Category: Port Angeles

Clallam County Courthouse

Here’s a view of the Clallam County Courthouse, located in Port Angeles. It’s a beautiful old building, with a newer wing housing many of our county services. Built in 1914, it is on the U.S. National Register of Historic Places. The bell tower, which chimed while I was shooting, contains a bell that was shipped around Cape Horn from Boston. In a nod to more modern concerns, the building contains 126 solar panels, installed in 1979, which produce an estimated 20% of the electrical power used in the building.

4H: Head, Heart, Hands, Health

The county fair is an opportunity for kids to strut their stuff and 4H clubs throughout the U.S. give them the tools and leadership skills to succeed. I love that we’re in a community that fosters active 4H involvement. The young exhibitors at the Clallam County Fair did a spectacular job showing their animals and projects.

They start ’em young. Having been a city kid for much of my life I’m impressed that children this size are perfectly at ease with critters bigger than they are.

The Fair is a chance for some fun, too. The kids costumed goats, above, and dogs and horses. The animals showed remarkable patience but it’s clear they’re also showered with love and care.

Is there a chiropractor in the house?

Bull riding! My back hurts just watching these guys. This is another one of those rodeo events where a cowboy climbs on an unwilling ride. . .in this case a 3,000 pound steer that isn’t happy about the turn of events.

And here’s another example of testosterone meets resistance. There’s money to win at rodeos, but from my perspective a few of life’s bumps and injuries have taught me not to go looking for more.

I usually don’t fuss much with my photos but couldn’t do much about the background here. What do you think of this effect?

I love the rodeo

The Clallam County Fair last weekend featured a rodeo on Saturday and Sunday. I caught the action on Sunday and it did not disappoint. Here’s an example of bareback riding, where a cowboy climbs on an unwilling horse, keeps one hand in the air, and takes a ride. There are finer points, but suffice it to say that it’s quite a ride.

Clallam County Fair

The Clallam County Fair was last weekend and it was full of all the things you’d expect from a fair, starting, of course, with animals. The swine barn is always a must-visit. Aren’t they just the cutest?

And there’s the lineup of the hardworking kitchen canners.

The quilters strut their stuff.

There are always flowers, simple or exotic, single or arranged.

Things to buy. (Okay. I didn’t purchase and I took a picture anyhow. So far no one’s come after me.)

And, of course, there’s fair food. Good luck trying to find the alien stuff they eat on another planet: anything healthy. It is, after all, the County Fair!

Hollywood sculpted in sand

The annual Windermere Sand Sculpture Classic contest was held recently in Port Angeles. I could only attend before the sculptors completed their works, which were themed “Hollywood.” Above is Sue McGrew of Tacoma working on “Hollywood Heroes,” which won first place.

Second place honors went to this piece entitled “Metropolis” by Delayne Corbett of Vancouver, B.C.

This year’s event included community team sculpting, which was a new feature here. Assisted by a master sculptor, two local groups learned sand sculpting, then each team worked collaboratively on a project. A dragon was taking shape, above, for a piece entitled “Phoenix Dragon” which was the work of about a dozen sculptors. The team event is an opportunity to get a start in this art form. This year’s winner started in Olympia in a similar contest.