieces are auctioned Saturday and Sunday afternoons at 4, with the proceeds usually going to a designated local beneficiary such as the Green Lantern Lunch Program.

Oh, and let’s not forget the signature giant bear carved by the festival participants, which becomes the centerpiece of a bonfire during Saturday evening’s revelry. The public is invited to join the carvers that night for a potluck dinner around the bonfire, plus karaoke.

The remains of the 2018 bear stand on the street corner in front of Ocean City Marketplace, owned by Ivan and Mona Hass. They host this winter festival — and a few others like it during the summer season — every year on their property.

“They come and carve, and we feed ’em and try to give ’em a place to stay — as many as we can,” says Ivan, a carver himself.

“We try to make it so it doesn’t cost them any money.”

Photographer and tech guru Chris Brunstad has been documenting these events for a year and a half, and he’s found the carving community to be almost overwhelmingly warm, inviting and accepting.

“It’s almost like visiting family rather than going to an event,” he says. “It’s this huge gathering of people who love doing what they do, which is creating beautiful things out of raw elements. There’s just something about it that’s enchanting.”

Mona runs the Marketplace, which offers chainsaw art, curios and other gift-type items. “I don’t do carvings,” she says, laughing. “I just sell it for ’em and feed ’em!”

Burning Bear was founded 12 years ago by Ivan and fellow carver Steve Backus, who was raised in Humptulips but now lives on Whidbey Island. His brother Boaz, who now lives in Spokane, travels back here to act as auctioneer every year.

“It’s just been getting bigger and bigger,” says Ivan. “Every year we get more carvers coming, more people.”

They hosted almost 20 artists this year, coming from as far

Carver Anthony Robinson shows off the smallest of his chainsaws, a 4-incher.

away as Kansas. And for the first time, a prize was awarded: The carver with the highest dollar amount in sales for the weekend received a new chainsaw.

There’s a Pacific Northwest event circuit for chainsaw artists, but there’s no complete listing of events printed anywhere.

“We don’t have a list. They just know,” laughs Mona.

That’s just a hint as to how tightly knit the carving community is. In a sense, it’s a family affair. Steve and Boaz’s mother, Judy McVay, is the chainsaw artist who created the Ocean City Marketplace sign, the Welcome to Ocean Shores sign and many others along the Coast.

And two prolific North Beach carvers became established here with some help from within that community.

“AN IMPORTANT BALANCE” Anthony Robinson lives and carves in Copalis Crossing.

He has always worked with wood in some form or another, WASH I NGTON COAST MAGA ZI N E | SPRI NG 2020

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NORTH BEACH

WE ARE YOUR HOME PORT

Each carver has his own style: from left, a seafarer’s face by Ivan Hass; an octopus climbing a light pole by Anthony Robinson; and bears roasting marshmallows by Brandon Levesque.

but didn’t pick up a chainsaw until he was 40.

He was living in Westport in 2012, carving small pieces of wood to make jewelry to sell, and he decided to make a display stand for it. “I had a piece of driftwood, so I carved a wolf head and some other stuff on it using different tools,” he says. “I was having a blast. I was fired up!”

At that point, he was inspired to buy a chainsaw and take up the art. He took his shiny new tool to the beach and tried to carve a wolf out of driftwood. His first attempt fell flat, so he tried a fish.

And so it went for many months.

“Those were some lean times,” he laughs.

He says he shared space with Tokeland carvers Al Holbrook and Jeffro Uitto for a while, living on the Shoalwater Tribe’s 75-cent lunches. (This was before Jeffro shifted gears and hit it big with his elaborate driftwood creations. Al has since moved to Arizona.) And they spent a lot of their time dragging wood from the beach to their work area.

When Al took Anthony to his first Burning Bear festival and introduced him to Ivan and Mona, he was blown away by the amount of wood they had on their property just waiting to become art. Ivan invited him to carve there.

And so, for the next couple of years, Anthony was able to practice his craft at Ocean City Marketplace. He then moved into his current home/studio in Copalis 42

Crossing, where he built his own inventory of logs and slabs to work with.

Today, as proprietor of Native Beach Accessories, he’s making a good living doing what he loves. His secret: “It’s more letting those pieces of wood talk to you, rather than you talking to them — it’s an important balance.”

He now owns a wide array of chainsaws, from 4-inch to 66-inch blades. He has several commissioned pieces on a to-do list. And he’s entered a partnership with Ocean Shores artist Carol Frances called Wood We Dream, in which he carves sculptures and Carol details them with her elaborate woodburning designs.

And in January 2019, he helped Mona corral 10 carvers from all over Western Washington to participate in what came to be called Storm Carve. They all spent a weekend in Port Orchard, creating art out of the chaos left by a rare tornado.

By the end of the weekend, they had created dozens of unique sculptures for local residents out of the fallen trees.

“My fellow Brethren of the Chainsaw have answered the call,” Anthony proudly announced in a Facebook post.

His long-term dream is to buy a large property where he can stockpile raw wood and build small cabins and workspaces for up-and-coming artists to live and carve together.

“If you keep your ego out of it and enjoy life and the blessings that it shares,

WASH I NGTON COAST MAGA ZI N E | SPRI NG 2020

CARVERS’ STUDIOS Ocean City Marketplace Ivan and Mona Hass 2619 State Route 109, Ocean City 360-580-0594 Native Beach Accessories Anthony Robinson 1551 Ocean Beach Blvd., Hoquiam (actually in Copalis Crossing) 360-269-2536 BAD Yard Art Brandon Levesque 1547 Ocean Beach Blvd, Hoquiam (next to Native Beach Accessories) 406-450-4199 and add a little mad-scientist marketing, you can literally create something and have a place for everybody,” he says.

“YOU’VE BEEN BIT” Brandon Levesque got “bit by the carving bug” at an event in Gridley, California, about 15 years ago.

