My new beach bike!
Local beach truck pulls TOW TRUCK to safety!
Jackie Sheldon - one of our beach mega volunteers, real estate agent and emergency preparedness trainer - has started posting some videos.
Gotta love it when a local (the guy who found that dock - by the way) has to give the big TOW TRUCK a tow out of the sand!
Gotta love it when a local (the guy who found that dock - by the way) has to give the big TOW TRUCK a tow out of the sand!
Japan Tsunami Debris in the News
A number of reporters follow me on twitter -and I follow them for the latest breaking news.
This past week we had a flurry of activity. Some unnamed beachcomber found (what they thought was) new tsunami debris and called the Dept of Ecology and the Sheriff to report a dock, airplane fuselage and other misc debris were washed ashore.
This started a stream of tweets by news reporters, the sheriff department and those of us on twitter. I was actually out of town for a meeting - but received numerous phone calls from the press - ask if they could use the photos on my blog HERE for their story.
I was confused. That dock has been on shore for a few weeks. I replied, "that isn't the new dock" - yet the calls kept coming. I arrived home late that evening.
The following day, I read a tweet from Richard Thompson of KIRO 7 South Sound. His twitter handle is @kirotvsouth. He was looking for a 4X4 to drive up and find the dock and other tsunami debris.
We met up at the Bolstad beach approach. The news van is easy to spot. We jumped in my 4X4 sport-trac and headed north on the sand. We drove up to the dock - I mentioned before. I said, "this isn't the new dock, there must be something further north". We drove and drove, called the Sheriff directly and end of story... the report WAS on the dock found by Jason Knott that I reported HERE. It wasn't a new thing. (However, we have plenty of new tsunami debris items arriving daily.) And no one has seen anything resembling an airplane fuselage. Also, did I mention - the little dock was NOT from Japan.
Even CBS had a crew from San Francisco here.
I met Richard from Kiro 7 before. He did a previous beach trash story and we discovered common friends.
So- after a few hours of filming - they headed north toward Olympia and filed the story with the station in Seattle. It aired Thursday night at 6pm and I am told again on KOIN 6 (Portland) the next day. Click on the photo to see the original KIRO 7 news video.
The BIG July 5th Beach Cleanup starts at 9:30am. Just head toward one of the area's beach approach roads and volunteers will check you in and give you garbage bags.
ANOTHER Small dock washes ashore on Long Beach Peninsula
From the local paper: Small dock washes ashore on Long Beach Peninsula - Chinook Observer: Free
The press release from the Sheriff's office has a bit more information.
Long Beach, WA. – On June 20th, 2012 the Pacific County Sheriff’s Office was advised that more suspected Japanese Tsunami debris had been discovered on the beach between the city of Long Beach and the Cranberry Beach access road about five miles north of the city of Long Beach. The Sheriff’s Office received information from the department of ecology stating that a person had been recreating on the beach on June 19th during the early evening hours and located several items.
The suspected items were described as a dock that was about the size of a “pickup truck”, a refrigerator, a small television and what appeared to be a “seven foot long section of a small aircraft fuselage”. They noted several other noteworthy items such as light bulbs of various sizes and colors being scattered along the beach. Pacific County Sheriff’s deputies responded to the reported area and discovered the dock in question just north of the Cranberry Beach access road on the beach. Other smaller debris was noted but no metal fuselage was located. Deputies continued to check the beach area for other items but nothing was located.
The press release from the Sheriff's office has a bit more information.
Long Beach, WA. – On June 20th, 2012 the Pacific County Sheriff’s Office was advised that more suspected Japanese Tsunami debris had been discovered on the beach between the city of Long Beach and the Cranberry Beach access road about five miles north of the city of Long Beach. The Sheriff’s Office received information from the department of ecology stating that a person had been recreating on the beach on June 19th during the early evening hours and located several items.
