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On a trip this week-end to take my cousin from Chicago to see the Pacific Ocean, we encountered weather, traffic, detours, amazing beaches, cozy cottages, a four-star restaurant and lots of family stories.  When my parents first arrived in Seattle in the early 40’s to work at Boeing and begin a family, they wanted to go see the great Pacific Ocean.  My father was from Illinois and Mother was from New Mexico. There were no travel agents that booked anything to anywhere on the Washington Coast.  My Dad, an avid Time Magazine reader came across a book review for “Lady on the Beach” by Nora Berg.  This story told of the rough and tumble life of the people who settled the North Beach area of Washington.  Highly recommend this book to anyone traveling west to the beach.  What we encountered this weekend was truly mind-blowing.  In Aberdeen a fire took out some large buildings along the Wishkaw River and everywhere there is improvement and building.  Aberdeen-Hoquiam used to be lumber and fishing towns.  The houses range from $50,000 to $5000,000, with boat building, tourism, large well-maintained Port and Imperium - the largest biodesiel plan in the United States just opened.  In short it is boomtown.  There are pockets of commercial real estate still available for the serious investor.  Aberdeen and Hoquiam are clean and well maintained with large medical facilities.  We drove up Hwy 101 and cut over the Beach road to Pacific Beach/Moclips.  My family has been coming to this part of the beach for 60 years and not much had changed.  During WW2, there was a Coast Guard facility so the town has a great infrastructure and a four-engine fire department complete with aid unit.  The Navy has turned the facility into a first class R&R base and their housing enjoys 180-degree view from a bluff overlooking the ocean, Olympic Peninsula and the town of Pacific Beach.  About three years ago a young development company headed by Casey Roloff started a Planned community about one mile South of Pacific Beach.  This you must see to believe.  Seabrook has erected almost 100 homes in the style of a sustainable community with large front porches, bicycles for transportation and walking trails throughout the forest to the beach.  This influx of high end and priced homes has caused the gentrification of Pacific Beach.  There is even a Seattle Best Coffee on main street!

2 Responses to “I-5, Tacoma and the Pacific Ocean”

1. Judy Schiller Says:
   September 6th, 2008 at 4:02 am

   I am very much interested in knowing more about Norah Berg. Can you help me?
   My father gave me his original copy of Lady On The Beach before he passed away. I since have acquired 2 more. did she do additional writings? where was she living when she passed away? I came upon your article while browsing for information on her and her co-author. thank you.

2. Judy Schiller Says:
   September 6th, 2008 at 4:03 am

   I enjoyed your article!

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