Fun at home - Penrose Point

Many individuals fantasize about being so rich they can have people for menial tasks. We do not dream of that, we dream of having a little more than enough to get by and we’ll keep on doing our own little jobs. This has been a week of doing those things everyone has to do: laundry, house keeping, shopping. We also engaged in local activities: clamming, Memorial Day camping, open mike night.

Shelton is the largest town west of Tacoma. It is a lumber town supporting logging, saw milling and shipping for that industry. It is also the shopping haven for a lot of people. It is a place where you can find large box stores, but also little book stores. Sally is very pleased with this, for she had many books to trade, so she set out on this adventure while Tom watched the clothes wash. We filled our simple needs while in the town. It is about 40 miles from the campground, but had easy access to the services we needed.

We have kept a low profile for the most part of this period. We did venture into Tacoma for other supplies not found in Shelton. We had a nice lunch with Tom’s cousin Darlene. They where preparing a long holiday weekend at Cape Disappointment, a beautiful place we had passed on our way to Penrose Point. We hope they had a good weekend.

We certainly had a good weekend. The weather cooperated (as well as the Pacific Northwest can) with only small patches of rain, but a lot of sunshine. The campground was full; all sites had been sold through reservations. Large extended family units gathered in small spaces. We each enjoyed working with the Junior Ranger program for kids. The whole weekend reminded Tom of the days his family would gather at South Salty on the Tennessee River over the 4th of July week (when the willow flies were hatching) and go fishing for days. It was a nice experience to remember and it was good seeing families gather here, most on an annual trip. Tom’s family spent time fishing, and some of this crew did also. But the big event here is clamming.

Junior Rangers (and their parents!) on a scavenger hunt

The sport requires a license. The daily limit for an individual is 40 clams or 10 pounds (in shell). We pointed out in earlier blogs that we had acquired licenses. We went the Thursday before Memorial Day and each got our limit. Tom goes for Horse Clams, they hide in deeper water when the tide is in, while Sally goes for the smaller Little Necks found closer to the shore. They have a saying around here, “if the tide is out, the table is set.” We believe this to be true, for most people got their limit each day. Clams and Oysters are in season here through the end of May. Then crabbing season starts in June. Everyone here seems to like fresh seafood.

Tom Digging Clams

Tom has been practicing his guitar and Sally has been hammering on her dulcimer. Neither has spent enough time playing, but it helps, along with reading and traveling, fill our days and make our time here seem too short. (Sally’s dad, Whit, told us during our working lives how he did not know how we did all the things that needed to be done. He was retired and still did not have time. We know this to be true ourselves now!) Tom played at an open mike night at a local pub. The host said he ran a blog and to look for Tom’s picture. We'll post their blog address if it is there.

Sally on the Dulcimer outside the RV

Tom practicing for Open Mic Night

Sally has participated in three Bird Walks at the park during the month. She can now recognize several bird songs and has sighted several new birds, including this beautiful Wilson's Warbler. On our last day, a camper reported that there was a bird nest in a cedar tree right in their campsite. We joined the ranger and park aide to take a couple of pictures and identify the bird as a brown creeper. We could even see the little nestlings' open mouths as both mom and dad took turns feeding them. The ranger said they were almost grown and might even leave the nest this week.

Singing Wilson's Warbler

Brown Creeper Nest with Babies - see their mouths!

We are sad to have to start preparing to move to our next host position. We have had a wonderful time at Penrose Point. We have enjoyed meeting Rangers Janet and Dan, Park Aides Valerie, Aaron and Demoree and Intern Shannon. We met several folks from Harbor Wild Watch, a Pileated Woodpecker and many many campers, most all who say our next stop, Deception Pass State Park, is the loveliest park in the system. This gives us great anticipation as we prepare to move. The only thing we will not miss is the little brown bird that sees his reflection in our truck window. He keeps trying to drive the other bird away, but he is leaving his “mark” all over our mirrors and windows.

One very determined Song Sparrow

One chapter closes and another opens. Life is like that. Keep the faith.

Penrose Staff

Often, time appears to pass slowly as we move in the present. If you take the context of activities in reflection, you will notice how quickly it escapes us.

Over the last two weeks, we have good weather (for the northwest U.S. in the spring). It has been a little on the cool side, with highs in the low sixties. That came to an abrupt halt with the air temperature getting into the mid-eighties. This and other “supernatural” occurrences have affected our travels.

We had a small gathering at the campground the first weekend, the weekend with the touch tanks as described in the previous posting. But reflecting on the tricks we learned from the naturalists, we have been able to spot small sea creatures we would have missed before. We really notice these animals as we dig for clams while the tide is out.

