Life of ease

Day 11 - Garibaldi, Oregon, USA

The town here in Tillimook Bay is not Tillimook (that is about 10 miles away).  This is the town of Garibaldi.

This is partially a "port" town, with some logging and fishing as the main industries.  Most of the boats in the marina are fishing boats, some are actually charters.  Most of the boats are so small, I am not sure when they are able to get out to the ocean since the bar always seems to be closed to at least some of them.

We spent the day walking around the town (really a highway town, being on route 101, the coastal highway).  We visited the Garibaldi Maritime museum and learned all about the history of Captain Gray, who first discovered this part of the Washington and Oregon coast, and the Columbia river, which he named after his ship, the Columbia.

This town seems to embody what we would call "small town USA".  Everybody seems to know everybody else, and they appear to have a good time, drinking Bud and scarfing burgers at the pub.  Very friendly folks too.  Garibaldi seems to be a town that has seen its share of economic ups and downs over the years, but it still looks very neat and clean.  One could do a lot worse than living here.  Me, I would probably go stir crazy pretty quick.

The transient dock, where we are currently moored is sure not busy.  I don't think they get many visitors, mostly due to the scary reputation of the "bar" crossing.  Right now, listening to the VHF bar reports, it appears that it is completely closed to recreational craft because of severe conditions, although where we are is seems quite calm.  We had planned on leaving tomorrow, but if we can't get out, I guess we will stay for a while - there are worse places we could be spending the time.  There are a couple of reasonably nice restaurants in town, and the prices seem very cheap to us.  Even the moorage here is only $20 per night.

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