Brandon was observing a quick carve — when artists are given an hour or so to create whatever they can. He watched, transfixed, as a chainsaw artist transformed a 6-foot-tall chunk of raw wood into a soaring eagle with detailed feathers.

He says Steve and Boaz Backus were there that day, and Steve saw the look in his eye. “You’ve been bit, haven’t you?”

Brandon recalls him saying. “And I sure in the heck was.”

NORTH BEACH

Ivan Hass stands in his carving yard at Ocean City Marketplace.

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He thought about carving and talked about carving for a long time after that day. Finally, he says, his wife had to give him a little push to follow through. He bought his first carving saw and started learning the art.

He and his family later moved to Montana. He’d been there about nine years when he drove out to Idaho to participate in a show. Business was not as brisk there as he’d hoped, so he decided to try conducting a roadside sale on his way home.

Another carver pulled up next to him at the spot he’d chosen, and they talked shop for a while. The other man complimented Brandon on his work, and showed him an intricate piece of art he had created with some large intertwined tree roots.

As it turned out, the other carver was familiar with the Washington circuit. As Brandon bemoaned the harsh winters in Montana, he told Brandon about Ocean City’s milder climate — and about the Hasses.

And so, in 2016, Brandon traveled to the Coast to participate in the

NORTH BEACH

WE ARE YOUR HOME PORT

Carver Brandon Levesque specializes in small bears and trees, but also creates birds and other shapes.

Labor Day carve at Ocean City Marketplace. When he arrived, exhausted from his two-day drive, the first person he saw was Boaz — standing on top of a woodpile in the pouring rain.

“After all those years … my mouth just dropped open,” he says. “I felt like I’d come full circle.”

He also met Ivan, Mona and Anthony for the first time — and within a couple of weeks, Anthony had smoothed the way for Brandon to move into the vacant house next door to his own in Copalis Crossing.

For the next several months, Brandon split his time between living in

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Montana (where his wife and three kids still were) and at Anthony’s place (where he worked on fixing up the house next door). Once it was ready, he moved in there with his family in April 2017.

He’s been living there ever since, fully engaged in doing what he loves under the business name BAD Yard Art. Little bears and trees are his bread and butter, though he also carves plenty of other figures.

“It’s not like any other job, really,” he points out. “Not many people will go to work every day for an unknown wage to be paid at an unknown time.”

As next-door neighbors, he and Anthony reap some mutual benefits — including having a large combined display of inventory spread out across their front yards.

“When folks drive by, they can’t help but notice this quarter-mile stretch of art,” he smiles.

And even after 15 years in the business, he’s still learning.

“Everybody’s got something to teach,” he says. “Doesn’t matter how long you’ve been doing it.”

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NORTH BEACH

ANNUAL GATHERINGS

Burning Bear Feb. 7-9, 2020 (Second weekend of February)

CHRIS BRUNSTAD / COAST

The 2019 Burning Bear bonfire at Ocean City Marketplace.

Pieces are auctioned at 4 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.

Saturday dinner is potluck style, open to the public.

A giant bear, carved in a

Memorial Day Carve May 23-25, 2020 Fourth of July Carve July 3-5, 2020 Labor Day Carve Sept. 5-7, 2020

OTHER POPULAR EVENTS Sand & Sawdust Festival June 26-28, 2020 Ocean Shores Convention Center 120 Chance a la Mer Blvd., Ocean Shores Tokeland Wood and Art Fest July 31-Aug. 2, 2020 Tokeland Hotel 2964 Kindred Ave., Tokeland

Museum of the North Beach RA

www.HiddenCoastScenicByway.org

CIFIC

All Aboard!

RN PA HE

NO R T

www.moclips.org

I L W AY

Moclips by the Sea Historical Society

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These events, hosted by Ivan and Mona Hass, draw craftspeople from all over the region for carving and camaraderie. They spend three days creating, selling and (sometimes) destroying their works. The public is invited to share in the experience. All are held at their shop: Ocean City Marketplace, 2619 State Route 109, Ocean City. For information on any of these events, call the Hasses at 360-580-0594.

group effort, is torched at dusk that day.

NORTH BEACH

D E S T I N AT I O N

WE ARE YOUR HOME PORT

North Beach

A vast network of hiking trails winds through the rainforest surrounding Lake Quinault.

Chambers of Commerce Ocean Shores-North Beach Chamber of Commerce Ocean Shores Convention Center 120 W. Chance a la Mer NW 360.289.2451 oceanshores.com

State Parks Note: A Discover Pass is required for parking at any state park. Look up where to buy one at www.discoverpass. wa.gov.

OCEAN CITY Ocean City State Park This is a year-round, 170-acre camping park, featuring ocean beach, dunes, and dense thickets of shore pine. For picnics, the park provides four sheltered and 10 unsheltered picnic tables. The parking lot 46

accommodates 100 vehicles.

COPALIS BEACH Griffiths-Priday State Park This park has a reservable picnic shelter for groups of up to 50 people. For reservations, call 360-289-3553.

PACIFIC BEACH Pacific Beach State Park This 10-acre camping park’s sandy beach and breezy climate are perfect for kite flying and sand castle building.

Visitors also enjoy beach exploring, bird watching, and storm watching. The facility also has several yurts that can be reserved.

Walking/Hiking Trails OCEAN SHORES Weatherwax Trail — The city purchased 121 acres of unplatted, undeveloped

WASH I NGTON COAST MAGA ZI N E | SPRI NG 2020

land in July 1999, preserved with a wonderful walking trail through the forest and along Duck Lake. The three parcels of property making up the Weatherwax lie east of Canal Drive SE, south of Ocean Lake Way and Overlake, and west of Duck Lake Drive NE.

LAKE QUINAULT A vast network of hiking trails winds through the rainforest surrounding this glacier-formed lake. For a map and full details, visit www.quinaultrainforest. com.

