Monday, September 5, 2011

OUR SUNNY HOLIDAY WEEKEND – ASTORIA, OREGON

The bridge to WashingtonThe Weather Gods surely smiled on Astoria this weekend!  A gloriously HOT (mid-80’s) Saturday was followed by a beautifully sunny Sunday.  Foggy Monday morning gave way to sunshine and 70 degrees in the afternoon (while the fog bank hung over the beach, a few miles to our west).

Odel gets his toes wetWe took full advantage.  We visited Ft. Clatsop (where Lewis and Clark and company spent a cramped and dismal winter at the end of their western explorations), then took our lunch for a picnic on the beach at Ft. Stevens State Park.  We walked the paved Riverwalk along the Columbia River in Astoria, and took the narrated ride on the historic Riverfront trolley – where we learned that the entire town of Astoria, first built out of wood on pilings in the Columbia River, burned to the water line in 1922. 

We browsed the Astoria Sunday market.  We visited the Astoria Column and took a drive over to Sunset Beach.  We watched huge freighters in the deep water channel of the Columbia River, where they exchanged the Bar Pilot for the River Pilot.  We walked and gawked and enjoyed a few meals out.  We sat in our chairs on our lawn at Lewis & Clark Golf & RV Resort (click here to read our review) and enjoyed the view and the sunshine. 

The list of what we didn’t do is almost as long.  We passed on the Columbia River Maritime Museum since we toured it last time we visited Astoria – but if you come to Astoria, it should be number ONE on your list (just my opinion)!  We didn’t get out to see the Salt Works, where the Corps of Discovery boiled sea water to extract precious salt.  We didn’t make it to the Flavel House Museum or take the self guided tour of historic Astoria.  See?  I knew there would be a reason to return!

at 10:10 PM

15 comments:

  1. Janna and MikeSeptember 6, 2011 at 4:57 AM

    Fantastic photos Laurie--who is the photographer, you or Odel?

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  2. Ed GreenbergSeptember 6, 2011 at 4:57 AM

    I really enjoyed Astoria when I was there in 1998. It was before I had an RV. I motorcycled up the Oregon Coast, landing in Astoria. I climbed the column, crossed the bridge and visited Long Beach, WA, ate seafood, and poked around the town. It wasn't a holiday weekend, so there was no fair or anything else going on.

    Somewhere, there is a seven entry Travelogue (from before the days of blogs) on that trip. If it ever gets posted again, I'll let you know.
    Best,
    Ed G.

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  3. Paul and Marsha Weaver OCT. 17, 2009September 6, 2011 at 5:11 AM

    You two did all that in ONE weekend! The album is full of awesome pictures. We are going to be up that way next year. Can't wait to see that beautiful area. Enjoy the ride.

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  4. AnonymousSeptember 6, 2011 at 5:24 AM

    Great pictures, Laurie! Wish we were there!!

    One season closer to retirement!!

    hugs,
    donna

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  5. Sue MaloneSeptember 6, 2011 at 6:17 AM

    Laurie, you found dahlias! I am amazed at the gorgeous weather you found in Astoria. How wonderful.

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  6. Sue and DougSeptember 6, 2011 at 6:20 AM

    great tour of Astoria!..glad you all enjoyed yourselves!!

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  7. squawmamaSeptember 6, 2011 at 7:42 AM

    Loved the photos and staory of your adventure there... Glad you guys had fun!
    Travel safe
    Donna

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  8. Jerry and SuzySeptember 6, 2011 at 9:10 AM

    Did you guys climb to the top of the Column? With all you did, there probably wasn't time for it, but it's a pleasure to be able to say I did last time we were there. Loved your slide show! What did you use to lay that out and display the fan?

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  9. Laurie and OdelSeptember 6, 2011 at 9:18 AM

    Jerry, I use LiveWriter to create my blog posts. Under the "insert" tab at the top, there is a choice called "Photo Album". I used "Create Online Album" (I think), where you choose photos from your computer to add to an album.

    Once that is done, you have several choices of how you want to display the album on your blog, along with programming language to "embed" the album in your blog. Just copy and paste that language to your blog - that does it. Fun and reasonably simple.

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  10. AnonymousSeptember 6, 2011 at 10:22 AM

    Looks absolutely fabulous!! Can't wait to go visit! Nina

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  11. livin ez on the roadSeptember 6, 2011 at 1:17 PM

    Sam is from Seaside and we have spent many years there and Astoria.There are many things to do around the area and a nice hike from Ft Clatsop to the sea.We will be in Seaside on the 18th for aweek before heading for Sacramento.Maybe we'll see you in Sac. Sam and Carolyn Kidd

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  12. Dennis and DonnaSeptember 6, 2011 at 4:03 PM

    I LOVE the story of Lewis and Clark...such an adventure they had...and the history is amazing. I cannot imagine coming upon some of the sites they first saw....enjoy..and, while you're at it, channel me up some history!

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  13. heyduke50September 6, 2011 at 4:44 PM

    we should be in Astoria about this time next year... thanks for sharing your visits...

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  14. Barbara and RonSeptember 6, 2011 at 4:48 PM

    We'll be there in a couple of weeks, so thanks for the list of things to do. Last time the only thing I saw was the Astoria Column, but I loved it so much that it was enough. Gorgeous pictures. Have you noticed this area seems to be Dalia heaven?

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  15. Nickie and JimSeptember 15, 2011 at 9:48 PM

    Wow - Astoria! Great timing to read your post as we are aiming for Astoria. Thanx for preparing the way for us! Love the pics. LiveWriter seems to work well for you, unlike Internet Explorer, which is doing a lousy job for me. Maybe I should change (if it doesn't involve too much pain!)
    Nickie

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