Washington Coast Magazine, June 02, 2018

SUMMER 2018 WASHINGTON COAST MAGAZINE

FAVORITE DESTINATION

Ruby Beach LOGE AT THE SANDS

‘60s era revamped hotel for surfers

BRADY’S OYSTERS

Farming on the half shell

SUMMER 2018

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summer 2018

contents

FEATURES

28

LOGE AT THE SANDS

38

RUBY BEACH

A revamped, ‘60s era motel brings new life to the Washington surf scene.

COVER

A favorite destination among the beaches in Olympic National Park.

TOP Ruby Beach Photo by Patricia Jollimore BOTTOM Loge- new surfing culture Photo by Whitney Whitehouse COVER Rock stacks at Ruby Beach Photo by Patricia Jollimore

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Summer 2018 | WASHINGTON COAST MAGAZINE

Our work is not about houses... ...it’s about people.

We’re honored to receive our 16th “Best Of” award for Best Real Estate Office. We strive to serve our clients, customers and community with attention to detail and quality of representation.

Thank you to all who have made this distinction possible.

We truly appreciate your business.

Multi-year winner!

Serving all of Grays Harbor County Residential - Commercial - Land

Windermere Real Estate

101 South Broadway • Aberdeen • 360-533-6464 837 Point Brown Ave NW • Ocean Shores • 360-289-3373 www.windermeregraysharbor.com

Y’S BRAD R OYSTE STORY PG. 12

summer 2018

contents IN THIS ISSUE 12

FOOD

42

Brady’s Oysters

18

OUT & ABOUT

Our Favorites

48

Grays Harbor Museum Passport Program

24

LOCAL FUN

EVENTS WHO & WHY Wil Russoul & Kristi Daniels

50

LAST SHOT

Loggers Playday

24 A novice climber makes his way up in the pole climb event at Loggers Playday. Photo by Gabe Green

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Summer 2018 | WASHINGTON COAST MAGAZINE

IN EVERY ISSUE 10 From the Editor 47 Advertisers Directory

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Beach Homes Aren’t Just For Summer 360-532-4000 | editor@washingtoncoastmagazine.com

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Publisher

Stan Woody

Editor

Doug Barker

Associate Editor

Kat Bryant

Editorial Contributors

Doug Barker Kat Bryant Patrick Duffy Louis Krauss Wil Russoul

Photographers Doug Barker Gabe Green Patricia Jollimore Aaron Lavinsky Marcy Merrill Macleod Pappidas Diana Pulido David Sandler Garrett van Swearingen WeAreUnicorns Whitney Whitehouse Theodore Wiseman Editorial Assistant

Karen Barkstrom

Magazine Kristina Case, Simply Graphic Graphic Designer Ad Graphic Designers

Constance Ellis Emily Evans

Circulation

Kris Cearley

Subscriptions & Distribution

Leslie Bebich

Contact information Advertising inquiries, subscriptions & change of address: 360-532-4000. Back issues $8 plus shipping and handling.

Washington Coast Magazine is published by The Daily World, a division of Sound Publishing and may not be reproduced without express written permission, all rights reserved. No liability is assumed by Washington Coast Magazine, The Daily World or Sound Publishing regarding any content in this publication. A subscription to Washington Coast Magazine is $14 annually.

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FROM THE EDITOR

Go, do, and see this summer If, after reading this edition of Washington Coast Magazine, you can’t find something to do on the coast this summer, well, I don’t know what to tell you.

It would take you most of the summer to make it through the museums listed in the piece on page 18. (Don’t miss the Polson in Hoquiam).

And it’s worth the drive to Ruby Beach in the north central part of the coast. Patricia Jollimore’s photos, starting on page 38, should convince you.

But my best advice is to end the summer by going to Loggers Playday, especially if you’ve never been before. It seems like a lot of community events these days have a staged feel, as if they’re mostly just an excuse to get shoppers to turn out.

There’s none of that for Loggers Playday. It has the organic feel of a party and it’s a real tribute to the logging industry. In terms of authenticity, this year’s will be a lot like all the others, going back to 1965, but they’re all different and you won’t be bored. There are a few things you can count on. It’s almost always a perfect, late summer evening, starting warm and cooling off in the evening with a whiff of fall in the air. You’ll laugh (a lot) and be amazed that nobody loses a foot when they swing an ax as hard as they can to chop the log they’re standing on (usually in tennis shoes). And you can have it all for the price of a $3 Loggers Playday button. It’ll be the best Doug Barker, Editor three bucks you spend all summer.

Loggers Playday is a great way to end the summer.

Stay connected with us VISIT OUR WEBSITE www.WashingtonCoastMagazine.com Click it to read our past articles and learn about upcoming events.

10

We invite you to check us out >ViL ° /i ÕÃ >L ÕÌ Þ ÕÀ experiences at the coast and feel free to suggest stories about your favorite spots.

Summer 2018 | WASHINGTON COAST MAGAZINE

Gateway to Grays Harbor Since 1888

Elma Heat on the Street AUGUST 3-4, 2018

Join us for these great events in 2018!

June 29-30

• Elma’s City Wide Garage Sale Days

August 3-4

• Heat on the Street Custom Car & Motorcycle Show

October 31

• Elma’s Downtown Trick or Treat

November 11

• Elma’s Veterans’ Day Celebration & Parade

November 16-18 • Elma’s Holiday Bazaar Weekend December 8

• Pictures with Santa at Elma Feed & Farm Supply Store

Save the Date! Jan 19, 2019

• Elma’s Winter Wine Festival

Elma Chamber of Commerce

For more information on these and other great events: www.elmachamber.org • (360) 482-3055 • 222 W. Main

Harbor Place 313 West Wishkah Street Aberdeen Washington 98520

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360 532-6140 WASHINGTON COAST MAGAZINE | Summer 2018

11

FOOD

Brady’s Oysters Farming on the half shell STORY BY LOUIS K RAUSS PHOTOS BY MARCY MERRILL

or Mark Ballo, oyster growing has essentially become a 24/7 job. When a boat comes loose in the middle of the night, it means he drives down to Brady’s Oysters to secure it. It means that when someone has to show a writer around on a warm Sunday morning, he’s up.

INTO THE SEA Bags of oyster seed wait to be strung along PVC pipes before growing to full size.

Get some oysters...

The shop is located at 3714 Oyster Place, and is open every day 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.

9 Õ V> w ` ÕÌ Ài >L ÕÌ À>`޽à À «ÕÀV >Ãi Ãi>v ` and souvenirs online at

bradysoysters.com.

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Summer 2018 | WASHINGTON COAST MAGAZINE

Located along the southern shore of Grays Harbor, the farm covers 42 acres. Besides the mud flats where the oysters are raised, there are outbuildings for processing the oysters and a large retail shop just off Highway 105 near the bridge that crosses the Elk River Estuary.

Washington University, and worked a few radio and TV jobs before settling on oyster farming with his wife.

Ballo and his wife Kristi, the daughter of Brady Engvall, the farm’s original owner, manage the operation, along with Engvall’s son Korry.