The suspected items were described as a dock that was about the size of a “pickup truck”, a refrigerator, a small television and what appeared to be a “seven foot long section of a small aircraft fuselage”. They noted several other noteworthy items such as light bulbs of various sizes and colors being scattered along the beach. Pacific County Sheriff’s deputies responded to the reported area and discovered the dock in question just north of the Cranberry Beach access road on the beach. Other smaller debris was noted but no metal fuselage was located. Deputies continued to check the beach area for other items but nothing was located.
Small Dock found north of Long Beach WA on Beach
One of our local friends found this dock (much smaller than the one in Oregon) on the beach a few weeks ago. Knowing him, it is surely recycled into something fabulous in the house he is building.
Pieces of boat with Japanese writing washes ashore near Ilwaco | www.kirotv.com
While I was in Vegas last weekend - speaking at a convention on social media- we had some excitement a few miles from the house.
Pieces of boat with Japanese writing washes ashore near Ilwaco | www.kirotv.com:
Pieces of boat with Japanese writing washes ashore near Ilwaco | www.kirotv.com:
Foam crisis on our beach!
I received an urgent communication from Shelly of the Grassroots Garbage Gang! She wondered if I had been on the beach, just north of Long Beach. Brett and I were just arriving back in town and immediately detoured to the sandy beach. (we can drive on our beaches)
A call for HELP! is going out to our community, visitors and summer residents. Your help is needed! Our beaches are filled with foam. Not the foamy seawater that rolls onshore - but foam as in styrofoam.
A little information: Styrofoam is a trademark of the Dow Chemical Corporation and you can read some interesting info on the wiki HERE.
Foam (not necessarily styrofoam) is used in marine industry - keeps boats, docks and other items afloat. Foam is used in building - insulation and even under roads to keep soil from freezing or displacing.
Foam has started started arriving on our beaches. An email from Grassroots Garbage Gang volunteer extraordinaire - Ellen, describes the situation.
Grab a large trash bag - and head to the beach! It is vital that we collect this 'foam' before it breaks into small bits. The shore birds see living organisms inside the foam pellets. The birds are digesting this foam!!
Our local newspaper, The Chinook Observer, has an article about the foam too.
note- Ellen and Shelly provided the photos below
A call for HELP! is going out to our community, visitors and summer residents. Your help is needed! Our beaches are filled with foam. Not the foamy seawater that rolls onshore - but foam as in styrofoam.
A little information: Styrofoam is a trademark of the Dow Chemical Corporation and you can read some interesting info on the wiki HERE.
Foam (not necessarily styrofoam) is used in marine industry - keeps boats, docks and other items afloat. Foam is used in building - insulation and even under roads to keep soil from freezing or displacing.
Foam has started started arriving on our beaches. An email from Grassroots Garbage Gang volunteer extraordinaire - Ellen, describes the situation.
(note- yes she did a complete analysis. If you would like me to forward the excel and word docs - send me an email - nansenmalin at gmail dot com)Hi. I'm Ellen, a resident of Ocean Park, WA on the Long Beach Peninsula. Having spent many hours on our beach, I found the view Sunday afternoon very disturbing. Massive foam pieces in multiple numbers in our high tide line. I collected and analyzed this foam over a 1 mile section of beach - from Joe Johns Rd (approx 290th) to 315th. The attached Word doc describes the analysis in more detail and the attached Excel spreadsheet tallies the numbers. Others here are witnessing the same phenomena in the high tides in OR and WA.I am convinced that we are now experiencing tsunami debris. This foam is not glitzy or glamorous; it likely won't politically motivate our civil leaders to finance cleanup. Foam clogging the high tide line and breaking up into smaller and smaller pieces down our coast has many consequences. I am fearful.Sincerely, Ellen
Grab a large trash bag - and head to the beach! It is vital that we collect this 'foam' before it breaks into small bits. The shore birds see living organisms inside the foam pellets. The birds are digesting this foam!!
Our local newspaper, The Chinook Observer, has an article about the foam too.
note- Ellen and Shelly provided the photos below
Goose Point Oysters
Goose Point Oysters is a short drive from our house. We love the oysters from Willapa Bay! A bushel is about right. 10 dozen small/extra small in the shell - make for tasty appetizers.
