Road Trip to the Chinook

With "Friendship" in dry dock under the carport it's time for another road trip.
This time to Ilwaco at the mouth of the Columbia river and one of the roughest river bars in the world.
As we stopped off in Portland for a quick look at some Chriscrafts we heard that most of the bars in Washington and Oregon were closed. No. This is not a reenactment of prohibition but rather nasty conditions on a river where it meets the ocean.
So we hopped in the SUV raced our way to Ilwaco. Well may be raced is not the right word. With lakes forming on the I-5 freeway it was more like plowing our way. We saw some beautiful bow sprays from japanese imports. Who unfortunately had to park soon afterward.
After reaching Astoria I suggested to Linda we had time to stop at the Maritime museum http://www.crmm.org/ and catch up on some more Coast Guard history but she reminded me that if we want to spend time on the jetty better keep moving. Alas so many fun things to do and so little time.
Finally on the jetty at Ilwaco it was a glorius day. The surf was breaking in huge waves on the jetty and we carefully walked out as far as I dared (Linda is the real adventurer).
This is a good time for a disclaimer because many a fisherman has been swept off the jetty by a rouge wave. The waves sweep over the jetty and pluck bystanders off to Davey Jones Locker. A place hope not to see soon.
After a wonderful walk on the jetty it's up to the interpretive center and a gorgeous evening look over the mouth of the Columbia.
To finish the day we had two stops left. The Chinook salmon dinner and finally a warm bed and breakfast at the George Johnson house in Ocean Park. http://www.georgejohnsonhouse.com/
What a great place to stay. Indian history and live deer in the garden.
What a great country we live in.
See you on the South Sound (Salish Sea)