Aug 14

Today, brought clear conditions at first light.. no fog a sign that the high pressure is camped over us and here to stay!!!! We had a leisurely breakfast, did some reading, then piled into Tooth Ferry for a ride to Mamalillicula to see if anything was remaining. We hit it at low tide so finding a spot to get ashore was tough, but finally we found a spot on a piece of the decrepit abandoned pier. A decent trail through the woods brought us to the overgrown village. The first building was probably the schoolhouse we heard was built in the 1930's and was a well built impressive structure. Ahead through the salmonberries we could see fruit trees that lined the overgrown village and an abandoned house. We walked a trail to the beach, slid down the midden, and walked the white clamshells to the opposite end of the beach. Along the high bank there were areas you could see the midden in good detail, layer upon layer of clamshells and campfire ashes. Standing at the mid-point of the beach thinking about the Natives throwing their clamshells into the campfire, night after night, century after century, long enough to make a midden 15 feet high and a half mile long... wow. We found a trail was cut through the overgrown salmonberries through the orchard and to the abandoned house and what we have read were some totems and logs associated with the village longhouse. The blackberry vine cuts and mosquito bites were well worth the experience, memories and photos. Back to Mental Floss for bratwurst lunch and working on the puzzle while Dad Went fishing in the dingy (with no luck).