First 2013 trip

Saturday, March 16, 2013
Happy Birthday Link. Hope you had a nice day.
Our trip over was uneventful but nice. We were able to get away even a few minutes before we had planned, then stopped for lunch in LaGrande. Also stopped at the Grocery Outlet there. There were a few things we couldn’t pass up since our local store had been out of several items the last time through. It’s not like our cupboards or frig were empty!

Pebbles - check out all the telephone transmission lines

lots of wind power along the gorge

We chugged on through the Blue Mountains into less than beautiful terrain until we met up with the Columbia River

where the scenery at least becomes more interesting.

Mt Hood

Viewing the fish ladder - only a few steelhead

Driving on the dam

Our first major stop of the day was at the Bonneville Dam Visitor Center. We had been there many years ago, and maybe all the kids remember visiting the sturgeon pond. I think the granddad (Herman?) is 70 some years old. We didn’t take the time to visit the pond this trip – we had stamps to get! The VC rendered up two of them, and if we hurried we might get across the river on time to get two more before the Ranger Station closed at Beacon Rock, Washington.


So back up the road to the Bridge of the Gods, pay toll, and on across to the Washington side. If we could have just driven across the rest of the dam it would have saved us quite a bit of time! Oh well. We eventually found the Ranger Station about 10 minutes after 5, and the ranger was just locking up. But he was very gracious and let us get parked and hustle in for the stamps. The station actually closes at 4:30, but he had been delayed time after time, and we were happy about that even if he wasn’t!
We went on another couple of hours and stopped in the Walmart lot in Longview, Washington for overnight.

Fog rolling along the mighty Columbia

Approaching the Astoria Bridge

Starting up the highest part

Friday morning we had an enjoyable drive along the Columbia River and on out to the Astoria/Meglar bridge, crossing back into Oregon.

Walking out to the North Head lighthouse

Fresnel lens in the Lewis and Clark center

Breakfast was bountiful at Stefanie’s Cabin in Astoria, then we went on to Fort Stevens State Park and obtained campsites. After trying, and trying, and trying campsites, the problem child was finally satisfied with our sites. The check in lady was still smiling after we went back in for the third or fourth time to finally settle on a site, but I bet she grumbled about us later. Even after that we had to go back in and get a stamp that we didn’t know was located there!  Then it was off to enjoy the ocean, the river, and the Military museum at Fort Stevens where we obtained three more stamps.

Okay, even a sidewalk can be historic?

Former lighthouse keeper quarters, now vacation rentals

Sneak Peak of the lighthouse?

Saturday morning we went back to the Washington side of the river to visit the North Head Lighthouse and the the Lewis and Clark center. We got eight stamps there and really enjoyed the center. Came back to camp for a very late lunch, (but breakfast was very late too) then went back out to the ocean overlook and the river to enjoy the blustery weather and the river traffic.

 

 

 

 

 

We ended our day playing dominoes at the Flintstones cavemobile. We are having a most enjoyable trip. It has actually been fairly nice weather when we want to be out, and there is sunlight shining through the trees in the campground, and blue skies as I’m posting this on Sunday morning. We’re heading over to the Rubble mobile for breakfast in a few, then I’ll add pictures and get this posted.

Not able to get the home page up with the phone hot spot, but MiFi had no problem. Think about that Link. Maybe we’re doing something wrong.