Day 4 |
December 21, 1997 | Outbound |
Traveled: 475 Miles Today: 19 Miles |
 |
Oceanside RV
Park Charleston OR |
||
| Picture lists: South Slough Shore Acres |
Walked out on the beach this morning - to the "cave" and the rock needle at low tide. Such a young place, geologically: sandstone spit being carved away daily and canyons eroded by streams. | ||
 30 secs at 28.8 |
Then drove to the South Slough NERR (National Estuarine Research Reserve): another gem of America's treasury of parks, this one fed/state run. Fascinating descent 200 ft. to the estuary through various habitats - wonderful zigzag boardwalk, tunnel path, and over it all, sunshine! | South Slough NERR PO Box 5417 Charleston OR 97420 (503) 888 5558 |
|
| After a quick shop in Charleston's fisherman's grocer (lots of porn magazines, but discreetly tucked in the top vertical bin with only the spines showing; Spanish welcome messages all over the story assuring Latino customers that there business was very much desired) off to the Holiday Lights and Open House at Shore Acres, "A community tradition since 1987!" | |||
 20 secs at 28.8 |
The essence of America: dozens of community groups banding together to light up a formal garden in a state park. On this evening, the hosts responsible for serving free warm cider and cookies (and security) were the local Harley Owners Group ("HOGs", natch) A wonderful festival of local community action: what most Americans dream about, and the bedrock of American Democracy. (Can you imagine the grassroots politicking that goes into organizing this every year?) | The Holiday Lights and Open House at Shore Acres began in 1987 with 6,000 lights. In 1997 there were 200,000 lights plus permanent garden light landscaping. | |