Ocean Park, WA gives us a wet welcome

On May 12th/13th, Ken and Jo Bloedel and pups Ivan and Jazzy made us feel right at home on the coast of Washington. We know them as motorcycle-riding motorhome friends from Benson, AZ but they also have a home just across the Columbia River from Astoria, Oregon. We had hoped to ride our Harleys together on a sight-seeing tour of their area, but alas, the rain was relentless. Instead they drove us to The Lewis and Clark Interpretive Center at Cape Disappointment State/Nat'l Park. With Darcy's National Park Senior Pass, we were all given free admission. We were quite surprised to learn that Lewis and Clark spent much of their time writing in their journals about the local tribes' appearance, habits, living conditions, lodges, and abilities as hunters and fishermen. We were not surprised to learn that of the 106 days that the explorers' Corps of Discovery spent at the mouth of the Columbia River at Fort Clatsop, it rained every day but 12! It was totally appropriate that for lunch that day we went to The Wet Dog Cafe. Their crab cakes were indescribably delicious. Jo and Ken also toured us through nearby Oysterville, a hamlet dating back to the 1800's. The Daughter's of the Pioneers have made information placards for the 200+ year old homes; here and there, oyster shells reside in mountainous piles. The oyster farming business in Oysterville has been booming for some time. Viva la seafood!