Spinal replacement on the Astoria Column - in through the head!

They brought a big crane in this morning, and now they've taken the top of the crown off the Astoria Column. The goal is to replace the spiral staircase that goes from the bottom up to the white landing platform that you can see here. First, they remove the top of the column, then they take out the old spiral staircase, then drop in the new one. It sounds like quite an operation. Something like spinal replacement through the top of the head! There are workers on the platform now, looking like black ants. If you click on the photo, you can see the ball or something like that at the end of the chain or rope just at the top of what's left of the top of the column. Built in 1926, the column stands 125 feet tall - so you can imagine what the crane must look like from close up! I'll post a picture when I get one.

A notice from the Chamber of Commerce said that the base of the column would not be completely cordoned off, and it would be possible to view the process. I appreciate that they know we want to see this! I'm not sure how far they let cars up the road at the moment. They said at least some of the parking would be unavailable, so maybe the're still letting cars up the road. At the very least, I should be able park a few blocks from start of the road that leads in and walk up near the crane after work. Sometimes I walk up from here, but it's sultry and enervating, and I think I'll drive part way. I took this with a long lens. It's really quite a long way up from the river.

There's a full view of the column here. Just scroll past the trees and such.

Trees in the sunset, Astoria Column

We'd had about three cloudless, rainless, fogless days in a row, although it's been cold. The sun was setting on the column, which I could see from Video Horizons as I exited with five movies, planning to hunker down and get to bed early (which I didn't). There was no time to walk up there to catch the sunset, so I drove, hoping I'd make it in time. I went up 8th Street to the ridge, then turned left on Niagara Street, and at that point realized where the action was. It was in the branches along the street. Whether I made it to the top for the sunset or not now seemed immaterial. OMG, were these trees gorgeous. What an effect the glow of the setting sun had on their tangled bare branches. Typically, the camera brought the red out a little brighter than it probably was, but I didn't tweak these pix at all.

If you click to enlarge the photo, you can see that the branches and trunks are gray where the shadows fall blocking the sunlight.

The tangle of stems at the base of the trees were pretty, too. Here the light is already fading. It's so ephemeral, you have to catch it just right. Maybe that's one reason we all love the effects of light so much, besides the fact that they can be so striking.

This replica of an Indian canoe is on display at the base of the column. I meant to get close up to the information, but it was getting dark and I didn't do it. Read more about the canoe here.

Here the sun drops below the horizon of the ocean. There's a wider view of the river on my web album. I wondered if it was ocean or fog, because the horizon level seemed high, but I think that was an optical illusion. It's so far away, it could seem higher than the river (or bay). I'm not sure if this is technically Youngs River or Youngs Bay in the foreground. Anyway, it's a lot of water flowing into the Columbia. You can see the prow of the boat in silhouette.

I've turned south. This is Youngs River flowing into Youngs Bay at the base of the Astoria hill.

We're still at the base of the column. I liked the pink behind the spiky, leafless plants.

The top of the column.

The Astoria Column with a beautiful pink and lavender sky behind it. I love the trees here at the top of the hill. This is facing approximately east from the parking area back to the column.

Here I've turned south again to catch Saddle Mountain in the clear pink sky. The posts are part of the visitor area at the column. Looks kind of cool.

I like this photo a lot. It's looking at 15th Street from the doorway of our shop at 1490 Marine Drive (actually, on the River Walk at 15th). I'm looking out through the glass that surrounds the entryway, so the glass beyond our door reflects the lamp right next to the door and puts it into the scene of 15th Street.

At the Astoria Column, Astoria, Oregon

This is Youngs River seen from ground level at the Astoria Column. I like how open the veiw is with the pastel colors. And the spelling of "Youngs" is right. I don't know why I has no apostrophe.

Here's a boat made by the local Indians. I'll have to go back and read the plaque so I can say more about it.

Turning northwest, this is the Columbia River looking toward the mouth. The Astoria-Megler bridge stretches the four-point-something miles to Washington. The column is a favorite walk from town for a lot of locals and probably for tourists as well.

A beautiful rainbow shows itself for a moment over the Columbia. Weather can come and go so quickly. Rainbows over the water are not unusual, but they're always a surprising treat.

Here's the column itself at the top of the hill where the previous pictures were taken.

And this is the top of the column. I wish I hadn't cut off the spire, but it's still a nice photo - nice colors.

July 6: Being tourists in Astoria

When my brother and Beth came up from Cottage Grove for the day, the weather turned out to be much nicer than it had been for the celebration on the 4th. We did some of the tourist things. I'd learned enough to show them a few places, and we did some things I hadn't done before, either. Our first trip was out to the beach to see the wreck of the Peter Iredale - scenic and compelling as always.

This is a part of the ship further back from the bow. It's probably the mainmast housing.

Next we went up to see the Astoria Column with its spectacular view over the Columbia River and surrounding countryside.

I love the purple foxgloves, and I still can't get over the amazing array of green things and shades of green in Oregon.

The column shows the history of our area in pictures and words.

It sure does climb way up there into the sky. There's a door at the bottom, and you can walk all the way up the spiral staircase.

In case you wonder where you are, there's a bronze map at the base of the column.

I wonder what's in here. Maybe some floppy disks? I hope there will be a way to read them. Maybe some 35mm film capsules?

Here's the view on the other side of the column from the river. The tallest mountain on the left is called Saddle Mountain. It has lots fo bumps and . . . a saddle :) That's Youngs River, and no, they don't use an apostrophe.

Here we are down by the river again, just west of the Maritime Museum. The old pilings and foundation are picturesque, and sometimes there are ships in the dock.

The Columbia Light Ship is in the dock permanently. The Queen of the West (I think that's the name) is a paddlewheel boat that comes down the Columbia just this far bringing tourists.

They're expanding the museum. See the trolley tracks in the foreground? You can ride for one dollar, and that's what we're going to do.

This is one of the sights out the trolley window - the old cannery building called "Big Red." It's privately owned. You can't go through it - darn! I can only imagine!

I don't know the guy. I thought the inside of the old refurbished trolley was pretty cool. And when you get to the end of the line, the seats can be flipped so everyone is once again facing the way the trolley is moving. I like that!

Here's another pic of the inside of the trolley. It was wonderful having Gary and Beth come visit. Why is it that I never take photos of people? I guess it's because I don't like being the subject myself.