With Merit

The weather for the days were here is supposed to be beautiful, and today certainly was. We were up and out by 8 and on our way to the Soapstone Lake Trail hike. We ignored the road closed because of logging sign and the logger waved at us as we drove by. The hike is delightful – much like the Waclela Falls hike in the Gorge it’s a good length (3.2 miles) and has just the right amount of up and down and lots of different scenery.  Unlike most of the hiking we do on the coast we had the trail all to ourselves – of course that could also be because the road was closed. 

As we were driving back Dave got some very exciting news on his phone – he passed D5, the fortified wine section of the WSET diploma, with merit! Well done Dave and a great couple of days for the Sandage wine scholars.

We got back and got cleaned up and headed down to the beach visit Haystack Rock on our way to Pelican Brewing for lunch. And guess what! I can give the Sand Report: very low, exposing the lettuce garden. We also saw many pelicans circling over Haystack Rock, which is kind of unusual – it’s just very pelican-y this year. Pelican (the brewery) doesn’t open until noon, so we got to visit the Miska gallery (always good stuff, although she seems to be transitioning away from the chicken paintings which is a shame) before getting in line at 12:53. They opened right on time, but were out of inside seats by the time it was our turn. We took an outside table and they put the awning out over us and it was completely perfect. I had the beer sausage flatbread which was very yummy – next time we can split one.

On the walk home we walked past Gatsby’s, a new restaurant that we haven’t been to, and reminded ourselves that we want to try it out sometime. Then I looked at the menu as part of writing this blog (you can look too) and I see that their prices combined with the requirement that each adult order an entrée means we will not be going there.

I walked around town for a bit and had a small problem: I have been using an old Bruce’s candy shop bag to keep my soap in in my bathbag and it has fallen apart, so I figured I’d just stop in and get a selection of saltwater taffy in a new bag and solve the problem. But they don’t have plastic bags anymore, only the more ecologically friendly paper ones. I bought some salted caramels in a cellophane bag but it’s not the same. I’m not sure what to do. I got back to the hotel and it was time for some serious relaxing. The beach outside our window is as crowded as I’ve ever seen it with both people and pelicans.

Dinner was at the Stephanie Inn and met expectations, meaning it was very good. We went for a long after dinner hike, all the way to Haystack rock. The beach was lined with people having campfires, which was pretty. At Haystack Rock there were many noisy birds, some of which sounded like zombies. We ended up walking through the south end of town and turning up by the coaster theater stage door, which had an ominously flickering light. Dave thought they should play zombie bird noises to add to the atmosphere. It was almost 10 when we got back.