Pусское ущелье

Mendocino II

Just as my interest in kayaking was beginning to flag, along came Mendocino. Again. What a special place. Each capsize a christening. It felt good to be on and in the water again. Peter, the friend who invited me along, got video--azure blue water with a powerful blow hole set against "crapotis" (messy clapotis). Until I can download it, here's a picture of Roger Schumann going over Disney backwards (!). (Check out the sea palms!)

Downtown Seattle by night

I really came to appreciate the network of WWTA sites on my trip. What a great idea.

The grass withers, the flower fades ...

One of the most pleasant surprises of my trip was the undeveloped campsite on Blake Island, which I had all to myself. Paddling around the island I was initially disappointed to find a flat open grassland, the first unwooded site I had seen. Disappointment however soon gave way to a kind of giddy joy, as I quickly began to appreciate the charms of this site. First was the unusual greeting committee--a semipalmated plover. Next was the site itself with its grasses and indigenous wild flowers. Third was the pair of killdeer (charadrious vociferous) that had taken up residence in the driftwood out on the point. At some point I must have gotten too close as I was treated to the entire display, complete with charade and vociferousness: Flying just beyond me, the male alighted about 10 feet away and began beating his wings in the dust, puffing up his feathers, squawking, and generally looking as tasty as could be. I watched in amusement knowing the routine. After a minute he peered over his shoulder, beat his wings a time or two more, looked to see if he would get a reaction, then flew off in disgust.

Mendocino I

If it's September, it must be Mendocino time again. Time for pour- overs, caves, and things that go bump in the dark. Time for Sea Palms and Black Oystercatchers, and kelp-foamy reefs. Trade in Pt Cabrillo for the real deal. (I was in Lincoln City in June and saw a guy get rolled on the rocks. Pretty nasty. (Note to self: try to avoid that.) The first mussel lifts the whisker, the second one shaves it off. Speaking of which (WSKers), I've been invited by a friend from BASK. Apparently the campground is full so it should be a blast.

Ode to the Outback Oven

To what shall I compare thee? Let me count the ways!

I whipped up these biscuits last trip and the kids loved them. Got the recipe wrong--too much milk--nothing a little extra time on a low flame couldn't fix.

Bananas Foster

with these folks, Lincoln City, June 2009

Keep clam

I discovered a spot on my trip to Seattle worth the trip back for the clams alone (location undisclosed). Hint: it's under the clam!