If you’re driving from Aberdeen toward Westport, about 30 minutes into the trip you cross a tall bridge with the pristine Elk River Estuary to your left and a majestic view of Grays Harbor’s South Bay on your right.

Engvall and his wife, Happy, founded the company in 1970, and then sold it to Kristi and Korry in the mid 1990s.

While Engvall’s kids grew up around oyster farming life, it was a major career shift for Ballo, who’s now the farm and cannery manager.

Prior to his work at Brady’s, Ballo had been a communications major at Western

“Me and Kristi … were at that point of thinking of buying a house and having kids, getting married, and things started to snowball,” Ballo said of how he got involved.

Descending off the west side of the bridge brings you to Oyster Place Road on the right.

The street name is telling and following it leads you to several buildings near the waterfront in a cul-de-sac that makes up Brady’s Oysters.

FOOD f f

People are so fascinated by growing the oysters. We’ve become quite a bit more than just an oyster company because people want it.

-KRISTI BALLO, OWNER

FAMILY OWNED Mark Ballo (above), his wife Kristi and her brother Korry manage the farm's operation.

Kristi's father, Brady Engvall, started the company in 1970.

WASHINGTON COAST MAGAZINE | Summer 2018

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gg FOOD On the right side of the road, closer to the water, is the store for Brady’s, which sells oysters along with local seafood, and sometimes shows visitors a nostalgic video from the 1990s explaining how to shuck an oyster. It’s recognizable by the bright advertisements and a number of souvenirs in the windows.

On the left is the production building, where workers stand by conveyor belts, cleaning off oysters with hoses before shucking them open to collect in buckets.

Between the store and processing building is a dirt slope leading down into the mud flats (they’re covered in water during high tide) where oysters grow on long aisles of suspended rope.

The process of growing oysters isn’t too complicated. They start off as small soft-bodied larvae, which are bought from oyster hatcheries elsewhere, before being placed in a warmed tank with empty oyster shells intertwined into rope.

The larvae then attach to the empty half shells and begin growing on top of them. Once they’ve taken hold, the growers go out to rows of PVC pipes pointed up out of the mud flats. Lines are strung between the pipes, held in place by the pinch of slits cut into the top of the pipes.

To secure the oysters to the line, the shell medium bearing the seed is tucked into the line where someone has pulled braided rope apart.

Since it’s low tide this morning, the oysters are hanging at about shin height over the mud, with some

A DAY’S WORK TOP LEFT: Employees reel oysters off the PVC pipes and onto the boat before being brought back to the shore be harvested.

LEFT: Kristi Ballo sits on a boat that is needed to access some of the oysters in the middle of the bay.

FACING PAGE TOP, LEFT AND RIGHT: Volunteers shuck and cook oysters in preparation for their annual oyster feed to raise money for environmental causes.

BOTTOM LEFT: The store also sells a variety of locally caught crabs, fish and shrimp.

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Summer 2018 | WASHINGTON COAST MAGAZINE

FOOD f f

surrounded by eel grass and other critters like tiny crabs and fish. The oyster lines run all along the waterfront, and some are further out in the middle of the bay, only accessible by boat.

When the tide comes up, the lines of oysters are completely submerged, but they’re rarely touching the ground due to the ropes they hang on.

The entire process from larvae to harvest-ready oyster takes two years on average.

Engvall was one of the pioneers of this suspended oyster growing method, which other oyster companies now use.

It benefits the oysters by preventing them from sinking into the mud and dying, as they suffocate without some shell being exposed to water and air.

Originally, Engvall would just use a wooden stake and a staple to string his oysters, which wouldn’t take long to rot and required frequent replacements.

“He’d put the rope on top and just use a hammer to staple it on,” Ballo says while pulling out one of the pipes. “Now we just slot the pipe and shove it in there.

We can reuse the same pipe over and over again.”

While the once-buried part of the pipe is bright white, the top is covered in barnacles and weeds.

Ballo then walks among the rows of oysters, making sure to not step on any of the single oysters he’s scattered on the mud to grow by themselves.

Sitting next to the rows of developed oysters are several desksized plastic containers filled with bags of oyster seed waiting to be taken out onto the flats. There are grates on the side that allow Ballo to show how the ideal shells have numerous larvae that attach and grow on a single one.

“This one’s great, see? Sixteen babies just all over that shell.”

Some of the smallest oysters latched on are minuscule, while some are bigger.

Kristi points out that they’re like humans that grow at different rates.

During the growing process, there are

LOCAL FAVORITE ABOVE: Brady Engvall shucks oysters for the annual oyster feed to raise money for water quality issues.

WASHINGTON COAST MAGAZINE | Summer 2018

15

gg FOOD some issues with the nearby predators that enjoy feasting on the oysters.

“You can see that one shell is bright white because a perch ate its top shell,” Ballo says, pointing to one minuscule oyster.

“Pretty much, starfish and crabs still eat them, perch eat them, otters haven’t bothered too much. They prefer to dig for the crabs in the bags of seed.”

Not just in Grays Harbor...

Brady’s Oysters also sells other seafood at their Grays Harbor V>Ì ° 9 Õ V> w ` their oysters at farmers markets in Seattle, Puyallup and Tacoma.

farmer’s markets in West Seattle and Ballard. The family also attends markets in the University District, Puyallup and Tacoma.

“They’re fun, and they get our name out there,” said Kristi. “In West Seattle, there are a lot of surfers who know us and come to Westport.”

Their store is equally important, offering seafood dips that are popular, crabs and fish, and T-shirts with suggestive phrases like “Shuck me, suck me, eat me raw,” referencing how you eat oysters.

For both Ballo and Engvall before him, maintaining clean waters and a diverse ecosystem around For those looking to see more of the the oysters has been one of the oyster shucking process, Mark and important concepts they focus on, Snacks are always Kristi are often fine with people looking and that includes recently speaking a necessity when at protests in Olympia to opposeenjoyingaround a beer.their processing area. It’s got that typical fishy smelling aroma, in offshore oil drilling. rooms where oysters are pulled by “What oysters need more than anything conveyor belts before the clusters are is clean water,” said Ballo. “That is the ax we kind of grind. Lately, it’s been coal broken apart and shuckers go to work filling buckets with the soft insides. and oil that I’ve been sharpening my ax on.”

Perhaps the biggest difference between Brady’s and the other growers is that 90 percent of their oyster sales come from retail at either their store or farmer’s markets.

On Sunday mornings, Ballo’s daughter Kiana, a senior at the University of Washington, will coordinate with a friend in Seattle to manage two different

The shop is typically busiest in the summer, but a recent weekend that featured a razor clam dig and crab races in Westport brought a crowd that snaked outside the main door for purchases.

“People are so fascinated by growing the oysters,” said Kristi. “We’ve become quite a bit more than just an oyster company because people want it.”

The entire process from larvae to harvest-ready oyster takes two years on average.

HANGING AROUND The oysters hang on ropes surrounded by eel grass.

