Notes on a Napkin
June 30, 2008
Summer's finally arrived and I'm waiting for the sun to shine today! I’m looking forward to the Waterfront Blues Festival over the 4th of July holiday, then back to my little trailer at the beach.
My friend Harry joined me for my usual yearly downtown BBQ on the rooftop of Jax to hear Carl Smith & the Natural Gas Co., starring Carl's lovely, talented daughter Carlee. It was a nice opener for the Rose Festival with no rain on that day at least. The big band was in great form, with Carl still stellar on horns & Carlee singing her heart out.
The highlight of the past month was, indeed, the second trip to Surfside at the Long Beach Peninsula. My roomie & right arm KT joined me this time for some much-needed R&R for both of us. The biggest surprise this time was discovering that my favorite restaurant The Ark was closed! Apparently, the new owner let the business license lapse back in February for some unknown reason. I was always intrigued by The Moby Dick Hotel & Restaurant right down the street from The Ark, so we stopped in to investigate. What a charming find! We talked to owner Fritzi & she showed us around all the darling, themed rooms upstairs, some with a view of the bay, some facing the lovely, surrounding gardens. We promptly made dinner reservations for the following night.
The next day, the Tall Ships were docked in Ilwaco, so we drove south to take a tour. The crew welcomed us aboard in authentic pirate attire and demonstrated various rigging excercises & commands. They also answered all our probing questions! It was an interesting afternoon.
After stopping for 5:30 Mass at St. Mary's in Seaview, it was time for our fabulous dinner at The Moby Dick! We had the whole restaurant to ourselves! They had just re-opened & hired new chef Brian Cowe, all the way from Maryland. He said he loved it here & helped with the herb gardening, as well as cooking. I tried the tasty razor clams, while KT enjoyed the succulent salmon. Everything from the fresh salad to the fudge cake dessert was heavenly. We talked at length with charming waitress Carrie, from Portland, & she saw to all our needs. It's certainly a "best-kept secret" that won't remain undiscovered for long.
Sunday was the one day it cleared up long enough to walk on the beach & I saw the eagle that few over our heads at the trailer earlier. It was perched on one of the snowy plover nesting signs & spread its enormous wings, soaring towards the ocean as I approached. What a sight! Oh yes, we also saw a few deer during our travels.
'Til next month, pray for world peace......Bonnie Carter, ed