On the Beach

Not a Single Soul in this Panorama at the Main Ocean Shores Beach Entrance

What if on the beach were like "On the Beach?"

Nobody in This Shot, Looking Toward Downtown Ocean Shores

Back in the day, a movie was made about the end of humankind. It was called "On the Beach" and starred Gregory Peck, Ava Gardner, Anthony Perkins and Fred Astaire. It concerns the last days of humankind, in Australia, after a nuclear war. Everyone is waiting for the radioactivity to build up in the Southern Hemisphere after everyone in the Northern has died. Lately, around here has seemed like the ending of that movie, where everyone stays at home to die. The streets of Sydney are completely empty. My loyal reader might notice empty streets around most places nowadays. Instead of a nuclear war, the streets have been emptied by "stay at home" directives associated with minimizing the speed with which Coronavirus spreads. Windows of places such as the restaurant in the photo below tell how places are struggling to stay in business.

Oddly enough, this is my third post about Ocean Shores that touches on nuclear war. The first, here, talked about Ocean Shores when it was designated as an evacuation area in 1961. The second, here, discussed emergency ration cards issued to our family at the order of the Washington State Governor in the event of war.

A clip from the original movie ending shows how forlorn empty streets really are.

Our Abbreviated Video Starts at 5:20 with Empty Streets

First 5 Minutes are People Getting Ready for the End

There is Still Time, Brother!

While the streets in Ocean Shores are not empty due to nuclear war, even the pharmacy parking lot is devoid of anybody parking.

Lots of Parking Spots Available if You Need a Prescription Filled

Perhaps worst of all is the news that one of the two coffee stands I patronize now opens at 9AM, rather than 5:30 as formerly...

Ocean Shores Reminds me of Babar

"We Set Up a Committee..."

Ocean Shores sometimes reminds me of Babar the Movie. For those of you unfamiliar with it, whenever anybody wanted to do something, the Ministers would want to simply study things and talk about it until the idea went away.

Examples abound. In Ocean Shores, just to cite a few very recent notions considered by the City frecently, off hand, in no particular order, include:

• Improvements for nonmotorized road users along Point Brown Avenue north of the roundabout
• Nightly rental system for regular residents and not just well-heeled developers like Oyhut Bay
• Golfcarts on city streets - policy that makes sense
• Airport as more than just a blob unconnected to the town in any real way
• Sound financing so basic services like keeping streets repaired don't require new taxes
• Weatherwax as either recreation or revenue producer - or BOTH
• Beach trail, dog park, and other simple recreation facilities
• Beach safety
• Ferry to Westport
• Farmer's Market
• Convention Center Plan
• Marijuana businesses - there's one, and the owner is determined to prevent any competition
• Heliport
• Any sensible rules for keeping poultry in the city

I'm sure there are many more, and I'll add to this list from time to time as I recall these things. Watch the video above and you'll get the idea how government works in Ocean Shores.

OTOH, if you watch the video BELOW, you can see how things have changed, starting at 1:37, compared to my post, made in 2015, shown here. In the interest of FULL DISCLOSURE - I have never met the "Steve" in the video below and, as far as I know, he is no relation. Regardless, the whole post is well worth a watch if you are not of the Ocean Shores "Establishment." Unintendly or intendedly, it says a lot about the mindset of Ocean Shores and of the mindset of other Ocean Shores residents...

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We'll Be Ready When the Bomb Drops in Washington State

These were issued to all Washington State residents in 1961

A while back, I made a post, here, that talked about Ocean Shores as a last place for people to live after the Seattle-Tacoma-Everett-Bremerton Target Complex was destroyed. Well, as it turns out, Washington State went further to prepare us all for the unthinkable.

Going through old documents, I ran across a ration card that was issued by the State of Washington. No, this wasn't for WW2. It was IN CASE of WW3! Governor Rosellini had these made up in 1961 and distributed. You can see ours at the top of this post. This was the same year they were making plans to move the survivors to Ocean Shores. You can read more about this program here. 

Remember, this was all before the Cuban Missile Crisis, at a time when we were theoretically at peace.

I found a site, here, that talks about the various civil defense efforts that took place back in the day. The Washington State "provisional temporary ration program" was just one of these. New York put out pamphlets in the early 60's to tell us what to do in case of a nuclear attack. Rutland, Vermont was slower than most - they were still publishing fallout shelter plans in 1970. As far as I know, our Canadian neighbors weren't quite as dramatic about being ready for "the big one." The closest I found was an evacuation plan - for Canadian County, Oklahoma.

I do not know if any laws were ever enacted about the rationing regulations and associated penalties.

Public Stay OUT!

I Guess this IS a Form of "Preservation." New Sign at an "Official" Trail

A while back, the people of Ocean Shores voted to preserve what is generally called "The Weatherwax Property." Starting this summer, the city elected to start putting up "stay out" signs, and referring to it as the "Weatherwax Mitigation Bank."

Somehow, this is not what I think the voters had in mind, given that the vote was taken shortly after the city council was found to be planning to convert the Weatherwax into an extension of the city golf course.

Sheesh!

