Cats and Trails and Garden Tales
Musings on cats, travel, gardens and life
They Call it Pleasant Harbor
Pleasant Harbor, on Hood Canal – I feel like I grew up there, though in fact, we only visited my grandparents, who owned a restaurant and shop above the harbor.
During the summers, we’d take the road or trail through the woods down to the dock to fish or swim or just hang out happily like kids do.
Because I’m nostalgic, I’ve gone back to Pleasant Harbor a few times, including last summer, on a camping trip. Surprisingly little has changed.
You can still drive the short road down to the State Dock.
I don’t remember it being a State Park back in the day, but maybe it was. We always called it the State Dock, while we called the private neighboring dock, the marina.
The marina has expanded, and there is access to that area further down the road.
But on the state park side, all is quiet, and the views are still wonderful,
As with all childhood memories, the dock and the beach seem much smaller than I remember.
As you can see it’s not a sandy beach for playing on (though we did); tennis shoes are definitely required! And be careful that you don’t fall and cut yourself on those razor-sharp oysters (we did that too!)
And look at all the creatures attached to the pilings! They were fish magnets!
We’d drop our line from the dock and watch the fish take the hook before we pulled them up. Our bait was often the tiny fish we’d already caught called ‘shiners.’ We also used mussels, and I can still remember the pungent smell when we cracked them open and attached the slimy insides to the hook, which is why I could never eat them today!
I suspect all of us kids have particular memories from those times long ago, of staying with grandma and grandpa during the summer, helping on the shrimp boat, or being sent down to sell papers to the paying customers on the marina. My favorite memory was when I was featured along with grandpa, in the local paper eating a fresh caught shrimp: A Shrimp Story
Speaking of nostalgia, I also found the school in Lilliwaup on Hood Canal that my grandma attended more than a hundred years ago. It’s still standing today and is used as a community center and chapel.
That’s enough nostalgia for one post so I’ll close with a sunset over Pleasant Harbor from an earlier visit, taken from the marina side.
~ Susanne
P.S. For more information about Pleasant Harbor, here’s a link to the Washington State Parks website.
Cats and Trails and Garden Tales 
Aw, such sweet memories for you, Susanne! Wonderful, this place looks great! This is like the memories I have of being at grandma and grandpa’s home on Lake Vanetten in Michigan in the 60s. Have a great weekend! ā¤ļøš
Thanks, John! Those childhood memories seem to get better with time! Have a great weekend, too!
They are very precious! And thanks. š
I have to take Alex here…I spent several summers working the shrimp boat and in the store – with I’d owned a camera!
Yes, definitely take her there for old times sake! It is still quiet and beautiful. I wish we took pictures back then the way we do today, but at least I have that old article from the Seattle Times!
oh how beautiful!
Thanks so much!
Ah, I still remember jumping off the pilings into the water (when we werenāt fishing!) One summer I lost one of my ked shoes and found it washed up on the beach (with barnacles on it) about a year later. I still dream of grandmaās famous berry pies!
PS ā I could never eat a mussel either! Theyāre bait
Good memories! You must be a cousin but your name didn’t come through! š
It is a well-named pleasant harbor.
Yes, indeed. āŗļø
I just want to ride one of the yacht in the pleasant Harbor.š¤©š¤ I love this nostalgic post, Sussanne.
Thanks so much. š It would be fun to have one of those yachts and moor in Pleasant Harbor.
You’re most welcome, Susanne. Happy Sunday!
Sounds like a lovely place
Yes indeed. Thank you.
You’re welcome
It seems ‘pleasant’ is the right name for this spot, it looks lovely. I can absolutely see how much fun kids could have here! And it’s great that relatively little has changed, especially seeing the old school still standing and put to good use š
Thanks so much, Sarah. I have so many good memories of Pleasant Harbor and was surprised how little had changed.
It is well-named indeed. I prefer the peaceful State Park side of coures.
Best wishes, Pete.
Thanks, Pete. The harbor is quiet and pleasant, a great place to moor a boat. The marina used to be accessible from the same road as the state dock but is now only accessed by land from a road further down.
You’re welcome
Haha! I love shrimp! I rue the day when we introduced our sons (ages 3 & 4) to shrimp, crab and lobster. They wanted nothing else anytime we went out for dinner! A lovely area and so good that you have been able to revisit it!!
Thank you! I love shrimp today, and crab, and lobster! But not back then! š¤š