Last Day of July

After lunch at the Chart Room (fish tacos for me, fish and chips for Cary), we went to another beach to collect some driftwood.

Cary looked around for something to use for a walking stick, decided his golf club was adequate and he didn't need to be bringing home anything else.

I decided to see if I could take a selfie on purpose, since I have taken several by accident. It is hard to see the screen in the sunlight. It was another absolutely gorgeous day.

Monday, Monday

Grants Pass is two hours east of Crescent City by way of a narrow and very winding road. The first part of it is pretty, still in the redwoods. As we got closer we could see lots of smoke due to the fire near Canyonville.

The air quality really was bad in town. But we had some things we wanted to do, including buying a chain saw at Home Depot!

We also got fuel, $3.15 a gallon at Fred Meyer's, got a few things at Walmart, browsed fabric and antique shops, and had lunch at Shari's. My salmon was good and we splurged on a piece of red, white and blue pie--one piece, two  forks!

This 1953 panel truck (what we called the one my dad had, our regular "camper" when we were kids) was parked at Shari's too. I am not sure why I called it a van yesterday. 

Sunday Night

The driftwood collected yesterday.

Today was cloudy and very cool...and lazy. After a Walgreen's trip to renew a prescription and another shopping trip to Walmart, we hung around the trailer the rest of the day. Cary grilled chicken for supper.

I had wanted to get a picture of this cute little trailer. We had the perfect opportunity when we saw the owner drive away in his big pickup truck. As soon as we got close enough for the picture I noticed a (small) stack of money on the picnic table, along with a driver's license, credit card and two other cards. Needless to say, there was no way we could run him down, so we took it to the office where the woman working there could call him--had to leave a message--and notify the owner of the RV park who was there. All of counted the money, wrote down the contents and put it all in a baggie for him. I hope he noticed it missing before he ate at an expensive restaurant (from the size of the trailer, probably not too expensive) and got ready to pay! Cary left him a note.

Another note about the trailer: it is rented and the guy had driven it from North Carolina!

The next part of the walk involved trying to catch Bunny--the cute little puppy I mentioned a few days ago. She has a game called "Keep away from Mommy," and she does it quite well. Her poor owner (and then we also) got within inches of her as she bounced around the grass, then with a sparkle in her eyes, dashed happily away! Cary finally did catch her and return her to her owner who had been playing the game over 15 minutes. 

Time Machine back to July 26

Sometimes the computer just won't cooperate and sometimes I forget, but today I am blaming the computer for missing two days of the blog. Our last two days of work for the month were July 25 and 26. The tides will be in during what would be considered normal working hours, so it is closed. We are hoping we can get together with Kittie and her friend Donna for a meal before they return to Oregon on August 1st. But based on what we saw with the water level last night at 5:30, I am not so sure. 

 I took this from the bedroom window opposite the ocean, facing one of the outbuildings. This room is slept in less often, being less comfortably furnished (although quite beautiful). We frown on pictures being taken in the house for reasons for reasons of security--too many valuables! In this room I talk about the last lighthouse keeper connected with the service before it was going to be abandoned (as many lighthouses were), and how he got donations to keep it open. I also mention a picture hanging there made of hair! It was done by a descendent of the very first lighthouse keeper and was a popular hobby in Victorian times. You can Google hair art--or check this site: https://agraveinterest.blogspot.com/2014/06/hair-wreaths-victorian-mourning-custom.html

Normally we would be saying goodbye to the lighthouse after one month, but we are lucky to be able to continue to work in August. 

Be sure to keep reading as the time machine will take you back to July 27 right below this!

Saturday, 27 July

A full day with yard sales, farmers' market, a trip to the library to donate books (and buy more), supper at Denny's, down to the beach to collect driftwood and even get in some reading and walking.

We were down here about 5:30 or so. 

 Drove by the new and improved airport--quite a change from when we used to greet Sheila when she visited. I flew out of Crescent City five years ago when Dad was sick and Keith wanted some help. There was a big delay due to fog.

Carved from driftwood, this guy greets visitors to the fairgrounds. We were there for the Farmers' Market.

And this was actually one of the things we saw at the beginning of the day at our first yard sale. The man who was building this electric car died and the folks selling it could not add any other information. Hi, Wally!

I didn't take any pictures of my three book purchases from the library, nor the yard sale "gotta haves," but I guess there is still time.

Day Off--Wednesday

We decided we had a lot to do so took the day off (it was on the calendar for us to do that, but last week we went in anyway) for laundry, the post office, more shopping and, since I was ready for another dinner out, we did that too.

This was the view from our window at the Crescent Seafood Restaurant. We were not impressed with our meals. The grilled scallops were good, but Cary's came with a bland rice (even with the dill sauce), and my tacos had the wrong sauce for tacos. But we are trying to find new places. Still trying.

 Some views from the harbor

July 23

I showed you the picture of Merlin. Yesterday I found out his sister, Bunny, is also in our RV park. Today I caught them playing together. Bunny has different coloring and is almost one pound heavier.

Today I got pictures as we were coming down from the lighthouse after work. The sun had come out, water was blue and the day was beautiful.

We worked with Dottie and Dan again, always a good combination. One family from Mesa asked if they could take a picture of me with their kids (I was wearing my yellow sweatshirt with "Arizona" written on it, saguaro cactus in sparkles.)--a first! I wish I had asked for a copy!

I got a head start on laundry, two more loads tomorrow, as well as a trip to the post office, museum, Walmart, a fun store called Sylvia's and maybe out to eat. The cook needs a day off too!

