Lodge & Totems
I drove to Kalama this morning to do the
waterfront walk there – I had been told this past Winter that it was a nice
park, and Bob and I knew a Lodge had gone up though we never checked it out.
So, I was curious as to what the Park looked liked now – the lodge can be seen
from the freeway, but the Park grounds have to be directly driven to … to be
viewed.
Before I left the carport at home, I punched in
the address of McMenamin’s Harbor Lodge to keep me on the right track – I kinda/sorta
knew where it was located, but I am finding after Bob’s spirit left me, that my
memory isn’t what it used to be. I think that when I am going places where I went
often with Bob, my brain kinda shuts down and directional memory lapses –
this may be a protection mode to keep my emotions under check when my heart
is saying, ‘Bob is not here – Bob is not here – Bob is not here’ when I see the
passenger seat empty … but places I know by heart, I now need to punch
into the GPS navigator because my mind just goes blank when I am trying
to remember how to get there – I can see the place in my mind’s eye, but
I am at a complete loss as to how to get there. And these places I’ve
gone to for 44 years with my husband! I even drove to many of them.
But I am learning that thought processing dramatically
changes when widowhood becomes a part of life – E.V.E.R.Y.T.H.I.N.G. is thrown
off kilter.
This affliction is something a widow learns to live with - and she understands that very few people will understand ... or be patient with her when it strikes.
And as outgoing and personable as I appear to be
to some people – I’m not, really. I’m pretty shy, and standoffish - actually; until I feel comfortable around people. I put myself out there when I have to (like
when I need help, or need to socialize to have some semblance of a life),
but I’m generally uncomfortable doing that without Bob by my side. I actually
suffer a lot of nervous anxiety going places/meeting strangers, alone. What
people see as confidence in me, is really false bravado born out of necessity:
it gets me through the moment, and it bolsters my confidence as I am trying to
rebuild my life solo lobo – but sometimes I feel so out of my depth, that I’m
blanking out while people are talking to me, and fighting uneasiness while engaging
in activities. Being part of a couple from teen years to senior years, with
Bob, was my confidence: being a graying solo lobo undermines that
confidence.
I saw encouragement in this heart-shaped tree top, across the street at home as I went online to find the Lodge’s address as a main landmark to my destination. I felt I would be overshadowed by love in my adventure ;-)
Important memo to self – I was thinking this while heading out of town …
I don’t mind admitting that the PTS blankness
when it comes to places I want to revisit, is wigging me out somewhat. I am
hoping – and I expect it will back off significantly the more comfortable I get
with doing these solo lobo ventures without Bob. But I hate the weirdness of
it.
While I am thankful for the GPS feature of
the car … the GPS directions were a little confusing when I reached Kalama
turnoff, and I ended up down by the log export shipping area … and I knew
that wasn’t right; that was not where I needed to be – to get where I
wanted to be: I’d only been here a few times with Bob years ago; but I knew
we had not driven past the export yard. So, I did a U-turn in the first
available place and backtracked and finally found the right turn relying on
spotty memory ;-)
The speed bumps there are as huge as the
speed bumps in Heron Pointe, so they have to be driven over very carefully at
about 5 mph. Seriously - they will damage the undercarriage of the car at
higher speeds.
I finally reached my planned destination :-D
WOWSERS!
I was not prepared to be dazzled ... NOTHING
was familiar, and everything screamed yuppie bling: the landscape had been totally
reshaped and restructured. The last time I’d been there, it was just rolling
grass fields with totem poles (carved by Chief Lelooska: https://portofkalama.com/port-of-kalama-commissioners-move-to-accept-donation-of-totem-poles-from-wineberg-family/) standing tall and proud at one
end of the Park grounds. The Park that greeted my eyes this morning is a sort
of yuppified version of big city culture.
The Lodge is H.U.G.E. with a backside veranda
that runs the full length of the building, and looks out over the Columbia
River. I’m not sure if the usage of that veranda is for Lodge guests only (I
know the coffee shop and gift shop is open to the public), but if it’s free
space for everyone I may sit out there some fine day and pretend I am a paying
guest ;-)
The Park has certainly evolved.
