http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/United-States/Oregon/Astoria/ Travel adventures in journals and photos from North America , United States , Oregon , Astoria en-us Sat, 06 Sep 2008 22:26:51 BST Sat, 06 Sep 2008 22:26:51 BST Fort Stevens was our camping accommodations on Thursday night as we rolled into town at around 900. Being right before the Labor Day weekend the ranger told us we were lucky to get a spot. Starting Friday they were booked solid. This was the largest campground west of the Mississippi and the fourth largest in the country with well over 500 campsites. Because of the lateness and the rain http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/United-States/Oregon/Astoria/blog-319957.html The Oregon coast is renowned for its ruggedly picturesque border with the Pacific. We will have to take this for granted because when we drove down it the weather was horrific with gales driving rain and not enough blue sky to make even a sailor's hankie let alone trousers. However all was not lost as there was a secondary reason for our visit. A few hours south of Seattle is the small coast http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/United-States/Oregon/Astoria/blog-317485.html I love arriving at new places in the dark and discovering them in the morning. We did not have high expectations of seaside as it was merely the first place we came to and we needed to stop driving. But it was a really cute lowkey seaside village. Maybe the main street was slightly prettied up for the tourists but if so it was done sensitively enough. No Shopping mall ugliness or gold coast st http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/United-States/Oregon/Astoria/blog-235302.html Believe it or not birding can be a sport. As an activity where there are winners and there are losers and there are stats birding is indeed a sport. Allow me to elaborateIn the world of birds there occurs a phenomenon where on occasion a particular bird will have some wires crossed just as humans do and they get a little lost in life. Instead of returning to their wintering grounds or http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/United-States/Oregon/Astoria/blog-232737.html We crossed the AstoriaMegler Bridge spanning the great Columbia River and into a really good Sunday Market lots of pleasant interesting people and goodies. We loved the old derelict timber pilings. The timbered Riverwalk with tracks in the middle for a 1913 selfpowered tram that runs in season.The Astoria Column on the hill behind the city is covered in a mural depicting 14 scenes of importan http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/United-States/Oregon/Astoria/blog-227323.html I will be setting off on a solo selfcontained bike tour in June 2008. I'll be following the 4255 mile 6848Km TransAmerica Route from west to east. It will take me through the states in this order Oregon Idaho Montana Wyoming Colorado Kansas Missouri Illinois Kentucky and Virginia. http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/United-States/Oregon/Astoria/blog-209684.html It seems that no matter where we go there is road construction. Yesterday we couldn't get into Oregon because it was closed. Sorry Actually it was just the bridge from WA but it has become a joke. No matter how small the town there is road construction. Orange barrels rule AmericaThanks for the info. Windie. We were in Astoria last night which seemed pretty nice. Cannon City is close by so we' http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/United-States/Oregon/Astoria/blog-204412.html Here are some pictures from the wharf in Astoria. http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/United-States/Oregon/Astoria/blog-203439.html Bob and I went to Astoria today only to find out therersquos way more to do than can be done in one day That area is rich in history and we saw just a glimpse of it. There is the Astoria Column which is 125rsquo tall and has 164 steps in the spiral staircase. Thatrsquos 112 more steps to climb when you first think ldquoEnough alreadyrdquo But the view at the top is gorgeous an http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/United-States/Oregon/Astoria/blog-203433.html Fort Stevens is strategically located at the mouth of the Columbia River on the Oregon side. The Fort was commissioned in 1863 to defend against the possible attack from Canada should England enter the Civil War on the Confederate side and was active until decommissioned in 1947. On June 6 1941 a Japanese submarine fired several 5.5rdquo rounds at the fort causing no damage but making Fort http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/United-States/Oregon/Astoria/blog-59316.html Tillamook which lies about 25 miles south of Nehalem Bay is best known for its cheese factory and its air museum. We took the obligatory tour of the plant and sampled quite a few varieties of very good cheese. Just before we left we found the real attraction. They also make ice creamsome of the best we have ever had. We were eating ice cream cones at 1000 AM. Not too good for the diet.Th http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/United-States/Oregon/Astoria/blog-58383.html Growing up Astoria had three landmarks the AstoriaMegler Bridge the Astoria Column and the Home Bakery. There may have been others but those were the ones that counted to a young child. I knew we had almost made it to the ocean when we reached the small town of Astoria at the mouth of the Columbia River.Now many years later not much has changed for me as I travel to Astoria once or twice http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/United-States/Oregon/Astoria/blog-26598.html