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Summer 2018 | WASHINGTON COAST MAGAZINE

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gg OUT & ABOUT

GRAYS HARBOR MUSEUM PASSPORTS Visit local museums for a fun family outing S T O R Y B Y KA T B R YA N T

18

The museums of Grays Harbor County are offering a program that could make for a fun summer project for the family.

perks. Holders can get discounts on anything from acupuncture to books to coffee.

Visitors to any of the county’s 12 participating museums can buy a “passport” for just $2. Each museum they visit will stamp it with a unique design; and anyone who collects all 12 stamps will receive a custom tote bag featuring a vintage travel trunk with all of the museum logos on it.

“Whatever works for their particular kind of business — they’re just coming up with an idea, and we take whatever they give us,” said Nancy Cuyle, a volunteer at the Aberdeen Museum of History. She did a lot of the legwork to get the program off the ground after former museum director Dann Sears came up with the idea.

In addition, showing the passport at participating businesses will bring other

“The history of Grays Harbor — people think of logging, but it has so many

Summer 2018 | WASHINGTON COAST MAGAZINE

OUT f f & ABOUT

different aspects,” said Cuyle. “As I’ve gone around to these museums and looked at what they’re showing and the way they’re showing it … everybody’s different, everybody’s aimed at a different thing, everybody tells history in a different way. And I think (this program) is really an opportunity for people to learn about the county in a different way.”

The first passports were issued last summer, and the concept seems to be a success.

“We have sold the local museum passports at both locations, and they have sold well. The crew tell me we have stamped quite a few,” said John Shaw, executive director of both the Westport Maritime Museum and the Grays Harbor Lighthouse.

“It’s been great; people love it,” said Dave Morris, director of the Aberdeen museum. “Even in the off-season, a lot have come through with their passports, wanting to get

a stamp.”

Kelly Calhoun, executive director and curator of the Museum of the North Beach in Moclips, echoed that sentiment. “We sold out of the first batch of passports when they first came out and had to order more,” he said. “Everyone we’ve talked to about them thinks this is a great idea to visit all 12 museums in the county and to learn so much more about our collective history.”

Shaw added that the Westport museum and lighthouse also participate in a couple of similar programs on the national level. “It is a proven method for locations to work together by informing and encouraging visitors to visit other spots,” he said.

MUSEUM PASSPORT PROGRAM

How it works 1 Get a passport

Available at 12 museums for $2 each.

He also noted that as of mid-April, only one person had completed a Grays Harbor passport and received the prize — so there are plenty of tote bags still to be had.

2 Collect Stamps

Get a stamp in your passport when you visit each museum.

À Ài v À >Ì Ì i «À }À> > ` «>ÀÌ V «>Ì } businesses, visit www.graysharbormuseums.org.

1

Aberdeen

ABERDEEN MUSEUM OF HISTORY 111 E. Third St., Aberdeen

Admission: Free; donations accepted

Website: aberdeen-museum.org

Hours: Tuesday-Saturday 10 a.m.5 p.m.; Sunday noon to 4 p.m.

Primary focus: All things Aberdeen

Phone: 360-533-1976

Director/Curator: Dave Morris

3 Get a tote bag

After getting all 12 stamps, get a limited edition free tote bag!

WASHINGTON COAST MAGAZINE | Summer 2018

19

gg OUT & ABOUT

2

Montesano

4

CHEHALIS VALLEY HISTORICAL MUSEUM 703 W. Pioneer Ave., Montesano

GRAYS HARBOR HISTORICAL SEAPORT 500 N. Custer St., Aberdeen

Admission: ÀiiÆ ` >Ì Ã accepted

Website: cvmuseum.wordpress.com

Hours: Saturday and Sunday noon-4 p.m.

Primary focus: Logging and homesteading in East County

Phone: 360-470-6181

Aberdeen

Admission and hours vary; check website

Board President: JoAnne Yost

Phone: 360-532-8611 Website: historicalseaport.org Executive director: Brandi Bednarik Primary focus: Home port of the tall ships Lady Aberdeen and Hawaiian Chieftain

5

Westport

GRAYS HARBOR LIGHTHOUSE

1020 Ocean Ave., Westport Admission: $5 Hours: -i>Ã > Æ V iV ÜiLÃ Ìi Phone: 360-268-0078 Website: westportmaritimemuseum.org

3

Ocean Shores

COASTAL INTERPRETIVE CENTER 1013 Catala Ave., Ocean Shores Admission: ÀiiÆ ` >Ì Ã accepted

Phone: 360-289-4617

Hours: Seven days a week from April 1 until Labor Day, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. The rest of the year, Saturday through Monday.

Board President: Jim Nagan

Executive Director: John Shaw Primary focus: 120-year-old lighthouse, tallest on the Washington Coast

Website: interpretivecenter.org Primary focus: >ÃÌ> y À> > ` fauna

6

Quinault

LAKE QUINAULT MUSEUM

354 South Shore Road, Quinault Admission: ÀiiÆ ` >Ì Ã accepted Hours: Daily noon-5 p.m., Memorial Day through Labor Day Phone: 360-288-2361/2367 Website: lakequinaultmuseum.org Director: Phyllis Miller Primary focus: Native Quinault culture and the rainforest

LEFT: Lake Quinault Museum has something for every age and is a must-see while you venture through the rain forest

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Summer 2018 | WASHINGTON COAST MAGAZINE

OUT & ABOUT f f

Learn about the history of North Beach and the famous Moclips Beach Hotel at Museum of North Beach.

7

McCleary

McCLEARY MUSEUM AT CARNELL HOUSE 314 S. Second Ave., McCleary

Admission: ÀiiÆ ` >Ì Ã >VVi«Ìi` Hours: Saturday and Sunday noon to 4 p.m., June 1 through Labor Day Phone: 360-490-2399 Website: N/A Director: >À ià >ÌÌ } Primary focus: City founder Henry McCleary

8

Moclips

MUSEUM OF THE NORTH BEACH 4658 State Rte. 109, Moclips

Admission: ÀiiÆ ` >Ì Ã >VVi«Ìi` Hours Û>ÀÞ Ãi>Ã > ÞÆ V iV ÜiLÃ Ìi Phone: 360-276-4441 Website: moclips.org Executive Director/Curator: Kelly Calhoun Primary focus: All things North Beach

9

Hoquiam

POLSON MUSEUM 1611 Riverside Ave., Hoquiam

Admission: $4 adults, $2 students, $1 children under 12, $10 family Hours: Wednesday-Saturday 11 a.m.-4 p.m., Sunday noon-4 p.m.