Amphitheater
Looking downriver - towards Portland way ...
Bob, if he were still here, couldn’t have come anyway.
Park Grounds Patrol
Next time I’ll wear my windbreaker; it got
HOT quick, even with the river wind. The humidity was pretty high and halfway
into the walk my hair was stringy and limp … by the time the walk ended, I was
soaked from head to toe; my clothes were stuck to me like I’d gone swimming in
them, and my hair looked like I’d swam through an oil slick.
The people I met were very friendly,
talkative, and personable: even the kids were well mannered and friendly.
The beach cabin at the upper end of the Park
is basically a beach bar with a limited menu of sandwiches, pizzas, beers &
wines.
If I want to add extra mileage to my next walk
at this Park, to make it a legit hike (3
miles is a legit hike), I will have to walk the pavement on the backside of
the beach cabin – there really isn’t anything there but a narrow parking area
where fishermen park their vehicles, but it will add more time and mileage:
Fishermen at upper end of Park.
Ahles Point Cabin
I saw a lot of aging, material-minded 'hippies'.
Port of Kalama
And even with the train traffic (the Park
is right next to the train tracks), and freeway traffic that could clearly be
heard – it wasn’t noisy at all. The time spent there was very pleasant. I’m
going to be going back, for sure …
HOT! Next time I'll wear my windbreaker.
Restrooms set up with showers for the marina moorage patrons.
Not an official hike - didn't make the 3 mile mark.
Lucky Dragon front entrance.
Orders taken at the door for pickup and takeout only - no inside seating; just order placement ... then booted out to go sit in the car for 15 minutes.
Order Counter is literally at the door - barely room to stand and place order; counter is THAT close to the door.
I'll try this place next time I come through here. Never went here with Bob, so it will be a true solo lobo experience ...
When I reached Longview, I drove down Industrial
Way, home. Waiting for the light to turn at the 4-way-junction by the bridge
crossing over into Rainier, OR, there as a very strong odor of skunk by
Starbucks (could have been the coffee shop itself since they support skunky ‘causes’)
– not sure if the spray was on another car’s tires … or if a skunk had been run
over in that area somewhere (when Bob as driving Lemmons trunks on
Industrial Way, he said there are deer & coyotes on Industrial Way; so
there may also be skunks); but the odor was nauseating. I was thankful when
the light finally changed and traffic started moving again.
Trudy had texted me while I was walking the last
leg of the waterfront in Kalama, asking me to meet her at the back fence when I
got back home – so as soon as I parked, I gave her a jingle and let her know I
was home and would be at the fence in a few minutes. When I got there, she
handed me a loaf of the Friendship Bread she had just finished baking – it smelled
delicious!
And it was ;-)
Amish Friendship Bread
Trudy gave me when I got home – I ate a slice with my Chinese lunch ...
Pork fried Rice-Chicken Chow Mien-Almond Chicken
Before coming in the house, I checked the Dragon
radishes I had planted, as I saw one of them was ready to harvest; so, I did. I'll try it sliced into a radish sandwich tomorrow and see what it tastes like:
1 of the DRAGON RADISHES I planted this year - it looks a little obscene. LOL.
It takes about 14 minutes to get to Kalama,
driving straight down the freeway if traffic moves smoothly. It takes roughly 6
minutes to make Carrolls on the backroad (the old highway) – and about
10 more minutes to reach home via Industrial Way on the backside of Heron
Pointe.
So, my drive didn’t eat a large chunk out of
my day, and I had an enjoyable 2 hour walk at the Kalama Waterfront Park; and a
relaxing drive home :-D
I’m giving this Sunday~Funday a success rating ;-)
**SUNDAY~FUNDAY POSTS
(2020) –
#9 – https://jeastofeden.blogspot.com/2020_04_27_archive.html (plus
1st thru 8th SUNDAY~FUNDAY links)**
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