Dumb , Dumber, and Dumbest!

Sunday, September 7, 2014

 Sunday didn't add up to much. We lazed around and then got checked back into Fort Stevens for 5 days. They are full again for the weekend, so it might mean more Kampers West! We also did a Costco run and later sat around the campfire with marshmallows on the stick. But Monday was a full day!

Lap of luxury going by

Monday, September 8, 2014
Seems like we saw the extremes today. The first situation was dumb, and from there we went to dumber and then to dumbest. What a day.
I've already kind of described where we park when we go out to the river to fish. From the parking area it is maybe up to a half  mile out to the end of the fishing line. Most everyone has 4x4 pickups and a few SUVs, but all 4x4.  They have no problem driving out and parking off the tide line. Makes it very convenient to haul all your fishing gear out, and the vehicle can be used as shelter in foul weather. Since we don't offload the campers, we do not drive on the beach sand. We are much too heavy. Anyone without 4x4 just parks along the road like we do.  It is fairly difficult to just walk out the "driveway, lane, whatever you want to call it" - deep and very soft sand. Once you get out to the edge of the river there is a small area of more packed sand that is easier to walk on. Today the ruts in the lane seemed deeper and rougher than usual.
But I'm ahead of myself. There was a fine drizzle early this morning, and we just stayed around camp and enjoyed the down time. We ate breakfast around 10 and planned to go over to Fort Clatsop and maybe down to Seaside. By the time we finished breakfast, there was a very faint hint of some sun breaking through, so we decided to make it a fishing day. Dropped the guys off at the river and Betty and Wilma went into Warrenton for some bait, and a little more information from the locals.
Back out at the fishing hole we walked out with the bait to find the guys. They were fishing right near where a guy from Utah had gotten himself really stuck in the sand.

3 hefty jerks to pull a jerk

see how deep he was

There were people around trying to dig him out with shovels and boards for traction, but he just kept getting deeper. He did not have 4x4 and had no business driving out there. Poor sucker's wife had told him that too, so he's over a double barrel!  After quite a bit of drama, and a lot of help from those around, a local with a Toyota Tundra came up and hooked up a tow rope and literally jerked him out in three mighty heaves. He knew what he was doing, and most likely had some experience. He towed him clear out to the road, and hopefully gave the guy a full blown lecture.
As we were sitting around where the guys were fishing, the guy next to us had a beagle that was just being a beagle and really howling when he couldn't get near his owner. So I went over and befriended him. He was so sweet.

New friend

We really enjoy watching the big ship river traffic. Today it contributed to the dumber label. It was slightly foggy on the river and as a big ship came in he tooted his monster loud horn five times to alert small vessels in front of him to get out of the way. There are lots of small craft all over the river, and evidently there was someone in the ship channel. Pretty soon the ship horn sounded another three toots, then soon two more, and then one blast. Then to our surprise the big ship angled off toward shore. It seemed like he came to a dramatic slow down, facing approximately 45 degrees off the channel, then turned back into the channel. We hope the bar pilot could identify the small craft and maybe pull his license for a while.  The big ship and the bar pilot did an excellent job of avoidance. The little craft was truly dumber!

Angled off course

We stayed and fished until mid afternoon with no luck, but on the way back in another local made us feel like we shouldn't stop yet, and gave the guys some more pointers. Very interesting.
Then back at the parking area, the dumbest struck. A 35 foot motorhome towing a small car had driven out into the sand maybe 150 feet before grinding to a stuck stop. Totally unbelievable!  Truly close to idiot. He isn't 4x4 and probably weighs 3 or 4 times what our rig does, and he drove right past us and went on. I have no idea how long he has been there, but it will take a while for a big enough tow truck to get here, and then it should cost close to a small fortune!  Glad we are sane!  While I write this a tow truck has shown up, but I'm not sure he's big enough for the job. This should be a great show!  We stuck around for dinner and a show!  Made some sandwiches so we could eat while the drama played out.  The tow truck driver was very good, and made quick work of the whole deal. After getting the towed car out of the way he just hooked up a chain and pulled him out backwards. The old geezer in the motorhome should hang it up!

Disconnect this one

And out he came

Actually not moving out of the way of a zillion ton ship is probably the dumbest, but I just put them in the order of happening. It was a truly dumb day!

This fairly little guy did a big job

Back on straight course

Waves and Wakes got him slightly wet!