Phone: 360-533-5862 Website: polsonmuseum.org Director: John Larson Primary focus: Life of a logging tycoon in Hoquiam

WASHINGTON COAST MAGAZINE | Summer 2018

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gg OUT & ABOUT

10

Taholah

QUINAULT TRIBAL MUSEUM 807 Fifth Ave., Ste. 1, Taholah

Admission: ÀiiÆ ` >Ì Ã >VVi«Ìi` Hours: `>Þ À `>Þ n >° ° {\Îä «° ° (please call ahead) Phone: 360-276-8215, ext. 245 Website: N/A Curator: Leilani Jones-Chubby Primary focus: Tribal artifacts and stories

11

12

Montesano

RUNNING ANVIL CARRIAGE MUSEUM

Westport

WESTPORT MARITIME MUSEUM 2201 Westhaven Drive, Westport

445 Black Creek Road, Montesano

Admission: $5 adults, $3 youth, free for children under 5

Admission: ÀiiÆ ` >Ì Ã >VVi«Ìi`

Hours Û>ÀÞ Ãi>Ã > ÞÆ V iV ÜiLÃ Ìi

Hours Û>ÀÞÆ V> Ì V iV

Phone: 360-268-0078

Phone: 360-249-3645

Website: westportmaritimemuseum.org

Website: N/A

Executive Director: John Shaw

Directors: Doug and Janet Rice

Primary focus: Westport’s maritime heritage

Primary focus: 30+ restored carriages

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Summer 2018 | WASHINGTON COAST MAGAZINE

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gg LOCAL FUN

SINCE E 1965 1 65

LOGGERS

PLAYDAY

ABOVE: Rob Waibel of Oregon competes in the springboard chop in 2015, standing on a wooden springboard several feet off the ground. He was the All-Around Logger that year, and several others, as well. Photo by Gabe Green

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Summer 2018 | WASHINGTON COAST MAGAZINE

LOCAL FUN f f

A HOQUIAM TRADITION

'XGT[ HCNN QP VJG ƂTUV 5CVWTFC[ CHVGT .CDQT &C[ Hoquiam throws a party to celebrate its original reason for being – logging and lumbering.

They do it up big, a parade through town during the day and then that night, the logging competition that is the centerpiece for Loggers Playday.

A form of the event has been going on since 1965 and the Loggers Playday Committee has it down cold, moving deftly through the events, with comedic breaks that give the program a lively pace. The competition is serious but friendly, probably friendlier than it is serious, truth be told. It draws locals who know what they’re doing and serious logging show veterans who have competed all over the world.

Did you know there is such a thing as an Australian Racing Ax? There is, and they’re sharp. And the competitors who own them pamper them and carry them in custom

made cases.

Maybe the biggest star of the logging show is Olympic Stadium, where it’s held. It was built during the Depression

by WPA crews using the old growth, straight-grained timber that put the area on the map, and the all-wood stadium just seems a fitting place to spotlight skills best honed in the woods.

ABOVE LEFT: Sandra Forrester competes in the ma and pa bucking event in 2012. Photo by Macleod Pappidas.

Philip McCloy, left, and Johnny Boggs in the choker setting event in 2012, scampering over a log in a water-filled tank. Photo by Macleod Pappidas.

This year’s show will be the first in decades without Paul Mackenzie, a logging show clown from British Columbia who entertained between events and was part of the fabric of Loggers Playday. Last year was his 52nd consecutive show. He was ailing and unable to perform and died just a few weeks after the event. You can bet this year’s show will include a fitting tribute to his memory.

-D OUG BARK ER

WASHINGTON COAST MAGAZINE | Summer 2018

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gg LOCAL FUN

CLOCKWISE FROM TOP: Sandra and Mike Forrester in the ma and pa bucking event in 2015. Photo by Gabe Green.

Playday princesses get a chance at log rolling every year. 2015 photo by Gabe Green Governor Dan Evans was crowned by Playday Queen Leslie Chase before the 1967 event, with Princesses Barbara Turpin (left) and Cindy

The show is held at Olympic Stadium in Hoquiam, which has stood for years, made from the area’s old growthstraight-grained timber. It’s a perfect location for showing off logging skills.

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Summer 2018 | WASHINGTON COAST MAGAZINE

Farwell looking on.

Pole climbers race to the top. Photo

by Macleod Pappidas Every Loggers Playday ends with a fireworks show. 2014 photo by Aaron Lavinsky In 2007, Karl Erickson, then 9, sits on his grandfather Jerry’s lap as a log truck rumbles by in the Playday parade. Photo by David Sandler

LOCAL FUN f f

LEFT: Lee Pickett, a skilled ax thrower and perennial crowd favorite, pulls his throwing ax from the target during the 2015 competition. Photo by Gabe Green RIGHT: Paul Mackenzie in 2015, one of the last years he performed. Photo by Gabe Green

In memoriam: / à Þi>À½Ã Ã Ü Ü Li Ì i wÀÃÌ `iV>`ià without Paul Mackenzie ­« VÌÕÀi` >L Ûi® a logging show clown from British Columbia, who passed away last year.

We have the Best Reviews on the beach!

Experience Sunsets over the Pacific Ocean!

Hi-Tide

OCEAN BEACH RESORT O

Located in Historic Moclips 25 minutes north of Ocean Shores.

1 & 2 Bedroom Ocean Front Condominiums.

1-800 MOCLIPS www.hitideresort.com

WASHINGTON COAST MAGAZINE | Summer 2018

27

Endless Summer meets Beach Blanket Bingo Loge at the Sands: a revamped, ‘60s era motel brings new life to the Washington Surf Scene

PHOTO BY THEODORE WISEMAN

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Summer 2018 | WASHINGTON COAST MAGAZINE

Story by Patrick Duffy

The

1966 classic movie, “The Endless Summer” follows two surfers, Mike Hynson and Robert August, on a surfing trip around the world. As the title suggests, their goal was to chase the summer season up and down the globe — bouncing from beach to beach in pursuit of the perfect wave and the endless summer sun.

Around the time they embarked on their journey, construction began on The Sands, a motel in Westport, Wash. Fueled primarily by the fishing industry, Westport

was full of growth and economic potential. The town had a buzz about it. The marina was packed full, tourists took to the shores on hot summer days and a few surfers even entered the water for the first time in town history.

But the ‘70s wrote a different story. New fishing regulations hit the industry hard and a statewide recession further stunted development of the town. As a result, the surfing scene, along with the tourism industry, never quite took off.

WASHINGTON COAST MAGAZINE | Summer 2018

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Fast forward a few decades and it seems as if it’s all about to turn around — as if Mike and Robert’s vision of a perpetual surf season is coming to life in Westport. Expert and novice surfers alike are returning, bringing Westhaven State Park’s visitor count to record numbers in 2017.

Charter fishing continues to attract tens of thousands each year. Local campsites are seeing more than 70 percent occupancy in the summer months.

There’s a bit of a buzz in Westport and people are beginning to take notice.

Among them is Johannes Ariens, a local to the Olympic Peninsula and veteran of the Westport surf scene.

Growing up, Johannes spent many of his weekends making surf trips out to the coast. He also spent a number of long nights on the road home after a cold day in the water. After a few too many of these drives, he realized that Westport, despite all it had to offer, lacked one major thing he was looking for: lodging, a different type of lodging.

As Johannes saw it, Westport was missing someplace fun, social and affordable. A place to connect with fellow outdoor enthusiasts and recharge in a comfortable setting. Seeing this as an opportunity, he paired up with

business-partner Cale Genenbacher to capitalize on the gap they saw in the marketplace.