Measuring Time
How many of us measured our growth by marking on the wall? Inside the Thorsen House is a bit of history dating back to 1902.
Check this out.
The Thorsen House is for sale by Discovery Coast Realty. They have more photos and details about this historical home in Seaview.
Check this out.
The Thorsen House is for sale by Discovery Coast Realty. They have more photos and details about this historical home in Seaview.
Thorsen House
One of the original wonderful homes of Seaview is the Thorsen House. It was built in 1902 by the Thorsen family of Thorsen Paint Company in Portland, Oregon. Their summer get-a-way was a small farm - complete with a little windmill (still standing across the street)! This is the original home and very little has been done to change it's character.
It is rare that a historical home in this great of condition comes up for sale. Our friend, Cheri Diehl of Discovery Coast Real Estate has the home listed and her husband, Charlie, took some detailed photos. Check out the video for even more historical Seaview goodness.
It is rare that a historical home in this great of condition comes up for sale. Our friend, Cheri Diehl of Discovery Coast Real Estate has the home listed and her husband, Charlie, took some detailed photos. Check out the video for even more historical Seaview goodness.
Sou'wester Lodge has new owner!
The beloved local institution next door has a new owner. We have been watching as worker bees are cleaning, sanding, painting and refreshing the Grand Old Sou'Wester Lodge. Enjoy this video. We will be covering the "Re-opening Party"- happening this next weekend.
Goats in the Hood!
Seaview is a sleepy little Victorian beach community. It really only comes alive June to mid September. We have old family beach homes, little shacks, B&Bs, historic homes, fine restaurants, art galleries, antique shops and a funky Lodge built in 1892.
The neighboring Sou'Wester Lodge sold last week. I will write more on this event later, but today is about Goats. Yes, Goats in the neighborHOOD.
What a sight it must have been - a dozen goats on ropes walking back from visiting the Pacific Ocean. My phone started ringing! It turns out the neighboring Lodge has some visitors - of the furry kind. Goats!
One of the little recycling station has gotten a bit run down. But it makes a perfect manger.
One week old babies!
Later that night, we heard bleating... and my visiting grandpuppy had to check out the action. The goats were jumping out of the manger! It was a site as we ran around gathering them up and looking for their owner. I didn't get a photo of that fun action. Sorry. Take my word for it - Goats can JUMP!
Last night we heard the unfamiliar sound of goats. Kind of fun actually. Ask me tomorrow how I feel about it then. I was up at 5am with birds screeching - either at the goats or the heron who is stalking our koi pond.
Today the goats got to enjoy a little enclosed pen with fallen trees filled with yummy moss, lichens, twigs and leaves. Hey wait! I wonder what the deer are going to think about the goats eating their tasty treats? At least you can hug goats. The deer only get close to our cat.
The neighboring Sou'Wester Lodge sold last week. I will write more on this event later, but today is about Goats. Yes, Goats in the neighborHOOD.
What a sight it must have been - a dozen goats on ropes walking back from visiting the Pacific Ocean. My phone started ringing! It turns out the neighboring Lodge has some visitors - of the furry kind. Goats!
One of the little recycling station has gotten a bit run down. But it makes a perfect manger.
Last night we heard the unfamiliar sound of goats. Kind of fun actually. Ask me tomorrow how I feel about it then. I was up at 5am with birds screeching - either at the goats or the heron who is stalking our koi pond.
Today the goats got to enjoy a little enclosed pen with fallen trees filled with yummy moss, lichens, twigs and leaves. Hey wait! I wonder what the deer are going to think about the goats eating their tasty treats? At least you can hug goats. The deer only get close to our cat.
LOST!
Charming Seaview Inn has Groupon special - what a deal!
Just a few blocks north of us - is the Historic Shelburne Inn. I was speaking with David this morning and he mentioned the phone is ringing off the hook from their Groupon offer. So I hopped over to Groupon to check it out. Wow, what a deal! 2 nights with wine and other goodies.
