Anderson's RV Park in Long Beach, Washington

Long Beach, Washington: Hello from the Long Beach Peninsula! We don't have much to report today. This morning we drove the Honda into Astoria to ship orders at the post office, fill-up the Honda gas tank and stop by the ATM. Was it our fault the bank is so close to a donut shop?

An interesting sign in Astoria, Oregon

We were leaving the Lewis & Clark Golf & RV Park when the friendly owners stopped to chat, so we lingered for a while... we only had a 25-mile drive to our next destination. Up and over that frighteningly-high 4-mile-long bridge that crosses near the mouth of the Columbia River... and we were soon at Anderson's RV Park - right on the beach north of Long Beach, Washington.

This campground is nothing more than a giant gravel parking lot. There is plenty of room to maneuver even the biggest rig (ummm... like maybe our RV?). The biggest draw is that the campground is right on the beach and everyone seems to be exceedingly friendly... which is a good thing because the sites are very close together. Each site has full hook-ups, 15/30/50 amps, cable and the park has free wifi. Campers come back here year after year - the park is very popular and tonight every site is full.

Here she is, in all her glory - the Magna Peregrinus


Anderson's RV Park in Long Beach, Washington

After settling-in, we took a walk down to the beach. (Anderson's RV Park says their campground is a 30-second walk to the beach. DT clocked it at 2 minutes, 30 seconds... but maybe we are slow walkers?)

The RV park from the colorful trail to the beach. Could you cover that in 30 seconds?


The beach!


Electric colors on the dunes

We discovered a few interesting things at the beach this afternoon. First, there was something nasty in the water. It was some sort of algae possibly... not sure, but I will ask around... and it was clouding up the water and dumping nasty looking brown foamy junk on the shore - but just for a few hundred feet. Either side of the junk, the water was fine.

Second interesting thing was a log that had washed-up on the shore completely covered with some sort of mussel-type creature. They were alive and they were moving and they were completely disgusting.

Everything hanging from this dead tree is alive


The shellfish were moving, squiggling, stretching, reaching and completely revolting

Luckily, the third thing we discovered on our walk was not disgusting. Completely opposite, in fact.

Bald Eagle

We feel very fortunate. Yesterday we walked to the beach (7 miles) and saw whales. Today we walked to the beach (200 yards) and saw a Bald Eagle.

As we approached the Magna Peregrinus after our walk, I chatted-up a neighbor. Loren had been fishing for days and had been very (very, very) lucky. I traded him a nice chunk of Silver Salmon for a Camping Journal! I told you this was a friendly campground. Thank you! Can't wait to grill that gorgeous fillet.

For dinner tonight we drove a bit north up the spit to Jimella's Market Cafe. We could not agree on a decent wine on their very limited list and finally settled on the sparkling wine because no one can go wrong with Italian sparkling wine. Plus, we had to wait thirty minutes for a table in a half-full restaurant. Our meals were good, but definitely nothing special. This is supposed to be fine dining on the peninsula, and the prices are high, but the food does not live-up to the expectation. (My opinion, and I could be wrong.) The menu is very limited - several fin fish and many shellfish entree/appetizers and a chicken and pasta (vegetarian) option.

Are all the oysters in this area on steroids? DT ordered the fried-oyster Caesar
as his appetizer. He said it would have been enough for his meal.

By the way... is there a rule that says because you are on vacation/in your RV you can go to a restaurant in short-shorts? A tank top? Cargo shorts? Or sweats and a baseball cap? Do people no longer have mirrors? Step it up, people!

Rant over.

Until my next update, I remain, your properly-attired correspondent.