After some searching, they came across The Sands, that same, ‘60s era motel and RV Park that was built back when Mike and Robert were catching waves off the coast of Ghana. Although the property had seen some serious wear and tear, Johannes and Cale knew it had endless potential.

To put it bluntly, Johannes describes the original state of the property as “just north of condemned.”

Despite the condition, they made the purchase and launched into a major renovation. The goal fresh in their minds: to create something different than the existing hotels and primitive campsites.

“We were looking to create a space that could be utilized by a wide scope of people, on varying budgets. Not just a campground, not just a hotel, more like a hybrid,” Johannes said.

Their vision came to fruition in May of 2017, when Loge (pronounced Lodge) opened its doors to the public.

Loge now boasts an array of accommodations covering a spectrum from trendy suites to rustic campsites.

LOGE

[pronounced Lodge]

BELOW: Rooms at Loge offer bright colors and a surfing theme RIGHT: The campground is host to the occasional Airstream

PHOTO BY GARRETT VAN SWEARINGEN

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Summer 2018 | WASHINGTON COAST MAGAZINE

PHOTO BY GARRETT VAN SWEARINGEN

PHOTO BY GARRETT VAN SWEARINGEN

“We were looking to create a space that could be utilized by a wide scope of people, on varying budgets. Not just a campground, not just a hotel, more like a hybrid.” JOHANNES ARIENS, OWNER

WASHINGTON COAST MAGAZINE | Summer 2018

31

Gather your friends!

Co-ed style rooms offer large community space with bunk beds, kitchen, lounge, games and TV.

PHOTO BY WEAREUNICORNS

Stepping foot on the grounds is almost like stepping back in time to the freeflowing days of the ‘60s. Vibrant color schemes, immaculate wood-grain details, and surfing inspired art line the property. Every now and then, a vintage ‘60s era Airstream trailer sets up camp in the RV section, adding to the transformative atmosphere.

Surfers at heart, the team designed the property with a surfer’s eye, down to the details. Wetsuit drying rooms, onsite gear rentals and other amenities make Loge a mecca for surfers and outdoor enthusiasts alike.

After a successful first summer on the books, Loge’s first winter was promising as well. With February 2018 sales beating last June’s, it’s safe to say that this isn’t just a seasonal property.

32

Winter will always draw crowds, as storm cycles in the Pacific generate big swells off the coast and storm watchers flock from all over to watch waves pummel the shore. On these stormy days, a select group of brave, dedicated surfers charge the waters and surf the massive double-overhead waves. Many local surfers admit that summer is simply training for the big swells of the wintertime.

Summer will, undoubtedly, always be peak season in Westport. On a summer’s day, it’s not out of the ordinary to see the parking lot at Westhaven State Park overflowing with cars and the water packed with first timers hungry to catch their first wave.

The only thing more enjoyable than catching your first wave is talking about

Summer 2018 | WASHINGTON COAST MAGAZINE

LOGE

pricing and options As mentioned, at Loge, there is something for everyone and every budget. Rustic campsites run around $40 per night and RV sites are $50. Indoor options are competitively priced and remain relatively constant year-round.

Suites ranging from $130 $150 a night (depending on the setup). Budget travelers can snag a bunk in the hostel for around $50 a night. ÜÜÜ° }iV> «Ã°V (360) 268-0091 1416 S MONTESANO ST, WESTPORT, WA 98595

SURFERS AT HEART, the team designed the property with a surfer’s eye, down to the details. Wetsuit drying rooms, onsite gear rentals and other amenities make Loge a MECCA FOR SURFERS AND OUTDOOR ENTHUSIASTS ALIKE.

PHOTO BY PATRICK DUFFY

PHOTO BY GARRETT VAN SWEARINGEN

WASHINGTON COAST MAGAZINE | Summer 2018

33

it. After long days in the water, visitors are sure to be found telling tales from the ocean around the shared fire pits in the Loge communal area. Centered around a raised stage and movieprojector screen, this area is the heart of the property and embodies the essence of the Loge vision: community.

ABOVE: Gear is available to rent onsite.

“It isn’t just a place to stay, it’s a place to build community,” Johannes noted when describing

the property.

Summer evenings at Loge often consist of live music and outdoor movie nights — and there is never a shortage of barbecuing. You might even find someone grilling up the catch of the day on one of the property’s Traeger grills. As the night drifts on, you’ll find strangers congregating around

campfires, sharing laughs over freshly roasted marshmallows.

Illuminated by strings of lights lining the way to Loge’s centerstage, it’s easy to see the team’s vision of community alive and in action.

No matter the season, it’s always summer in the Loge Cafe.

Maybe it’s the reggae music playing in the background, or maybe it’s the aroma of locally sourced, fresh-ground coffee, but entering the cafe makes you feel transported across the ocean to some hidden oasis in the South Pacific. Or … maybe it’s the IPA on tap — a partnership with 10 Barrel Brewing of Bend, Ore. — that further adds to the ambience of the Loge Cafe.

With a classic beach town feel, world class surf and a seemingly endless list of recreational activities just minutes from the property, it’s easy to see why Loge at the Sands in Westport was just voted “the number one trip you need to take this year” by Outdoor Magazine.

Surely if Mike and Robert had heard that a perpetual surf season was available in a small fishing town on the Washington Coast, they’d laugh and say “yeah, right” and continue on in search of their Endless Summer. While they would be right in the fact that it doesn’t have the 365 days of summer sun that they chased around the globe, they would miss the fact that a year-round wave and tight-knit community can always be found in Westport, by way of Loge.

PHOTO BY WEAREUNICORNS

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Summer 2018 | WASHINGTON COAST MAGAZINE

PHOTO BY DIANA PULIDO

WASHINGTON COAST MAGAZINE | Summer 2018

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PHOTO BY PATRICK DUFFY

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Summer 2018 | WASHINGTON COAST MAGAZINE

THE YEAR ROUND WAVE: ;]ZĂ…VO QV ?M[\XWZ\

Westport is Washington’s premier place to surf — with a consistent, year-round wave and easy accessibility from Seattle, it’s easy to see why. While other places in the state generate some nice waves, they are often unpredictable, inconsistent and hard to get to.

9GUVRQTV JCU VJTGG OCKP UWTƂPI beaches — Westhaven State Park, Half Moon Bay and the ƂPIGT LGVVKGU NQECNN[ MPQYP CU VJG groins). On any given day the surf conditions at each location could be polar opposites, but because there are three places to choose from (that are within minutes of each other) chances are high that something will be surfable.

Waves truly break year round, but the conditions vary greatly from season to season. The stormy months of winter can bring powerful double-overhead waves, while the calmer systems of the summer generally produce waist-high to chest-high waves. Beginners are best suited in the mellower, summer months and will want to stick to Westhaven as it’s the safest, and the easiest place to learn.

The staff at Loge recommends a lesson from Bigfoot Surf School located on Jetty Haul Road. They are known for “sharing the stokeâ€? and getting people just as excited >LÂœĂ•ĂŒ ĂƒĂ•Ă€w˜} >Ăƒ ĂŒÂ…iĂž >Ă€i°

Not a surfer?

