Ilwaco Saturday Market

Long Beach, Washington: We woke to cool foggy clouds... and even though it was Saturday (my usual rest day), I did a hard workout (for me) on the beach. It was very difficult for me to walk fast in sand!

No, this photo is not black & white... it was this dreary this morning


Bald Eagle perched on the beach (sorry, just had a pocket camera... I was exercising, remember?)

After my beach trudge, let's just say I was pretty-much toast for the rest of the afternoon... which didn't stop me from putting in a full day of touristing.

We drove south along the peninsula to the pretty little fishing port in Ilwaco to stroll through their Saturday Market. As we stepped out of the car - the sun broke through the clouds and we enjoyed good weather the rest of the afternoon.

Ilwaco Saturday Market - vendors line-up along the port


Beautiful flowers, crafts, art (and "art") fruits and vegetables were for sale


This lady sells Doggie-Snugglies.
(Note the STOP DOG NUDITY sign.)


Fun market in Ilwaco - right in the fishing port


Condor by Bart Kenworthy

Apparently when Lewis & Clark finally reached the Pacific Ocean, they came upon a beached whale with a "vulture of the large kind" feasting on the carcass. Being on a scientific mission, and never seeing a condor before, they killed the bird and brought it back to Thomas Jefferson. This proves the mighty California Condor was once the mighty Oregon Condor (and the mighty Washington Condor) - and that Lewis & Clark started the Condor's path to near extinction!

By now, especially with all the tempting smells from the food vendors at the Saturday Market, we were getting hungry. We had lunch at the dock-side Tuscany Cafe. Our food was very good, the server was very nice - but service was very slow - so slow, in fact, we were in the restaurant forever. The cafe was over-busy and under-staffed, or maybe they were just completely confused because the menu had a map of Italy with ROME highlighted to show they served Tuscan food. Did someone move Rome and didn't tell me? But, I digress... when our food finally arrived, it was delicious!

House Salad


Chicken Parmesan over fettuccini with roasted asparagus

After lunch, we drove out to explore Cape Disappointment State Park. We walked the half-mile trail to the North Head Lighthouse where there is a very pretty view south to the mouth of the Columbia River.

North Head Lighthouse


The view from North Head south to the mouth of the Columbia River


Housing for the Lighthouse Keepers (now rental cottages)

Continuing our drive through the State Park, we had a tour of the very nice campground before stopping to visit the Lewis & Clark Interpretive Center at Cape Disappointment. The museum has a time-line to follow/read about the Corp of Discovery. We walked through the Interpretive Center and enjoyed the views to the lighthouse on Cape Disappointment.

Cape Disappointment Lighthouse - the view from the interpretive center


The Lewis & Clark Interpretive Center at Cape Disappointment

Another very full day! After our big lunch... and the fact we had that wonderful just-caught salmon in our fridge... we stayed in this evening. DT grilled the fillet and I made a Caesar Salad - with a few sweet tomatoes. Perfect, while watching Tiger on the DVR. Thank you again Loren for the beautiful salmon!

RV cooking

Until my next update, I remain, your Long Beach correspondent.