Major Municipal Parks OCEAN SHORES Chinook Park This park is on Duck Lake off Duck Lake Drive and has a boat launch and fishing pier for freshwater fishing. Also, a soccer field, outdoor basketball court, picnic facilities and children’s play area.

NORTH BEACH North Bay Park Ocean Shores’ largest park is also on Duck Lake, at the intersection of Chance a la Mer and Albatross. It has a public boat launch and fishing pier, but there is also a tennis court, a baseball field and large playground for the kids.

North Bay also has a picnic shelter and restrooms.

Emerson Park This park has a tennis court and play area, and is located off Bass Ave., and the skatepark is next to the city animal shelter behind Shores Bowl.

Damon Point One of the most popular areas of Ocean Shores is Damon Point at the southern end of Ocean Shores, where you can explore a 2-mile-long spit of beach that seems to stretch out into Grays Harbor almost all the way to Westport.

Museum of the North Beach Covers North Beach history including lumber mills, canneries, sea otter hunters, homesteaders and local tribal heritage.

4658 State Route 109, Moclips 360-276-4441 moclips.org Hours: Summer (June 1-Sept. 30): Thursday-Monday, 11 a.m.-4 p.m.

Off season (Oct. 1-May 31): SaturdaySunday, 11 a.m.-4 p.m.

Entry fee: Free; donations accepted

Lake Quinault Museum The old Post Office building now contains exhibits on life in the rainforest, from the Quinault culture to the pioneer days and up to the present.

354 South Shore Road, Quinault 360-288-2361 or 360-288-2317 www.lakequinaultmuseum.org Hours: Memorial Day-Labor Day, noon5 p.m. daily (or by appointment) Entry fee: Free; donations accepted

Quinault Tribal Museum Stone tools, carvings, books of stories told by the Quinault people, historical documents and photographs, and more.

807 Fifth Ave., Ste. 1, Taholah 360-276-8215, ext. 245 Hours: Monday-Friday, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Entry fee: Free; donations accepted

More information: www. graysharbormuseums.org

Art Galleries Note: There are numerous art studios and individual artist galleries in Grays Harbor County. Here, we include only public galleries featuring multiple artists and forms, based on our research.

Gallery of Ocean Shores (operated by the North Beach Artist Guild) This gallery, workshop and clay studio focuses on art and education, with original works always on display from its 24 member artists. Also hosts a Third Saturday Art Walk each month.

849 Pt. Brown Ave., Ocean Shores

Looking for a sweet place to shop?

Buddy & Howie’s Old Fashioned Sweet Shoppe

739 Pt. Brown Ave. NW Ocean Shores, WA 360-289-0255

Fudge and over 500 types of candy!

WASH I NGTON COAST MAGA ZI N E | SPRI NG 2020

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www.firstharborrealestate.com • 360-532-2610

Milo Schneider (Lions) Park Near hotels/motels at 832 Ocean Shores Blvd NW, this one-acre park provides playground equipment, picnic tables, portable restroom, and Lions Club meeting hall.

Museums

WE ARE YOUR HOME PORT

NORTH BEACH

Pacific Beach is one of many locations around Grays Harbor where visitors can dig razor clams on designated weekends.

360-289-0734 www.thegalleryofoceanshores.com Hours: 10 a.m.-5 p.m. daily.

Farms

Call or email for hours and selection.

flowers and nursery stock.

Dale’s Lavender Valley Fresh lavender available July through August. Also hosts annual Lavender Festival in July.

291 Walker Road, Hoquiam (actually closer to Humptulips) 360-593-4775 www.skyislandfarm.org Call in advance to schedule a visit.

Note: These farmers sell their products directly to the public. Information courtesy of Washington State University’s Grays Harbor County Extension. For WSU’s complete guide and map (which also includes farms in Elma, Oakville and beyond), contact the Extension office at 360-482-2934 or visit www.graysharbor.wsu.edu.

48 Robertson School Road, Hoquiam (actually closer to Copalis Crossing) 360-532-7253 angus@coastaccess.com

Coastal Farm Organic vegetables and blueberries available April through September.

2262 Ocean Beach Road, Copalis Crossing 360-589-1034 Open during the season 10 a.m. SundayTuesday, or by appointment.

19 Robertson School Road, Hoquiam (actually closer to Copalis Crossing) 360-532-8805 bfaires@techline.com

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Ida M’s Blueberry Row Generally open July through September.

You-pick berries are free, but you must pick a gallon for the owner to get your free gallon.

Sky Island Farm Organic produce, microgreens, cut

WASH I NGTON COAST MAGA ZI N E | SPRI NG 2020

Car Shows High Rollin’ Hot Rods This two-day car show is staged twice a year at Quinault Beach Resort & Casino.

This year, they’re being held April 24-25 and Oct. 2-3. The show is produced annually by the Push Rods of Hoquiam.

Clam Digger Rod Run Another showcase for local auto fans is this annual show, hosted in May by the Ocean Shores Elks Lodge. At press time, this year’s exact date was still to be determined.

NORTH BEACH

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360.289.0572 | playtimefamilyfun.com WASH I NGTON COAST MAGA ZI N E | SPRI NG 2020

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SEABROOK

I

D E S T I N AT I O N

WE ARE YOUR HOME PORT

Seabrook

n less than two decades, the bluffs overlooking the ocean near Pacific Beach have been transformed into a sparkling new community.

Want to hike? Maybe shop? Ride a bike? Gaze at the ocean, even walk along the shore? Read on the covered porch of a cottage that’s a blend of Northwest style and Cape Cod? At this planned beach community, you can do all that before lunch. And your lunch options are pretty good, too.

There’s a spectacular public stairway to the wide, flat beach, mountain biking trails and regular trails. In the spring, sometimes gray whales can be seen from the bluffs, migrating south just offshore.