No judging here. Rent a kayak or paddleboard.

You’ll still be in the water.

Already have some experience or need a board to rent? Loge has you covered. They partnered with Evo — an outdoor gear retailer based in Seattle. Together, they offer a wide selection of surfboards and wetsuits available for rent. In addition, they have an onsite demo center so you can test out some of the industry’s leading performance boards. Wetsuits rent for $18 a day and the surfboards come in at $25 a day. +H UWTƂPI VTWN[ KUPoV [QWT VJKPI you can also rent kayaks and paddleboards for $25 a day. If the conditions are calm, head on over to Half Moon Bay — it can be great for a sunset paddleboard session.

favorite destination

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Summer 2018 | WASHINGTON COAST MAGAZINE

T

There may be more spectacular beaches on VJG 9CUJKPIVQP %QCUV CNVJQWIJ PQV OCP[ DWV there aren’t any as spectacular and easy to get to as Ruby Beach near the southern boundary of the Olympic National Park beaches.

Ruby Beach is just off Highway 101 and it’s one-stopshopping for some of those picturesque features along the northern portion of the coast – sea stack rock formations, tide pools plentiful with sea life and amazing jumbles of driftwood that at one time were part of the old-growth forest that grew right to the land’s end.

The beach is about a quarter mile steepish downhill hike from the parking lot along 101. There’s a nice overlook partway down the path, but once you get to the bottom, it will mean a scramble over some driftwood to get to the beach, and maybe a little wade in a creek to get to the tide pools.

And instead of wide stretches of sand, you’ll find large, cobble rocks, all the better for building cairns that prove to the world you were there, until the waves, which don’t care if you were there or not, knock them down.

The beach is about an hour and 45 minutes from Aberdeen, and about three and half hours from Seattle.

Kalaloch, with its wide, sandy beaches and great overlook and an impressive restaurant, is just 10 minutes or so south.

-B Y

DOUG BARKER

WASHINGTON COAST MAGAZINE | Summer 2018

39

Ruby Beach has it all: picturesque features of sea stack rock formations, tide pools plentiful with sea life and amazing jumbles of driftwood that at one time were part of the old-growth forest that grew right to the land’s end.

explore l LEARN MORE!

Websites,Videos, Tide info and visiting info

À www.nps.gov/olym/planyourvisit/visiting-kalaloch-and-ruby-beach.htm À Tide pool information: www.nps.gov/olym/planyourvisit/tidepool-activities.htm À Tide times: https://tides.willyweather.com/wa/jefferson-county/ruby-beach.html

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Summer 2018 | WASHINGTON COAST MAGAZINE

OlympicNPS www.youtube.com/ watch?v=25Ol7ffyGTk

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Serving the Pacific Northwest since 1959!

Here Yesterday.

Here Today.

Here Tomorrow.

360-533-0314

2730 Simpson Ave. • Hoquiam

www.TheRoofDoctor.com WASHINGTON COAST MAGAZINE | Summer 2018

41

gg EVENTS

our favorite

EVENTS June 1-2 Hood To Coast Washington The relay run is back for its second installment covering 78 miles from Hood Canal and ending at the Pacific Ocean. Thousands of runners expected to partipate.

2 Wearable Art Show Artists of all media types create functional and not-so-functional pieces of spectacular fashion at the Ocean Shores Convention Center.

Spring Craft Fair and Bake Sale In Amanda Park.

Hand-crafted jewelry, woodwork, arts, photography, gifts, foods and crafts reflective of the Pacific Northwest.

2-3 Festival of Colors Kite-flying weekend on the beach at Ocean Shores.

9 Flag Day Parade Through downtown Ocean Shores, starting at the city gates and ending at the Convention Center. Biggest Flag Day parade in Western Washington.

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Summer 2018 | WASHINGTON COAST MAGAZINE

15-17 Beach Volleyball Seabrook will be the site of the second annual tournament hosted by the Alki Volleyball Association.

16-17 Northwest Garlic Festival Celebrate this exalted bulb in Ocean Park. This festival was born out of love for great, garlic-laden cuisine.

22-24 Sand & Sawdust Festival At the Ocean Shores Convention Center and on the main Ocean Shores beach. Sand sculpting competition and chainsaw artist auctions daily.

Rusty Scupper’s Pirate Daze Come to Westport for the 15th annual event that will feature pirate crews from all over the Pacific Northwest, live music, contests and longboat races.

30 Tokeland Parade & Celebration This old-fashioned community parade has grown to more than 200 entrants. Starts at 11 a.m. at the Tokeland Marina.

Picnic lunch follows at Tokeland Hotel.

July 1 Trek Across Tokeland Register 8 a.m., trek starts 9 a.m. at the Tradewinds on the Bay event center.

4 Old Fashioned 4th of July Celebration Held on

the grounds of the Westport Maritime Museum in the Marina District from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.

4 Splash Festival Aberdeen’s annual daylong 4th of July celebration, featuring live music, food and plenty of fun for kids, capped off by a professional fireworks show at Morrison Riverside Park.

Old Fashioned 4th of July Parade & Art in the Park In downtown Ocean Park, it’s a true slice of Americana. Art in the Park at Sheldon Park will feature the works of local artists, food vendors and more.

Fireworks Free fireworks shows start at dusk in Westport’s Marina District and in Tokeland near the Shoalwater Bay Casino and on the Bolstad Avenue beach approach in Long Beach. The shows begin around 10 p.m.

6-8 Bear Festival In McCleary. The festival features a car show, a parade, games, food and craft vendors, and, of course, the bear stew.

7 Founders Day A parade and music celebrate the founders of Aberdeen.

13-15 Windriders Kite Festival Competitions, demonstrations, games, auction and high-flying fun at the Grayland beach approach.

14 Midnight Cruisers Rod Fest Annual Rod Fest in downtown Aberdeen. Contact: Bill Jenkins, 360-5328690.

18-22 Sandsations The 33rd annual sand-sculpting extravaganza returns to Long Beach.

14-15 Clamshell Railroad Days Join the annual celebration of the “Clamshell Railroad,” which ran with tides along the Long Beach Peninsula for 41 years between 1889 and 1930. At the Pacific Heritage Museum in Ilwaco.

aberdeenwa.gov downtownaberdeen.com WASHINGTON COAST MAGAZINE | Summer 2018

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gg EVENTS

Northwest Carriage Museum

Over 50 Magnificently restored

horse-drawn carriages circa 1850-1910

Fun, interactive exhibits for all ages!

Group and school tours available Open Daily 10 - 4 PM 314 Alder St. (at Hwy 101 & St.Rt.6) • Raymond, WA (360) 942-4150

nwcarriagemuseum.org

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Cabins Oceanfront Units Jacuzzis Fireplaces Kitchenettes

Great seaside lodging at an affordable price

21 Historic Montesano Car Show From 8 a.m. to 3 p.m., the annual car show hits the streets. The show typically draws more than 200 registered cars.

Eastside Street Rods Show ‘N Shine Vintage vehicles are placed on display along Westport’s Westhaven Drive.

