Historical Tour, Astoria and More - 10/2/2012

Our day begins with coffee and conversation, or coffee and laptops.  No hurry here.

We continue our day's activities with a car trip along the river road south to visit Fort Columbia State Park, which looks to the mouth of the Columbia River. 

As we pass a marina,  I am pleased to see brown pelicans (my favorite bird) near the shore and flying overhead.

The Fort buildings are high on a hill, which is the location the townspeople will go today at a tsunami warning.  

We see rows of posts still standing in the water, where fishing nets were laid and horses waded out to pull them in.

Along the way to visit historic Astoria OR, we pass Lewis and Clark National Historical Park, then cross The Astoria Bridge, which is four miles long across the Columbia.

Russ drives by many historical buildings, with beautiful architecture.

Up to Coxcomb Hill now to visit the Astoria Column, which is an artful summary of the turning points of the frontier.  I learn that for 300 years Spain, England, France and Russia competed for the land which now constitutes the states of Oregon, Washington, Idaho and parts of Montana and Wyoming.   The United States won by arguing it had explored by land and water to set up commerce in the region.  (Taken from the Bicentennial  brochure.)

Most of the murals deal with events between 1792 and the 1800s, and show Lewis and Clark's expedition.

Astoria Column

Toni and Russ

You are Here

Burial Canoe of Chief Comcomly, Chief of Chinook Nation

Lewis and Clark River

The Column

There is so much to see in Astoria!

Resting Sea Lions on the Dock

Boardwalk Drive

Time for a coffee break.

Willie

Recent Repairs

Lunch where everybody knows your name, or Russ and Toni's

Cookies are Soooo Good at Coffee Girl!

Willie of Willie's Tug,
   and of Walldog, Willie and Jake
   Tuesday, October 2, 2012