There is a full service spa, a fashionable clothing store, a surf shop, a yarn and fiber shop, an art gallery, a bike rental shop, home decor, a bookstore, a grocery store, a toy store, a gift store, a wine and cheese shop, a pizza restaurant and a candy shop.

And the strolling is first-rate: interesting architecture, walkable neighborhoods with different character, and lots of green space.

A SWEET LITTLE HOME STORE ON THE

WASHINGTON COAST IN SEABROOK A NEW BEACH TOWN

Sun-Thu 8AM-7PM Fri & Sat 8AM-9PM Front Street Market is your premier grocery store on the North beach. Fresh veggies and meats, coffee bar with Stumptown Coffee, excellent fresh deli too.

Mon Thur Fri Sat Sun

11am-5pm 10AM-4pm 11am-5am 10am-5pm 10am-4pm

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SEABROOK

MARCH 14

Shenanigans Fest A chance to get a head start on St. Patrick’s Day. It starts at noon.

MAY 2

Savor Seabrook Seafood & Wine Festival This 10th annual event draws dozens of wineries and features world class seafood. There’s live music, and the event is centered along Market Street.

16

Syttende Mai Parade Norwegian Consitution Day is Norway’s national day. That’s all the excuse anybody needs for a parade. This one starts at 10:30 a.m.

30 WE ARE YOUR HOME PORT

Seabrook Relay Formerly known as Hood to Coast Washington, the one-day foot race begins and ends at Seabrook with 350 teams of six.

Independence Day Porch Illumination, July 3

LOCAL ART, PAINTING CLASSES, AND DAILY CRAFTS Hours: Mon 10am-6pm & Thur-Sun 10am-6pm

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Greetings from Washington Coast Magazine!

Welcome to the Spring issue.

We’re already working hard on stories that will bring the coast right into your home every season of the year.

This magazine is the perfect gift for anyone who will appreciate the stories of life along the Pacific Northwest Coast.

A subscription card is bound into the magazine.

Or, simply give us a call at 360-532-4000 and we will be happy to set up the subscription over the phone.

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www.firstharborrealestate.com • 360-532-2610

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JUNE 13

Doggie Days Games, relay races, and prizes for best kisser, best barker and a host of other canine qualities. Proceeds go to Chase Away K9 Cancer. Registration at 10 a.m. at Horseshoe Park.

27

Saturday Market This weekly farmers market opens June 27 and continues through Sept. 12 on Market Street.

JULY 3

Independence Day Porch Illumination Guests and homeowners decorate their homes while people walk around the evening of July 3 to pick their favorite, then stop at Crescent Park to vote for their favorite and enjoy s’mores.

OCTOBER 3

WE ARE YOUR HOME PORT

Bigfoot Brewfest The eighth annual brewfest draws some of the best craft brewers in the Northwest. Check out Growler’s Alley Beer Garden for live music and lots of beer.

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WASH I NGTON COAST MAGA ZI N E | SPRI NG 2020

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Our Favorite Events MARCH 6-7

UFO/Paranormal Summit An annual gathering/conference at the Quinault Beach Resort & Casino in Ocean Shores.

29

Mermaid Parade Long Beach “shellebrates” International Mermaid Day with a family-friendly Mermaid Parade.

6-8

APRIL

6-15

Driftwood Show & Glass Float Hunt Vendors, music and more at the Grayland Community Hall; glass float roundup on Grayland Beach.

Coastal Celtic Music Festival The second annual event in Long Beach — four venues, more than a dozen bands over three days.

“Oliver!”

The Bishop Center for the Performing Arts in Aberdeen presents Lionel Bart’s musical based on Charles Dickens’ “Oliver Twist.”

7-8

Beachcombers Fun Fair In Ocean Shores, the annual event features exhibits, seminars, information booths and vendors, plus a kids science fair.

19

Grays Harbor College Winter Jazz Concert This quarterly concert, at the Bishop Center for the Performing Arts in Aberdeen, features the college Jazz Band and Jazz Choir.

21-22

Razor Clam Festival All things razor clam — including a Clam Chowder Cook-off — are featured at the 12th annual festival in Ocean Shores.

27-29

Grays Harbor Mounted Posse Pro Indoor Rodeo The annual Indoor Pro Rodeo is held at the county fairgrounds in Elma.

29

The High Kings Sunday Afternoon Live presents the High Kings performing at the Raymond Theatre in downtown Raymond.

4-5

11

Long Beach Razor Clam Festival Featuring free razor clam digging lessons, contests, music, a chowder cookoff and a giant clam fry.

14

RupLoops Interactive music at the Bishop Center for the Performing Arts in Aberdeen.

18

World Class Crab Races & Crab Feed A unique family fun experience at the Westport Marina.

24-26

Grays Harbor Shorebird & Nature Festival Three days celebrating the annual migration of shorebirds, centered at Hoquiam’s Bowerman Basin.

26

Sunday Afternoon Live Pianist Sarah Hagen performs at 2 p.m. at at the Raymond Theatre

27-28

Rock & Gem Show Find your gem at this annual event at the Grays Harbor County Fairgrounds in Elma.

MAY 2

Tokeland/North Cove Art Studio Tour Open studio tours with an

auction event Saturday night benefiting the Ocosta School District’s art program.

2

Ocosta Recreation Oyster Feed Steamed, stewed and fried oysters, spaghetti and salad at the Ocosta Recreation Hall.

9-10

“More” Urban Unglued This craft show at the Ocean Shores Convention Center focuses on a gothic- and dark art-themed handmade market.

16-17

Home and Garden Show Everything homeowners need to take their sheds, shrubs, flowers, and other needs to the next level.

22-25

World’s Longest Garage Sale Four days of bargain-hunting fun from Ilwaco to Oysterville.