21-22 Tokeland Wood & Art Fest Original art from many disciplines. Handmade items displayed by artists, wood carvers and food on the grounds of the historic Tokeland Hotel.

26 Summer Craft Fair and Bake Sale In Amanda Park.

Hand-crafted jewelry, woodwork, arts, photography, gifts, foods and crafts reflective of the Pacific Northwest.

27-29 Bikers at the Beach Motorcycle event at the Ocean Shores Convention Center, with Hog Wild Weekend also ongoing simultaneously at Quinault Beach Resort and Casino.

28 Aberdeen Artwalk Annual downtown summer artwalk event featuring lots of art, food and music.

Elk River Challenge Bring your kayak, canoe, rowboat or surfboard with paddles or oars. Contestants start their human-powered race at the foot of the Elk River Bridge near Westport and race up into the Elk River estuary.

1593 State Route 105, Grayland walshmotel.com 44

360-267-2191

Summer 2018 | WASHINGTON COAST MAGAZINE

Discover

Unforgettable Grays Harbor

• Unforgettable Wildlife & Scenery 28-29 Long Beach NPRA Rodeo The rodeo features saddle bronc, bareback and bull riding, barrel racing and steer wrestling, as well as team, calf and breakaway roping.

• Unforgettable Hiking & Camping • Unforgettable World-Class Fishing

August 3-5 Willapa Harbor Festival This northern Pacific County tradition features live music, a parade, food and craft vendors. Held in downtown Raymond and free for the whole family.

• Miles of Unforgettable Beaches

4 Grays Harbor Pride Festival, Hoquiam Festival raising awareness of LGBTQ community.

8-12 Grays Harbor County Fair At the fairgrounds in Elma. Five days of family fun begins at 10 a.m. on Wednesday, Aug. 8. More information is available at www.ghcfairgrounds.com. Adult admission is $10, and senior, youth and military discounts are available.

800-621-9625

| www.visitgraysharbor.com

Visit us online at facebook.com/GraysHarborTourism WASHINGTON COAST MAGAZINE | Summer 2018

45

gg EVENTS 10-12 Grayland Open Jet Ski Competition Off the beach near Grayland Road beach approach. This free event for spectators will bring dozens of riders for a stunt competition, motosurf racing and a big-air competition.

Lounge

Luxury

in

this Summer!

Selmer’s HOME FURNISHINGS

Local Delivery Mon-Sat 10-6 • Sun 12-5 Easy Financing 419 E. Wishkah Street • Aberdeen • 360-532-2260

Mark Your Calendars NOW! Toast the Harbor Food & Wine Festival

Saturday, Nov. 3 1-8pm

rd

Quinault Beach Resort & Casino Ocean Shores, WA

Sponsored by the Aberdeen Lions Club

Beautiful autiful d destinations estinations aare re jjust ust a ccall all aaway... way...

Vacation specials to all corners of the world.

11 Ocean Shores Woof-a-Thon Annual event honoring our pets and raising funds and awareness for animal welfare. At North Bay High School, with dog walk on the track, games, sporting events and demonstrations, and auction. Online at www.oceanshoreswoofathon.org.

11-12 Body and Soul Festival Learn all about a natural and homeopathic way of life. At the Ocean Shores Lions Club on Ocean Shores Boulevard.

17-19 12’s Fan Fest and Beach Party In Ocean Shores, with events at the Convention Center, around town and at Quinault Beach Resort & Casino. Largest preseason gathering of Seahawks fans.

18 Gnome & Fairy Festival at Seabrook A day of enchantment and outdoor play for the whole family, face painting, games, crafts and live animal encounters.

Starts at 11 a.m.

Jazz & Oysters The 31st annual festival moves to Long Beach’s Veterans Field in 2017 and features Pacific Northwest jazz ensembles and Willapa Bay oysters.

18-19 Westport Art Festival A juried show of fine art and crafts at various locations in the Marina District.

20-26 International Kite Festival World-renowned kite flyers converge on the Long Beach Peninsula annually for a vivid celebration of summer.

22-25 Pacific County Fair Enjoy everything from carnival rides and tasty treats to livestock shows and live music in Menlo. Enjoy a slice of Pacific County life.

Aug. 31-Sept. 2 AAOS Arts & Crafts Festival At the Ocean Shores Convention Center, www.associatedarts.org. Visit one of Western Washington’s largest indoor and outdoor handmade arts and crafts fair. Admission is free.

Where Your s!

108 E. First | Aberdeen Journey Begin 46

Summer 2018 | WASHINGTON COAST MAGAZINE

Kelpers Festival and Shake Rat Rendezvous Featuring tug of war competition between Moclips and Pacific Beach, kid’s parade, full parade in Pacific Beach on Sunday, and various logging competitions.

AD DIRECTORY

September 1 Ocean Shores Paddleathon Oyhut Bay Seaside Village canal. For kayak, canoe and rowing enthusiasts.

All skill levels are welcome. Human-powered boat activities on the lakes and canals of Ocean Shores.

72nd Seafood Festival & Craft Show This perennial favorite features heaping plates of great food, live music and local crafters on the Westport Maritime Museum grounds.

Vettes at the Marina Dozens of classic Corvettes along the Westport Marina.

1-3 Come Play on Labor Day It’s an event, an invitation and an early autumn ritual in South Bend. Watch the grand parade, take in the fireworks, visit the carnival, join the Tin Man Triathlon.

7 Slow Drag at the Port Slow Drag at the Port returns to the Port of Ilwaco for its sixth slow-rolling year.

Fans line Howerton Way to watch this classic car competition where slow and steady wins the race — vehicles accelerate about 15 feet before coasting the final 200 yards to the finish line — the car that stops closest to the line is the victor.

8 Brady’s Oyster Feed Oysters any way you like ‘em at Brady’s Oysters near Westport, just west of the Elk River Bridge on State Route 105 from noon to 5 p.m.

Loggers Playday One the nation’s last-surviving classic logging shows, where loggers share their skills and compete for the title of All Around Logger.

Daylong celebration includes a downtown parade and fireworks at the end of the logging show and competition at Hoquiam’s historic Olympic Stadium.

8-9 Rod Run to the End of the World From Model Ts to muscle cars, it features acres of automobiles and plenty of chrome eye-candy. Held in Ocean Park, attendees will also be treated to food and craft vendors and a swap meet.

See more o page 24n !

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ASAP Business Solutions

51

Billy’s Bar & Grill

17

Brady’s Oysters

51

Breakwater Seafood & Chowder House

11

Bryan & Son Jewelers

3

Capital Medical Center

43

City of Aberdeen

22

Dennis Co.

11

Elma Chamber of Commerce

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11

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7

Hanson Motors Inc.

