Put Willie in his crate, dosed him up on calming chews, and hit the road for Astoria in the pouring rain Wednesday.
High surf warnings with rain showers off and on when we got over there. A little weather doesn't stop us!
After I stashed my satchel at Sean's house, I went wandering up the hill to the 125 ft high Astoria Column. It is modeled after the Trajan Column in Rome, and features a hand-painted spiral frieze that tells the story of Astoria from the Native Americans to the arrival of the railroad.
Want to feel the burn... it's 164 steps to the top.
from the base of the column looking S to Youngs River
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Want to feel the burn... it's 164 steps to the top.
from the base of the column looking S to Youngs River
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looking NW to Astoria and the Columbia River
despite the cold wind and rain it was beautiful.
I went back down the hill, and visited the Astoria Maritime Museum. So much to see and learn there. Really wanted to tour the Lightship Columbia docked there, but it was raining too hard to enjoy, so inside for me. More info: http://crmm.org/maritime-museum-exhibits.html
Back to Sean's house to meet up with him and go out to dinner. Fish & chips at the Astoria Brewing Co. I had the Skipper's Sourmash Stout (their version of Guinness). Actually the best beer I've had in a while. Will take a growler home next time, for sure.
Sean was up and off to work early the next morning. Willie and I weren't too far behind him, as there were several places I wanted to visit before heading back to Vancouver.
We went to Ft. Stevens State Park and the Peter Iredale Shipwreck (the Peter Iredale ran ashore on Clatsop Spit, south of the Columbia River channel on October 25, 1906).
Then down the road a piece to Sunset Beach.
Willie wasn't too sure about blowing sand or the sea gulls...
Then I visited a small but interesting museum in Seaside. Intriguing bits of history there...
Another tidbit learned there..
Ft Clatsop, was the winter encampment for the Corps of Discovery from December 1805 to March 1806. They stayed there to mine salt to preserve their food for the journey back East. Next time, I'll visit Ft Clatsop.
Went back to Warrenton to meet up with Sean at the lumber mill he is currently project manager for. I got The mill tour from Sean (will have a separate post on that).
Hit the road again, and back home.
Astoria is on my list for next spring.
ReplyDeleteDid you go up the interior of the column?
Great, I'd like to get to meet you coming or going!
DeleteYep!
What a great time you had. I was especially interested in the tidbit about Sitka spruce, because the mast and booms of the sailboat I did the most cruising were made from that wood. I spent plenty of time in a bos'n chair varnishing that mast, until finally those days were over. Good gosh, that was fine wood. It's preferred for masts because of its long, straight grain.
ReplyDeleteI'm hoping to get down to the water tomorrow, although there's nothing like your scenery around here. It's been a week since a little visit with the dental surgeon, and I'm finally off all pain meds, so I'm feeling more like myself and ready to get out.
The high excitement around here is prep for whitetail and duck season openings. I was listening to this song a while ago, and wondered who else might appreciate it. I decided you and Cheri were the ones!
*did the most cruising on*
DeleteLOL, thanks for the song. Think I will send it on to my grandson that has a string of goose pots he rents out, he will get a kick out of it. Good to hear you are going to be getting out and about.
DeleteI've seen some amazing sail boats on the Columbia, but I've never been on one. Someday!
DeleteI saw a bring your Mom to work day post on FB I believe. The weather has been like that here the last couple of days.
ReplyDeleteYep, you did. I will post the mill tour pics in another post.
DeleteHow is your new shop doing? Hope you have heat out there.
That column is cool.
ReplyDeleteIt really is, sorry it isn't a better photo.
DeleteHow does the Hellcat being launched tie in with the lightship? I am confused!
ReplyDeleteThe museum has a wide variety of displays having to do with maritime things. Check out the link http://crmm.org/maritime-museum-exhibits.html
DeleteTruly, that is a Fork of Impressive Size!
ReplyDeleteYes it is!
DeleteWow that column was amazing! I love how nothing holds you back when you decide to do something:) Thank you for sharing the picture from the top of those steps...it is the only way I would ever see that beautiful view. Willie looks so cute on the beach even is the wind.
ReplyDeleteIt is pretty darn cool. The photos are from the base of the column, too windy and rainy on top to take pics.
DeleteWillie liked the beach, and the water, but he couldn't decide how dangerous the sea gulls might be... LOL.
Lewis and Clark didn't enjoy their winter. It has been years now but I enjoyed visiting that area and the entire Oregon Coast. Winter was a great time - fewer crowds.
ReplyDeleteAs you say, Fall & winter are some of the best times to go. A lot fewer people, which works for me.
DeleteI really like Astoria area. One year our daughter had an archaeology dig there and another summer our son was working on a highway with his civil engineering degree. He lived in a haunted house that summer. It has been way too long since we've gone back. We used to do so much. Maybe age is slowing us down lol
ReplyDeleteBeautiful area, so much varied history!
DeleteHaunted house sounds interesting. You should see were Sean lives, lol!
You are busy with other things, so it's understandable that you don't get around as much as you did... This is the first time in a long time that I have been in a position to do some traveling, and I want to go as much as time and money allow. There are just so many things out there that I want to see...
If you can, read Abrose's "Undaunted Courage" before seeing Ft. Clatsop.
ReplyDeleteThe fort will be much more meaningful to you.
You are so very lucky to be where you are.
The PNW is awesome.
There are tales of Japanese fisherman blown ashore during great storms hundreds of years ago the were incorporated into local tribes, there is archeological evidence of a Chinese presence near Vancouver in centuries past, and there is a Spanish galleon from the 1500s that gets exposed occasionally after a big storm (early pioneers would plow the beach for beeswax from its cargo).
And then there are the Elk herds, the fishing, the oysters, mushroom hunting, the food...not baking your brains out in the heat of July and August in RB. :-)
I had planned to go to Tehama Shooters on Friday, but life got in the way.
I hope you have a good place to shoot to keep up those perishable skills.
Thank you for the book info. I will be sure to read it before I go over again.
DeleteI feel very blessed to be able to experience the beautiful PNW, though I miss my family & friends in N Calif. Hoping to get down to see them this fall.
Haven't found a good place to shoot here yet, dang it! And I have a shotgun, in the safe at Sean's, that hasn't even been shot yet... sigh
What a great trip! Thanks for the information and all the great photos!
ReplyDeleteYou are most welcome, thanks for commenting!
DeleteSome beautiful moody shots of the river and beach there, Brig! Looks like a fabulous day out.
ReplyDeleteThanks, the weather was moody, but not me! I like the sound and the fury...
DeleteGreat pics and sounds like a fun day or two!!!
ReplyDeleteThanks, it was a good time!
DeleteYou took some outstanding photos, Brig. Love the one at the ocean's edge. I echo your reader above who recommended Stephen Ambrose's Undaunted Courage, probably one of best books I have ever read. Nothing is the same up in Lewis and Clark country after you read that book.
ReplyDeleteThank you for the kind words re my photos!
DeleteI ordered a paper copy of Undaunted Courage, and got it yesterday! Looking forward to reading it.
What great pics! Now I want to see the sea.
ReplyDeletePadre, you are always welcome here!
DeleteTotally cool. Been there many times over the decades. Decided to live and work just south of there near Newport. worked on the Rogue, Deschutes and many coastal watersheds. Now a marine biologist, researching the Oregon marine coastal waters. I'm old, but i feel I'm in heaven already.
ReplyDeleteWe have a doc of marine biology in the family, and a master merchant marine engineer, both retired now. Not too bad for cow country kids. lol.
DeleteI've been to Newport, it's beautiful there.
Good to hear you are doing what you love.