Looking Over Duck Lake (a Man Made Lake) in Spring 2015

The Same Locale on Duck Lake in Summer 2015

Changing Times

Nuclear Weapon from Wikipedia

From "The Exciting Growth Years of the City of Ocean Shores:"

In 1961, Kennedy was our new President and people were all very nervous about the potential for nuclear war. In that environment came the following news item:

"Ocean Shores was selected for an evacuation area as one of the safest 'fallout' spots in the U.S.A. Grays Harbor Civil Defense, Roger McRea, Director, in September 1961 wrote:

"Due to the location of Ocean Shores in Grays Harbor County, it is felt that it is one of the few places in the State of Washington least likely to be affected by fallout from the Seattle-Tacoma and Bremerton target complex...Grays Harbor Civil Defense has chosen this place as an alternate operations site in the event Aberdeen, Hoquiam and Montesano were to become untenable because of nuclear attack..."

Nowadays, instead, we are all afraid of Tsunamis and pay attention to the evacuation routes. Nothing has appeared in the local newspaper recently about atomic weapons and where it'd be safest to be should Armageddon come...

Tsunami Evacuation Route Sign in Ocean Shores

Gold and Gongs

We found a place. Originally noted here, prices are much more reasonable in 2012.Stay tuned because I'd hate to jinx things...

Last Lot

After I was done looking, I saw the "Last Lot." It was in a really good location at the far north end of Duck Lake, and was the cheapest property I saw all week. Looks like it might be a winner. Particulars follow:
Power in 2 locations. Shed. Water on lot. Surveyed. Sewer LID paid. Sewer at street. Not in any floodplain. In community club. Owner/agent. 0.171ac. Annual taxes are $413. 31.20ft of waterfont. No gas available which is typical for OS. Mostly, they have propane.

The listing agent is Steven Simmons at 360-589-2439. I have an email as well.


291 East Rain St, Ocean Shores, WA, Looking from the Street




Part Way into the Property. Those Logs Look Like the Property Line



Near the Logs, Looking at Duck Lake

Looking Back at the Lot from the Dock at Rain Lake

More of the Lot

Another Sign is at a Dock on Duck Lake

Looking Left from the Dock

Looking Right from the Dock

Along the Shoreline, Looking Right from the Dock

Further South

Riding down the southern part of the lake, I noticed 307 Lake Bay Loop SE; offered at $294.5K. It's a bit on the big side, with 4br and 2.5ba, but I got a shot anyway.

307 Lake Bay Loop

Much more interesting was the empty lot next door, also for sale. It is at 315 Lake Bay Loop SE; offered for an asking price of $69.9k.

315 Lake Bay Loop from the Street

315 Lake Bay Loop Looking Toward Duck Lake

315 Lake Bay Loop Looking Toward the Road

A bit further around the lake, was a rather vague FSBO that had 80 feet of waterfront.

This Looks Like it's Worth a Call

Mystery Property with 80 feet of Lakefront Has a Nice Lake View

Then we get to the far end of the lake, with a property at 354 Wildwood, and another next door. Both seem a bit steep for what is offered.

354 Wildwood, Ocean Shores, offered at $425k

Lots of Steps for this Fixer on Wildwood

Moving up, at 896 Falls of Clyde, there's a $66k lot. It's got a dock already in place, on one of the little canals.

896 Falls of Clyde

896 Falls of Clyde



896 Falls of Clyde

 There are a few more, from the south, but its questionable if you want to look at them before I get home...


672 Mt Olympus Ave SE. Asking $199k, not including the vacant lot which they want another $95K for



Two More

I found a couple more canal-front houses this afternoon. First, is 328 Ponderosa Lp NE; offered at $324.9K. It seems a bit pricey for the size, but it has a 3 car garage and RV parking, with a "large deck & dock."

328 Ponderosa Loop NE

Second up is a place where the lot is the main attraction; being a double wide modular construction place on the waterfront. 704 Cardinal is offered at $178.5K. It does have a dock and is really well located at the north end of Duck Lake.

704 Cardinal Ave

Ocean Shores Canal Waterfront

First on the list is 429 Lake View Loop; offered at $359k. It has 3bd, 2ba, and 1.5 stories. The Master is in the loft, so I don't think this one works.

429 Lake View Loop

Next up, is 355 Lake View Loop; offered at $219.5K. It's a 4br, 1.75ba single level home that looks across the wide part of Duck Lake. No garage, but depending on the setback requirement, one might be able to be added.

355 Lake View Loop

Third on the list is a vacant lakefront lot; FSBO. It has a very nice lake frontage. Having no house, it's asking $115K.

Vacant Lot on Lake View Loop

Duck Lake from the Empty Lot on Lake View Lp

Moving down, there are some alternatives as well. For example, 231 Duck Lake Dr is offered at $199K. It has two stories, but the Master is downstairs and it has a large garage with added parking. The house needs some updating but looks sound overall.

231 Duck Lake Dr NE

There were a couple of more, but the last one is interesting in that it is advertised as a "brand new" house. 251 Overlake is, as you can see, not finished. It lists for $319K. It has 3br and 1.75ba. The ad says hardwood floors throughout and granite counters. As you can see from the bottom photos, some of this is "intended" at the present time. The lot is about 5-10 feet wider than the house but is 220 feet deep.

251 Overlake Ave, Ocean Shores

Linda Leaning Against the Counter in the Great Room

View from the Great Room