OREGON COAST & FORT CLATSOP – – Invisible eagles & fearsome adventurers – –

Wednesday – – – Kylie had to work so the day was spent with Chris and Paul who took me out to the Oregon coast. Leaving home at 10.30am we head north and along the Oregon border with Washington. Climbing the hills, I get to take some photos of Longview where Kylie works.

The weather is not the best – bit hazy and misty with a little rain every now and again but it does not deter me from my favourite subject – taking photos!  The air is clean and crisp and the trees are so huge and dense.

Nothing like our gum trees back home.  Today is promising to be a very scenic day and I am really enjoying it so far.

C & P tell me that we are next going to a place where we can see Bald Eagles.

Continuing along the Columbia River we arrive at the Eagle Sanctuary but after much looking and hoping our feathered friends will say hello – they are no where to be seen.  There are plenty of Kodak moments though.  We finally have to give up our Eagle search and we continue on our way to Astoria.

HISTORY LESSON:The city of Astoria in Oregon is situated near the mouth of the Columbia River. The area was established in 1805 when a fort was built by Lewis and Clark.

Later it was named after the investor and millionaire John Jacob Astor whose fur trading company founded Fort Astoria at the site in 1810. His great grandson John Jacob Astor perished in the sinking of the Titanic.

The buildings in the town are very old and there is the Astoria Column on the top of the hill. Paul and I decide to climb the 164 steps to the top. There are landings every now and again to rest so it is not so bad.

At the top there are incredible views so it was worth it! This is the Astoria-Wegler Bridge. This bridge, which was formally dedicated August 27, 1966, stretches 4.1 miles from Astoria, Oregon, across the mouth of the Columbia River, to Point Ellice, Washington. Its construction was an impressive feat. The bridge’s main span is 1,232 feet in length, the longest “continuous truss” in the nation.

Obviously climbing the tower is the usual family outing as many families have made the climb and now proceed to throw paper aeroplanes from the top of the Tower.  I certainly hope that they pick them up when they go back down.  After enjoying our time at the top and taking loads of photos and video we head back down (which is a helluva lot easier) and set off for our next stop Fort Clatsop.

We arrive and park the car in the designated area which is adjacent to a place called Netul Landing. A lovely river spot so we have a little walk around to stretch our legs while we wait for the shuttle bus to take us to the Fort.

There is a statue of Sacagawea, a young Shoshone woman who was fifteen when she joined the Lewis & Clark Expedition.

Does everyone remember their history?

Even though I went to school in Australia we still learnt about the history of other countries – and there I will stop.  Just in case you were one of those poor individuals who did not have a great public school education – Sacagawea acted as a guide and was a most valuable asset to the group.

The landing is a peaceful area – and we are enjoying the occasional bird song and the lapping of water until the bus starts up.  That is the signal for all the panic stricken impatient people to race aboard for fear that the driver will go without them but there is room for everyone and off we go.

After about a 15 minute drive we arrive at our destination. Yep – they are at it again and nearly trample us in the rush to get off.  The park is a very densely wooded area with the clean smell of the forest all around.  I can imagine what it would be like for Lewis & Clark to arrive in such a desolate area, not to mention having to build your own accommodation and find food!

HISTORY LESSON : Fort Clatsop was built and occupied by the Lewis and Clark Corps of Discovery expedition. It served as the expedition’s Winter encampment in 1805 -1806, following their long cross-country journey.

Upon the group’s departure in March, 1806, the fort rapidly decayed in the wet coastal forest of western Oregon.

This is a wood carving of the group and commemorates the explorers’ great achievement in reaching the Pacific Ocean.

Standing at the back with arms outstretched is Meriwether Lewis; on the right with rifle is William Clark; between the two is a native Clatsop Indian and the dog on the left  is Lewis’ newfoundland – Seaman.

This current fort is a second replica.  The first replacement built for the Bi-Centenary in 2005 was destroyed when a 100 foot tree came crashing down upon it. The countryside is so dense and fresh.

We watched a very interesting short movie on the history of the Clatsop Indians who were hard done by let me tell you.

We also saw a demonstration on the use of a long rifle – I reckon by the time you got to load and fire it you would be lucky to still have your head! Such cumbersome weapons but it was very interesting.

After walking in and out of the buildings and seeing how these people survived, we decide to walk back to the car along a really nice little bush track.

Walking about a mile back to the car park,  we take our time and enjoy the walk. When we get back we have a bit of a breather and then head off for some lunch and some more of the Oregon Coast.

For lunch Chris suggests a place called ‘Mo’s’ at Seaview right on the beach. We sit outside on the covered decking where there are great views of Haystack Rock not to mention loads of fresh air.

The beach is very wide but there are only a few people out in the ‘surf’. They have no lifeguard patrols and the beaches are not netted – so it is swim at your own risk. Still I wouldn’t mind having a bit of a paddle and getting some sand between my toes!

We order clam chowder and clam strips (crumbed pieces of clam) and I have a glass of Chardonnay. A scrumptious lunch and a wonderful view.

After letting our lunch settle we head south to Manzanita and get some more great views of the Oregon coast. It certainly is a lovely place.  Heading home we call into a local winery – nice but not as good as our Aussie wines and the prices seemed to me to be a bit on the expensive side – so needless to say I did not buy anything but certainly partook rather energetically in the free wine tasting!

With the euphoria of the wine still lingering in my head we head off for dinner to the town of Seaside and a place called Camp 18.

It is an old logging camp and everything in the place is huge. Lots of old logging antiques and wooden statue carvings outside and inside and the lights are made from deer antlers which are all joined together.

I am not that hungry so just order some ribs – thinking of the small pork ribs back home. HA!!!

The waitress takes our order and then asks me ‘how do you want your potato?’ I say ‘No potato please’.

Seems rather an easy to understand statement eh?  But no – Miss Waitress says ‘but it comes with the meal’ I say ‘no thanks I don’t want the potato’ she says ‘it is not extra’. Deliverance is kicking in!!

This could go on and on like ‘who’s on first?’. I realise I am getting no where fast so I say ‘Baked’. She smiles in victory, writes it down and disappears.

Now remember – everything in this place is huge – a point that I had forgotten.

While waiting for the meal Miss Waitress returns with a dirty great bucket and puts it on the table. I think to myself ‘don’t even ask!’ I am rather bemused until I see the ribs. Not the nice and neat little ribs like at home but ribs the size of a bull elephant! No wonder she brought out the oversize bucket.

There are 6 cow ribs and then comes the arrival of the potato a la the Christmas Pudding – it is the size of a dinner plate and is covered in sour cream with a side of coleslaw and green beans. This is a meal in itself!

Maybe the bucket is not only for the bones as I feel a deep urge to barf!  I am told through a smile it is lumberjack size. Well, hey – that’s great if your occupation is a lumberjack, but as mine is not I force a smile and realise that discretion is the better part of valour and keep quiet.

I am stuffed to the gills and when it is time to leave I am finding it hard to get out of the chair!  Miss Waitress – who is still wearing her victory smile says that I can take my leftovers home with me.  That would be great thanks and she packs them, the potato and the remainder of the sides in containers so that I can take dinner back for Kylie and Tyler.

It is time to head for home and we get there about 9.30pm. It has been a big day but thoroughly enjoyable and K & T are glad that I had a nice time but conversation is soon forgotten when they spy the ribs!  It’s like kids at Christmas. Needless to say the conversation does not resume so I head for the shower and the serenity of my food free bed thinking I’ll be lucky if the thing doesn’t collapse!

Highlight of the day: lunch at Mo’s