I SPENT SUNDAY night at my sister’s house in Port Townsend.
Nothing out of the ordinary there, I enjoy the visits and her warm and comfortable space in Uptown Port Townsend is centrally located a few blocks from the high school and Memorial Field — a frequent destination on trips to my hometown.
We jokingly refer to it as a “satellite office” when I’m over to cover a Jefferson County sporting event.
The house has a living room view of Port Townsend Bay and Indian Island on most days and Mount Rainier on sunny days.
From the laundry room window and backyard, a section of the Olympic Mountains can be seen, now covered in snow.
As I was leaving I made a joke about being glad the white stuff was up there where it belongs rather than down here near sea level where it just causes havoc.
Then we laughed about why our paternal grandparents, both Michigan natives, stayed on out here after my grandfather’s Army enlistment at Fort Worden ended after World War II.
I think it’s at least partly because he wished to avoid all the snow shoveling and hassle of a frigid Detroit-area winter.
I’m sure the opportunities provided here for outdoor fun like salmon fishing off Midchannel Bank, camping trips down the Dosewallips or jaunts out along the Pacific Coast were part of his decision.
I’m thankful they decided to stay. I wouldn’t be here to have this position and the ability to cover the teams and towns of my childhood — to write the stories I would rush to the newspaper box for in the morning when I was a kid — and to help promote the myriad of outdoor activities and adventures.
On this day of gratitude, I asked a few folks who have contributed mightily to my outdoors musings why they are thankful to live here on the North Olympic Peninsula.
Brian Menkal of Brian’s Sporting Goods and More (360-683-1950) in Sequim has been a stalwart source — friendly, funny and full of information.
Why is he thankful to be an outdoors-loving person here on the Peninsula?
“The opportunities, such a variety of opportunities exist for hunters,crabbers, clammers, not to mention the fishing,” Menkal said.
“You can mountain bike, you can ski, hike, climb, bike, kayak. You can do anything.
“That’s really what it comes down to and why I’ve never left the area: it’s perfect for an outdoors-minded individual.”
Brian’s store, 542 W. Washington Street in Sequim, will open for holiday shopping at 8 a.m. Friday.
Menkal recommends a Pip’s Leader Dispenser made by Mack’s Lures as a great stocking stuffer for an active angler.
“It’s practical, inexpensive and every steelheader is going to want some of these,” Menkal said.
You can fit many leader weights, hook sizes and yarn colors in the boxes, which is helpful if you’ve lost your gear or need to change things up out on the water.
Jerry Wright of Jerry’s Bait and Tackle (360-457-1308) in Port Angeles and I started off on the wrong foot, mainly because I had been too shy to give him a call and ask how the fishing’s been.
We met when I covered the Port Angeles Salmon Club’s Halibut Derby in May and after I ate some crow and apologized, he’s had plenty of solid tips and tricks for inclusion in the column.
His tackle shop at 2720 U.S. Highway 101 also has plenty of nods to the storied fishing tradition of the area: countless photos of old-timers and their catches salvaged from former Port Angeles tackle shops.
These touches of the past are interspersed with modern-day anglers holding up their prizes, all with the same sense of happiness and pride of accomplishment showing through.
And there’s plenty of bright and shiny tackle and frozen bait for your next fishing outing.
Wright’s answer was pretty similar to Menkal’s.
“Just lots to do,” Wright said.
“You can hunt, fish, camp, lake fishing, a lot of things to do and hopefully we can keep being able to do that.
“That’s what I’m thankful for, the opportunity to enjoy all there is to offer.”
Bob Aunspach of Swain’s General Store (360-452-2357) in Port Angeles has been an invaluable source of information for many outdoors columnists, myself included.
He also works at a Peninsula institution, one that will open for holiday shoppers at 6 a.m. Friday.
His answer to my initial question (I’m sensing a theme here): “Just because we have so much to offer,” Aunspach said.
“A guy wants to ocean fish, river fish, the opportunities are there.
“You still can fish lakes and all the other winter sports coming up and that barely scratches the surface.
“There’s so much to be thankful for because there is always something to do.”
Enjoy today. And be thankful for where we live and the bevy of activities available.
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Outdoors columnist Michael Carman appears here Thursdays and Fridays. He can be reached at 360-452-2345, ext. 5152 or at mcarman@peninsuladailynews.com.