The Column

When we went to visit the Astoria Column it had been closed! I was so disappointed, as Jason had never been there. Apparently the stairs, which were 83 years old, were being replaced for safety reasons. It will reopen in January 2009.....maybe next time! The pictures on the Column are beautiful. They tell the history of the Lewis & Clark Expedition.

From the top of the mountain where the Column sits, you can see all over the city of Astoria, the Columbia River, and the in between mountains and valleys. Picturesque views like these make me love Oregon more and more. The views form the very top of the Column are similar to these, so we weren't entirely disappointed.

My dad and Jason were admiring this topographical map of the area. Secretly I think they were also looking for directions to the next place we were going to visit!

The Ship

After the Maritime Museum we got to tour a ship that used to frequent to waters of the Columbia river.
Jason is washing up in the kitchen of the ship....
I am at the oven checking things out....
While I am in a bunk, my dad gets ready to sneakily whack me with a pillow in the head!
Jason and my parents on the deck of the ship.

Columbia River Maritime Museum

The Columbia River Maritime Museum offered a "hands on" look at the history of Astoria from the beginnings of the fish canneries, to war ships, and training grounds for the US Coast Guard. It was very interactive. There was so much to see and do in the museum with so little time. Looks like Jason found a new toy!
What an interesting gun......
Jason enjoyed sitting in the Captain's seat on one of the ships.

Hangin' with The Colonel

After visiting Fort Clatsop we stopped at KFC in Astoria for lunch and couldn't resist snapping a picture with Mr. Sanders....geez, what a guy!

Fort Clatsop

My dad loves Oregon History, as it is part of his 5th grade curriculum. We couldn't visit Astoria without spending time at Fort Clatsop. Here we are on the trek down to the newly refurbished fort. It burned down several years ago after several embers in the fireplace started a fire.

Fort Clatsop was the location where Lewis and Clark nearly ended their journey and stayed for much needed rest for a season.

Setting Up Camp in Astoria

Jason got out the horse shoe set as soon as the camp was set up in Astoria. He and my mom were pretty good at horse shoes!
This is called the Peter Iredale ship. Basically it was lost at sea for several years. Over time the remains of the ship lodged itself into this part of the seashore which was close to our camp site.
I thought this picture was cool. Jason was walking back after talking a closer look at the Peter Iredale.

General Update

This past week our family went on vacation to the Oregon coast. Last Sunday was Ryan's 25th birthday. We took him out for lunch and then headed over to Astoria to start the vacation. We camped down the Oregon coast from Astoria to Bandon. It was the best vacation, besides the fact that Ryan was unable to come b/c of his work schedule. We had to return home last Thursday because I had surgery in Eugene on Friday for my sinuses....so I have about a week recovery time and I am pretty doped up on meds as I type. My doctor told me to rest and take it easy. However, I have a hard time simply "resting." So I am hoping to blog the pictures from our vacation a few days at a time. My mom has been great cooking and helping me around the house ( while Jason works with my dad). I was put pretty far under the anesthesia and I can slowly feel it wearing off. Yesterday Brenda came over to visit and it was really nice. The last time I had surgery I was really little and the day after I was home from the hospital she and Bob and their kids came to visit me then too....so yesterday was special.