27

Hi-Tide Resort

8

Donna Jones

46

Journey Travel

2

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44

Northwest Carriage Museum

8

Raintree Veterinary Center

41

The Roof Doctor

46

Selmer’s

52

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9

Sweet Leaf Cannabis

17

Timberland Bank

23

Twin Star Credit Union

44

Walsh Beach Motel

22

Wiitamaki Jewelry Store

5

Windermere Real Estate WASHINGTON COAST MAGAZINE | Summer 2018

47

gg WHO & WHY

WHY WE LOVE IT HERE

by Wil Russoul and Kristi Daniels

PHOTO BY D O U G BARKE R

H

ello, all our coastal friends, we are Kristi Daniels and Wil Russoul (aka: Russ Sonmore).

We wanted to take a moment to share a bit about us.

First, when we need to recharge our creative minds, or simply put our busy day to rest, we look no further then what’s in our field of view ... Grays Harbor. As we see it, Grays Harbor is one large adventurous backyard made up of coastal communities embedded with hidden jewels of rivers, coffee shops, lakes, events, beaches, wines, mountains, music, logging roads, art and fishing

48

(actually, our list goes on for another 1,000 words but you know our area is full of treasures).

The real discovery within our “Harbor” though, is the deep well of our area’s rich history, combined with a wealth of relationships. We have filled our hearts with the best of what Grays Harbor has to offer -- people just like you. If you have not met us yet, be prepared for unending stories of fishing, music, arts and how others have made such a difference in our lives. We sort of aspire to the Stone Soup method of sharing, along with learning what you love, in effect

Summer 2018 | WASHINGTON COAST MAGAZINE

ABOUT Wil Russoul, executive director of the Aberdeen Main Street program, and Kristi

> i Ã] > w > V > > ` vwViÀ >Ì À>ÞÃ Harbor College, draw upon a deep store of positivity to build community and lift up the people they encounter.

thank her for helping them arrange the necessary means to complete their degree. It’s not a job to her but a role she has in our community. She also loves playing piano filling in on my performances and at her church (she can still play hymns). One of her favorite personal phrases is “Helping Other People Evolve,” as evidenced by the number of students who have benefited in their higher education pursuit.

allowing our togetherness to be more, do more and impact more.

My beautiful, incredible wonderful Kristi is a lifelong Aberdeen girl who met me, a transplant from an island (and it seems everywhere else), through baseball, steelheading (yes she can tie up and drift fish better than some of my hombre buds), and my songs. The combination appears to have been the perfect recipe to spark our storybook love. I am blessed to have this lady in my life as she has been my muse for writing song after song. I once asked her if it’s weird to sing about her for everyone else. I am still trying to read her brown eyes on that one.

I love what the Harbor does to us, rain or shine, low or high tide, we can always adapt and find there are more things to discover then we have time for … except when my neighbor, Mr. Johnson (97 years old), starts up his fish smoker. Everything stops then and Kristi and I jump in “her” jet sled to chase the next incredible river monster. Rivers here in the Harbor are pretty secretive.

They only open up to you once they trust you. Our friend the Wynooche has become quite our pal over the years.

We locals just call her the Nooche. The Nooche obviously loves Kristi more than me as her first steelhead was 16 pounds.

Dang!

Seriously though, we want to find ways to encourage others around us and part of how we do that is our music. It’s easy for me to get a gig here as I can perform to one person sitting on a bench or wave at cars going by while I play my guitar. Stages come in all sizes but my favorite one is just me, my guitar and a couple of you. I want to use the music we write to empower you and tell stories that we artists memorialize uniquely in our work.

Speaking of work, I recently accepted a new job in Aberdeen, executive director of 98520 Main Street. I am working with businesses, building owners, community groups and volunteers in bringing

the love...

The real discovery within our “Harbor” though, is the deep well of our area’s rich history, combined with a wealth of relationships.

9G JCXG ƂNNGF our hearts with the best of what Grays Harbor has to offer -- people just like you. about the best we can be. One of the many projects we have under way is a monthly publication called 98520.Life.

This is intended to capture and shine the attributes of Aberdeen. The Daily World newspaper is working with us to test if it can be launched in the near future.

We are keeping it positive and all the content, design and editing are all being done at a grassroots level by folks in our community. So it’s about us, by us, for us. After you read it (probably this summer distributed with your newspaper as an insert) let’s have coffee and talk about it, OK? Did you know Kristi works at Grays Harbor College in their Welcome Center, Cut Rate Auto Parts, and her parents’ log truck company and other miscellaneous jobs and still somehow finds time to assist others from all over? No matter where we are we run into people who

Kristi helped me found Play It Forward, a 501C3 non-profit agency, where we donate music equipment to Harborites and fund music and art scholarships through the Grays Harbor College Foundation. Kristi was instrumental in seeing a need with students, especially those described as unaccompanied minors, who needed just a little bit more financial help along their educational pursuits. Since October 2016, a group of talented volunteers has hosted annual benefit performances at the Bishop Center and fundraised alongside concerts held at the D&R Theatre. Kristi says “without the generosity of these coastal communities our program would not be possible.” It’s so true, so “thank you.”

These events have now enabled Play It Forward to help five recipients pursue their college goals and at last count somewhere around 127 instruments have been gifted to others. Donations can be made at any Timberland Bank or folks can learn more about the program at facebook.com\playitforward.gives. A new website is under construction at www.playitforward.gives.

Both of us plan to continue encouraging you through our occupations, music, volunteering, and our lives as your cheerleaders of our Harbor. When I ask Kristi what’s next she just smiles. I think she wonders if her new engagement ring might just shine through the river to entice the next 21 pounder. Stand by, as I might write a song to memorize that moment.

WASHINGTON COAST MAGAZINE | Summer 2018

49

gg LAST SHOT

Surfer Sunset

A surfer leaves the beach in Westport.

See more on Loge and the surfing scene on page 28.

Photo by Patrick Duffy

50

Summer 2018 | WASHINGTON COAST MAGAZINE

Historic Billy’s Bar & Grill is open 7 days a week for breakfast, lunch, & dinner.

2018 Bestt Breakfastt 2018 Bestt Mixed Drinks nks

• Try one of our famous Billy’s Brick Brick n Burgers served on a Torta Bun. • We serve only the finest choice Angus beef.

• Prime Rib Friday nights!

• Large rotating selection n of of Pacific Pacifi ficc Northwest draft beers on on tap. tap.

• Take-out orders available ble

322 E. Heron St. Aberdeen 360-533-7144

FRESH SEAFOOD MARKET! Our fresh seafood market includes a variety of fresh fish arriving daily. We also carry a variety of locally canned seafood products and T-shirts.

CHOWDER HOUSE SELECTIONS • Hand-breaded Fish & Chips, Prawns & Halibut • Oven-broiled Salmon, Halibut, & Cod • Grilled Crab & Cheese Sandwiches • Fresh Salads ~ Shrimp, Crab, & Seabreeze derr • Homemade Clam Chowder

We serve bottled beer, beer on tap and wine by the glass.

Open daily

306 South F St. | Aberdeen | 360-532-5693

2018 B Best estt es Clam Chowder owd wder e 2018 B Best estt es Razor Clams lam amss

Fast, Friendly Service!

Your patient-centered medical home. ඵ ͸ͺȀͽ ඵ ͽ ඵ ͹ ඵ

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Thank you for letting us be your partner in health and wellness!

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