Archives for category: Ocean Shores

Ocean Shores update

July 16, 2023 //

About the middle of last week, I took my glass recycling down to drop it off. The clear glass part of the dumpster was full, and I did not want to add my clear glass in with the brown or green glass.

I kept my clear glass and went home and sent an e-mail to the city:

Can you tell me what day glass is picked up at the glass recycle drop off?

I have used the location many times. Just came back (noon on Weds.) from there. The clear glass is maxed out and people are starting to put clear glass in with colored glass.

I will hold off until the bin is emptied before I drop off my clear glass.

Thank you,

Name.

Reply from the city:

Hi Name,

I would reach out to (trash company) for this. Phone number of company.

I called the trash company. They were helpful on the phone and said they would have the glass recycling dumpster emptied on Friday.

Went back on Sunday morning. The glass recycling dumpster had been emptied and the sign at the top of the page was posted on the dumpster.

Upcoming elections

The voter guide came with my ballot a few days back. The voter guide is a little confusing to me. I had to look at it more than once to make sense of it.

The ballot shows candidates for North Beach School District School 64 Director District 1 and North Beach School District School 64 Director District 4. Are District 1 and District 4 geographical zones within the North Beach School District? Is there a map to show these zones?

Looking at the School District web site, this is unclear to me.

A day after posting this blog, I was able to find some map info:

Yes, there is a map. I was able to find it here.

North beach School District 64 is much larger than what is shown on the North Beach School District #64 Director District Enlargement here. See the full district here.

On the voter guide, two different terminologies are used to describe school district candidates. Three are running for: North Beach School District Position No. 1

Three are running for: North Beach School District – Director District 4

We have been seeing signs for more than one candidate for mayor posted on the roadside for what seems like several weeks now. The Aug 1st ballot shows no candidates for mayor. Maybe the signs are just posted well in advance of when the vote will be taken for those running for mayor? This seems to be the case.

Possibly of interest:

Room For Improvement – 98569

Federal Cash For The Coast – 98569

Damon Point Beach Access

Categories Ocean Shores

Safe And Sane – Legal Only

July 1, 2023 //

Not here to complain or to take away from others what gives them joy, just pointing out that what the sign says does not match with what reality brings.

Categories Ocean Shores, Signs

Happy Summer

June 24, 2023 //

Categories Ocean Shores

Beach Day

June 24, 2023 //

Categories At the Beach, Ocean Shores

Ocean Shores Flag Day Parade – 2023

June 18, 2023 //

US Coast Guard – Saturday, June 17th, 2023

Loud, powerful, old school. Made in the USA

Looking Good

A fun outing

Love the bands

Good Stuff. No Rain.

See you next year.

Last year:

Ocean Shores Flag Day Parade – 2022

More images from the 2022 event are found here.

Categories Ocean Shores

Bill’s Spitt

April 21, 2023 //

From Ocean Shores.

Looking east, across Grays Harbor.

Categories Ocean Shores

Ocean Shores Crosswalks

April 14, 2023 //

In the news:

March 29, 2023 The Daily World

Crosswalk installation begins in Ocean Shores

City says construction on long-awaited project will be fully complete by July

Well done on getting this project underway.

Ocean Shores has some nice, modern crosswalks. There is a nice one at Ocean Lake Way/Point Brown Ave. Unfortunately, Ocean Shores is not a pedestrian-friendly town. Step away from the crosswalk at Ocean Lake Way/Point Brown Ave. and you very quickly arrive in a walker’s no man’s land. Your pedestrian friendly moment is now over. Walk towards the Elk’s Club from that point and see what I mean.

