From the Forecastle to the Ocean - how long?

Ahhh- had an excellent restful night in the Forecastle after that marshmallow roast around the firepit last night.

Hey! Look! It's gorgeous outside! Maybe you should have a sit on the porch while you drink your coffee.

Mmmm... That's a pretty rose just outside the window. Does it smell as good as it looks?

Yes, it does! Now that you're outside, maybe a walk. Yeah - you can hear the ocean loud and clear - go  West, young wo/man!

But first go a little East, down the driveway. Dig those fluffy clouds! It's like they're just there to show off the blue of the sky. The Willapa hills in the distance look like an old ink painting.

It's a quiet street, is Ocean Beach Boulevard North, but look both ways!! Then turn right. 

Hey - fire lane! That was quick - just about three minutes away from that rose. Could go that way - it leads to the beach. But that arch - you want to see that arch, right? Arches are cool.

They keep ice cream here - many kinds of ice cream. Candy, too. Cold drinks. Scoopers - maybe stop on the way back. It's just four minutes from the hotel by foot.

The arch! Horses! The ocean's in view!

Neat! Made it to the arch in six minutes flat! Including picture-taking time. Not bad, not bad at all. Make a wish as you go under the sign. Will it come true? I dunno - worth a try.

Past the arch - on the road to the sand and surf!

Disclaimer - this walk was taken with an eight-year-old. Six minutes, with a kid in tow. If you're in a hurry, you can make it in four, I betcha.

From the Bridge, you go.....

On a day like today, you should be at the beach! 

 Drive across the Astoria-Megler Bridge!
Be careful!

This is a great time to be a passenger, because the views are really cool - to the left (West) there's the peninsula and the Pacific - to the right (East) there's Astoria, ships, and the Columbia.

On a clear day - you can see Mt St Helens.

At low tide, the sand bar in the middle of the span is a tempting thing - but do not stop!

Once across, you can see the mouth of the Columbia - look back at Astoria - very pretty on that hill! The Bridge from this angle reminds me of a roller coaster - it's not so scary when you're on it, though!

This tree is on the left after the tunnel as you head toward Chinook. In certain lights it looks almost like a Chinese dragon. Chinese dragons are fun to think about - not so fun to think about is the possibility of a speeding ticket - so watch your speed! Very soon after the dragon you must slow to 35 mph!

Just on the other side of the cute town of Chinook the marshy forests pick up again - we've got our leaves back, thanks to spring! In winter, when the trees are bare, the moss and lichens are visible - looking like furry green coats.  

 COWS! Well, I like them, anyway - when I'd passed by earlier, they were all lying down - lazy things. I think they're in a gang - they all wear these red earrings.

If you turn right onto the alternate route, you will get to this sign - then go left! 

After stopping, of course. 

The reason to take this route is because there is a cranberry field - beautiful red!

Ah - you have reached the stop sign! Go right!

Stop at Sid's IGA - groceries! Snacks!

You have reached our fair city! This is a planter - I caught it a little between flowers - Tangly Cottage keeps it tended and beautiful.

Did you stop for groceries? No? Yes? Either way, you can't go wrong stopping at Surfer Sands - delicious and creative sandwiches and salads!

Downtown Long Beach! 

This is the second, and last, stoplight. It's at Bolstad Blvd. Go through this - four blocks up you'll see Chen's on the right at fourth north - turn left, though!

LEFT! Turn left and stop at this stop sign! There we are, you can see us - turn right and----

OMG! You're almost here! 

Turn left into the driveway! Check in! Relax! You made it! Hooray!

Evening views - mid November

We went out for a walk this evening (about four minutes to the beach - *with* a kid in tow, so you know it's close!) - the weather's starting to turn to the crisper side.

The World's Longest Beach arch at Bolstad Blvd - approximately three blocks away. 

As we're headed down to the ocean - looking a bit North - beautiful fluffy clouds. I do believe Bob Ross would have referred to them as "happy clouds". 

Edge of the dunes - the ocean itself - sunset - going into winter.