Monday

This was taken yesterday. I did not take any pictures today. Great weather, good tours. Some grocery shopping, walking and reading. Saving laundry for our day off on Wednesday. 

Sunday

We took a different route to work today. Cooler and cloudy. Still beautiful.

Kittie's friend, Donna, arrived this morning. She will be helping out in the gift shop. This morning we had visitors from Israel. It stayed busy the whole time. I just found out that there is a guy who is probably part of the "encampment" out on the beach by the lighthouse trying to sell tickets to folks for tours to the lighthouse! I hope Kittie reported him. I will find out in the morning. I have seen him around there the whole month--quite recognizable in his colorful knee socks, shorts and beard!

Meet Merlin

As promised, here is eight-week-old Merlin, out for a walk with his owners and their other dog, Dottie. Isn't he adorable?

Another good day of tours. Managed a few yard sales ahead of time. Today felt colder than any other day, although it was warm in the lighthouse. One family was from Green Bay and two people were celebrating birthdays today--including a cute three-year-old. A lady from another country (I am thinking India) was very fascinated with the Victorian hair art picture we have in one of the bedrooms. I told her she could find out about it on You Tube. 

Friday, July 19

The month has gone by too quickly! I know we have a few weeks left, but how could it be the 19th already?!

We had a nice day with great groups at the lighthouse this morning (one little boy even gave me half a hug and told me "thank you"). But we left a little later than I would have liked. Someone helped me across some bigger rocks to get to the  crossing we call "the alligator" to keep my feet dry. 

Lunch then the Big 5 shoe store where I got another pair of sneakers. One of the couples who had taken the tour was there, farmers from Kansas. Cary enjoyed talking to him while his wife and I tried on shoes.

I took this and the next two pictures while walking down the exit road from the RV park. 

The wind came up again, but much less blustery than yesterday.

Our neighbors got a new puppy--a combination of chihuahua and llasa apso. Merlin, named after the Oregon town where they got him, is absolutely adorable. I know I will be able to get a picture later.

Thursday, short work day

Very foggy on our walk out to the lighthouse this morning.

We opened a few minutes early and stayed open 15 minutes or so after the official closing time. It is so hard to judge the tides; we could have stayed open even longer. The fog had lifted by the time we got off and we had another beautiful, although windy, day.

I forgot to add this to yesterday's entry. My friend, Susan, gave me this great and appropriate pillow! I have socks to match that my son gave me a few years ago.

After lunch we went to the post office to mail my second Etsy order of the month--a small 48-star American flag.

July 17

Beautiful day in Gold Beach. We met our friend, Susan (I taught with her many years ago in Tucson), at the two-story bookstore in town where we all found treasures to take home with us. 

Lunch at a little off-the-beaten-path restaurant, Indian Creek Café. Our next stop was a thrift store where I found a few things I needed! It was fun catching up with each other. We do plan to see her in North Bend, but another meet in Gold Beach would be fun too.

Just one of the scenic views on our way home.

Tuesday, July 16

Today's edition of the blog is postponed till tomorrow due to a migraine.

I was going to delete this today (Wednesday), but that really does show how awful I felt--pain even lasted till after 2:00 a.m. Wed. morning. But I am fine now and can report activities!

We shopped; I had a hair cut and went to Weight Watchers. The highlight of the day was a social involving rootbeer floats, blueberry cobbler and bowls of popcorn! There must have been 50 of us campers at the event!

I took this before everything really got started. Lots more folks showed up for socializing and food.

Monday, July 15

Here is a close up yesterday's encounter with the bears!

If you haven't gone back to what I wrote yesterday, I did explain the trips to Ace Hardware.

This morning we headed to Brookings, stopping at two thrift stores (and not buying anything), and filled the tank at Fred Meyer after seeing that diesel was $3.24, about 60 cents less a gallon than here in Crescent City.

Delicious lunch at Pancho's--one of our favorites.

This young deer was eating in the yard on the other side of the restaurant. He didn't seem bothered by my presence.

Part of the hot rods we saw around town.

We stopped at the Oregon welcome center to get brochures on Crater Lake and some other attractions. Cary planned ahead and took his binoculars.

This was the view!

Sunday, first of four days off

It is now tomorrow! We have had a leak in the bathroom sink for some time. I think I even posted a picture of Cary working on it last year. Ever since we started this trip we have had the cold water faucet turned off. Today (Sunday) a guy was in the park who does work on RVs. He looked at the problem, tried some things and it seems to be working. Cary had done the right thing with the right part, just had not tightened it enough. He told Cary that he would be back in a few days and if the faucet is still not dripping, he could pay him then.

This is a picture I was able to snap just in time. One of the campers had two large stuffed bears sitting at the picnic table. As I approached he was just starting to put them in his car--he was going somewhere. I will see if they are there tomorrow. 

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Also in the RV park, this cute little trailer. The owners collect rocks and sand dollars to paint.

July 13 Saturday

 This was one of the prettiest days we have had this month. Since we didn't go to work till 3:00 p.m., we had time to go to a few yard sales (yes, we found some goodies) and then to the Farmers' Market for some produce and, as Cary calls them, "fat pills."

There was a great free dollhouse at this sale, but too big for us to take home in the 5th wheel!

Always fun things for sale and interesting people to watch at the market.

The bluest the water has been in July, I think. Gorgeous!

Supper at Marlo's, a Greek and Italian restaurant in town that had us curious. Very good. I chose shish-kebab and Cary picked moussaka.