Ocean Shores Is Not a Pedestrian Friendly Town

Meet me at Ocean Shores McDonald’s. We will stay on that side of the street, facing traffic and walk north on Point Brown Ave NE, all the way up to the Beacon Pest Control facility, just across from the entrance to Ocean Shores. Walking this route will suck. Couples & families are staying in a hotel room near the beach. They want to go on foot and see the town, maybe have a beer and avoid drinking and driving, maybe visit the shops, head over to Galway Bay, Lucky Dragon, walk over to Playtime Family Fun, etc. Traveling on foot will suck. Much room for improvement here and the new project described above will help with that.

When people finish using the new crosswalk, will they quickly arrive again in the pedestrian no man’s land?

Possibly of interest:

$6.3 million in federal cash for a used hotel.

Any questions from newspeople?

Room For Improvement – 98569

Damon Point Beach Access

Federal Cash For The Coast – 98569

Photo-

Slow speed mayhem – Oak Harbor

Categories Ocean Shores

$6.3 Million In Federal Cash For A Used Hotel

February 27, 2023 //

Ocean Shores, WA –

$6.3 million in federal cash for a used hotel.

Any questions from newspeople?

December 8, 2022 The Daily World

Dept. of Ag invests $6.3M to purchase Ocean Shores hotel

$6.3 million “to fund the acquisition of an existing hotel. Marathon Enterprises Inc. is located in Ocean Shores, Grays Harbor County, Washington. The project is expected to result in saving eight jobs and creating one full time job.”

Love to see newspeople ask: Is there any shortage of lodging facilities in this community?

Ocean Shores has other areas that cry out for improvement. Pedestrian friendly public access to the beach at Damon Point and sidewalks and crosswalks in general are two of those. Details on those in a recent blog here:

Room For Improvement – 98569

Photo-

An old image from a trip to Ocean Shores back in 2015

Categories Newspeople not asking questions, Ocean Shores

Room For Improvement – 98569

February 26, 2023 //

Public access for beach walkers at Damon Point has been on my mind. For a town that promotes visitors, tourism and good times at the beach, things are piss poor over at Damon Point.

Today, beach walkers moving toward the water from the parking area at Damon Point are channeled to a choice between an eroded/unsafe former road drop-off and private property that is posted, telling walkers that they are not welcome. WTF?

Image above taken earlier this winter.

KOSW recently discussed some erosion issues at Damon Point.

Here is the link – listen here.

It looks like there is no sense of urgency in making improvements here.

Recently blogged about it:

Damon Point Beach Access

Damon Point – Washington Trails Association

Trip Reports

Dec. 31, 2022

“Getting access to Damon Point was difficult because of a wash out. You either have to climb over the jetty or walk through the RV park. There is no trail from the parking lot to the beaches along the point.”

Aug. 11, 2022

“The only trail leading to Damon Point now has a sign that says private property. The public is no longer allowed to access it You can cross over the rocks on the jetty. At low tide this is not terribly difficult, you just need to be careful However at high tide it becomes more difficult. In the winter with high tides and wind it could become dangerous. Please take care crossing it.”

$6.3 million in federal cash for a used hotel.

Any questions from newspeople?

December 8, 2022 The Daily World

Dept. of Ag invests $6.3M to purchase Ocean Shores hotel

Love to see newspeople ask: Is there any shortage of lodging facilities in this community?

Better ideas for local federal funding:

Quinault Marina & RV Resort

Get the ferry to Westport going again:

“Sadly, the ferry service shut down in 2008, but not due to lack of popularity. While the ferry service had seen closures in previous years, the service would always pick back up and be celebrated by residents and visitors alike. Sadly, after too much sand and silt built up around the Ocean Shores marina, the El Matador was forced to cancel trips across the harbor. What was once a family-friendly boating experience and adventure across the harbor is now relegated to fond memories.”

Rehab of the marina would attract sport fishermen for launching and mooring of boats. Set up a place for fish and chips, a pub with a view, bait and tackle/boating store, a cocktail lounge, restaurant, etc. Use some imagination and get it going.

Damon Point was once a state park. Why is it no longer a state park? Is there an attitude related to climate change/sea level rise that is used as an excuse to back away from maintaining the shore?