24-25

Weekend with the Fleet Celebrating the commercial fishing and maritime industry, at the Westport Maritime Museum and the Marina.

25

Blessing of the Fleet Annual ceremony is held at the Fishermen’s Monument on Neddie Rose Drive.

JUNE 5-7

Festival of Colors An event for kite flyers from novice to professional levels in Ocean Shores.

6

Wearable Art Show Artists of all media types create functional and not-so-functional pieces of spectacular fashion at the Ocean Shores Convention Center.

20-21

Northwest Garlic Festival Celebrate this exalted bulb in Ocean Park with great, garlicladen cuisine.

26-28

Sand & Sawdust Festival At the Ocean Shores Convention Center and on the main Ocean Shores beach. Sand sculpting competition and chainsaw artist auctions daily.

26-27

Rusty Scupper’s Pirate Daze The 18th annual Westport event features pirates, vendors, live music, contests and longboat races.

27

Founders Day Celebration A parade, music and vendors celebrate the founders of Aberdeen.

JULY 4

Fireworks displays Free fireworks shows start at dusk (around 10 p.m.) at Morrison Riverside Park in Aberdeen; at the Westport Marina; in Tokeland near the Shoalwater Bay Casino; and on the Bolstad Avenue beach approach in Long Beach.

4

Old Fashioned 4th of July Celebration Held on the grounds of the Westport Maritime Museum from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.

4

Splash Festival Aberdeen’s annual daylong Fourth of July celebration, featuring live music, food and plenty of fun for kids.

4

Old Fashioned 4th of July Parade & Art in the Park In downtown Ocean Park, it’s

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a true slice of Americana. The event at Sheldon Park features the works of local artists, food vendors and more.

Discover Discover

Unforgettable Grays Harbor

Unforgettable Grays Harbor, WA

JULY 4

Tokeland Parade & Celebration Old-fashioned community parade starts at 11 a.m. at the Tokeland Marina. Picnic lunch follows at Tokeland Hotel.

5 • Unforgettable Wildlife & Scenery • Unforgettable Hiking & • Unforgettable Wildlife & Scenery • Unforgettable Hiking & Camping Camping • Unforgettable World-Class Fishing • Miles of “Unforgettable” Beaches

• Unforgettable World-Class 800-621-9625 | www.visitgraysharbor.com Visit us online at facebook.com/GraysHarborTourism Fishing • Miles of Unforgettable Beaches

Trek Across Tokeland Registration is at 8 a.m. and the trek starts 9 a.m. at Tradewinds on the Bay.

8-12

Sandsations An annual sand-sculpting extravaganza in Long Beach.

10-12

Windriders Kite Festival Competitions, demonstrations, games, auction and high-flying fun at the Grayland Beach approach.

18-19

Clamshell Railroad Days Ilwaco’s annual celebration of the railroad that ran along the Long Beach Peninsula between 1889 and 1930.

24-26

Go Hog Wild in Ocean Shores Motorcycle event at the Ocean Shores Convention Center and Quinault Beach Resort & Casino.

25

Aberdeen Art Walk This daytime summer event includes lots of art, food and music downtown.

25

Aberdeen Rain Glow This second annual festival, held from 9 p.m. to midnight downtown, will feature nine artistic “glow worlds.”

25

800-621-9625

| www.visitgraysharbor.com

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WASH I NGTON COAST MAGA ZI N E | SPRI NG 2020

Elk River Challenge This human-powered boat race starts at the foot of the Elk River Bridge near Westport and goes up into the Elk River estuary.

25-26

Long Beach NPRA Rodeo The rodeo features saddle bronc, bareback and bull riding, barrel racing, steer wrestling, and calf and breakaway roping.

AUGUST 1

Grays Harbor Pride The area’s annual Pride festival, held at the Shoppes at Riverside in Aberdeen, includes education, crafts, food, games for all ages, and an evening drag show.

1-2

Tokeland Wood & Art Fest Handmade items displayed by artists, wood carvers and food on the grounds of the historic Tokeland Hotel.

1-2

Willapa Harbor Festival This northern Pacific County tradition features live music, a parade, food and craft vendors in downtown Raymond.

5-9

Grays Harbor County Fair At the fairgrounds in Elma. Five days of family fun begins at 10 a.m. on Wednesday, Aug. 5.

15-16

Westport Art Festival A juried show of fine art and crafts at various locations in the Marina District.

22-23

Body and Soul Festival Learn all about a natural and homeopathic way of life at the Ocean Shores Convention Center.

17-23

International Kite Festival World-renowned kite flyers converge on the Long Beach Peninsula annually for a vivid celebration of summer.

26-29

Pacific County Fair Enjoy everything from carnival rides and tasty treats to livestock shows and live music in Menlo. Enjoy a slice of Pacific County life.

29

Tokefest This cannabis wellness festival in Tokeland focuses on the health benefits of CBD.

SEPTEMBER

4-6

AAOS Arts & Crafts Festival One of Western Washington’s largest indoor/outdoor handmade arts and crafts fairs, held at the Ocean Shores Convention Center.

4-7

Come Play on Labor Day Watch the grand parade, take in the fireworks, visit the carnival and join the Tin Man Triathlon in South Bend.

4-7

Chinook Arts Festival This festival in Chinook features locally created art and crafts of all types.

5

Loggers Playday One of the nation’s last surviving classic logging shows, where pros share their skills and compete.

5

Seafood Festival & Craft Show Heaping plates of great food, live music and local crafters at the Westport Maritime Museum.

5

’Vettes at the Marina Dozens of classic Corvettes line up for display along the Westport Marina.

11

Slow Drag at the Port of Ilwaco Bring your chair and watch classic cars, rat rods, unique vehicles and themed cars coast their way to the finish line.

