Beach Bound

 

WESTWARD, HO:  A little change of venue for the MPA students and faculty. We took advantage of a Groupon to go visit a place I recall fondly from childhood, Chautaqua Lodge in Long Beach, Washington.

We left Seattle Sunday morning around 10, leaving the dogs in the capable hands of Kennedy.

FROM THE MUDDY BANKS OF THE WISHKAH: We made a stop (a pilgrimage of sorts, for me) along the way, in Aberdeen, WA. I've wanted to go there for years to check out Kurt Cobain's former stomping grounds, around the Young Street Bridge.

On the highway into town, we whizzed past a sign that announced our arrival in Aberdeen. "Come as you are," the sign invited. Very welcoming and fitting.

We had no trouble finding the park dedicated to Kurt. It's a tiny spot, along the muddy banks of the Wishkah (the title of Nirvana's last album made that locale famous).

I'm not gonna lie, I found the park super depressing. For one, I didn't like the rather menacing looking illustration of Kurt on this sign. ... This makes him look much more old and haggard than he ever got the chance to be, having lived only to age 27.

And it was super depressing knowing that Kurt's 'home' was under this bridge for a spell. 

The ground along the Wishkah River is muddy indeed, and filled with clay, making it super slippery.

Here's the view looking out under the bridge. A third of Kurt's ashes were spread here. :/

It wasn't exactly 'uplifting' to learn that the river's name meant 'stinking water' in the native Chehalis tribe's language. :(

 I also found it kind of depressing that reminders to pick up dog crap were so prominently displayed. 

The poo signs nearly rivaled the size of the dirty granite memorial in the ground. 

This statue in the park was the most eye pleasing-element. 

All in all, though it's definitely not a rave review, I'm glad we went to the park. It needed to be done.

AT THE LODGE:  Good ol' Chautauqua Lodge. ... It's bigger than I remember it being in the '70s. Here's a view from the beach side. 

 We have a top (third) floor room, with a nice view of the Pacific, and some dunes and wetlands in between.

We have sure lucked out with the weather during our visit. We've had some gray skies, but more blue than we could have hoped for, especially since it's mid-March!

                                              

This morning our first order of business was getting some kites aloft. CJ piloted the space shuttle kite, while Annabelle handled a colorful 'pocket' kite.

TOURISTY: After the successful kite session, we headed 'downtown,' to check out the obligatory tourist traps. 

First, the iconic "World's Longest Beach" sign. ... 

And, of course, we had to go to Marsh's Free Museum!

There, we had fun clowning around with the wood statues out front. ... 

 

And inside, we had to pay our respects to the one and only Jake the Alligator Man!

I have to admit, I was disappointed when I saw Jake. First, what's with the stupid hat? Second, the case he's in is so highly reflective, it's impossible to get a good photo of him.

We wasted some money on some of their old coin-operated attractions, like this baseball game.

I remember pumping quarters into it in the 1970s.

After Marsh's we had to go across the street to check out the 'world's largest frying pan.' The kids pretended they were strips of bacon. :)