Astoria, Oregon-A Travel Journal

My husband and I spent a few days at the NW Oregon Coast in Astoria. We also wandered across the Columbia to Washington State. We were looking at Lewis and Clark National Historic Park. The mouth of the Columbia River was the end point for the Lewis and Clark Expedition. They went up the Missouri River, across the Rockies to the Columbia. They ended up near where Astoria, Oregon is now. Fort Clatsop was their wintering spot. They explored the area, harvested dead whale, boiled sea water for salt and ate way more Salmon than they wanted to.

I have memories of going to see the fort as school field trip and on family vacation. It is nestled in the woods, the trees dripping moisture they gather from the sky, even on clear days. Old spruce and hemlock trees shade the modern reproduction of the fort. If you are motivated you can make the 6 mile hike or bike ride to the beach from the fort.

Cape Disappointment is on the Washington side of the Columbia. It was called Disappointment because it is not the true mouth of the Columbia River and many explorer could make it no further due to the crazy currents and waves at the mouth of the river. The Columbia River bar is one of the most hazardous in the world. Lots of water, tides and ever shifting sands carried by the strong river current make it dangerous. Never the less, we saw many ships heading up river towards Portland, including one cruise ship!

Get your sketch books out, record your trip. Keep working on it even when you have returned home. It makes the trip a bit more interesting.

And, remember to take the trip survey so you too can travel with me next year on a travel journal trip and workshop!