Just another day in the Sunset Empire...

[nootka]

These were taken from the Astor(ia) Column parking lot looking West out over the "bar" where the Columbia River (to the left foreground) meets the Pacific Ocean (foreground, also inundated with a distant fogbank)! This area is known as the "Pacific Graveyard" and home to the National Motor Lifeboat School for the United States Coast Guard, their station is known as the "Guardians of the Pacific Graveyard". MANY shipwrecks lie in this vicinity...some you can see, or recently were able to, and others are only available to the eye on a map. The point of land to the upper right is the place where the CG station is, Cape Disappointment (named so during the Lewis and Clark Expedition).

You can see the small point of light near the center (just above the first span of the bridge, at the point), that is a fishing boat headed in over the bar, and just in front of that is a container ship just North of what is known as Trestle Bay in Ft. Stevens Park. The land in the foreground/bottom is the top of the hill in Astoria. The little spit of land by the boats is all within Warrenton/Hammond area and part of the park known as Ft. Stevens.

Gotta add this one b/c it shows the light from the boat a little better:

Anyway, I thought these were sort of sublime in their beauty as sunsets go around here.

Hope you enjoy!

One of my favorite things is to drive up to the Column (which is a point of land that has almost a 360 degree view of one of the most beautiful/dear to me places on earth), turn on a favorite song or three, and watch the sun bid adieu, and the lights of the city come up, and listen to the sounds drifting upward...things such as distant barking dogs, the foghorn of an incoming or outgoing ship, a motorcycle buzzing along Marine Dr., just never know what you'll hear up there depending on the wind...it's even better if a loved one (or two or three) is along for the ride.

Liz

 

[Sterling]

Oh thank you so much for sharing those photos!!! They are just beautiful!!! I enjoy seeing your pics because not only do you post them but you also give info and history!! :new_multi: And when I read your piece on Lewis and Clark...you got my 100% attention!!! Thanks again for sharing!!

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[Frankie]

Oh WOW,,,,,,,,,,,,,l could hear the nature in your pictures, just beautiful!!!!!!

 

[nootka]

You're welcome...I love learning about my surroundings, both the natural history and the history of the people that inhabit this place.

The river shore along the North (Washington side) is rife with campsites and historical places that were meaningful and eventful for the Lewis and Clark Expedition...one only has to be here in the middle of Winter to understand how a small cove on the beach came to be named "Dismal Nitch" *LMAO*

I live just a few miles from the Winter camp 1805-1806 for the Expedition, Fort Clatsop. One of the points that they or their hunting parties visited is just down the road, Youngs River Falls. I often wonder what this place was like, then...the river was undredged and unrefined, and spilled outward at least another half mile or so (now there are jetties and dredges that keep it "in line" and fit for passage of deep draft ships, also tame the wild currents and waves as much as possible)...the trees had never been cut and for sure there were no more than footpaths along the banks.

I am prone to strange flights of fancy, though, been called a daydreamer. Hee hee.

I like the second pic how you can see the bit of mist that tends to rise in the twilight, and it's a cool breath after a warm Summer's day, often smells of the sea, the waterfront (p.u.), and of course, pine from all the trees.

If you ever get out this way, we'll go sightseeing!

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Liz

 

[twister]

:bgrin Those are amazing photos, so beautiful, thank you for sharing.

Yvonne

 

[Sterling]

Liz...just a couple of months ago I borrowed a book out of the library of the Lewis and Clark expedition that spoke of Ft. Clatsop and other places out in your area that fascinated me. Actually the whole expedition and more into the plains and the Pacific Northwest had me at the edge of my seat. I could just imagine doing an adventure like that. You see we, and other members of our family do re-enactments and these historical sagas and venues are so interesting to us. I'm glad you have shared your pics with us, I've really enjoyed them and look forward to more....and the history behind them...... :aktion033: . I would LOVE to come sightseeing if I'm ever in your area, thank you.....I have a few stops to make when I head that way anyway...LOL !!!!

 

[Ojai Minis]

These are gorgeous!!! I LOVE your telling of your evening

Thanks!

Liz V.

 

[Russ]

BEAUTIFUL pictures! BTW......HAPPY BIRTHDAY Liz and may all your wishes come true!

 

[nootka]

Heheh, Cheyenne, have you read Undaunted Courage? Nice book...

They have re-enactments at Ft. Clatsop, and some Civil War re-enactments at Ft. Stevens over Memorial and Labor Day weekends...lotsa fun to be had out this way! They do some demos at the Salt Works, too, where the Expedition took salt from the sea.

I know some of the "out of the way" spots that are fun to visit.

Thanks, Russ, for the happy birthday greetings! I am doing my best to make it a noteworthy day though technically I was not "born" til 4:55 a.m. on the 21st, I've been celebrating a little early.

Liz

 

[ChrystalPaths]

Oh how I love sunsets and those are breathtaking. I can alsmost smell the ocean! BTW have a happy wonderful birthday and may all you wishes come true.

 

[LindaL]

Nothing like a Pacific sunset!!! :aktion033: Gorgeous pics!!!

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[Sterling]

Heheh, Cheyenne, have you read Undaunted Courage? Nice book...

Liz

No I have'nt read that book, but I surely look for it in the library when I go out there next month! Sounds awesome!

 

[Shari]

Liz those are really pretty! I always enjoy seeing sunsets. :lol:

 

[JumpinJackFarm]

Awesome pictures! I love Astoria...what a beautiful place to live

: BTW...Happy Birthday again!

 

[CAM]

Absolutely beautiful Liz! I love our West Coast sunsets.

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[CKC]

I do hope to visit OR some day. I never even knew how beautiful until I started seeing pictures from all the OR posters. Just beautiful.

Now you've inspired me to show our East Coast pics.

Kim

 

[Reble]

Thanks for sharing Lovely :aktion033:

 

[Marylou]

:saludando: I know the area well! My son was stationed at Cape D! We visited him there at Christmas one year. The view from his livingroom window was looking out at the water with the School boathouse on one side and the station boathouse on other side. Eagles were always sitting on the pilings. In the late '90s He piloted the boat that rescued a crab fisherman from an overturned boat. Unfortunatly 2 others were lost. Now He is Senior Chief and is in charge of the Coast Guard Station in Juneau Alaska. Thanks for the pics. Brought back wonderful memories.

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[nootka]

Marylou, that is awesome! My brother in law was at Cape D in the early/mid 90's (Bernie McMaster in case your son was there in the 93-95 time frame, he died a couple months after his tour was up and many of the Coasties came to it b/c they all loved him so).

Was the Crab boat the Sea King? I remember that if it was...sad. He may well have had contact w/my husband as they used the services several times for running out of fuel, etc.

Anyway, that's neat that you know the area....I found a neat pic on a website, looking out over the bar, maybe it would be nice to have for posterity.

I love this view of the freighter w/its light on, anchored up just North of the channel, waiting to go up river... and you can see Cape D in the background (also the Megler Bridge).

Liz M.

 

[Marylou]

He was there in "95. The boat was the Miss Renee. The lost were a 14 yr old boy and his stepfather. The one saved was an uncle of the boy. Jeff got the AFRAS award for that rescue. Was so proud standing in the Rayburn Foyer of the Capital Building watching him receive the International award. If you met him you would remember. He is almost 6ft8 and thin as a rail.

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