7-27-2025 Garibaldi, OR Part II

My travel agent (Rob) found a train we could ride a few miles to Rockaway Beach on the Oregon Coast Scenic Railroad.  Granted it wasn’t very far but any train ride is a good train ride.  There are 3 cars:  An enclosed car with tables that was a dining car way back when, an open-air car with a roof (Apparently, the natives plan for rain at all times.) and an open-air car with no roof, which we chose for this bright sunny day.  The 3 cars are pulled by a steam-powered locomotive, # 25, built in 1925 by the American Locomotive Company, Schenectady, NY.  The romance of the old trains is irresistible.  The tracks wove through dense forests, passed by quaint little seaside villages and then they would emerge and travel along the rugged Oregon coast.  Our guide pointed out an eagle nest where a pair is raising their pups and we saw one flying and fishing but he was too far away for a photo op.

# 25 traveling through a little 
seaside village

Ah, the ocean.  I can see
Japan from here!

The rugged Oregon coast

# 25 blowing his whistle

Lindy and the engineer

 

When we arrived in Rockaway Beach, we jumped off the train and headed to the Sand Dollar for a nice lunch on the deck in the sunshine.  Our waitress, Irena, is a (legal) immigrant from Russia, arriving here on a student visa 25 years ago.  Recently, she waited on a couple and learned they were from Ukraine.  When they learned that Irena was from Russia, they quit speaking to her and stalked out without leaving her a tip.  I tend to believe that Irena has nothing to do with the current conflict in the old country but what do I know?  The Sand Dollar deck is right on the Pacific Ocean waterfront, edged up against a sandy beach that stretched on for miles.  The breeze and the salty air were hypnotic and I was drawn to the water.  I can’t remember the last time I was in the Pacific, or any ocean for that matter.  It was a wonderful way to while away our time until the train whistle announced, “All aboard,” for the return trip.

Rob at lunch looking out at
the ocean at the Sand Dollar

Ah... the beach.  Rob is freezing?

Oh yeah... the beach.  Wonderful.

We met up once again with our friends for a seafood feed and discussed tomorrow’s plan.  These are,

“Garibaldi Days,” here.  There is a parade, there are vendors and food tents and in the evening,

fireworks.  OK, then!  There is always time for these festivities!  The big event in the afternoon was the 

waterball fight, the US Coast Guard vs the Garibaldi Fire Department.  There is a ball suspended from a wire.  The teams shoot their hoses at the ball trying to score a, “goal,” at the opposing teams buoy by sliding it on the wire with the force of the water.  Needless to say, the front row of spectators gets soaked.  I don’t know how the scoring works but in the end the Coast Guard won.  It was a new one for me!  Hilarious!

The waterball fight - The guys in
black are the firefighters, the guys
in orange are the Coast Guard.

Friends Steve and Kathy

At the parade

Rob has a beer and 
watches the waterball fight.

I don't know what this vehicle is
but I thought it was cool!  At the
Girabaldi Days parade.

I need this outfit!

At the waterball fight.

Lindy and the firefighters

Lindy and the Coast Guard winners.

The waterball fight

Prancing horse at the parade

The Coast Guard truck in the parade

 

For the four evenings we have spent here, we have had the luxury of sitting around Jim and Liz’s campfire.  We all laughed, lied and chattered till our eyelids began to droop.  Tomorrow we’ll be on our way to our next campground in Graham, WA.

Nothing better than shucking fresh
oysters and serving them on
the half shell, right Lindy?!