Fort Worden has two campgrounds and we chose the beach area. These trees were silhouetted against a cloudy sky.
It
is easy to see which way the wind blows. Rain was in the forecast. We
set up camp and decided to walk to the two science museums on the
grounds.
On
the way, we stopped at this little free library. We just turned in
bags of books at our last campground, so I had none to trade. We
continued to the science museums and both were closed. They begin their
winter hours after Labor Day. We got caught in the rain and had to run
for the motorhome. Our wet clothes were set to dry while we had dinner.
The
storm lasted about an hour and we took the opportunity to walk the
beach. A distant light house beckoned. In places we had to climb over
rocks to escape the incoming tide.
We
talked to two women from Pullman,WA who were gathering beach shells and
glass in the surf. We peeked into their buckets and admired their
pretties. They wore simple sweatshirts during weather I found brutally
cold with wind enough to knock you over. I met a fellow from my part of
Michigan who wore a simple long-sleeved shirt and remarked at how nice
the weather is here. I told him I'd never leave California for Michigan
despite my roots.
After
we'd passed them, one woman came back and offered to share some of her
beach glass with me. Wasn't that sweet? I declined since we have jars of
beach stones and glass from other beaches we've visited, particularly
the Glass Beach in California that was once a dump.
Besides, the beach was strewn with rocks and and shells at the tide line.
Close to the lighthouse, someone spent time balancing rocks called cairns. Most make it five stones high. Some go six and seven.
I put together a seven, then the rock toppled and I couldn't retrieve it, so I settled for a six.
The lighthouse was built in 1913, one hundred one years old. So important in their time. No visitors.
Past the lighthouse, we got up on the breakwater and walked.
Driftwood, sometimes whole trees, enough to build a house
It ages so beautifully.
We watched six fishermen with fly rods where the breakwater began to peter out.
We met an honest fisherman. He said he is going for fish and chips at a local restaurant.
Wives
waiting on the beach with their blue-eyed Australian Shepherd. They
said the salmon season is just starting and only a certain kind of
salmon can be taken. They were unsure, but think that if it is a king
salmon, they have to throw it back. They can take silvers.
We
returned to the motor home just before the second storm hit. It rocked
the motorhome, threatened to tear off the vents and our closed awning,
and blew and rattled everything that moved along with heavy rains. I
stowed our ground rug under the motorhome because the wind was folding
it and moving it from its appointed spot. We have yet to check and see
if we still have a rug.
