SURFSIDE-WA

August 14th: A Gale Watch is still in effect, here, along the coastal shores above us in WA & below us, in OR:

Gale Watch Warning; Coastal

Coastal Gale Watch Warning; from Cape Shoalwater-WA to Cape Falcon-OR

Holland wanted to go watch the waves and spend some time on the beach before the rains came to keep us indoors until Tuesday 😟 We went to the furthest beach access we could, before land met Ocean - we hadn't been there in a while:

Oysterville Beach Access-WA from Ocean Bay RV Park-WA; 10 min (5.7 mi) via WA-103 N

Fun to watch … not so much fun for those along the coastline waters, in small boats; Oysterville-WA Beach Access-WA

After about an hour of enjoying the fresh air, watching the waves roll in, and watching people meander all over the beach … Holland suggested we go for a little drive before we head home.

I'm always game for a drive 😊👌

To start, we backtracked through Oysterville; and I saw that little white bridge that always catches my attention - I asked if we could get closer. Holland said, "We'll drive over it"; so, that's what we did.

Interesting little Bridge; Surfside, Oysterville-WA HOA Community.

Surfside-WA Canal:  (https://southwestwashingtonpaddletrips.wordpress.com/2015/09/28/surfside-canals/)

According to the map shown in the Blog link … the canal ran all the way from Ilwaco, to what is now the Surfside Community. When I mentioned what I had learned, Holland said the canal was probably used to bring small boats in and out of the area, back in the peninsula heydays.

Curiosity satiated 😁

Hmm

We didn't leave Ocean Park while we drove around: we explored. Just to see what we could see that we hadn't already seen 😉

And again, Holland was asked, "Can we drive around the block here, so I can get a good picture of that Ten Commandments wall mural?"

I like this Church siding; Ocean Park-WA

I have a good husband 👩‍❤️‍💋‍👨

When we finally got back home, Holland started Supper … and enjoyed a lengthy phone convo with his Colorado cousin, who called just as the pot was set to cook. They made plans to meet up around Thanksgiving time - our lungs can't handle the Colorado elevation, but we can definitely make time for them to get together when he makes a visit to the CA lowlands 👍

Holland's wonderful, fatty, Pork & Beans.

HOLLAND'S PORK & BEANS Recipe; Ocean Park-WA:  (https://roadgypsiesvalandholland.blogspot.com/2025/08/hollands-pork-beans-recipe-ocean-park-wa.html)

Today was filled with enjoyable moments that made us smile; everything is okay in our small corner of the world ❤️

FINDING OUR WAY HOME; Ocean Park-WA

June 18th: It started raining last night … and carried through 'til about 10 AM ☔️ this morning.

My planned morning walk was scrapped 😕

I drank my morning coffee, and surfed the internet for about an hour; and saw that one of my Blog Hop Posts had been highlighted on one of the Blog Hops I participate in:

My Post was featured on the Stone Cottage Adventures - 'Tuesdays With A Twist' Blog Hop

When Holland got up and drank his coffee, he said he wanted to pick some things up at the grocery store a block up the street and asked if I'd like to tag along - we are still friends, so I tagged along 😉

We placed our groceries in Betsy's back seat area, then went down to the beach off Ocean Park's Beach Access -  and watched waves & an eagle, for a bit.

Angry rain cloud over the Pacific Ocean; Ocean Park Beach Access-WA

Bald Headed Eagle; Ocean Park Beach Access-WA

Wanting to drag the time with me out, Holland treated me to some time in Nachotta, where we quietly watched oyster farming employees … and petted a pretty blue-eyed dog (light blue eyes), that was obviously a mixed-breed mutt - albeit a very handsome mutt.

Then we drove the long way home, through Oysterville … and backtracked to Ledbetter Point because I mentioned the Stackpole Road led to Ledbetter Point which was the end of the road in the most literal sense: the ocean was at the end of the point's beach.

Holland had never been there: he had worked construction jobs on several businesses and homes from Longbeach to Oysterville's newest development homes; but he had never explored. I like to explore, so I know a lot of off the beaten path places 👌

There really isn't much to see from the vehicle because the State Park is a birding hike site, but it was some place new for him … and a short 3 mile drive.

We drove the 1-way paved road to the Leadbetter Point Trailhead; Long Beach Peninsula-WA

Willapa National Wildlife Refuge - Leadbetter Point: 

(https://www.wta.org/go-hiking/hikes/leadbetter-state-park-leadbetter-point; https://parks.wa.gov/about/news-center/field-guide-blog/leadbetter-point-state-park-history; & https://wa100.dnr.wa.gov/willapa-hills/leadbetter-point)

An interesting gate in the middle of the forest; Stackpole Rd. in the Leadbetter State Park, Long Beach Peninsula-WA

On our way home, we drove down the Oysterville Beach Access road, and did a little more wave and eagle watching … and I saw some pretty, sprawling, yellow flowers that were ball shaped; as well as another sprawling beach flower - that I could not find anything about, online 🧐

A pretty, sprawling beach flower; Oysterville Beach Access-WA

Yellow Sand-Verbena: 

(https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abronia_latifolia)

Another beach sprawler … I can't dig up any info on this flower.

Bald Headed Eagle; Oysterville Beach Access-WA

When we got home, groceries were unload and put away; Supper was cooked & enjoyed … and I got in a couple exercise sets in-house, since the weather was unstable outside:

Val's Spanish Rice Recipe: (https://roadgypsiesvalandholland.blogspot.com/2025/06/vals-spanish-rice-recipe-ocean-park-wa.html)

The evening unfolded comfortably; and conversation was easy.

I am still taking [space}, while we both work on finding our way Home to each other's hearts, again. A lot has happened - a lot needs to be healed. Vibes matter 🕊️☝️💞