Captain’s Blog June 25, 2011 (Day 50) Columbia River Maritime Museum, Astoria Tower , On the beach with the Jeep,

6:46 PM | Labels: Motorhome

We got a late start on Saturday because we had to wait until 1 PM to find out if we could stay at our site, move or leave. We ended up having to move to a different site but still weren’t able to secure it for two nights. The place is mobbed and those of us who don’t believe in reservations (RON) sometimes get left out.

r0n NOTE:

Notice we did get a site!!!!!!!

Once we were moved we headed into Astoria to the Columbia River Maritime Museum.The Museum provided combined history with cutting edge technology. We were told not to take pictures inside but of course Ron had to sneak at least one or maybe two.

There were videos and exhibits explaining the difficulty of crossing the hazardous and challenging Columbia River Bar. The place where the river spills into the ocean causing 40 foot waves, treacherous winds and a shifting sandbar. There are specially trained river pilots and bar pilots whose job it is to get the ships across the bar safely. Not a job for the faint of heart.

The Columbia River Bar, where the Pacific Ocean and Columbia River meet, can be a navigational nightmare. Since 1792 approximately 2000 ships have sunk in this area, earning it the nickname “Graveyard of the Pacific.”

Water, weather and geography work together making the bar treacherous. The Columbia River flows into the Pacific through a narrow channel. As the river water surges toward the ocean, it slows down, dropping sand and slit forming a fan-shaped sandbar that extends more then six miles into the ocean.

Sometimes strong river discharges collide with heavy Pacific waves making passage extremely dangerous for all vessels. The bar’s weather and waves are notoriously violent and quick to change. Therefore the need to have trained pilots.

We then took a tour of a retired floating lighthouse – the Lightship Columbia.This lightship was essentially a small town anchored five miles out at sea. Everything the crew needed had to be on board because in the winter, weeks of rough weather prevented any supplies from being delivered. The Columbia stored more than 12 tons of food, 13,000 gallons of fresh water and 47,0000 gallons of fuel.

The crew of 17 worked two to four week rotations with ten men on board at all times. Their tours on board were described as long stretches of boredom intermixed with riding out gale force winds and 30 foot waves.

The lightships were designed to serve where major aid to navigation is required but where the depth of the water or other conditions made building a lighthouse impractical. A lightship remains anchored in one place to mark the entrance of an important river or dangerous reef or shoal. For nearly a century, from 1892 until 1979, a lightship marked the entrance to the Columbia River. As I mentioned earlier we always seem to come across something that was built in New England and the Lightship Columbia was no exception. It was built in Bath, Maine.

When driving through Astoria we passed the Flavel House Museum that we had toured eight years ago.

I spotted a sign leading to the Astoria Column. We had also climbed the tower eight years ago but decided we would do it again. The views from the top are unbeatable and its free so off we went.

We climbed to the top and although it didn’t beat the over 500 steps Kelly and Patrick climbed at the Tower of London it was still a challenge for us. The 125 foot Astoria Column commemorates the area’s history through artistic renderings carved into the column. The 164 steps of the spiral staircase brings you to a lookout with panoramic views of Mt. Saint Helen’s, the Pacific Ocean, the Columbia River and the town of Astoria below. Well worth the climb.

We then went back to the MH for dinner and planned our evening adventures. Ron was hell bent on going on the beach – me not so much.

We took a ride to Battery Russell and checked out the areas used to protect Fort Stevens during WWI and WWII. I noted that the battery and gun riggings looked the same as those we saw in Pensacola and I thought the government may have used the same template.

We stopped to climb the viewing platform overlooking the South Jetty. Quite spectacular indeed. I failed at video taping as I put the camera on when walking and shut it off when I thought I was taping. Much like Ron video taping the inside of his pocket. LOL. I f don’t watch it I’ll be fired from that job!!!!

Then against my wishes we headed to the beach or should I say the very sandy road to the beach that Ron insisted we should try. When we got to the road there were other trucks and suv’s contemplating the ride down to the beach. Not my Ron, he swung around a big truck and only stopped after I bellowed. