REFLECT, REBOOT, AND RECHARGE; Ocean Park-WA

Kenny Rogers & Dolly Parton - 'You Can't Make Old Friends' [Official Video]: (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=chBNBzE35EI)

This morning we drove into Rainier-OR to collect our 5 month pile-up of mail … then over the Lewis & Clark Bridge to visit Holland's brother Scott, SIL Lana … and rub Bleu's furry head 😉

I shot a text off to David, to let him know we had arrived - I didn't know if he was at his home in Longview, or camping on his beach lot in Long Beach - but either way, I wanted him to know that we are back in WA for a while: our friendship goes back a loooong way. The Fall of 1965, to be exact - when he pulled my hair on the school bus. Friends all the way through school years. He is the 1st person to throw Bob & I together; Doug was the 2nd - and that unintentional meeting stuck for 44 years. David's first wife & I were friends from the time they married, until she died 22 years ago; our older kids grew up together, and her second son and my middle granddaughter, were friends. David & Doug were staples in my life, and both drove me to the hospital with my toddler daughter when needed. When Bob graduated to Life beyond the clouds in the Winter of 2018, David came alongside me and gave his big brother support that sustained me until Holland came into my Life and changed my title from Widow to Wife. David open-handedly accepted Holland - and now, they too, are friends. David has been a part of my life all of my life in WA State.

His friendship is priceless; you can't make old friends 😘

Morning text to David.

We crossed the Astoria-Megler Bridge & drove the Oregon side the first leg of the trip; and while Holland fed fuel into Betsy's greedy tank, I snapped pic's of Astoria sites caught my eye:

Astoria-–Megler Bridge (internet pic)

The Astor Building, #342 14th St #3814; Astoria-OR

Astor Building: 

(https://www.theruinsattheastor.com/history)

Betsy fed, our stomachs started reminding us that they needed feeding to, so we made a quick drive-thru to quiet their grumblings … and I saw an interesting old building 🧐

I researched it later, and learned that it was an 1892 warehouse that is now the home of Pacifick Distillers. Finding information on this building required intense scrutiny and research - only by manipulating my photo shot and squinting hard to read the fuzzy sign lettering was I able to find the little snatches of newsy tidbits.

The Pacifick Distillery operates in the former Astoria Wharf and Warehouse Company building, a historic structure listed on the National Register of Historic Places since 1984. Built by the Carruthers family in 1892, the [bonded warehouse] building was initially used for warehousing purposes and has been utilized for various functions over the years.

Pacifick Distillers, #55 4th St.; Astoria-OR

Fishhawk Fisheries Owner Works To Open Distillery Along Riverfront: 

(https://dailyastorian.com/2021/11/26/fishhawk-fisheries-owner-works-to-open-distillery-along-riverfront/)

In the 1890s, bonded warehouses were established as a way for importers to store goods that were subject to duty, allowing them to defer payment until the goods were actually sold or distributed. This practice offered a way for importers to reduce their capital outlay and inventory carrying costs.

Bonded warehouses provided a secure, government-supervised storage space for dutiable goods. Importers could store imported merchandise in these warehouses without immediately paying the duties owed.

Goods stored in bonded warehouses were subject to customs processes and regulations. Duties were paid only when the goods were released from the warehouse for distribution.

Bonded warehousing systems were introduced in the 1800s and were a significant development in international trade. The system allowed importers to reduce their initial capital investment and lower their inventory carrying costs.

The 1892 Astoria Wharf & Warehouse Company building in Astoria, Oregon, was constructed using local brick, basalt for its foundation, and old-growth Douglas fir joists supported by railroad iron. The brick was sourced from May & Thair, a local brickworks. The building's walls were a foot thick, and the foundation was three feet thick, showcasing its sturdy construction.

Vintage Astoria Wharf & Warehouse Co. building; Astoria-OR

The 1892 Astoria Wharf & Warehouse:  (https://www.coastriverbusinessjournal.com/archives/astoria-wharf-warehouse/article_c31d80e6-19ce-5ef4-98cd-0b112949467e.html)

About an hour later, mail was collected; then we headed over to Kelso for a visit with family, friend, and family dog ☕️👂💞

Lana, I have learned, is a friend to Holland as David is a friend to me: she has been a part of his life for most of his life, also - even before she married Holland's brother Scott. They all met when they were kids; Holland was 4 yo, Lana was 7- or 8 yo. They went to the same school. They grew up in the same area. Even though there was a brief period of time when States separated them, they never forgot each other. When Holland's family moved back to WA (West Side Highway), Scott & Lana were teenagers and started dating; eventually marrying. Holland's 1st wife was Lana's sister, Becky. Lana has been a part of Holland's life, pretty much all of his life … so, when we are back in WA State, Holland likes to spend time at Lana's kitchen table; reflecting, rebooting, and recharging. Their friendship is priceless; you can't make old friends 💖

We enjoyed a good visit: Bleu, included.

We drove the WA side of the Columbia River … to Ocean Park-WA, mere seconds from the Pacific Ocean. Coming around the Bay, I called David - who informed me he was at his beach property; so we stopped by there to reflect, reboot, and recharge with some more chit-chat, warm vibes, and good laughter 🤝🤣💖

And I came home with a bag full of good reads 😁

David had a stash of books for me to read ;-) The white tabbed ones are my own …

Clive Cussler: https://www.theguardian.com/books/2020/feb/27/clive-cussler-obituary

In real-life/real-time, Clive Cussler was actively involved in sea diving archaeological research. He founded the National Underwater and Marine Agency (NUMA), a non-profit organization dedicated to exploring and preserving maritime heritage. NUMA, inspired by the fictional agency in Cussler's novels, discovered over 60 shipwrecks, including the CSS H.L. Hunley, the Mary Celeste, the U-20, and the RMS Carpathia. He also wrote non-fiction books about his underwater explorations.

Cussler himself led expeditions and participated in dives, using NUMA to support his maritime ventures. While he didn't identify himself as a formal archaeologist, he was deeply involved in the discovery and preservation of historical shipwrecks.

Naval History News~The Shipwreck Legacy of Clive Cussler - 1931–2020: https://www.usni.org/magazines/naval-history-magazine/2020/june/naval-history-news

There's a chill nip in the air tonight - tonight is a good night to snuggle under warming blankets to reflect, reboot, and recharge with an adventurous story: Clive is always good for that. You can't make old friends 👌

This is tonight's choice Read ;-)