Happy New Year to all our Clearwater friends!  And, of course, thank you for your interest in and visits to the guesthouse and your help in keeping it just the way we all like it, a rustic hideaway that's peaceful and welcoming for folks who prefer to turn back the clock a little from time to time.

This morning I heard a piece on the radio that dealt with the fact that some bed and breakfasts are finding that they need to "keep up with the times and install more of the things that Gen X types are looking for in their vacation plans."  Television, high speed internet, spas, etc.  Well,  it's not likely to happen at Clearwater and not just because some of these modern assets are expensive or just plain unavailable.  Rather, we decided some time ago that the guesthouse would always be a place where people would talk to and listen to the people they have come with, instead of turning on the set or using their mobile devices to "stay in touch".  While we don't think all these trappings of the 21st century are necessarily negatives, there must be a few places where we entertain ourselves and stay in touch with each other.  This seems particularly true after a very long political season which seemed to dominate everything from wake up until turn in time.  So, we hope all of you understand and that you'll continue visiting for the above reasons.

2012 was a good year in the Clearwater Valley and at the guesthouse.  Once the weather decided to sweeten up,about mid July, it really was as perfect as it can be on the North Coast.  We had no rain whatsoever until the second week of October and the temperatures were in that perfect zone between 68 and 80 degrees which made it fun to do anything outside including the usual pastimes such as beach combing, canoeing, fishing and hiking. The one thing it did put a crimp  in was the mushrooming which never did take off the way it usually does in September and October due to the prolonged  drought. If you visited this past year you saw the new greenhouse and attached covered garden.  And, I hope you went ahead and picked yourself a few tomatoes, some lettuce and a few peas and beans.  I want folks to do this but be careful: eating fresh veggies can be habit forming and you might end up building your own kitchen garden at home.

If you're a razor clam aficionado it was a disappointing year and it's not looking like Kalaloch will open again soon.  However, it's only an hour southwest to Moclips where the clams are big and plentiful. So get your group together and come over during one of the openings in the new year.

Steelhead fishing was fair last winter whenever we had water conditions that made it a reasonable pursuit but this past month of  December has been tough due to too many freshets that have kept the rivers too high for optimal fishing.  The fall salmon season was fair, though not fabulous.  When we had good conditions there were usually enough coho

and a few chinook to make us happy but once the drought broke our rainfall quickly  became a problem, especially for folks who were limited to weekends.

2013 won't see too many changes at the guesthouse but we do have a couple major tasks ahead of us.  First of all, the house and outbuildings are due for a paint job, something we all dread until it's  finally done and the place looks sharp.  Inside we'll be doing some painting, too, and there's always more than enough to do outside.  This year we'll be re-doing the barbecue pit and putting up a rustic picnic table with logs I found and cut last year.  Both these projects should make summer picnics a little more convenient and comfortable.  This fall we planted about 20 pots of tulips and they'll be in full bloom sometime about the first of May along with the Kwanzan cherry in the front yard. 

2012 saw the end of an era when little Pepper, the Clearwater mascot for so many years, checked out here in Tacoma with Pat and me.  I know that lots of you enjoyed her company when you visited Clearwater and she definitely enjoyed yours. It's always tough when a longtime pet moves on but we have so many great memories and pictures of her that it almost feels like she's still around.  At the moment there is a feral cat that we've been putting out food for but so far it hasn't decided to turn domestic.  So, if you're out in the woodshed and see an empty bowl maybe you'll put a few ounces of the dry catfood we've left in an old cooler out there.  I'm pretty sure it'll please this phantom pussycat even though it has yet to come to terms with people.

Reservations will again be on a first come, first serve basis and it will be important to get in early if you want those prime July/August dates as well as certain fall/winter dates that are smack in the middle of the best fishing.  This year will see a small increase in rates-the first since 2004-but one that I think is reasonable.  Here's how they'll look beginning in 2013  Keep in mind that they are based upon 4 visitors or less.  Each additional visitor adds $5 per night to the base price. Additionally, returning visitors take 10% off the base price of their stay.

A first night's non-refundable deposit is due within a week of a reservation.

fall/winter rates:                                                                    summer rates:

(Labor Day through April 15)                                         (June 10 til Labor Day)

2 nights: $110                                                                         2 nights: $125

3 nights: $155                                                                         3 nights: $175

4 nights: $200                                                                         4 nights: $230

5 nights: $245                                                                         5 nights: $285

6 nights: $290                                                                         6 nights: $340

7 nights: $335                                                                         7 nights: $395

Spring special: 

(April 16-June 10 excluding Memorial Day weekend)  3 non-discounted nights for the  price of two  i.e. 3 nights for $110

So, for those of you who are planning a trip to Clearwater this year, it's not too early to pick your dates, get your deposit in and secure exactly what you want.  Those of you who have visited many times know how the best dates evaporate as the weeks go by. As they say on late night television, "Don't be left out. This offer is only good until..."

Finally, another thank you to those of you who have spent time at the  guesthouse during the past year and a warm invitation to those who've been unable to visit for a first time or make a repeat visit lately. 

                                                            Happy New Year!

                                                            Joe Novak