PC -- the work side

HSB  is like the funky-looking love child of a trailer and shack.

The beach cabin was suffering from several years of deferred maintenance. B's folks had their hands full with their own building projects, aging parents, then a devastating wildfire. It needed cleaning, de-crittering, painting, electrical work, leaks fixed, rotten wood replaced, brush cut back -- you name it. 
We offered to do what we could, both to help and because we enjoyed staying at the place so it only seemed fair. 

Prepping the Amy, after years of benign neglect

Absolutely everything, inside and out, needed painting

PC, the fun side

This dragonfly has nothing to do with PC, except that's where we saw it.

 Every weekend in PC involved some fun and some work -- some weeks a lot more of one and less of another. On the fun side we got the Amy Marie running again! B's dad found a used engine in good shape (except it doesn't pull into the boat for road trips on the trailer, making it inconvenient to launch -- but we've managed a few short trips anyway. We cleaned her up and stocked her up with safety gear and now B is learning to pilot a river dory! It's been a ton of fun. She needs painting soon so the work part is not done but it's worth it.



Kodiak still loves the beach but can't make the most of it like he used to. It's been an adjustment, learning to make concessions for a 14-year-old dog. 

Yes, trendy paddleboarding has even come to the backwater of PC

The Amy M., back in the water again.

Blessing of the Fleet

There are many special things about every coastal town in Oregon but the fishing dories in Pacific City make it unique beyond the norm.  We happened to be there this year for the Blessing of the Fleet. It's a special ceremony that acknowledges the culture and dedication involved with a professional fishing town, and the daily dangers they face. There's a sobering wall of names near the beach honoring fishermen who have lost their lives on the job.

 The dories are often passed down in families or at least the tradition is. They launch and land on the beach, a very unique and astonishing thing to see.

B and his father at Cape Kiwanda

 During fishing season the beach is a pretty busy place in the morning. Boats launching, boats returning and plenty of people milling around watching. We were told it was called 'kicking sand' as in fishermen and wannabes standing with hands in pockets and shoes scuffing at the sand, talking about fishing, the surf, the environment, the government. It's an apt description.