12-13

Rod Run to the End of the World From Model T’s to muscle cars, the Rod Run features acres of automobiles and plenty of chrome eye candy in Ocean Park.

18-19

Peninsula R&B Festival Regional, local and national blues acts, food vendors, beer and wine

Festival of Colors, June 5-7 in Ocean Shores

in Ocean Park.

18-20

Whale of a Quilt Show The Sea-Pal Quilters of Ocean Shores event offers boutique vendors, quilts and demos.

12

Brady’s Oyster Feed Oysters any way you like ’em at Brady’s Oysters, just west of the Elk River Bridge on State Route 105 near Westport.

18-20

30 Miles of Junque Annual beachwide garage sale, from Markham to Tokeland.

19

Discover Lake Sylvia Fall Festival Visitors enjoy mountain bike and off-road foot races, live music and art shopping around the park.

26

Reach the Beach This one-day cycling event has four different start locations — Lacey, Olympia, Elma and Cosmopolis — and ends in Westport.

OCTOBER 2-4

Peninsula Arts Association Fall Show Now entering its 50th year at the

Old Train Depot in Long Beach.

10-11

and then holds court at the Maritime Museum.

Cranberry Harvest Festival Bog tours, a cookoff, local cranberry products, music and the Saturday night Firefly Parade in Grayland.

5

Water Music Festival The 36th annual event is a threeconcert series featuring jazz and classical musicians performing in intimate venues up and down the Long Beach Peninsula.

Crab Pot Christmas Tree Lighting The world’s largest crab-pot Christmas tree is lit at 5 p.m. at the Port of Ilwaco.

16-18

22-25

Celtic Music Feis This annual musical gathering is centered at Galway Bay restaurant and the Ocean Shores Convention Center.

NOVEMBER 27-29

Winter Fanta-Sea At the Ocean Shores Convention Center, scores of arts and crafts booths feature handmade items just in time for the holidays.

DECEMBER 5

Santa by the Sea Santa arrives at Float 6 at the Westport Marina at 10:30 a.m.

Downtown Raymond Lighted Christmas Parade Lighted Christmas floats through downtown Raymond.

5

6

Water Music Society Christmas Concert Annual event held at the Inn at Harbor Village in Ilwaco.

11-13

Festival of Lights Montesano takes holiday lights seriously: There’s a choir in the county courthouse and a lighted nighttime parade on Saturday.

12

Tuba Christmas Concert This free concert at the Columbia Pacific Heritage Museum features the Astoria Tuba Quartet.

31

Fireworks at Midnight over the Ocean Fireworks in front of the boardwalk in Long Beach ring in the New Year.

WASH I NGTON COAST MAGA ZI N E | SPRI NG 2020

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BIRD’S-EYE VIEW

IT DOESN’T HAVE TO QUACK TO BE A DUCK CO LU M N A N D P H OTO S BY J EF F B RYA N T

Time to lean, time to clean: A handsome Cinnamon Teal looks on as a Green-Winged Teal puts the finishing touches on his waterproof shell. Note how the water beads on his belly as a result of his meticulous hygiene.

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The Canvasback is the very model of a diving duck, having traded in the broad, flat bill and steep forehead of a dabbler for a more streamlined look.

T

There are nearly 150 species of duck across the globe, of which an impressive one in five has been recorded in coastal Washington.

hey’re colorful. They’re cosmopolitan. They’re delicious with a honey-balsamic glaze.

I’m talking about ducks, of course. There are nearly 150 species of duck across the globe, of which an impressive one in five has been recorded on the ponds, rivers and seas of coastal Washington.

What is it about these ancient birds that has captivated birdwatchers, hunters and epicureans since time immemorial? The short answer: everything.

The origins of the family can be difficult to determine exactly. Bird bones are thin and hollow — perfect for flying, but not so good for fossilization! The earliest known fossils of modern waterfowl date back to the Eocene Epoch, about 35 million years ago. Antarctic expeditions have unearthed fossils of similar waterfowl dating back more than 60 million years, but paleobiologists agree those specimens were not direct ancestors of our ducks.

The adage “If it walks like a duck, swims like a duck, and quacks like a duck, then it’s probably a duck” is misleading on many levels. Coots, cormorants and loons, for example, have assumed similar characteristics because of similar lifestyles — a process called convergent evolution. Furthermore, Donald Duck’s “Wak!” is patterned after the sound of the familiar Mallard of ponds and farmyards worldwide. Most other ducks make a wide variety of whistles, trills and grunts rather than quacks.

While assessing the origins of ducks may be challenging, our relationship with them is slightly easier to trace. Ducks and their close cousins, geese, figure prominently in Egyptian art going back at least as far as 2500 BC. Domestication may have begun there as well, though the earliest it has been proved through genetic analysis is in China around 500 BC. Since then, humans have prized ducks for their meat, eggs, abundant fat and soft, pillow-quality down feathers.

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Barrow’s Goldeneye, a diving duck, has a short, stout bill adept at crunching crustaceans into bite-sized portions.

Private collectors keep exotic ducks for their sheer beauty — which is no surprise, given the fantastic array of colors and patterns sported by the males.

The iridescent green head of the Mallard, the flashy racing stripe up a Pintail’s neck, the technicolor coat of a Wood Duck — all are for but one purpose: to impress the drab female enough to be selected as her mate. The males can spare the metabolic energy required to generate those garish outfits largely because their wedding suits and often elaborate courtship displays are the only obligations they keep to a prospective mate.

Ducks are notorious deadbeat dads. Nest construction, incubation and child care are usually left entirely to the hen, who must cover the eggs with her own down to keep them warm when she needs to go find a meal. Soon after mating, the drakes will retreat to a safe location with the rest of the guys. There, the splendid colors dull to a better camouflaged “eclipse” plumage, and the flight feathers are shed all at once, rendering the birds flightless for nearly a month.

