We arrived at Devil’s Lake State Recreation area (Lincoln City) on Friday morning. We were aware that check-in isn’t until 4pm – which is ridiculously late – but decided to give it a try since most places are not full, and usually accommodating if they can be. No chance. The office was closed and there was a rig still in our reserved spot. And no place to park. So we went back into Lincoln City, which is not that great of a place and very spread out. We did find the Taft Historical District and walked a short way for lunch at the local Pelican Brewing. We decided to chance an early check-in again a few hours later – but still before 4pm. Office still closed, but our site was empty so we pulled in. Pulled into an incredibly small, narrow pad surrounded by mud.

We took a short walk to the lake and small dock area. This park was by far the most expensive on this trip and just not very quality. Good thing it was basically just an overnight and we were on our way the next morning. Unimpressed. Won’t return.

Saturday was the start to our crabbing weekend with crews from Ramble On and Aris. We were the first to arrive and the others pulled in shortly after. The place was a circus! And it had rained the night before, so more mud. So many people, campers, and boats but kind of a cool scene. We were all a little “oh what have we done” but settled in to get the crab fishing underway.

Steve brought his boat and we all brought crabbing gear. We brought a boiler. I think we got 17 crab between Saturday afternoon and Monday morning, from pots out in Nehalem Bay and some off the dock. Enough for a good crab dinner for all of us and a few to take home. (We will be enjoying Crab Louie’s tonight!)

The place began clearing out later Saturday and there were many less campers and day crabbers on Sunday. Much less by Monday. It never did rain again and some of the mud dried. Very good weather, really. I think we’re all glad we stuck it out. It was a fun weekend. Steve also brough a ginormous bin of firewood, so we had a warm crackling fire to hang out by.

A little background about this trip. Last April, Touch of Gray was at Jones Island and we met a threesome of guys from the Portland area on a camping weekend. We struck up a conversation and were bemoaning the dearth of Dungeness crab in our lives over the past couple of years. One of them said, “Well you should visit Brian (one of the other guys) where he works at Kelly’s Brighton Marina on Nehalem Bay. You’ll get crab.” So we did! It was fun to connect with Brian again. He introduced us to the owner, Collin. They run a very quirky, salty, and popular place.

Photos from Kelly’s:

Thanks to friends for camaraderie and contributions. Let’s do it again next year!