Wednesday, Sept.9 Crusing the Oregon Coast...

Departing Lincoln City this morning we started up Costal Hwy. 101 with a destination of Astoria, Oregon for the evening. However, it would not be a direct drive, we made several stops along the way. Cape Kiwanda was first to divert our attention with its huge sea stacks off shore and the fantastic sandstone headland carved by wind and wave. Riding the waves off shore were several surfers. We had never seen surfers using paddles to propel themselves off the crest of the swells…we watched for a while.

Next Cape Meares with the shortest lighthouse, at just 38 ft, on the Oregon coast caught our attention. We toured the lighthouse and marveled at the enormous lens that amplified and projected the kerosene light to a distance of 13 miles at sea. The mysterious Octopus Tree was also nearby.

With more than 4500 miles under our belt we decided it was time for an oil change…Oil Can Henry performed the task in a reasonable amount of time right after a scrumptious lunch at Burger King.

Pushing northward along the coastal road our next stop was Ecola State Park and “Terrible Tillie” the light house that is atop a huge rock 1-1/2 miles off shore. At first we could see it in the distance …however the weather was closing in and it slowly disappeared into the mist. Sea Lions could be heard barking in the surf but we were unable to find a point from which to observe them…bummer!

By early evening we arrived at beautiful Astoria. The hillside was covered with vintage, Victorian houses, some offering fresh cut flowers for sale. The architecture made for a charming town. Atop the hillside on which Astoria was built, stands the 125 feet high Astoria Column (which contains 166 steps…I know because Charlie made me climb everyone of them!!) This pictorial frieze column completed in 1926 tells the story of Astoria from its beginnings as an Indian Village, to the arrival of settlers and the railroad, a unique monument.  A replica of a Indian burial canoe also stands on the summit...Another full day of enjoyment!