Headed to Washington

We left Deschutes Sept. 1st and headed west. We sure enjoyed our stay and plan on coming back next year. Jeni and Ranger Connie Greenwood had a great time as her and her husband Greg took us fishing on their boat on the Columbia river. Jeni and Connie were a team in the campground as they kept track of the campers and Jeni rode along with Connie when she did her 10pm patrol.

Jeni and I rolled in to Fort Stevens State park and got a site for 3 nights only. Because of labor day weekend, Saturday - Monday were booked. We decided we would sight see in the town of Astoria as the campground was full of of happy campers and the Fort had tons of activities going on.

Jeni loved the Astoria Bridge, which connects Washington and Oregon She said I would be driving the RV over it when we head north! It is 41/2 miles long and is the longest continuous "truss" span bridge in north america.

This ship, the"Columbia", is a 1930s light ship that lit the passage through the entry to the Columbia river. Called "the grave yard of the pacific",the treacherous sand bars,like mine fields,has claimed 2000 vessels and 700 lives. The Columbia was decommissioned in the late 40s and the "red light buoy" was installed at the mouth of the river.

The Coast Guard cutter "Alert" is also stationed next to the Columbia for tours.

They both are docked at the "Columbia River" Maritime Museum. Inside the museum,they have on display a history of shipping on the Columbia, including the "Bar Pilots" which like the "Columbia", helped navigate ship traffic around the sand bars.

We visited an Astoria landmark, the "Astoria Column". Standing 125ft. tall high atop coxcomb hill, the column offers panoramic views of the pacific ocean and the Columbia river.

Built in 1926, the columns artwork, known as "Sgraffito"is an Italian art form that combines carving and painting into the concrete structure.

The view at the top is specular! It has 169 steps to get to the top. Jeni and I were "game" so up we went.

It was just a little windy!!But the views! Jeni was enjoying the experience. Me.....I was on the floor clinging to the rail, crying "I want down!"

That's Washington behind Jeni and the Columbia.

Where am I? Not in the picture but hanging on" for dear life" to Jeni's legs screaming "I want down off of here!"

Looking northwest from the column. "GET ME DOWN!!"

The Bridge from the Column. "FOR THE LOVE OF GOD, GET ME DOWN!!"

One thing Jeni loves, good "live Theatre"! We found one in Astoria. Its "Date Night!

We had a nice dinner on the waterfront and then we went to see "Shanghaied In Astoria!"A melodrama that delights audiences with their portrayals of 19th-century villains,heroes, and heroines.

This marks the 26th season this production has been here.

One odd tradition the playhouse has, you buy popcorn and throw it at the actors on stage! You wait for the Villain to appear and as he "spews" his lines, you stroll up to the front of the stage ,your tray of popcorn in hand, and you fling it at the actor or actress. The key is to throw it right at a pause in lines. The actors not on stage, also get into the act. Its a "hoot"!

Saturday, we headed north over the Astoria bridge, got on hwy 101 and headed up to Ocean Park to see our "Camp Host" friends Tim and Shirley.

They have a lovely home just blocks from the beach!

They had a spot for us to park overnight across from their neighbor. They were the perfect hosts, and we had a great visit with them. As always, there were cards! But Tim had a nice big screen TV and football on it. I was one" happy camper"! Shirley made a delicious Mexican dinner that was "to die for"! As always,all too soon, we had to say good by.


I promised Shirley I wouldn't post the picture of all of us, well,.........I Lied!

I took this picture of their home the next morning to show how nice it is. That's Jeni at the door, begging for coffee. "Let me in!"

And a special thanks to "Mona" for keeping us entertained. She is one cool dog!

After coffee we sadly said our good byes and we were off for the Port Townsend area.

We had never been to Washington, so Tim and Shirley, being form Washington, were a "wealth of knowledge" for us. We can't thank them enough.

Per Tim's directions, we had a smooth drive up to the Escapee park near Townsend.

We plan on spending a couple of weeks here,so let the sight-seeing begin!