Clam Mouths in their natural state...Clams ready to eat
We have also had time for family. Tom’s cousin Darlene and her husband Tony and son Will had us over to enjoy a wonderful meal with lamb roast, cooked to perfection, as the entrée. Our thanks to Darlene and Tony, who prepared the feast so skillfully. It was enjoyable to relax and discuss the issues of the day and memories of the past.

Happy Mother’s Day! to all the moms who find their eyes reading this blog. The weekend brought quite a few campers out to Penrose Point. The weather is a high factor in a park so close to a large metropolis area (Seattle and Tacoma). It was cool, but with only a small chance of rain, so the crowds move in.

Mother’s Day was also the occasion for a gift from son Stephen and wife Katie. They sent a vase filled with beautiful flowers. Sally is a proud mother (with much to be proud of).

For our “weekend”, we took our little truck and ferried over to Vancouver Island. The island is the home of Victoria, the capital of British Columbia Canada. We had heard the weather was to be clear and warm, so we thought a driving tour was in order. The nice weather was a little slow coming in, so we had clouds. But we still were able to see rugged coastline and mountains. We also stopped at a little town famous for its murals. We also stopped at a First Nations exhibit. We stayed one night in Victoria, a charming city, but we did not have time to tour as much as we wanted. Maybe next time.

Totem at First Nations Visitor Center

Victoria Harbour. . . . . . . . . . .Waiting to load . . . . . . . . . . . . . On board the Coho

The weather prediction did come true for this past weekend. As Seattle, and rest of the northwest, prepared for record temperatures, the campground filled up. On Saturday night, there were only two sites (of 83) empty. Lots of children, tents and RV’s. We think most people had a nice time, those who were prepared for heat and sunshine. We certainly enjoyed it.

Always remember to cherish the moment and be thankful for what you have. The moments pass quickly to become memories and those things you have can disappear.

Until next time …

Mt Rainier at sunrise

Home Sweet Home - Penrose Point

Home Base .................. The Beach on Puget Sound

Home sweet Penrose Point State Park Washington. After 4587 miles on the RV, we have arrived to the first “working” stop on our summer 2008 journey. Penrose Point is located on the Puget Sound about 15 miles from Tacoma (but 5 miles if you can fly.) It is a quiet park filled on the nice weekends by city-dwellers, clam diggers and fish-people. It is nestled in a forest described as second growth. The trees, mostly Douglas Fir and Maple, are tall and majestic. They not only shade the sun, but they catch most of the light rain in the area right up in the canopy.

We arrived in late April, meet the ranger staff, then we flew away to a camporee for Washington State Park Hosts. We endured countless demonstrations (ok, so you could count them) and seminars on the aspects of being a good host and representing the park in a professional manner. The Hall goal is to make ourselves available without making ourselves intrusive. As with other stops on our journey, the food was excellent. We also learned a little about Dutch Oven cooking, something Sally has vowed to try. Actually Sally is ready to go back to solar cooking at the last stop in the summer work cycle.

Driving across Snoqualmie Pass .... The Camporee

At the Dry Falls near Grand Coulee Dam

The first weekend at the campground was very quiet. We filled our hours doing small labor jobs and tending to the campground. We did, however, get the opportunity to attend a training session for the Harbor Wildwatch. We were participating with naturalists spotting and “collecting” saltwater animals for the touch tanks for the demonstrations. This was so much fun; we decided to get a license to do some collecting of our own.

Harbor WildWatch at Penrose Point

We bought shellfish licenses and we are now clam diggers. Our first clam dig got us three steamers (little neck clams), three horse clams and one cockle. We are just learning the process, but Sally steamed four of the clams and the cockle and made some delicious clam chowder. This could turn into a habit.

Our first "weekend" took us on a riding tour of the Olympic Peninsula. We drove up to Port Angeles, stopping at several state parks and visitor centers to retrieve the offerings (check our pamphlets) to prepare for future journeys in the area. We are sure we will try to stay one night at the Salt Creek Recreation Area in Clallam County. It has a beautiful view over to Vancouver Island in Canada. We also drove up Hurricane Ridge to see the Olympic Mountains. It has some very nice views. It still has several feet of snow, but the roads are clear.

View of Canada from Salt Creek & Sally at Hurricane Creek

The work is easy, the area is nice. Sally made a good choice for our first work stop. More on the area will appear as we explore.

Mt Ranier from Penrose Point
Happy Trails.