Elk: saw a big-racked bull elk and two cows and a yearling inspecting the new beach houses that are reducing the said mammal's habitat. And the houses arent that close to the shore, nor do they have an ocean view. The developments being built in North county are errily similar to Sunriver, or the mid-90's developments that were build around my childhood berg of Gresham.

There are some chipmunks building a nest in our planter box. These rascals are fun to watch, as their shrill barks and jittery movements remind me of those special ed kids at school, helmets, toothguards and all those other precautionary wear.

Off to the cranberry festival in Ilwaco, WA. Ilwaco...it's just fun to say. Ilwaco. And en route we can cross the Astoria bridge, which used to be a toll bridge but it is free now. Japan highway corporation, here is an accounting lesson for you.

Ate crab last night. To crack and clean a crab is a lot of work, but crab at the beach is sort of one of those must-do's.