the coast

Where has August gone? We left Fort Stevens and spent a lovely week at our favorite camp on the Elwha, doing all the things we wanted to do again and adding what we had missed--hikes up on Hurricane Ridge, kayaking the lakes, and then it was time to head down the California coast to meet with Brad and Janie and Sabrina at Anchor Bay for four days of beachcombing and sightseeing. Sabrina bagged a trophy kelp from Frank's kayak and got her picture taken at the fish station where all the fishermen go to show off their catches. (See the picture). The area is so lovely and there is so much to do that we have decided to stay on for a while. We are settled in Fort Bragg, where there is a Paul Bunyan festival this weekend, an open house of the local artists, including a potter Judy is really looking forward to meeting, and a number of excellent wood artisans. Fort Bragg is also home to a renowned fine woodworking school, with all the tools in the world. They offer short courses in June with basic tool building and joining techniques that we would both love. We lust after some of the tables and chairs that graduates have built. Anyway, there are rivers and sea caves to explore with our kayaks, the famous skunk train to ride, and this weekend log rolling championship and the fireman's ball. Judy has always wanted to go to a fireman's ball.