Charlie Swan's Posts - Cullens Online2024-03-29T00:34:31ZCharlie Swanhttp://thecullensonline.ning.com/profile/ChiefSwanhttp://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/3144279074?profile=RESIZE_48X48&width=48&height=48&crop=1%3A1http://thecullensonline.ning.com/profiles/blog/feed?user=090md6jwa4g4y&xn_auth=noIt's Idiot Season Again...tag:thecullensonline.ning.com,2017-04-13:3404507:BlogPost:11804022017-04-13T14:59:52.000ZCharlie Swanhttp://thecullensonline.ning.com/profile/ChiefSwan
<p>Tourist season keeps us busy here in Forks. There are a lot of hiking trails and camping places around here . While for the most part, it is a boost to our local economy, in other ways it just brings in a whole shipload of stupidity.<br></br>Tourist season is nicknamed "Idiot Season" around here for a reason.<br></br>This area has much to offer the outdoorsy type but it's not your typical outdoors. We have thick forests here that most people are not used to. The foliage is different and so are the…</p>
<p>Tourist season keeps us busy here in Forks. There are a lot of hiking trails and camping places around here . While for the most part, it is a boost to our local economy, in other ways it just brings in a whole shipload of stupidity.<br/>Tourist season is nicknamed "Idiot Season" around here for a reason.<br/>This area has much to offer the outdoorsy type but it's not your typical outdoors. We have thick forests here that most people are not used to. The foliage is different and so are the trails. People get cocky and go off trail, get lost and hell, are you expecting to have good cell service out here in the middle of nowhere? Not happening. The cell service here is shoddy at best in town. When you hit the trails, you can be sure your phone will be useless except for the camera use. <br/>Do not rely on your phone's GPS when you are up here in Forks. It's not gonna work and you're gonna be stranded in the middle of the forest and then you'll be racking up the fees when we have to send, not only the Park Rangers out to find your ass but also the Forks PD and the volunteer rescue service. <br/>Learn how to read a map. Take the map from the trail head and don't lose it. <br/>Stay ON THE TRAILS and don't be a yahoo and go off trail trying to be cool and take a goddamned selfie on the edge overlooking the ocean. Heights + Selfies + Cliffs = DEATH. Do not be a moron. Make everyone's life easier, will ya? Stay the hell on the trail and don't be a knob.</p>
<p>I've already had a few calls from panicked people about their missing family members. I am sick and tired of these calls. <br/>If you're going to be a moron, go somewhere else because that won't be tolerated here. If we catch you breaking the law, we will prosecute to the fullest extent possible. </p>
<p>With that said... happy trails! Enjoy your time here and stay out of trouble.</p>
<p></p>Weekend Camping trip at Shi Shi Beach!tag:thecullensonline.ning.com,2017-03-19:3404507:BlogPost:11767222017-03-19T18:05:05.000ZCharlie Swanhttp://thecullensonline.ning.com/profile/ChiefSwan
<p>You may not believe it but I do get the occasional day off. Sue and I jumped in the jeep and hit the trail. We drove up the coastline, stopped along the way so Sue could snap some shots. The beach looks amazing even in the rain so it didn't matter that we were driving in and out of rain all day.<br></br> We headed north on the 101 and jumped on 112 and took the coastal route. It was a nice, easy drive.…</p>
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<p>You may not believe it but I do get the occasional day off. Sue and I jumped in the jeep and hit the trail. We drove up the coastline, stopped along the way so Sue could snap some shots. The beach looks amazing even in the rain so it didn't matter that we were driving in and out of rain all day.<br/> We headed north on the 101 and jumped on 112 and took the coastal route. It was a nice, easy drive.</p>
<p><a href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/3150215969?profile=original" target="_self"><img width="750" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/3150215969?profile=RESIZE_1024x1024" width="750" class="align-full"/></a></p>
<p>We stopped for lunch at Breakwaters and then headed down up the coast for more pictures. A lot of the coastal towns have little signs like this with the weirdness that goes with 'em. It's weird but this is Washington State so what do you expect? <a href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/3093777320?profile=original" target="_self"><img width="750" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/3093777320?profile=RESIZE_1024x1024" width="750" class="align-full"/></a> Breakwaters was pretty decent. Can't really screw up a fried fish basket and fries! <a href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/3093777400?profile=original" target="_self"><img width="750" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/3093777400?profile=RESIZE_1024x1024" width="750" class="align-center"/></a></p>
<p>We got to Shi Shi Beach with very little daylight to spare and Sue wasted no time at all! She broke out that camera and started snapping! The sun started to go down pretty quickly. I got this great shot of her heading out to get the 'perfect shot' as she put it! I played around with filters and love the contrast of the black and white. It also cut the glare from the wet rocks so Sue is really the main focus. She's teaching me and I gotta admit, I'm loving it!<a href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/3093777370?profile=original" target="_self"><img width="750" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/3093777370?profile=RESIZE_1024x1024" width="750" class="align-full"/></a></p>
<p>This is the shot she waited 40 minutes to capture <a href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/3150218883?profile=original" target="_self"><img width="750" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/3150218883?profile=RESIZE_1024x1024" width="750" class="align-full"/></a></p>
<p>It got pretty dark rather fast so I got our tent set up and Sue gathered up wood and got us a good fire going.</p>
<p><a href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/3093777137?profile=original" target="_self"><img width="750" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/3093777137?profile=RESIZE_1024x1024" width="750" class="align-center"/></a></p>
