August 7, Astoria: River Walk, waterfront, flowers, ships, and more

Here's the old ferry dock in the foreground at the 14th Street Pier. It's a nice day and everything seems picturesque. But looking back at this photo, I think, "Isn't it amazing how crooked I could get the horizon line without even noticing?" It must be a learning curve with digital cameras. I don't remember this happening so much with the old SLRs.

The old bundles of pilings at 14th Street remind me of asparagus with all the green mossy stuff on them.

Here's another veiw of the ruins of the old ferry with Englund Marine's building on the right and Tongue Point in the background.

I really like this detail of the old sign and siding of the Knappton Towboat Company's building. It says:

KNAPPTON

TOWBOAT

PARKING

ONLY

Now as I write this in 2010, it's gone. The building remains, but nothing of this image. I'll compare it sometime on my Astoria, Oregon, Daily Photo blog.

Baked Alaska on the left.

Here's the seafood building next to Pier 11. I love the boats docked in front of it. The Wet Dog Cafe is on the waterfront to the left.

More boats. I fall more in love with my new town every time I see scenes like this one.

From the dock at Doc's on 12th (Baked Alaska), looking back at Sears and The Wet Dog.

Windows next to Sears on the River Walk. Not kept up, but photogenic.

Doc's on 12th Street.

Here's where the pilot boat docks. To the right is a platform, and to the right of that is where I took the picture of the Knappton sign.

Yes, here you can see what I just described above. The Knappton sign is along the River Walk to the right.

At the foot of the 14th Street Pier, and just across the River Walk (on the corner of 14th and Marine Drive) is this lovely patch of flowers. I got several pix today that I liked, and here they are:

I love this blue flower. It looks like they came from one of those wildflower seed packet assortments. It's not on anyone's property except the City's as far as I know, and I'm grateful each time I see this corner that someone bothered to plant it.

Going up 14th Street back toward downtown, it's nice to come across historical markers like this. I love learning the history, and it makes me happy that someone cared to take note. I've lived in several towns with a lot of preserved history; I'd find it hard to live somewhere without roots.

Back at my apartment, here's a wonderful cargo ship passing. The pic is from my back deck.

Here's my deck where the ship photo was taken. I go up a few steps from my back door and end up on this landing. The structure is really a fire escape, but each landing is made big enough to use for a deck. This adds such aesthetic value to my apartment, I just love it, especially because it's a long way around to get to the water. At least I can see it, even though the walking/driving route isn't direct.

From the deck looking upriver. Too bad about that condo, though they have an incredible view I'd like to see someday.

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