A Foggy Day in Lincoln City

 

by Pa Rock

Traveling Fool

Yesterday my sister and I went on an outing with Molly and Scott and Willow to Siletz Bay in Lincoln City, Oregon, a seaside community that is about sixty miles from Salem.  Sebastian didn't want to go and chose instead to stay home with his brother, Judah, who was not feeling well.  As with all projects carried out by a committee of adults, it took forever to get organized and on the road, but once we cleared the city limits of Salem, the state capital, we were able to enjoy a beautiful drive to the seashore.

(American humorist, Mark Twain, once described a camel as a horse that was designed by a committee.)

The drive over to the Pacific featured some very nice farmland close to Salem, including a few orchards and even one vineyard.  I was surprised to see quite a few properties for sale, although most were undoubtedly way beyond the means of this poor tourist.  The second half of the trip involved winding roads through hills of lush evergreen forests.

(The people here, and much of their housing, tend to resemble people and structures back in Missouri, a description that is not intended to be complimentary, but one that may be related to the fact that the Oregon Trail originated in Missouri and that early traffic artery brought many Missourians westward in one final search for the promised land - and we all descend from the same Appalachian hill people.) 

The weather was supposed to have been bright and warm, but the forecaster lied.  It was foggy the whole time we were there, with a steady and very chilly wind.  The beach was crowded despite the weather.  Several people were trying to fly kites, but it was even too windy to do that with much success.

The gulls dove in and out of the winds begging for food, and they were fun to watch.    Several people were "crabbing" from the shore, and a few appeared to be fishing.  There were even a few dogs playing "fetch" and enjoying romps along the beach.  There were also a bunch of seals lying on the beach of an island that separated Siletz Bay from the world's largest ocean.  The seals were relaxing in the fog and appeared to be on the lookout for food that might come swimming by.

For dinner we ate at "Mo's," a local seafood chain that offered up some excellent fare.  I had clam chowder served in a bread bowl and topped with a pile of baby shrimp, a concoction that is called "Slumgullion."  Most delicious and highly recommended.  There was a line to get into the restaurant, but it moved fairly quickly.  Scott remarked that "There is always a line at Mo's."

I'm not sure what will be on the agenda when we see Molly's family later today, but I am sure we will find something fun to do.  We will leave Salem in the morning, spend Monday night in Portland, and fly back to the midwest on Tuesday. - and, as promised - my next trip will NOT be on an airplane!