This system, however sexist, seems to work. Even though an average wild duck lives only about three years, it will usually produce enough ducklings to keep the population stable. This is possible in part because of their highly specialized and efficient anatomies.

Ducks fall into three general categories: dabblers, divers

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and perching ducks. Our only perching duck is the spectacularly colored Wood Duck, which has especially long claws on its toes to help it grip the tree trunks it prefers to nest in.

Perhaps the most familiar are the dabblers, or “puddle ducks,” like Mallards, Teals and Pintails. They can be found on nearly any pond skimming the surface or “tipping up,” pointing their tails to the sky while their bills sift through the mud at the bottom in search of tasty tidbits. Their bills are lined with lamellae — comblike structures that help them filter plant matter and small invertebrates (as small as diatoms in the case of the Northern Shoveler) from the water, or to firmly grip larger food items.

Some dabblers, like the American Wigeon, are also fond of grazing like geese on dry land, pulling up tender grasses and roots. These ducks are built accordingly, with legs spaced and situated far enough up on the body to be good at both paddling and waddling. Broad, flat bills are well-suited to their foraging styles. Their wings are generally broader and set farther back than diving ducks, as their primary use is for agile takeoffs and maneuvering.

Diving ducks, such as Scoters, Canvasbacks and Mergansers, tend to be more streamlined, with legs situated further back on the body and flatter, narrower wings. These alterations help them propel themselves underwater more adroitly, but can make them more awkward on land and

JEFF’S TOP 10 Shorebirding spots around the Twin Harbors The annual Grays Harbor Shorebird Festival (April 24-26 this year) hosts guided outings to most, though not all, of these sites. If you’d prefer a quieter visit at your own pace, you can check out these prime birding spots anytime.

1. Griffiths-Priday State Park: River deltas can be a magnet for shorebirds, as this park at the mouth of the Copalis River proves. Look for swarms of “peeps” on the beach and marsh-loving shorebirds by the river, creek and random puddles. This spot is shamefully underbirded, though that may change after last year’s discovery of Red-necked Stint and Mountain Plover here.

2. Point Brown Jetty: While the adjacent beach often harbors sand-loving Whimbrels and “peeps,” the rocks are where the action is here. At low tide, climb out on the rocks or scope from the beach for Black and Ruddy Turnstones, Surfbirds, Wandering Tattlers, late Rock Sandpipers or the occasional Blactk Oystercatcher.

3. Damon Point: Get there early, before the beachgoers and dog walkers, for a variety of sandy-shore species like Least and Western Sandpipers, Black-bellied and Semipalmated Plovers, and Sanderling. More upland birds like Whimbrel can be found among the dune grass.

Be sure to scope the rocks of the neighboring marina for rocky shorebirds.

4. Oyhut Game Range: Access this hotspot from Tonquin Avenue only if you’re able to clamber over the driftwood piled up along this shortcut. Otherwise, walk the beach from Damon Point. The ponds and Salicornia marshes here bustle at high tide with Short-billed Dowitchers, Greater and Lesser Yellowlegs, Dunlin and occasional surprises.

5. Grays Harbor National Wildlife Refuge: Get there two or three hours before high tide to watch swarms of sandpipers creep ever closer to the boardwalk for easy viewing. Among all the peeps, look for Marbled Godwit, Red Knot and both Dowitchers, often side-by-side for good comparison. After the tide comes in, go just next door to…

6. Hoquiam Sewage Treatment Plant: Scan the shores of the settlement ponds for the same species as the last stop, plus Wilson’s Snipe, Greater and Lesser Yellowlegs, and possibly a Red-necked Phalarope swimming farther out.

7. Bottle Beach: Arguably the best shorebirding spot in the state, with a long list of rarities on its checklist. Plan to be there two to three hours before high tide and watch the water creep in over the shallowly graded muddy sand, pushing hordes of shorebirds toward the narrow beach.

This is probably the best spot for Red Knot, Long-billed Curlew and Ruddy Turnstone, along with thousands of commoner species.

The familiar Mallard. As with dandelions, they’re such a common sight that their beauty is often overlooked.

8. Westport Jetty/Westhaven State Park: Walking out this long jetty isn’t for everyone, but the rewards can be astounding. In addition to the wide array of seabirds visible from this vantage, look for Wandering Tattler and mixed flocks of Surfbirds, turnstones and lingering Rock Sandpipers. The pond by the parking area is also worth a quick check for Red-necked Phalarope.

9. Grayland Beach: This is the best place to find Snowy Plovers. Look for them in the drier sand toward the edge of the dunes, or huddling in tire tracks on windy days.

The outer beach has Black-bellied Plover, Sanderling and the common “peeps,” but also check the seasonal puddles nestled among the dunes for Greater and Lesser Yellowlegs.

10. Tokeland Marina: This is the northernmost reliable spot for Willet on the Pacific Coast, thus a must for any shorebird tour. It’s also a good spot for Whimbrel, Long-billed Curlew and flocks of Marbled Godwits. The latter should be picked through carefully, as one might be a Bar-tailed!

As a bonus, you can check out the neighboring Ocean Shores Sewage Treatment Plant. During the STP’s Friday and Saturday business hours, this spot between the jetty and the game range holds a random assortment of shorebirds — you never know what will turn up there, especially at high tide. You don’t need to check in at the front office; your binoculars are your visitor’s badge. Just take care to stay on the paved roads and heed all warning signs.

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These Northern Pintails are perfectly illustrating both the “tipping” foraging style common to dabblers, and the source of their name.

during takeoff. Then again, who cares when you can dive to the incredible depth of 150 feet, like a Long-tailed Duck!

The fish-eating Mergansers have sharp lamellae that resemble teeth. Those, along with the bill’s hooked tip, make it easier to hold onto such slippery prey.

