Monday, October 19, 2009

Our Backyard

Mommyswise

This week’s topic at Tree Hugging Tots is “Our Backyard”. With the rainy season upon us we don’t get out as much. I have shared with you about the beautiful trees, rain forest, and a little history of the lumber industry that was the main resource that brought people to this area.

However there is another industry that brought settlers here from all over, so I thought I would share this with you this week. Fishing, crabbing, clamming, whaling (which is no longer legal) are among the great history of our backyard.

Lewis and Clark met the Pacific Ocean for the first time about 100 miles South of us. Robert Gray, is the explorer who first discovered the beautiful beaches here in Grays Harbor in the 1800’s. Captain James Cook actually explored the area here even before Lewis and Clark. There were many others.

The Pacific Ocean is very cold but home to many body surfers for it’s rolling surf, and the advantages of an off shore wind current, which provides for a spectacular surf. We have events at the beaches throughout the year such as the annual kite flying, sand castle building, crab races, clamming, and you can always charter a fishing boat or whale watching cruise.

Gh%20LightHouse%20picture Grays Harbor is home to the tallest lighthouse in Washington State.

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It is common at Westport, WA to find many fishing boats. (though this picture was taken in Olympia in the Puget Sound, this is good example of the fishing boats)

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Grays Harbor is also the home port for the Lady Washington. The Lady Washington has quite a history behind her. You can read her history here.

Now for some pictures of our favorite beach outings!

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To see what other’s are doing in their backyards visit Mommies Wise Little Bookworms. We would love to see you join in and tell us about your backyard!

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9 comments:

  1. You have a very large "backyard" and it was interesting to read about the history of where you live.

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  2. What a calm beautiful place to live!

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  3. Sounds like you need to major rain gear so you can do lots of rainy day nature study.

    Very pretty beach photos. I can just smell the ocean breeze.

    http://rogersfamilycircus.blogspot.com/

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  4. This sounds so... dreamy! I love the way you describe everything, you really have a talent for making it come alive. :)

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  5. I use to live on a military base right next to the ocean! I love the smell of the ocean air! haven't been in ages! great beach pictures!

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  6. Wow, great pics. I miss the ocean. I grew up in NJ but now live in MN. Lakes just aren't the same.

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  7. You live in a very beautiful place rich in history. And look at the size of your backyard! LOL.

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  8. You guys live in a beautiful state.

    Thanks for sharing so much about the history, things I never knew and some I'd forgotten.

    We love beach outings too!

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  9. I actually grew up in that area. We lived in Westport and in Grayland. My grandparents lived across the street from Ocosta Elementary and I would walk to thier house after school.

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