November 19, 2004
Doryman's Dark
The Pelican brew pub in Pacific City, or on Cape Kiwanda, whichever you prefer, is a pleasant place to have an ale and a bowl of chowder. Drink a Doryman's Dark and reflect on those that have gone down to the sea in ships, recall the resigned faces you've seen in the fresh seafood stores in Garibaldi, reaching a gloved hand to chalk up that day's biggest catch or carrying crab pots from the boiler. Ignore the parking lot full of glittering SUVs and stare at the horizon, the black outlines of the sea stacks. Soak up the geist of the place.
Back in town, of course, the interference of first the traffic belt, then the signage belt, then the belt of electronic humanity scrambles all such pure signals. Meanwhile the boilers steam on, blue smoke rises from troller engines, a wisp of pale tobacco smoke from the skipper, all so much more than ever like pahos, prayers for a fat catch, an open bank account, but at least, at the very least, a safe crossing of that bar.
You can buy most of the Pelican varieties at Suzie O'Connell's market at 3039 SE Stark. Besides those, the store has pretty much any other kind of beer that you could want. But certainly try the Doryman's Dark.
November 18, 2004
Tiny Sand Larva
Sunday 11/14/04, Bayocean Spit, Tillamook Co.
On a walk toward the ruins of Bayocean village we saw a tiny but fierce larva running across the sand. Its overall shape was like a ladybug larva's, except larger and with a pale abdomen with segments edged in black. The head capsule was amber with large jaws. When I set it down it ran in a straight line, then turned as if questing. It stopped and began to burrow into the sand head first. It stopped when just the last few segments of its abdomen were jutting from the sand. A few inches away we found another larva, also snug in its burrow. What are these things?
