Life in Port Angeles from the Perspective of a Teenager

Oly oly oxen free! Or something like that...

2012-02-09T17:26:00.001-08:00

Not really related but my friends call me ginja ninja. I am a ginger you know and I am the best at hiding from people when we play sardines and hide and go seek. Plus this is the cup I am making. Aglazing Arts Studio in Port Angeles! Who says Port Townsend has to be the only artistic town?

Wet little town

2012-02-09T17:17:00.001-08:00

Have you ever been sick where the weather matches how you feel? I would rather be sick in a foggy, dreary little place than a hot, over crowded big city like LA. Things are so much more calm. A city that never sleeps? That probably means you won't get any sleep either.

2012-02-01T22:42:00.000-08:00

Winter, it is here unlike last year it hasn't been as wet, but it is still very very dark.

Another momentous day

2012-01-31T21:57:00.001-08:00

So if you haven't noticed I have been really crabby non existent viewers. This town to some people is a burden wanting to get out of their chains. Others have this feeling of being amazed by everything that is green in PA. To be honest, I have no direct feelings toward it. At times I am one kind of person and just moments later I never want to leave. My teacher decided to give us a quote today. Socrates, Nothing really to say after he hammed it up and expressed his love for Alexander the Great ( Aristotle was his tutor and all). Much to say I rather enjoyed it even if we ended up not doing the most useful of things.

The loneliness of posting a blog you know no one will read

2012-01-29T21:16:00.000-08:00

To blog or not to blog... That is the question. The fear of not being liked, but more importantly the fear of not even being noticed. This is the main reason I sit here hesitating to publish anything at all knowing full well that the only person that really reads this blog is my father... If I ask him to. Some people post things to get reassurance from their viewers how much they are loved and adored. I'm not sure how much of that applies to blogging, but it defiantly is true in social media. I myself am guilty of this, posting things on Facebook hoping to receive favorable responses from friends. It's human nature to crave love and attention we have to fight it every day not to become self centered. So why even try to capture anyone's attention if you know it is not going to happen? That is the other thing about us humans, no matter how much we may try to believe that no one cares we have a tiny bit of hope that someone does. I am not trying to cry for help or anything like that I just hope that my thoughts and opinions do not go out into the virtual world and get lost in a sea of advertisements and other useless things. This is already what happens to this microscopic blog and I don't deny it. Who wants to here the thoughts of a teenage nobody that lives in a small rainy town and does not have a British accent or something like that going for them? So what can I do? Only let that tiny hope brood in the corner a while until someone fuels it. Thank you non existent followers for listening :) Not having the best day if you haven't noticed.

Hey folks!

2012-01-19T23:03:00.001-08:00

My name is Genna and I'm am the new contributing editor for this blog. Or as I like to call it. The person who is taking over! My dad already has another blog and some other stuff like it so he is allowing me kinda run this one. This means that almost everything is going to change because lets face it. A teenagers perception on the word is a lot different from an adults. I do have to admit we have some similar characteristics, but I also have a lot of interests on my own. For starters I have a big love for theatre where my dad can't sit in a play for more that 45 minutes ( we're both a little impatient). I still hope to maintain some of the qualities he started out with which is to inform you about are amazing but frustrating little town and all the wonders it brings. That doesn't mean I won't also talk about my own interests and may have a little fun doing some strange things (like eating fish fingers and custard). There are only to lighten the mood and make you laugh because it is good to laugh now and then. All I can do is enjoy the ride. Hope you do too.

Next contributing editor

2012-01-19T12:01:00.001-08:00

Genna has lived most of her life in Port Angeles and will be an excellent contributor to this blog I'm excited to read her work

Tall ships and pirates

2011-06-14T12:07:00.000-07:00

We were again visited by the tall ships Lady Washington and Hawaiian Chieftain. There were also pirates on board.

Mustangs and Cougars

2011-05-09T15:47:00.000-07:00

No there hasn't been a zoo release of wild horses and large cats........or has there. Every year Port Angeles is host to the Mustang and Cougar car show. This year we had a stunning day to satisfy that chrome itch we get in the spring.

Paddle adventure

2011-04-18T09:15:00.000-07:00

Along with the Whittakers, Lou Whittaker founded JanSport, and RMI, Brother Jim who was the first American to summit Everest, we have our own local adventuring founder in Chris Duff.Chris is a legend in adventure kayaking, and since 1983 has paddled over 14,000 miles. He is typical of the folk that live out here, soft spoken, humble, and tough as hell. His next adventure is the North Atlantic, not in any normal craft, a rowing Kayak. I was lucky enough to watch them testing his custom craft at the paddling symposium this last weekend at Hollywood beach.

Good luck Chris, we will be cheering you on from our little town.

NW Cup Downhill

2011-04-09T14:14:00.000-07:00

Early April our sleepy town is invaded by radical adrenalin junkies to enjoy our kinetic attractions. The Northwest Cup downhill is a series of mountain bike downhill competitions.

Port Angeles hosts a number of races in the season. Some 500 racers from all over the world roll into town and tear up the hills (in a good way) It's amazing where bicycle technology has taken riders, for about $5000 you too can enjoy screaming down the trail and sucking up roots like a pro.

