Cape Disappointment, Lighthouses, Astoria Column, Planes and Tanks

July 3rd, 2016 

Today was a lighthouse day, which meant a drive across the Astoria-Kegler Bridge.  This is the bridge that takes you into Washington State and it is over 4 miles long and pretty high on the Oregon side.

About to enter Washington State

We drove on to Cape Disappointment State Park and the Cape Disappointment Lighthouse.  The parking area was very small and we drove around for a while waiting for a space to become available.

We parked and followed the trail.  If you zoom in on the trail link, we parked at the car park you can see near #4, and then walked on the trail from #4 to #10 and then back to the car park.  

The Coast Guard station was at #6

                           

It was behind a locked gate.

                           

We continued on the trail.  #7 was Dead Mans Cove.  It was very pretty.

We continued the trail which went on to a paved road and very uphill.  It took all we had to make it to the top but we did it.  The trail had said it was 1.2 miles round trip but didn't say it was uphill a lot of the way.  We were exhausted and sat for a while.

You couldn't go in this lighthouse.

                                        

The path we had just come up.

We don't know what this green light was for.

We could see the Lewis & Clark Interpretive Center across the cliffs.  That would be our next stop on the trail.

The coastguards were changing shifts so Bryan asked them if there was a chance of getting a ride back down the hill as we weren't sure his knee was up to the walk back but they said they weren't allowed to give rides.

So, off we went back down the hill.  This time when we got to #5 we took the trail back to the Interpretive Center.  We went past #9, a WWII Bunker.

We eventually reached #10, the Interpretive Center.  We went inside and spoke to the volunteer at the desk, she stamped our lighthouse book, and I used the restrooms.  There is a museum here but it was $5 to get in and we were so exhausted that we didn't really want to walk around anymore.  We had a Washington State Park Annual Pass that we had purchased last summer when we visited and so we didn't have to pay the $10 entrance fee to the park.   

The Interpretive Center has been built around Fort Canby.

                            

I found a place to sit and Bryan had a walk around the fort.

I was surprised when I saw the pictures as it didn't look as though there was much of Fort Canby from the outside but inside the ruins obviously there were some exhibits.  Here's a picture of me sitting on my perch waiting.

We walked back down on the paved trail to the car park and it was an easier trail than the one we had taken up to the lighthouse.

Our next stop was to be the North Head Lighthouse but when we got to the car park there were no places again.   Bryan got out quickly to see if he could get a picture but he couldn't get close enough.  As we were both exhausted from our prior walk we didn't bother waiting for a parking space to open up and just left.  Another time, maybe.

We decided to drive to a nearby town and get some lunch.  On the way we stopped at this viewpoint hoping to be able to see the lighthouse but no such luck.  Another couple were there with the same idea as they had just given up trying to get a space at the car park as well.

We carried on.  I saw this sign that I had to get a picture of but unfortunately it is blurry.  Here you go Ray, a town named after you!!!!
                           

We stopped at the only fast food restaurant in town, Burger King and had lunch before heading back home.

Here's a picture of the bridge from the Washington side.

Back in Oregon.
                           

We decided to go and see the Astoria Column.  This year is the 90th Anniversary of the column.  The column is 125 feet tall and has 164 steps to climb to the top.  The murals depict the history of the area from before the white man arrived to the arrival of the railroad.  Included are the Discovery of the Columbia River, the terminus of the Lewis & Clark Expedition, and the arrival of the ship Tonquin.  It is very detailed and beautiful.

There was a parking fee of $5 but that lasted for a year if you wanted to return.  Unfortunately, we didn't have the energy to climb the steps up the tower but the views from the car park were good as well.

View back at the bridge we had just crossed.

The top of the tower

We drove round an airfield that was in Warranten.

and then back on base, nearly home.

Finally we were home. We packed a lot in to the day.  Tomorrow is July 4th but we don't have any plans and will take it easy.  I am going to try and make a Crab Boil though, so we will see how that turns out.