The Officers'
Day Room
is filled with the artifacts of the beach, fishing and the local
Indians. It was here that we first saw the elusive agates, which
we had been told lay on the beach waiting for someone to pick
them up. Over the next several months, Laura who took to agate
finding like a duck to water, would find a pocket full, but
laying on the beach waiting for us was not how they were found.
It takes a keen eye and tremendous time and patience as these
semi-precious stones blend into the mundane rocky 
beaches to
a point that the untrained eye will overlook even the largest of
them. The outbuildings of the museum contains the skeletons of
the oceans biggest mammals along with a model of the original
Coast Guard Station. When finished with the museum, those more
energetic can take the Westport Maritime History Trail which
wanders through the town to the various other points of interest.
Although the entire trail is over 6 miles, a shorter 1.4 mile
round trip passes by many 
of the historic sites. Having satisfied
our thirst for history, it was time to eat. The restaurants in the area are plentiful and
varied. One in particular caught Laura's eye. It's white board
and red trim gave it the appearance of a fishing cottage.
Sourdough Lil's is at 301 Dock St. We entered and were
immediately seated. On the table along with the extensive menu,
was a guestbook journal. These type of journals are always of
interest to us and usually contain the thoughts and feelings of
those who came before. Some good, some sad. As is often the case,
Laura picked several interesting entries to read to me. The lady
sitting next to us smiled and soon she and Laura were deep in
conversation. Darlene Caldwell was the owner and general manager.
After getting a 
quick snap shot of Darlene, Isabel and Mike. The
conversation finally came around the Sourdough Lil's. Built in
1947, as a bar featuring the Klondike of the Gold Rush days. The
back room bar is now closed but as time passed we got a peek into
the room filled with the artifacts of the place when
fishermen came by in the evening to tell their fish stories and
follow another tradition which existed from the time the bar
opened, until the taps were finally shut off. Patrons would stick
a dollar bill to the ceiling to mark their passing. I couldn't
resist. Finding a chair in the corner, I gingerly balanced
myself, as I placed my dollar in the middle of the room. Darlene
said there are plans to open the bar again and that most of the
original furnishing are still in the room. It was a pleasant way
to wind up the trip to Westport.
* * * THE END * * *