It is an international competition with a wide spectrum of classes, women, kids, old guys like me. When I was there today it looked like everyone was having a good time, I hope they feel welcome, because we sure could use some more events and smiles like these folks bring.

Ballet

2011-01-01T11:12:00.000-08:00

Our little town is not immune to culture. The Nutcracker ballet this year was fantastic.

Winter at the ridge

2011-01-01T10:35:00.001-08:00

Our local ski authority has won the battle to keep hurricane ridge open all year. We had our weekends, but in the past it was always closed during the weekday. Now at least folks can hike some runs and pretend like we are at a resort in Aspen, or Whistler without the lifts and crowds. As fun as it is in the larger crowded places I kinda like our backyard. I took a photo yesterday of the mountainside with one twisty snowboard track decorating the snow. I thought of an advertisement that would say something like "you could be this guy" with a big arrow pointing to the run. It's nice to still have a place to go where it's easy to be "that guy".

Cmon up and play.

Car Shows

2010-07-12T14:27:00.000-07:00

The Ruddell car show is again the show of the year around here.

Parade

2010-07-12T14:22:00.001-07:00

The 4th of July has become a bigger deal in recent years, our 4th of July Parade is becoming an event drawing in folks from as far away as Victoria BC...

I love the pipes, so we sponsored the BC pipes and drums this year in the Parade.

Browns at Halloween (and any other time)

2009-11-01T10:09:00.000-08:00

For generations Brown's has been downtown, and is my go to stop for outdoor gear. Carrying the most quality backpacking/backcountry gear on the North peninsula, Larry and his family have kept my family equipped and cozy on our treks into the mountains, out to the coast, or into the islands. Brown's not only has equipment that will last a lifetime, but they back it up with a local knowledge not found online, or at REI. For years now whenever I get ready to go trekking I look for an excuse to drop by Browns first for a chat to see if my plans meet their approval. They have probably saved my life more than once by suggesting lower elevations at certain times of the year, or given me better options for places to go due to tides or snow or rain. If you are hiking in the Olympic Peninsula and want to explore the national park you can go to the visitors center for information. You will then be assaulted with rules, fees, permits and lectures on bear canisters, permits, more fees, and lectures about not walking on vegetation. If you go to Brown's you can get information about where to go in the National Park, as well as forest service land, DNR land, local campgrounds, and other obscure locations. A trip to Brown's will help you enjoy the wild areas of this beautiful Olympic Peninsula, and they have the equipment to make it an enjoyable, responsible, safe experience.

Brown's Outdoor

112 W Front St
Port Angeles, WA 98362-2607
(360) 457-4150

Halloween Downtown

2009-11-01T09:35:00.000-08:00

The downtown Halloween celebration is becoming a major event in Port Angeles, it's too bad the city doesn't realize how popular it is. They even had the restrooms locked.

Apple cider days!

2009-10-05T16:18:00.001-07:00

2009-10-05T16:15:00.000-07:00

Fall is here!
Getting ready to press apples this year, although fall may not have as many colors around here, it's a beautiful place to be.

The best pizza you've ever had

2009-08-03T16:41:00.000-07:00

At the annual corn roast with my neighbor Andrew there is a man who bakes a pizza that brought the family together this year. Known only as the pizza dude he brings his own bricks to build an oven, makes his own dough, and gathers ingredients to build pizza art.
I found even the strangest of ingredients delicious when sculpted by the pizza dude. Cactus, salmon goat cheese I gobbled up, barbecue, sausage, pepper......yum. Like a fine wine I find the pizza dude stretching my palate for round and saucy goodness. Thank you pizza dude for another year to remember.

Paddle Journey

2009-07-30T13:00:00.001-07:00

Coastal natives around the area paddle into town on a communal trip throughout our inland watters. I like this concept, and wish more types of trips like this were organized, motorcycle, hike, bicycle etc. Communal journeys would bring a lot of folks together.

The Mini at shows

2009-07-14T13:35:00.000-07:00

My other blog www.minicooper.tumblr.com I go into greater details, if you see me around town feel free to flag me down for a chat, I would love to talk about PA (Port Angeles) and give you advice about what to do around here.

Ruddell Car show

2009-07-13T13:46:00.000-07:00

I was expecting the typical car show, lots of car guys, food, and some families and their kids. There was so much more than I had expected, so many more people, good burgers. I will go back next year. The highlights were Don Grimsleys' Road Runner, and Finks' 55" Chevy. Beautiful rigs all. I hope the kids had fun getting to know the Mini, I always like when they get in and say "I could drive this car!" See you next year 2nd Friday in July.

Waiting for spring

2009-02-05T21:43:00.000-08:00

Buds on trees, warming weather and birds building nests. Spring is a long way off, but it seems like Port Angeles is making preparation for the end of winter.

Hike the Ridge

2009-01-06T17:49:00.000-08:00

Tis that time of year, before the lifts open, after the holidays when we hike the ridge. A word of advice, go early because hiking the ridge involves hitching rides back to the top, and after 2pm rides are slim, sometimes none. Expect deep powder and untouched snow, well worth the cardio it takes to get to the top.
enjoy.