Cliffhanging

We woke up in the morning and took the tram down to the house and then the path and stairs down to the beach. The last section down is a steep set of aluminum stairs. We went by the tree with the rope around it which served as beach access prior to the installation of the stairs. The beach has huge boulders spotted about along with some smooth sections. It was low tide, so we were able to get on the ocean side of some rocks where tidal pools exist. We found a spot covered with star fish of several colors. Orange and purple mainly. Anemone are everywhere. Beaches here are also covered with smooth rounded stones and much drift wood. Greg has several drift wood sculptures set on the grounds and Barbara has found many agates, which are transparent or translucent stones. The neighboring houses are much higher and back further from the ocean than Greg's. A massive rock outcropping just below the house created the spot lower and closer that they built on. Seals are sunning out on one of the ocean boulders.
When we climbed back up to the house, Greg and Barbara had coffee and bagels ready for breakfast. As we ate, once again eagles and ospreys flew back and forth, sometimes with fish in their tallons. One could easily spend the day just watching the flow of events outside.
Greg has a project going. On the upper level next to the studio, there is a spot which, once some clearing of scrub trees and brush occurred, afforded a view line out to a small island off the coast. He had built a cement block support for a concrete bench, which he had formed and poured. A local contractor friend, Tim, was going to stop over with a skid loader with forks, to set it in place. The bench was reckoned at 700 pounds. Greg wasn't sure exactly when Tim would arrive.
Dana and I set off on a drive up the Rogue River, the main attraction in town. It's a big salmon fishing spot. We went up the north side of the Rogue and made a first stop at the Tu Tu Tun Lodge, a spot which was just awarded the "Best Small Lodge" prize for the second year in a row. We hoped to have lunch but they are not open at lunch to the public. Folks staying there can have lunch prepared by ordering in advance. The lodge is beautiful with a lot of neat spots to relax and view the river. We continued a little further up stream and crossed the river at the Lobster Bridge and returned to the coast on the south side. We stopped back in town and picked up a deli lunch which we ate on the Pacific Beach a bit south of town.
A little after we got back to Cliffhanger, Tim showed up with his skid loader. I went out to watch and help the process. The bench was on blocks in the garage and Tim slid the forks under and brought it outside. In a very slick operation, the bench was soon set with mortar and properly positioned. Greg has had topsoil delivered and will build a berm which will hide the bench from the driveway. As you walk toward the view to the ocean between several berms, the bench area will reveal itself.
We all changed and headed over to the Riverview Restaurant on the south side of the Rogue. We enjoyed a very good meal. By the time we returned home it was time for bed. After Greg and Barbara headed down the tram, Dana and I wandered over to the new bench. It was a clear, dark night. Out here, there is no ambiant light and the stars were vivid and bountiful. It's been a long time since we've seen so bright a sky.