Astoria, Oregon
As the breakers of the infamous Columbia River Bar were quite impressive from the recent storms, rather than court “mal de mar”, we turned to the excellent Columbia River Maritime Museum to learn more of this fascinating meeting of river and sea. The sediments carried to the sea by the river meet the incoming tidal currents of the Pacific Ocean here at the confluence of these two massive bodies of water, resulting in shifting sand bars scattered across the river mouth. Early navigation here was particularly dangerous and frequently disastrous. There have been 2,000 shipwrecks in and near the entrance to the Columbia River.
Morning rains at Fort Clatsop added a most authentic understanding of the Corps of Discovery’s experience during that very wet winter two hundred years ago. That they were able to build the fort in only three weeks is not so surprising when we realize it was their one option to get themselves and their gear dry.
Many of us adventured across the river to Washington’s Long Beach peninsula this afternoon and were richly rewarded with sunshine and beautiful ocean views. A visit to the fine Lewis and Clark Interpretive Center perched atop Cape Disappointment was very enjoyable. We finished the trip with a walk along part of the Confluence Project; a walkway designed by Sculptor Maya Lin that commemorates the Lewis and Clark expedition step by step and ends at a stunning Pacific Ocean beach strewn with storm-tossed driftwood. "Ocian in view… great joy in camp!"
As the breakers of the infamous Columbia River Bar were quite impressive from the recent storms, rather than court “mal de mar”, we turned to the excellent Columbia River Maritime Museum to learn more of this fascinating meeting of river and sea. The sediments carried to the sea by the river meet the incoming tidal currents of the Pacific Ocean here at the confluence of these two massive bodies of water, resulting in shifting sand bars scattered across the river mouth. Early navigation here was particularly dangerous and frequently disastrous. There have been 2,000 shipwrecks in and near the entrance to the Columbia River.
Morning rains at Fort Clatsop added a most authentic understanding of the Corps of Discovery’s experience during that very wet winter two hundred years ago. That they were able to build the fort in only three weeks is not so surprising when we realize it was their one option to get themselves and their gear dry.
Many of us adventured across the river to Washington’s Long Beach peninsula this afternoon and were richly rewarded with sunshine and beautiful ocean views. A visit to the fine Lewis and Clark Interpretive Center perched atop Cape Disappointment was very enjoyable. We finished the trip with a walk along part of the Confluence Project; a walkway designed by Sculptor Maya Lin that commemorates the Lewis and Clark expedition step by step and ends at a stunning Pacific Ocean beach strewn with storm-tossed driftwood. "Ocian in view… great joy in camp!"
