Friday, October 16, 2009

Elections Are Coming

A year ago election day in November had so much at stake for us as a nation. This year is an "off" election year. But I have to think that the candidates for Seattle Mayor, King County Executive, port commissioners and any number of smaller offices are important to someone. And if it's true what they say that all government is local, then it is even more imperative that we vote knowledgeably. Two important items on the ballot are statewide. R-71 would uphold a bill passed by our legislature referred to the "Everything But Marriage Act", which extends civil rights to all civil unions, including same sex unions. Isn't it about time we promoted all monogamous, long term and stable relationships and granted caring couples the rights that come with legal marriage? I think so. The other measure is Initiative 1033, offered by our resident tax hating, professional initiative promoter, Tim Eyeman. It would gut our state property tax system, with no way to replace the budgetary funding. Our schools, among other things, would suffer greatly. There are lots of races I need to study up on before I vote. We got our mail -in ballots yesterday. But the voters pamphlet has not yet arrived. If we need knowledgeable voting, is this good planning?

Tuesday, October 13, 2009

Rockaway Beach - Day Three

Last Wednesday we woke to heavy fog, but the weather man told us it would go away. We had plans to do some exploring, so we just delayed our start and that worked. By the time we drove around the south side of Tillamook Bay, the fog and water and hills beyond were beginning to separate into distinct features. With the sky reflected in the bay, it was one big watery, cloudy scene. We were headed on the Three Capes Loop Scenic Drive. First stop, Cape Meares. Just at the entrance to the state park, a small parking area provides access to a forest of old growth trees. Through these big trees we were headed to visit a giant.
There it is ahead, through the trees. See that branch that is as broad as a tree itself?
One of my favorite things in the natural world, old forest giants.
Can you get an idea of the immensity of this Sitka Spruce? I am standing at it's base and Tom is saying that it is too big to fit into the picture.
On another side these giant burls grow on the trunk.
With the renewed rain, new green has sprung up, and the Johnny Jump Ups are re-blooming.
This is a rain forest, and the moss grows like a beard on the tree trunks.
Also at Cape Meares state Park is another old friend, the Octopus Tree.
(Click to enlarge and read the sign)
And great views.
And a lighthouse.
We continued on our way to Cape Lookout, where we ate our picnic lunch and enjoyed the music of the surf.
While this camping and picnic area is crowded with people in the summer, in October we had it mostly to ourselves.
Cape Lookout reaches out into the sea. There is a trail out to the end, about a five mile hike round trip. I did it once a long time ago.
Next stop, Cape Kiawanda. Here is a monument to a special kind of fisherman with a special kind of boat, the dory. They are pointed a both ends and launched in the surf from the beach. There were none around that day, and the high tide limited the exploring.
Cape Kiawanda at Pacific City.
Many times in the past I have climbed these dunes. When we were kids we climbed up so we could run (fly) down. As adults we climbed to enjoy the view. This time we did not climb.
From here we drove back north on Hwy 101 to Tillamook, where we stopped at the Tillamook Cheese Factory for ice cream before returning to the cabin.
That evening we were treated to another beautiful sunset.
As the light faded, we were off to Pirate's Cove for a dinner of razor clams. Yum.

Monday, October 12, 2009

Rockaway Beach - Day Two

Good Morning, Moon. Last Tuesday I was up early to catch the sunrise, but it was the moon that greeted me.
Long before the moon set the sun made it up over the Coast Range Mountains and began to light up the beach. The first rays of sunlight on Twin Rocks.
Other early morning beachcombers were more ambitious than I.
The sun at it's low angle made great light and shadow effects. Back at the cabin, Tom had the fire going and wood smoke blended with the fog still hanging over the hills.
Later that morning we drove south to the end of the beach at the Tillamook Bay jetty.
The channel, the bar and the sea beyond were cluttered with fishing boats.
The view looking north back up the beach, with the Twin Rocks a seemingly insignificant bump.
The opposite jetty was lined with feathered fishermen, brown pelicans.
We drove further south a mile or so to the town of Garibaldi, on Tillamook Bay, and the fishing docks.
Crab pots, boat masts, and the "G" on the hillside. That G has been a familiar landmark for as many years as I can remember and before that.
The day ended with another lovely sunset.

Saturday, October 10, 2009

The Annual Family Apple Squeeze 2009

If it's Columbus Day weekend, it's time for the family to gather for apple cider making. My brother Hank goes east of the mountains and brings back a BIG box of apples, 1000 pounds. Columbus Day is not a school holiday here in Washington, but the Friday before is a non-student day, and my brother, being a teacher, uses the day to go get the apples. It's always a busy time so on any given year family members may be absent, but we always manage to represent four generations. Here part of the crew is using my great grandfather's old cider press.
Hank added a new press this year, so we were really cranking it out.
And then the tasting begins, while the work goes on.
Mother, grandmother, great grandmother Violet sits in the middle of the action, tasting the product for quality control.
Heidi thought it was sour but Katie declared it just right.
The result is about fifty gallons of apple cider to share.
The then it's time for the eating.
A good time was had by all.