We finally got away from La Push after spending 3 nights. This trip so far has definitely been made exceptional due to the people we have met. While in La Push the Fishing Vessel’s crew from CJ Todd gave us enough halibut for 15 complete meals. The fishing vessel Gallows sold us a tuna for $10.00. We got 15 meals of tuna. So the freezer is now full of salmon, cod, halibut, tuna, crab, oysters, and clams. I think that is enough seafood. Not to mention steak, etc…….

Arriving into Gray’s Harbor was a real taste for bar crossings. We arrived at about the right time but we had 10’ westerly swells. As we headed into the well marked (buoy) entrance using radar as we could only see approximately 100 ‘ we were getting hit the odd time on the beam. A no no for boating. I must say the skipper kept the boat heading into the waves so as to try and have the most comfortable ride possible. The boat did well and so did the crew.

The problem with timing the tides or currents correctly for one harbour is that invariably you will have to either enter or exit on a low ebb tide. Unfortunately we are currently on a spring tide (full moon) which means extreme minus tides. This morning in order to get to the infamous Columbia Bar at the right time we would have to leave at the lowest ebb tide. Why is this bad? You have a 7’ swell trying to get into a narrow, shallow entrance in the bay. You have a large amount of water from the bay ebbing (flowing out) at the same time. This takes a 7’ swell and pushes it up into a 15’ wave (not gentle swell) on the nose. Not where I want to be. The forecast is also for a very low low to begin tonight. We decided we did not want to boat to the entrance of the Columbia and be told the conditions were not right to cross. The decision was made to stay here and wait out the storm. When we can leave we will pass the Columbia bar and go onto the next bar. I CAN”T WAIT.

So …. Gray’s Harbor is a collection of 16 communities in the county including the major city centers of Hoquiam, Aberdeen, Cosmopolis and Westport. Our boat is moored in Westport.

Westport is a busy place. It is the home to the fishing fleet of this area, large charter fishing business 4 canneries and a yacht builder. The yachts built here are mega yachts. Called the Westport. It is a tourist town on the ocean with sand dunes and major surfing.

We took the bus to Aberdeen a port City. It is a town for timber and fishing and tourism. Like all the fishing and timber towns in Canada it has seen a major decline in its economy and there are many empty store fronts.

Hoquiam is the home to the Polson Museum built in 1924 and has a collection of Native American artifacts. Not Ken’s bag of tea.

Lake Quinault is a glacier carved lake surrounded by old growth trees, a rain forest. There are several hiking trails around the lake and we are considering taking this trip tomorrow. It is about 50 miles from here but for 50 cents we can get there and have a great conversation with everyone on the bus. They all know each other. It’s funny. The bus drivers yesterday gave us our own private tour. Friendly is an understatement.

There are a few native reserves with casinos around so we may check one of them out, attend a community bingo (not) or go bowling. It is life in a small town. It looks like we will be here until Fri or Sat so we may get a lot of reading done.