PNW Storm

[Bike Goddess]

I have some dear friends that live on the Long Beach coast of Washington-they also own a restaurant in Seaview. Here's their story which I just got today. My, what a storm!

> Hi There from the soggy and windblown NW Coast! We
> are all fine, have no damage to the house, and just a
> few shingles gone from the restaurant roof. We were
> without power for 2 days, and Blaine and I commented
> on how he really had to stop relying on emergency
> closures to take days off together! It is pretty
> amazing to have to get everything done during the
> daylight, going to bed and getting up with the sun.
> We had plenty of candles, a propane stove -- all of
> our refrigeration stayed closed and we lost only
> minimal amount of food. Astoria was hit much harder
> than we were, which probably has to do with the center
> of the storm. They had SUSTAINED winds of 90-110
> mph, with gusts of up to 137 mph, which laid one of
> the hills above the town bare! Several shops had
> their windows blown out and the bicycle shop had to
> gather up a few of their bikes from across the street.
> Luckily, there was very little looting. We got
> robbed, our entire safe taken. Again, Blaine had made
> deposits for Fri and Sat, so we only had about $400.00
> in there. They pulled it from the wall, bolts and
> all. We are going to get a heavier safe that cannot
> be lifted by one person, and bolt it to the floor.
> Anyway, we are back up, with internet, phone and TV
> all back on line as well as the power. Astoria did
> not get power until yesterday afternoon -- that was
> from Sunday night until Thursday 4 pm. Some are
> saying this was worse than the Ciolumbus Day storm of
> 1964 or so. So, all in all, I guess we were pretty lucky.

Glad to here all of you are safe and sound!

[jobob]

[drift]

Hey Nancy, which restaurant in Seaview? Lee & I used to spend a lot of time on the Long Beach peninsula back in our kiteflying days.

[/drift]

[elk]

Did you guys see the photo originally published in the Oregonian of the flood on I-5? Gorgeous photo....unbelievable mess.

There has been no way to get from Portland to Seattle without a huge detour...Still closed to all but commercial vehicles.

I drove up I-5 to Battleground this morning for our trial and there was hardly anyone on the road past Vancouver...