Over the river and through the woods

October 13 - After a lot of driving and some interesting sights, we arrived at the end of the road and in the middle of nowhere.  We are staying at the Lucky Mud Inn and Disc Golf Resort.  It is approximately 6 miles inland from the town of Skamokawa, WA.  It's four rooms are spacious, well heated and attractive.  Since only 2 guest rooms were available this evening, Elaine is bunking with Betsy and me.  She gets the twin bed and we the queen.  We had a warm welcome from the host even though we arrived in the dark.  We may learn more about the disc golf set up tomorrow morning.

Our day began in Kalaloch, followed by a short drive to Lake Quinault Lodge for breakfast.  We ate and then walked around the Lodge.  Betsy and I had stayed here many years ago and continue to find it a very pleasant place.

Lake Quinault Lodge

Interior of the Lodge

The backside of the Lodge

The Lodge's rain gauge 

View from Lodge

We then drove south, stopping at South Bend on the Wllapa River for a rest and short 'leg stretch.'  South Bend is famous for its oysters and the processing plants were in full swing.

We then drove all the way to Skamokawa and walked two miles in part of the Julia Hansen Butler White-Tailed Deer Nature Preserve.  Elaine spotted the only deer to appear.  There was a Port of Portland dredge working in the river channel, piping the spoils to an island downstream. We also watched a Northern Harrier hovering about over a slough full of Canada geese.  And Betsy spotted a praying mantis that walked out of the roadside grasses.  We think it was looking for sun.

Northern Harrier

Since it was still early afternoon, we let Elaine, Barbara and Paul choose the next destination.  They chose Astoria, OR and we drove there.  We went across the Astoria-Megler Bridge, parked in town by the Astoria Film Museum and the Captain James Favel House.  We did a short walk to see some additional Victorian homes and the Garden of Surging Waves (a memorial to Chinese immigrants) before stopping at the Wet Dog Brewpub, affiliated with Astoria Brewing.  Since the B&B for the night has no restaurant, we decided to have an early dinner and then drive to the Lucky Mud Inn.  Before leaving Astoria we walked along the docks past the resident horde of bellowing sea lions.  Some were swirling and wrestling in the water but most were camped on the rocks.