Sept 6, Astoria: Wet

I wonder how many people will show up for the last Sunday Market of the year today? It could happen. After the squall, the sun came out and people are walking the streets again, although the weather man shows T-storms and rain all day. On the river, the colors are indescribable, where you get the clouds, dark background, green water glowing in the sun highlighting a buoy, a stretch of the river, the green bridge. And then it changes in the blink of an eye. It should be interesting for viewers, but maybe not so for those having to set up tents with all their carefully hand-made or homegrown products . . . and keep them from getting wet or blowing away!

This photo shows a bit of the river walk outside of the Animal Store facing east toward the Maritime Museum, Custard King, and the park where I was bitten by fleas.

July 26: The Ship Steadfast and the Maritime Museum

I spent a little time wandering around the Coast Guard dock and the construction project on the Maritime Museum today. As I look back on the photos (I'm posting these after the date on which I took them), I see that already things have changed. There's more fencing here, more concrete (I think. I'll have to look again.) Some things change without our taking much notice of them.

Here's another shot of the Steadfast, a Coast Guard ship that docks for long periods here in Astoria.

There were two ships in the dock that day, numbers 623 and 630. I especially like this view, head on.

Here in Astoria we've become very familiar with the Steadfast's shark-shaped logo.

Yes, that's a marijuana leaf painted in gold on the mast of the Steadfast. It looks quite pretty, but it seemed incongruous. Were a bunch of Oregon hippies sailing this ship? I thought not, so I asked. The Steadfast's main job is drug patrol on the high seas and coastal waters. Where do they go? They won't tell you exactly, but they often head "south."

Big ships' ropes are always intriguing.

The pink thing must be a water drop on the lens. I'm not sure about that. It's a lazy day on the docks, and a nice experience to be able to walk right up to the ships without mega security, fences to keep a person many feet back, etc. I hope we never lose these privileges. There's nothing like seeing a thing close up, whether it's a ship or an elephant.

Standing on the docks near the Coast Guard ships, I can look back at the Maritime Museum, still being remodelled and added-to. It seems it's about finished now.

There's the Maritime from another part of the dock.

Here's looking west from the Maritime docks toward the Astoria-Megler Bridge. I had no clue at this time that the base of the radio tower would someday be part of my life.

Here's a picture back toward land from the small pier shown just above. Just to the right of the high part of the tree-covered hill, you can see the Astoria Column, looking spindly and small from this distance.

The trolley runs along the waterfront and the museum is one of its stops. Here you can see the cyclone fencing still in place while they finish construction on the museum.

A nice day on the water. And no, Toto, I don't think we're in Colorado any more.

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.