Even after complete submersion, diving ducks resurface dry. Water rolls off a duck’s back because the bird carefully waterproofs itself with a waxy oil produced by a gland near the tail, smoothing it into the outer feathers with its bill while preening.

Despite the global downward trend in bird populations, most waterfowl species are managing to keep their ducks in a row. The role of habitat conservation in this cannot be overstated. Adult ducks have few predators (humans and eagles being prominent exceptions), but they need wetland oases for breeding, migrating and wintering.

To that end, Ducks Unlimited has purchased 14 million acres of duck habitat nationwide since 1937. Recently, the nonprofit conservation group partnered with the Washington Fish and Wildlife Department to purchase the 1,100-acre Grayland Unit, comprising three parcels around the Westport area.

It’s easy for anyone to help ensure these birds stay around to delight future generations of nature-lovers, hunters and

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diners alike. One way is to help support Ducks Unlimited, which is funded largely through membership fees and donations. Check out www.ducks.org/get-involved for more information.

Another option is to buy a $25 Migratory-Bird Hunting and Conservation Stamp (widely known as the “duck stamp”), issued annually by the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service.

It’s actually a hunting license — but even non-hunters buy it, because 98 cents of every dollar spent on it goes toward wetlands conservation across the country. A new one is issued every June. For more info, visit www.fws.gov/birds/ get-involved/duck-stamp.php.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR Jeff Bryant has been an increasingly obsessive birder since childhood. For the past 30 years, what little money he’s been able to set aside has been spent traveling in search of ever more of the world’s 10,000 species. He’s only a quarter of the way there.

Why I love it here TEXT AND PHOTO BY LANE YOUMANS

G

rays Harbor is a great place to be from.

I have spoken these words to my two children, as well as many other young people who reach that “I’m so bored. There is nothing to do here” phase. I like to point out that within the 1,910 square miles of Grays Harbor, you’ve got the Pacific Ocean, a national park with rainforest, lakes, rivers, pristine forests and a mild climate. You can enjoy hunting, fishing, clam digging, biking, hiking, camping and a variety of other outdoor activities.

I love it here — not only for the incredible beauty of this land, but also for the people.

I admit that growing up in Hoquiam during the 1950s, ’60s and ’70s, I have Mayberry-like memories of “sugar bubble Hoquiam.” But my 30 years as a sheriff’s detective gave me a firsthand look at many of the problems most of the public never sees.

I have seen the best people on their worst day, and have had to deal with senseless acts of violence. I have also seen incredible acts of kindness. When one of us suffers from disease or disaster, friends, neighbors and total strangers come together to help.

In April 1980, a week after Hoquiam Police Officer Donald Burke was murdered during a traffic stop, I was on patrol. My emotions were still pretty raw when I was approached by one of our locals — a man I’d had to arrest several times in the past.

I worried that he might want to cause trouble, but he just walked up to me and said, “You know that I don’t like cops, but what those guys did to that Hoquiam cop was wrong.” And he walked away.

I love the spirit of the people here, the friendliness that I don’t see in the larger cities. Even our rivalries are friendly — like Food Ball, where the Aberdeen and Hoquiam high school students compete to collect the most donations for local food banks. Everyone is a winner there.

There are so many things to do here if

As a volunteer at Aberdeen’s no-kill shelter, Youmans is known as “the cat whisperer.”

you look for them, whether it is unique dining experiences or entertainment, like Hoquiam’s 7th Street Theatre (shameless plug).

I have dedicated a good portion of my life serving the people of Grays Harbor. I am glad my family came here in 1923, and that we were able to raise our kids here. It is a good place to be from, but I don’t have any plans on leaving.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR Lane Youmans is a former hard-rock drummer, sheriff’s detective and county coroner. He is presently a husband, father of two, grandfather of seven, butter distribution specialist at the 7th Street Theatre and cat whisperer at Grays Harbor PAWS.

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LAST SHOT

On approach

I

BY CR A IG NICH O L S

was 12 when my dad gave me a Kodak X-15f Instamatic camera for my birthday. It used the 126 film cartridge and the giant flip flash tower, and I loved it. It gave me something to do when I was bored — grab the camera and go get some shots. I lived in rural Colorado at the time, on a wheat farm out in the middle of nowhere. Watching wheat grow can get real old real fast, but the camera gave me a reason to go explore.

I saved up some money from working on the farm and bought a “basket case” motorcycle at the local flea market for $50. I spent a month putting it back together, then I was off, gone, out on photo expedition. I would load my rucksack with candy bars, pop, chips, a BB gun (for bears), extra film and an extra giant flash flippy thing, 66

and I would cruise the dirt roads of rural Colorado looking for things to photograph — such as an old tractor in a field or an abandoned homestead.

Times have changed: The Kodak X-15 has been replaced by a Nikon D3200, and the 12-year-old kid is now almost 50, but my love for photography and exploration remains the same. I still call it “photo expedition” — as in “I’m gone, see ya later, will be back in a few days, I’m out on photo expedition.”

I have lived in Aberdeen since 2011, and I love it here. There is lots of natural beauty nearby and plenty of stuff to go photograph. See you out there.

Reach Craig Nichols at craignichols4@ hotmail.com. To view more of his photography, find him on Facebook at craignichols@craigsartandphotography.

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About this photo: About two years ago, I was heading out to the Chehalis River bridge in Aberdeen to get some sunset photos, when I noticed traffic was stopped. I figured something cool was about to go under the drawbridge, so I parked my car nearby and walked up the bridge as fast as I could to capture a few images of the tugboat approaching. This is one of my favorite shots; I like how it also has a hint of sunset in it.

Editor’s Note: Amateur photographers are welcome to send high-resolution images depicting some element of life on the Washington Coast to be considered for the Last Shot. Please include a photo title and description, as well as a short bio and contact information.

Send your submissions to editor@ washingtoncoastmagazine.com.

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