Touristy

D and I have almost lived at our current location for a year yet we haven't really checked out what there is "to do." We don't want to be transferred to a new station and regret not touring some of the sites that we pass everyday. First spot up: the Astoria Column. So, here's a little background:

"The Astoria Column has served for over 80 years as a beacon on the Pacific Northwest Coast. It sits in a wooded area 600 feet above sea level on Coxcomb Hill, Astoria, Oregon’s highest point. Majestic views of the countryside surrounding Astoria are the great Pacific Ocean to the west and the mighty Columbia River to the north. Snow-capped volcano, Mt. Rainier in the Cascade Range rises to the east and Saddle Mountain reaches to the sky on the southern horizon..."

 A COLUMN OF FACTS
  • Patterned after Trajan's Column, Rome, Italy
  • Constructed of: Concrete
  • Depth of foundation: 12 feet
  • Elevation, Coxcomb Hill: 600 feet
  • Height: 125 feet
  • Number of steps: 164
  • Number of cartoons: 12
  • Number of brown figures: 200
  • Length of artwork, unwound: 500+ feet
  • Decoration at top: State seal of Oregon
  • Completed in 1926
  • Dedicated July 22, 1926
  • Original cost: $27,133.96
  • Weather repair: 1936
  • Friends formed: 1988
  • Column restoration: $1 million 1995
  • Plaza restoration & lighting: $2 million 2004

Via

 Detail of the art

Via

In the process of building

Via

This monument can be seen from basically anywhere in Astoria. Although, it doesn't look as big as when you're at the base of the column looking up. (And on top looking down.) 

When I was about 4 years old my parents brought my brother and I up to Astoria while we were in Oregon visiting family. Apparently I've walked up to the top of the column before. Unfortunately the only memory I can recall is me wearing a pink zip-up sweatshirt and looking up at the stairs. 

Once D and I arrived to the base of the column it slipped our minds that we should have considered the weather first. It poured rain and hailed on us, of course. The pictures we captured were sort of depressing at first but as you scroll through them you can really get an idea of how fast, and often, the weather can change here.  (We were at the column for 30 minutes tops)

View from base of column

D looking like he knows what he's talking about.

Before we came up to this hill I had no idea this river existed. (South of column) I'm guessing it's Young's River.

View of the stairs we climbed. I admit that I had to stop a few times to catch my breath.

Why I don't let D have the camera the whole time. Half of the pictures he takes turn out like this. 

(It was freeeeezing hence the double jacket action)

At the top of the column watching the rain pour over the Astoria bridge. (Looking north)

"Hey our car!" -D

Young's River (looking south)

The rain clouds are moving quickly. (Astoria)

Young's River- again.

"Let me show you where we live." -D

Astoria Column

I have no idea what D is trying to do here.

Sun peaking out over Astoria

D showing off for a German tourist couple.

"Quick! The camera is dying! Do something amazing!" -D

My favorite picture of the day! Land on the right is Washington. The land sitting on the horizon (right, center) is where our home is.

Looking at Washington from Oregon (Northeast)

Topped off our touristy day by treating ourselves to some Urban Cafe for lunch. D is a big fan of their strawberry lemonade. 

Bright & Sunny

Taking advantage of the sun being out, we headed outside over the weekend to tire out the dogs.

Front of our house. Gotta love dull-looking base housing.

Our backyard

Ruca loves to pick up and carry leaves and small pine cones and parade them in front of us.

A hot day for us: 15 minutes into playing fetch and he's already wimping out and panting.

Adorable picture even though she's chewing a plastic gun leftover from a recent birthday party.

Handsome as ever

Ruca is slowly learning how to play fetch. She's still a peanut so she gets nervous to pick up whatever we're throwing since there's a big chance that Bogey will crash into her.

View from our backyard. (Which makes up for the ugly exterior of our house.)

Blue sky!

D and Bogey playing fetch in the river.

Took Ruca on her first walk with Bogey over to the new boat launch by our house. This is looking back at the base housing.

View of the boats (left) and station (right-ish) from the public boat launch

Sent Bogey fishing again.

Ruca would have loved to play in the water but she has to wait until she's caught up on her shots. But she was very concerned about what Bogey was doing.

Spring Walk Through Our Neighborhood

Left side of Waikiki beach at lowtide

Right side of Waikiki beach at lowtide

Found this while walking on the beach. It's a chair with a picture (left) of an elderly man. I'm not exactly sure but it's obvious that this is some sort of tribute to someone who recently passed away. 

(D thinks it's the fisherman who recently fell into the water in a very dangerous area. Coast Guard couldn't get there in time to save him. Even if they could there would be a very slim chance he'd make it.)

The Wild

A couple weeks ago I purchased a new bird feeder from a local "general" store. (Yes, those do exist here) We hung it in our living room window to watch all the birds come and go. We get so many different colors and types of birds.

Note the sunny day we're having. 

Seriously. 

Getting a little too crowded

------

Trekking through the marsh in Chinook. This is a great place to bring dogs if the beach is full of Portland/ Seattle visitors.

I guess this day we were only taking pictures of each other from the back. 

Beautiful day!

Wading through a yucky river. The water nearly came up to the top of my rain boots. Every time you tried to step forward your foot would create a suction in the mud/ water. 

That black dot in the center of the picture is a black bear. It was a pretty good size. He went his own way when we started shooting D's gun to get Bogey used to the sound. 

(Not that productive of a gun-training day. I ended up covered in mud from Bogey jumping on me to pick him up. Wimp.)

Side note: our little Ruca came gun-trained. She doesn't even flinch!