Instead of going to Ocean Shores this year for winter time-off, we went to see the new facility our timeshare built in Long Beach WA instead. For starters, it takes a really long time to get to Long Beach. I mean seriously, it's like sitting through a five-hour marathon of Meet The Press when you're 8 years old. In terms of mobility, you have to choose your poison on this drive - long-windy backroads, long straight stretches of generic freeway, and long waits in traffic just getting out of the Central Puget Sound. Google even recommends dipping down into Oregon to get there, because the Washington roads are so windy (why am I not surprised by this?).
But the drive is worth it, hands down, no matter what route you take.
The new timeshare facility is right on the beach (thank you Worldmark), and we found plenty to do and see while we were there. Our condo had a straight view to the ocean, overlooking the heated pool. We even drove on the beach, which always makes Sherry fidgety. Some of the highlights of our time there include:
- Oysterville - Established in 1853, this small townsite predates the American Civil War. It's mind boggling to me that generations of people have lived in the same part of our state since before our state was a state.
- Habanero Oysters - An indulgence only I can enjoy in my household. Put them on a Triscuit and it's an awesome snack.
- Ocean Park United Methodist Church - Established in 1883, worshipping in a building from 1913. Not surprising, since Ocean Park was founded by Methodists as an alcohol-free town.
- Jack's Puppy Outfit - The Sunday School teacher at church gave Jack a Pupply dress-up outfit, and told us he could keep it. For anyone who knows Jack, he loves wearing costumes; he's also been wearing this one since he got it, taking it off only for swimming and jammies.
- Fort Columbia - An ominous place with a truly World War I feeling about it. Forts Columbia, Clatsop, and Stevens guarded the mouth of the Columbia River until just after World War II; they are now state parts in Washington and Oregon.
- Ilwaco Railway and Navigation Company - This narrow-guage railway ran from where the US 101 bridge crosses the Columbia, up to Nahcotta at the north end of the Long Beach Peninsula. Like many railroads, it started into decline when automobile travel became easier on the north shore of the river. Abandoned in 1930
- Centipede and NASCAR - Leave it to David to ferret out the video games at the condo; what did he find? A NASCAR driving game - for him - and my old nemesis from the time when a roll of quarters would last an evening - Centipede. For the record, I can still rack up the points by shooting the spiders up close for 900 points each. Thank you, sister Janice, for those rolls of Quarters you'd give me for trips to Space Port back in the early 80s!
- Robots (bad) - We watched the movie Robots; while I thought it was okay, it seemed like it was more of a vehicle for a hyper antic-filled character fueled by Robin Williams; don't get me wrong...I like the guy but dang this was over the top. Sherry said the movie just could not hold her attention.
- Monster House (good) - Creepy as it was, Monster House was a good rental.
- US 101 Bridge across the Columbia - Short of the Golden Gate, this is one of the tallest structures I've ever driven over...or at least it felt that way from the top!
- Astoria OR, est. 1811 - Hard to believe there has been a established US settlement in that area for nearly 200 years, and even longer if you consider the occupancy of any local tribes. Astoria is a cool town to visit!
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