a 1971 mobile high above the hood canal

It’s been a daily task for the past year - reviewing the Windermere robo-email updates of available waterfront properties in the Puget Sound Area. We cast a very broad net from north of the San Juan Islands to south of Shelton with a maximum price that would screen out the multi-million dollar homes. The challenge would be to find that proverbial needle in a haystack - a fixer (of course) that isn’t bid up to the stratosphere from buyers’ frenzied lust for waterfront real estate. This “gem” had the unique quality of having a site with an extraordinary view paired with a structure that no bank in their right mind would finance. The price was agreed upon and now the salvage / rehab work will begin…..

A trip down to the beach…..

I met the son of the former owners who gave me the complete tour and who provided a wealth of history & information. We had wondered about access to the beach. Was it possible without risking life and limb? The top of the stair had been blocked off with a tangled web of plastic netting and, peeking down into the overgrown abyss, it looked like a quick ticket to severe injury or worse…. He explained the design & reasoning and my concerns were replaced by an eager desire to get down to the beach. The netting had been installed to prevent the otters below from gaining access to the level yard above. Unbelievably, they climb the 100 + vertical feet of stairs, mark their territory (by taking a sh…) and attack any cats or smaller sized dogs. I walked carefully down the stair, facing in, and soon enough arrived at the beach.

Other properties have far more extensive stair systems which cross the escarpment laterally to be less steep. The logic in making the stair a straight, steep shot is that it is far more protected from any falling tree or localized slide. All the trees along the cliff edge are gradually undercut by erosion and eventually, as they grow taller and more top heavy, come crashing down - sliding or tumbling horrifically to the beach below. No stair, however solidly made, would survive that kind of fatal collision.

The new layout begins to take shape - a future living room extended out to take in the sunset views….

View from the future living room looking west with the Hood Canal, HC bridge & distant Olympic Mountains

Made a quick trip over from Seattle on the 4th to water some transplanted growies…. Progress is slow but steady.

Decided to add a foundation… a tricky undertaking with a long-term payback of permanence & durability.