Roosevelt Beach

Last week Michele wanted a road trip for her birthday and Mother’s Day. We did over 700 miles circling the Olympic Peninsula. It was an epic trip done in 2.5 days. Come Monday I really felt I over-did it as usual. Yet, nobody complained about being tired.

Our first full day was packed with driving, sightseeing, and a couple of short hikes. We started the day from Ocean Shores and took a frontage road north that would lead us back to Highway 101. This road, called Highway 109, ran us along the ocean and through a string of small resorts and one planned beach community called Seabrook, established 2004, with a walkability score of 100. It looked contrived, but Ocean Shores started the same way back in 1962.

 On our back roads venture to Highway 101, we had a chance to explore another beach. Before turning off I was followed by a white sedan. They’d come in close then back off. I turned into the beach and they followed. I parked on the beach, off to the left, and they came right around and parked next to me. I’ve learned that almost every encounter here is a friendly one. In SD I got defensive and uptight, but here I’ll flip the coin and be over the top friendly. In most cases, they are more friendly than I’m trying to be. This couple were like Pa and Sue; completely open and friendly to strangers. I got out of the car joking that they were following me. I don’t think they realized it. They were out to walk on the beach with their dog. He said they were out clamming when the authorities shut down all clamming due to a bacteria or something. Very friendly. I’d consider them kindred spirits to Pa and Sue.

This couple also pointed out a clam “showing.” I’d been reading about this just the night before, but he showed me what looked like a dimple in the sand.