Any federal money for ports and coastal improvement?

Oct. 9, 2020 U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Headquarters Website

About the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers

“One of the Seattle District’s primary missions is to maintain the navigation channels and harbors in the Pacific Northwest. Maintenance and navigation dredging is done frequently in harbor areas, ports and marinas. A significant component of Washington’s economy depends on navigation and commerce, which in turn depends on dredging navigation channels.”

Other than federal funding, go with cooperative efforts, negotiations with the tribe and creative thinking here. City leaders, volunteer work parties, local businesses who may donate trucks and materials, landscaping resources, etc. Offer to create some sort of access trail with a fence, plantings, trash cans, etc. Make an offer to the tribe that can help to improve the situation.

6.3 million in federal cash for a used hotel.

Any questions from newspeople?

Ocean Shores Is Not a Pedestrian Friendly Town

$6.3 million in federal cash for a used hotel.

Any questions from newspeople?

Maybe efforts are already in the works to make improvements. Thanks to those who may be involved.

Federal Cash For The Coast – 98569

Categories Damon Point, Ocean Shores

Perkins Pond

December 4, 2022 //

Same location in September:

Slow Lane

Categories Ocean Shores

Small Town October

October 26, 2022 //

Center of the Traffic Circle

Categories Halloween, Ocean Shores

Slow Lane

September 25, 2022 //

Perkins Pond – Ocean Shores

Categories Ocean Shores

Slow Lane

September 25, 2022 //

Chinook Park – Ocean Shores

Categories Ocean Shores

Local Canal

August 13, 2022 //

Ocean Shores features a freshwater canal system that runs through residential areas. The views here are from the electric boat we rented. This outing was a highlight of our year. Info on rentals here.

Categories Canal, Ocean Shores, Pacific Time

Walk to the Weatherwax

July 25, 2022 //

Early Monday

Ocean Shores features a freshwater canal system that runs through residential areas. The views below are looking south from the Ocean Lake Way NE Bridge.

Categories Canal, Ocean Shores, Pacific Time, Weatherwax

Early Wednesday

July 13, 2022 //

Out to an uncrowded beach on the Washington Coast. We are using the Pacific Blvd beach access in Ocean Shores.

Moments later:

A quiet nighttime visitor

Categories Bear, Ocean Shores, Pacific Time

Out to the beach

July 10, 2022 //

Early Sunday

Washington Coast – The North Beach

The folks who did the 4th of July cleanup in the Ocean Shores area did excellent work. We have been out there a couple of times in the past week and the beach has been spotless. Well done.

Categories At the Beach, Coastal Favorites, Ocean Shores, Pacific Time

Big Day at the Beach

June 26, 2022 //

Great weather and the Sand and Sawdust Festival brought a large number of people out to the beach on Saturday. Just south of the Shilo Hotel, the beach is off limits for vehicles, and this is the spot for art in the sand.

The convention center area has a large and impressive live demonstration put on by several chainsaw wood carvers.

We waited all year for this weather.

Count the kites. Click image once or twice to show detail.

A busy scene:

For those who prefer the offseason, it’s also a great time to come and see us.

January beach day and tossing the tennis ball:

Or, leave the ball at home.

Categories Ocean Shores

Ocean Shores Flag Day Parade – 2022

June 11, 2022 //

More images from the event are found here.

Categories Ocean Shores

Ocean Shores Flag Day Parade – 2022

June 11, 2022 //

Personal Favorite – Cedarcrest Middle School – Spanaway, WA

Good Stuff. No Rain.

See you next year.

Categories Ocean Shores

Please Be Honest

March 23, 2022 //

Photo source for image above here.

People familiar with Ocean Shores, WA would balk at the idea that the scene above is local to Ocean Shores.

