And I’m not talking Sharky’s gift shop — a Web site devoted to shark sightings has the following posting — the big question is, were they really sharks, or dolphins? (No photo evidence):

Ocean Shores, WA  —  On July 31, 2009 Rick Chastain, his 4 year old son Cooper and 15 year old niece Kiara Drake were in between Damon Road and beach access West Chance A La Mer NW, Ocean Shores at Grays Harbor, Washington. There was a light fog with over a mile of visibility. It was 2:30 PM and the air temperature was approximately 70 degrees Fahrenheit. Chastain reported the following ; “I was watching three to four whales, about 300 yards off the shore, when I caught a glimpse of a dorsal fin in the breakers. As I watched more than one appeared, usually 30 – 40 feet apart from each other. They were traveling across the water rather than up and down. Then as we were watching a seal appeared between us and the sharks. We watched as the sharks would roll in the waves as they were breaking. The sharks would roll and the seal would show up 50 feet or so in either direction. They were actively chasing it up and down the shore. One shark would roll and before it made it under another would surface from the other direction. Then we would see another approximately 30 – 40 feet away from where the first had surfaced. I was watching the Seagulls and it did not seem that they were able to pick up any scraps. At least while I was there. We watched for an hour and they were still actively surfacing when we left. Whether they caught the seal or not I have no idea. But the seal kept surfacing quite aways from where the sharks were each time. I believe there was only one seal. There were many, many people enjoying the warm weather. Many were surfing with long boards and body boards, as well as using boogie boards. Most of them had no idea what was only 100 feet away from them. The sharks appeared to be 12 – 15 feet in length with a dark colored back and dorsal fin and a white underbelly.” 

Sand Castle Winners 2009 Five Star Dealerships Sand and Sawdust Festival

 Masters

First Place, Orbital Sanders (Seattle), “Some Assembly Required”

Second: Hard Sand Cafe (Federal Way), “Parrots of the Carribean”

Third; Filthy Dirty (Seattle), “Visions of Escher”

From last week’s newspaper, a profile of one of the most fascinating people around the North Coast:

In late 1999, Amy Michelle Butler, fresh off a trauma, declared her independence from her former life. 

She took on a new name: Ramadasa Jivatma.

And became a new person, leaving behind Nebraska to pursue her happiness on the North Beach.

Her life, for 10 years, has been almost a constant struggle, with periods of blinding pain, intense fear and a rootless desperation.

The pay off: freedom.

On a dreary day like today, it seems so far away, but is was only Saturday . . .

The Rasmussens, crafters of The Great Wall of Alki, were the winners of the Sand Castle Contest at Pacific Beach on Saturday. West Seattle brothers Will (9 years old, left) and Nate (6) were helped by their father, Andy, and grandparents Tom and Pam, who live in Pacific Beach.

Moclips resident Jeremy Fry and his 12-year-old nephew Steven came in second, with a Thunderbird. (It was originally going to be a sand castle, but that “crashed,” and they scrambled to improvise a back-up plan.)

Our computer guru Bruce Richardson photographed what he calls “Pelican frenzy” at the Butterclam beach yesterday:

Thought I would take a photo of this vessel cruising off the Chance a la Mer approach, look what popped up in the foreground:

Is the object in the foreground:

a) a seal

b) a ball

c) a frogman

d) my imagination

e) a crab pot (late edition, see comments)

Long shot:

Sunday, April 26, 2009: A good day to be on the beach.