The Shelburne has a long history and it was built by Seaview founder's son-in-law, Charles Beaver. Beaver built our home too. We share many of the architectural features and we love exploring The Shelburne Inn - to solve our own home mysteries as we work to restore our own historic home.
Enjoy the photos - credit to Groupon where I grabbed them to post. I am certain that Laurie (David's spouse and hard working Inn Keeper) took the photos. She is a master with the camera.
If you decide to visit Seaview - be sure to let us know. ~Nansen
The Shelburne has a long history and it was built by Seaview founder's son-in-law, Charles Beaver. Beaver built our home too. We share many of the architectural features and we love exploring The Shelburne Inn - to solve our own home mysteries as we work to restore our own historic home.
Enjoy the photos - credit to Groupon where I grabbed them to post. I am certain that Laurie (David's spouse and hard working Inn Keeper) took the photos. She is a master with the camera.
If you decide to visit Seaview - be sure to let us know. ~Nansen
Snow at the beach- in mid March - so here is a craft project!
We woke up to snow this morning! Holy smokes - it is mid-March!
I am dreaming of lovely warm days - perfect for being stuck inside is this do-it-yourself project from Wedding Chicks Blog.
Follow these easy instructions HERE.
I am dreaming of lovely warm days - perfect for being stuck inside is this do-it-yourself project from Wedding Chicks Blog.
Follow these easy instructions HERE.
We went to check out the recent beached whale
How to Shuck An Oyster - a necessary skill when living in Seaview
Another deceased Orca washes ashore here.
It's whale migrating season. Glimpses of the giant mammals are usually confined to shooting spouts of water out on the sea horizon. However, we have had our share of sad whale demise washing up on the local beaches.
This past weekend, a 12 ft female Orca washed ashore. The whale experts are performing tests to determine the pod home and cause of death of the little gal.
(photo by Ron Malast in the Chinook Observer here)
Last month a 39 ft Sperm Whale and also a 13 ft newborn Gray Whale washed ashore. We saw another Orca - but a small baby only weeks old in November.
In 2006, a 54 ft Humpback Whale was a sad but majestic sight. I blogged about it HERE.
This past weekend, a 12 ft female Orca washed ashore. The whale experts are performing tests to determine the pod home and cause of death of the little gal.
(photo by Ron Malast in the Chinook Observer here)
Last month a 39 ft Sperm Whale and also a 13 ft newborn Gray Whale washed ashore. We saw another Orca - but a small baby only weeks old in November.
In 2006, a 54 ft Humpback Whale was a sad but majestic sight. I blogged about it HERE.
Great ocean views at Cape Disappointment
A few weeks before Brian Cantwell of Seattle Times came out to Cape Disappointment, I posted on Jan 7, 2012 about Waikiki Beach, Cape D's Lighthouse, and North Head Lighthouse.
His article about Cape Disappointment gives some great info and tips.
During winter storms — or cold-season sun breaks — Cape Disappointment State Park offers some of the best viewpoints on the Washington coast.
Seattle Times Outdoors editor
ILWACO, Pacific County — If you're a glutton for winter storms, and peering down from cliff tops into chasms of lashing saltwater makes you really feel alive; or if you simply love gazing out on a seascape of dimpled waves and watery blue sky swept clean by a howling nor'wester — Cape Disappointment is plainly misnamed.
"Cape D," as locals call it, is no disappointment to the winter thrill-seeker.
"This is one of those places where, when you get a good, solid winter storm, it can remind you of how small you are!" says Stephen Wood, a park ranger and interpreter at Cape Disappointment State Park.
But it's not a small place. The 1,900-acre park edging the fishing village of Ilwaco, at the mouth of the Columbia River, includes two of the state's most scenic lighthouses, two miles of ocean beach, a hidden niche called Deadman's Cove, and a surfer's hangout called — no kidding — Waikiki Beach (more about that in a moment).
