The Cape

In November of 2007, Barb and I drove the one road all the way down to the end of Cape Hatteras, North Carolina.  One of the surprises to us were the number of huge homes that had been recently constructed.   We assumed that this narrow cape, as it juts out into the Atlantic, would be vulnerable to some vicious storms.   We were left with the question,  "What happens to all this recent construction if a huge storm hits?"  I guess we will find out this weekend.   God Speed NC.

Much of the Cape is a few feet above sea level.  The paved roads need to be graded to remove the sand.

The number of new "homes" this large were too numerous to count.

Ocean Shores

Nathan and Cailyn acquired a condo in Ocean Shores for Aug 11 - 14 in celebration of Alton's (Cailyn's dad)  birthday (14th) and Barb's (15th).  Kari joined us for one day.  It was a wonderful setting and the weather cooperated.  For the kids, it was their first real beach experience.  Fun!

one kite into the air

two kites into the air

Alton Jane and Barb with one of Cailyn's scrumptious cakes.

cracking crab

grilling tandoori without the tandoor

always working for the best shot

he is standing up

42

Since the kids have "grown" we've tried to get away for our anniversary.  Usually it has been a day trip, a hike on Mt. Rainier or a walk through some regional park or beach.  Since I no longer hike, the days' events have usually been on a bicycle or a boat.  This year, since we got a late start, we drove to Seattle and boarded our bikes for a cruise on the Bert Gillman Trail.  We fortunately chose to park at the Gasworks Park on Lake Union.  The weather was in the cool low 70's as we wound through the commercial district to the U of W and beyond.  The picture above is taken on the bridge over "the cut", the human made channel that runs from Lake Washington to Lake Union.

After a 90 minute ride which was fairly level throughout, we made our way back to Gasworks Park and sat lakeside for some hors d'oeuvres which Barb has packed.

As we sat and watched around 100 sailboats lining up across the lake, something magical happened.  A horn blew in the distance and suddenly all the boats turned, heading north toward us.  What followed (we learned it is called "Duck Dodge",  duckdodge.org,  and it happens every Tues eve during the summer, wind determined) was that the flotilla passed by us in all directions, around the lake, sometimes coming within inches of each other as each took on its own tack and direction.  The event occurred in complete silence, with only an occasion flapping of the sail. Each was on their own merry way enjoying the setting, aided by the light breeze, and the thrill of maneuvering through the myriad of boats.  Very entertaining and another event that Barb and I unwittingly walked into.  Fun.

We finished the eve with a dinner at Ray's Boathouse which, compared to 30 years ago when we first ate there, has lost a lot of its charm.

Connections in a Small World

Last night Nathan, Cailyn, Gkids, their friends Jess and Amanda and their two kids, and Barb and I attended a local Rainiers game.  Nathan had done some video work for the organization so we had free tickets.   When we went opening day last year, we met Annie, Nathan's contact with the Rainiers.  This time we met her again  and she had recently changed her last name to Wigen.  She married Brent, my cousin Kermit's son.  What a small world.  Annie, Barb and I sat together during the final innings and shared many stories.

getting settled

The girls and the "new" babies.

That was ball four.

With Annie Wigen

Gathering

My sister in law is the first Jane Aune.  This weekend brother John and Jane visited us for the weekend.  Sister Hope and LeRoy came over for lunch.  Nathan, Cailyn, Gkids, Marti Ann, Alton and Cabe joined us for the day.  Family at its best, immediate and extended.  It made no difference.  Such fun.

Jane Aune meets Jane Aune for the second time.

Auntie Hopie meets Grayson for the first time and doesn't want to let him go.

Turnabout

Vince, Terry and I fished from the shores of Alder Lake yesterday and I limited out.  Sometimes good luck even falls on those who are oblivious.   

The Dammedest River

Three days, three guys, four trout...

I’ve driven by it and over it many times.  Often I have admired it from the shore but only a few times have I been on it, only for a brief amount of time.  It bisects our state and as the river with the most dams, it provides transportation, recreation, and water for irrigation and electrical production.  It is a fundamental staple to our state’s economy.  For the first time I spent some time on the Columbia River.

Keller Ferry area from top of grade

Gordon, a friend and neighbor, grew up near Wilbur and spent considerable time in his teenage years riding and walking the river’s bluffs hunting for wildlife.  He also regularly fished Lake Roosevelt (the river behind Grand Coulee Dam) and still makes a few trips a year back to his old hunting and fishing grounds.  This time, Terry and I were fortunate to accompany Gordon on a return to his roots. 

 We stayed in a small motel in downtown Wilbur, ate at the local restaurants for breakfast and dinner, and met some of  Gordon’s friends and distant relatives.  While traveling through the Dakotas and Minnesota in 2007, I commented on my blog that it is so relaxing and secure to stay in America’s rural farm towns.  Wilbur fits that description.  The pace is relaxed, traffic is minimal, and most importantly, the people are friendly and hospitable.

launching at Keller Ferry

We fished the river near Keller Ferry Friday afternoon, the day on Saturday, and Sunday morning.  The weather was excellent.  There was some wind on occasion, some rain drops, and a few hours of intense sun.  But mostly we were in the comfortable 70’s and 80’s, protected by a light overcast.  The scenery was terrific with the river bluffs raising hundreds of feet above us, the water calm and flat.   There were eagles and a few deer.  There were also fish but few were biting.

mother eagle tending her young

It was a fishing trip.  We did fish some 16 hours.  Gordon caught three rainbows, Terry one rainbow and a small bass and two small walleye.   I don’t know if I even got a bite.  Again, I was out fished by my companions.  

Gordon's rainbow

Terry's rainbow

A piece of the limited action

I am coming to the conclusion that I am not a fisherman.  Oh, I enjoy it and I’m not going to stop.  But regularly my partners do much better than I.  On Lake Oconee, in Georgia, when Ben’s neighbor took me fishing for large mouth bass, he must have landed over 20 of them (catch and release) but I only landed three.  Last year, I took Barb, Kari, Nathan, Cailyn and kids to Mineral Lake for the day and even then 3 year old Jane caught 2 fish and I caught none.  On our trip to the Okanogan last spring, Barb caught more fish than me.  In each situation I am reminded of the advice of my grandfather JI.   He was an avid fisherman in his retirement years and instructed me as a five year old, “Keep your eye on the pole, Norman, or you’ll never catch fish.”

But I can’t.  The water, landscape and wildlife capture my interest.  The joy of being in a boat with family or friends captures my heart.  The boat is a capsule where human interaction flows, discussions take place in an unrestricted manner, honest, and heart felt.  It is a very special environment surrounded by the beauty of creation.  The memories will last for a lifetime and the stories will be retold again and again.  And oh, yes, there are fish, somewhere, somehow, next time.

What's this handle on the side of this thing for?