<p>The night sky up here is tremendously beautiful. I can't explain it in words. It's like velvet with tiny dots of light everywhere. Sue did a night shot where she left the filter open so it got a fantastic time lapse shot.</p>
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<p><a href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/3093777365?profile=original" target="_self"><img width="750" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/3093777365?profile=RESIZE_1024x1024" width="750" class="align-center"/></a></p>
<p>We slept really well. It was cold, gotta say but when you have a double sleeping bag with a nice, winterized tent, it's all good!</p>
<p><a href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/3093777098?profile=original" target="_self"><img src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/3093777098?profile=original" width="683" class="align-center"/></a></p>
<p>Sue was up before dawn waiting for her perfect sunrise shot. Shi Shi Beach is really beautiful and I'm glad it's so close to home because we didn't sleep much last night so a long drive home would suck!</p>
<p>After a few shots of the sunrise we packed up our gear and tossed it in the truck and headed back down and stopped in Neat Bay along the Strait of Juan de Fuca (rt 112) back down towards Forks. We grabbed some grub along the way and stopped at a few spots so Sue could get some pictures.</p>
<p><a href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/3093774791?profile=original" target="_self"><img src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/3093774791?profile=original" width="720" class="align-full"/></a></p>
<p><a href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/3093775132?profile=original" target="_self"><img src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/3093775132?profile=original" width="750" class="align-center"/></a></p>
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<p>Stopped for some coffee and lunch in Sappho. Real small town, kinda private, real nice. Might bring Sue back here for a camping trip sometime. <a href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/3093777257?profile=original" target="_self"><img src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/3093777257?profile=original" width="500" class="align-center"/></a></p>
It was a great weekend and surprisingly I didn't bring my fishing gear. Go figure!Fishing in the Raintag:thecullensonline.ning.com,2017-02-09:3404507:BlogPost:11713602017-02-09T17:11:04.000ZCharlie Swanhttp://thecullensonline.ning.com/profile/ChiefSwan
<p>I get very few days off and when I do I swear the weather gods are against me. Every freakin' time I pull the boat out, it rains. I suppose I shouldn't complain simply because I do have a day off but come on, really? Rain? Again? Am I surprised? February, Washington... Rain. To be frank, every month...Washington... RAIN. So yeah, Im grumpy but hell, I have a day off so I'm going to make the best of it.</p>
<p>Sue decided to stay home and dry which at this point, I think was the right…</p>
<p>I get very few days off and when I do I swear the weather gods are against me. Every freakin' time I pull the boat out, it rains. I suppose I shouldn't complain simply because I do have a day off but come on, really? Rain? Again? Am I surprised? February, Washington... Rain. To be frank, every month...Washington... RAIN. So yeah, Im grumpy but hell, I have a day off so I'm going to make the best of it.</p>
<p>Sue decided to stay home and dry which at this point, I think was the right decision. I haven't caught anything yet and it's frickin' freezing, Mr. Bigglesworth, out here. You know it's a crappy day when Billy ditches on you because of the weather. Had my headphones in but I'm now completely soaked to the skin. Forget this. Im gonna dock the boat and head home for a hot shower and some good food. No fish, freezing, soaked thru to the skin and grumpy. I'm goin' home.</p>
<p>Fishing day Fail!</p>What is with this generation?tag:thecullensonline.ning.com,2016-05-06:3404507:BlogPost:11294262016-05-06T16:00:00.000ZCharlie Swanhttp://thecullensonline.ning.com/profile/ChiefSwan
<p>Had a report filed by a citizen that some kids were messing around and spray painted graffiti on some of the rocks over by LaPush. <br></br> I don't understand what makes people do stupid stuff. I wouldn't have ever dreamed of defacing anyone's property for fear that my father would tan my goddamn hyde if I did. Where has the respect gone with this current generation?</p>
<p>I took the call and <a href="http://thecullensonline.ning.com/profile/JohnParker859" target="_self">John Parker</a> and I…</p>
<p>Had a report filed by a citizen that some kids were messing around and spray painted graffiti on some of the rocks over by LaPush. <br/> I don't understand what makes people do stupid stuff. I wouldn't have ever dreamed of defacing anyone's property for fear that my father would tan my goddamn hyde if I did. Where has the respect gone with this current generation?</p>
<p>I took the call and <a href="http://thecullensonline.ning.com/profile/JohnParker859" target="_self">John Parker</a> and I drove up to the cliff face. I know this wasn't done by the rez kids. I know exactly what kinds of kids did this. The Seattle kids who got bored, drove out to cliff dive and decided to leave a mark. An ugly mark.</p>
<p>They have no respect, no regard for nature or other people and are simply disgusting and selfish. My words are sharp and rightfully so. These kids have no guidance. Their parents are too busy to spend time with them and send them off with money and their car to be out of their hair. Sadly this can be avoided if parents would just spend time with their kids and instill a strong sense of respect. SELF RESPECT.</p>
<p>I am saddened that I have to go out here with turpentine and a brush and scrub these rocks clean. Sad thing is, in a few weeks they'll just come back and do it all over again. It's a vicious cycle.</p>
<p>I miss the old days. The days of honor, respect and being aware that we are not the only ones in the world. Lack of consideration is a rapidly growing habit, one that needs to be corrected, and quickly.<br/></p>