On Wednesday morning, we set off for Astoria. For the most part, we avoided the interstate and were on state highways for a couple of hours. After checking in to the Comfort Suites Hotel, we set out to explore by walking the paved path along the waterfront. We went west a couple of miles to get to the Buoy Beer Company were we had a couple of cold ones and enjoyed the view.
The Megler Bridge is over four miles long as it spans the mouth of the Columbia River, and the open truss section is over 1,200 feet long, the longest open truss bridge in America.
As we walked under the bridge, we came across the Astoria Maritime Memorial.
A short distance further brought us to this memorial for the Ghadar Party. The Independence movement against British rule of India began here in Astoria with a gathering of Indian Revolutionaries from the USA and Canada.
On the easterly walk back to the hotel, we saw many ships anchored in the area, apparently waiting to either cross back out to the ocean or to be brought up river to Portland and beyond.
On Thursday morning, I went east from the hotel to check out the waterfront in that direction.
I came across several more old piers.
The paved trail split, so I went to the right and eventually ended up in the Violet LaPlante Park, a small city park with lovely plantings.
I then retraced my travels and found multiple names for the paved path: Astoria River Trail; Astoria Riverfront; and Astoria Riverwalk.
After breakfast, Patty and I drove to the top of Coxcomb Hill where the Astoria Column is located. There are magnificent views in all directions. In addition to the column, there is also a memorial to Comcomly, the Chief of the Chinook Nation.
The Astoria Column was celebrating the building of it 90 years ago in 1926. The Column is 125 feet tall and the exterior is decorated with a spiral frieze that wraps around the tower, depicting local history from the natives who lived there for centuries before Europeans came up the construction of the tower.
I hiked back down into the city, while Patty continued to explore; she then drove down from Coxcomb Hill and we met for lunch on the waterfront before visiting the Columbia River Maritime Museum.
The Museum was showing Penguins 3D, a 20 minute movie about penguins. It showed quite a bit of info about the life of king penguins in the southern Atlantic Ocean. We just had to watch it and check out the displays they had about the movie.
The museum focuses on the Coast Guard and how rough travel is over the Columbia Bar.
That evening, we had dinner and wine back at the hotel. Friday, we had breakfast at the hotel, and revisited some of the ground previously covered - allowing me to take pictures of things we missed before, including the Pilot Boat Peacock.
After coffee and brunch, we walked around the downtown area and found some creative advertising.
The Megler Bridge is over four miles long as it spans the mouth of the Columbia River, and the open truss section is over 1,200 feet long, the longest open truss bridge in America.
As we walked under the bridge, we came across the Astoria Maritime Memorial.
A short distance further brought us to this memorial for the Ghadar Party. The Independence movement against British rule of India began here in Astoria with a gathering of Indian Revolutionaries from the USA and Canada.
On the easterly walk back to the hotel, we saw many ships anchored in the area, apparently waiting to either cross back out to the ocean or to be brought up river to Portland and beyond.
On Thursday morning, I went east from the hotel to check out the waterfront in that direction.
I came across several more old piers.
The paved trail split, so I went to the right and eventually ended up in the Violet LaPlante Park, a small city park with lovely plantings.
I then retraced my travels and found multiple names for the paved path: Astoria River Trail; Astoria Riverfront; and Astoria Riverwalk.
After breakfast, Patty and I drove to the top of Coxcomb Hill where the Astoria Column is located. There are magnificent views in all directions. In addition to the column, there is also a memorial to Comcomly, the Chief of the Chinook Nation.
The Astoria Column was celebrating the building of it 90 years ago in 1926. The Column is 125 feet tall and the exterior is decorated with a spiral frieze that wraps around the tower, depicting local history from the natives who lived there for centuries before Europeans came up the construction of the tower.
I hiked back down into the city, while Patty continued to explore; she then drove down from Coxcomb Hill and we met for lunch on the waterfront before visiting the Columbia River Maritime Museum.
The Museum was showing Penguins 3D, a 20 minute movie about penguins. It showed quite a bit of info about the life of king penguins in the southern Atlantic Ocean. We just had to watch it and check out the displays they had about the movie.
The museum focuses on the Coast Guard and how rough travel is over the Columbia Bar.
That evening, we had dinner and wine back at the hotel. Friday, we had breakfast at the hotel, and revisited some of the ground previously covered - allowing me to take pictures of things we missed before, including the Pilot Boat Peacock.
After coffee and brunch, we walked around the downtown area and found some creative advertising.
And then we had a pleasant drive back to Portland, taking a different route that took us through backwoods and small towns - very scenic and a pleasant ride home.
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