Fooling Visitors to Oak Harbor

Don’t miss our companion blog-found here: Old Man Blog

Find us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/yeomalt

Categories Just Be Honest, Ocean Shores, Pacific Time

Ocean Shores Trip Report

July 19, 2021 //

Several years have passed since our last road trip. Over the weekend, we traveled from the Keystone ferry terminal to Ocean Shores and back.

Ferry thoughts here:

Occasionally looking for the Coupeville Ferry

Another round trip ferry crossing. No security screening at either terminal.

On occasion, the press will do a story on a ferry security drill.

Question for newspeople:

If the Oklahoma City bomber rolls onto the ferry- how does the SWAT team help out an hour later?

More here:

Washington State Ferry Ride

Washington State Ferries Security

Recent fatality at Anacortes Ferry Terminal:

Washington State Ferries Security – Looking for Clarification

Was It A Fake War On Terror?

It’s about 145 miles from Port Townsend to Ocean Shores. On the way back, we went though Matlock, WA and on up to the south end of Hood Canal. This route is like getting home via country roads. I enjoyed it.

Lodging Night One

Days Inn by Wyndham Ocean Shores

Very strongly recommend avoiding this facility. If you took a chance on a Mom & Pop place and found out it was disagreeable, you could just be more careful next time. A nationwide chain/brandname would be expected to maintain some standards. Many issues here. Take a look for reviews on the web if you are interested.

View from room (no screen for window).

Lodging Night Two

Fled the Days Inn and checked into a spot where we have stayed before.

A clear step up:

Ocean Shores Paradise Hotel & Resort

Also to consider-

A nicer place up the road a ways:

BEST WESTERN PLUS ABERDEEN

Eating and Drinking

Years ago, we were very familiar with several Ocean Shores restaurants, taverns and pubs. We began to get away from Ocean Shores and were taking trips to Seaside Oregon, the last few times we went to the coast.

What we found on Friday was a combination of places that were fully open, partially open and closed or maybe gone for good.

Fully Open

Pirates Cove Pub

Friendly place. Drank my first beer at a bar in maybe 18 months or more.

Porthole Pub

Friendly spot. Recommended.

Partially open:

Quinault Beach Resort & Casino Ocean Shores

Went out Saturday morning for breakfast. We had been here before and enjoyed it. Entrance to casino was confusing. Sign says masks preferred. Security staff meets us at entrance and asks us if we are there to eat/drink, gamble or are we staying there?

Not a welcoming vibe.

We said we wanted to eat breakfast. “It does not open until 8:30.” We said thank you and left, not to return on this visit. Why no security asking what we want at the grocery store?

Another casino on the way home:

It was time for a break. We rolled up to the Lucky Dog Casino.

Sign at entrance says unvaccinated people to wear masks.

We step in and the person assigned to the door immediately says: “You guys are good.”

A welcoming approach to running a casino. Love it. Clean restrooms are very well maintained.

Placed a couple dollars in the slots before we left.

Good vibe for us.

Other places:

Common for staff in restaurants to be wearing masks and for customers to go without.

Some places seemed so busy (or had imposed their own restrictions) that there was some sort of waiting line outside.

Bennett’s Fish Shack is a decent restaurant. Would go there again. They had a bit of a waiting line outside.

The COVID situation is confusing because Gov. Inslee ended statewide COVID restrictions some weeks ago.

Closed or maybe gone for good

We used to enjoy the Viet Hoa Restaurant. Building is now for sale.

Used to enjoy the cantina at Las Maracas Mexican Restaurant. Looks like it was closed while we were there. Still open?

Many years ago, we enjoyed Waves Restaurant & Bar. Gone now?

Shilo Restaurant Ocean Shores

Small bar used to be here too. Closed for now.

Possibly of interest:

Americans were never meant to agree on matters of a personal nature. This is why we have so many different churches here and people who opt out on attending services.

JFK – Voices of dissent and misinformation

Photo-

The beach near North Jetty

Categories At the Beach, Ocean Shores, Road Trip