Willapa Bay in June
School is out and it finally feels like summer in the Pacific Northwest.
A little bit about KOA
Back when we planned this camping trip – okay, it’s really glamping – we were looking at KOAs in the state of Washington. We’ve stayed at KOAs in Oregon, California, and Idaho, but not our home state. While each campground is somewhat unique in the amenities it offers, there is a level of consistency that makes planning easy.
On the way there
Estimating a 3+ hour drive, we piled into our 2005 Durango, secured our trailer, buckled in, and hit the road. Normally, we stock the fridge and cabinets with snacks galore plus the food we’ll use for each meal. Not this time! Confident we could find what we needed along the way, it only took a few hours before we were hungry! Anticipating more issues with the fan clutch, Mr. Mile found an auto parts store to buy an electric fan. Yes, the fan clutch saga continues. It was probably never the fan clutch, Mr. Mile declared recently. But we thought a fan would help (spoiler alert: it didn’t).
About Bay Center
The KOA
Situated on the south side of Willapa bay, we were pleasantly surprised by the wild feel of this campground. We did notice that the sites with water, electricity and sewer were not very private. Sites that only had electricity and water hookups were far more private. There were also a handful of yurts and cabins scattered about.
The Beach
When we first made our way down the steep, narrow staircase, groups of people in rain boots, toting buckets and rakes, dotted the vista. We didn’t stay long, opting to have a quick meal at the local fish fry restaurant and bar. When we returned to the beach after dinner the people had disappeared, the sun was starting its descent, and it felt like we were alone at the edge of the world.
Crumbling bluffs, washed away to feature layers of dirt and shell deposits with the bottom-most layer a swirl of brown, grey- blue, and greenish clay. When the tide comes in the water laps along the cool, silver, sand. Low hanging trees furnished with tossed up logs create private cabanas. When the tide goes out it leaves behind a seascape wasteland. Dotted with shells and small pools where tiny fish dart and hide.
A brief history
Created during the last ice age by plate tectonics that buried a once thriving forest and changed the ecology of a river valley, Willapa bay is a unique and stunning display of biodiversity. Previously known as Shoalwater bay, it was populated by both the lower Chehalis speaking peoples as well as the Willapa Chinook community. Today, while there a few visual nods to the native folks that called this place home, you’ll also find evidence of Lewis and Clark. Marking the shift to a different population.
Venturing around the area
Situated right on the Marina at Ilwaco, we found some fresh fruits and vegetables. The cherries were a great snack as we explored the town of Long Beach. The round zucchini was a nice addition to the burgers and salad we had for dinner. And we couldn’t pass up some yummy rhubarb pie for dessert. Plus, we saw this Viking head!!
We found bigfoot wandering outside Marsh’s Free Museum, a store that is part thrift-shop, part gift-shop, and all kinds of strange.
Of course, we had to make a stop at the beach, where not even the sun could blunt the chilly wind blowing in off of the Pacific Ocean.
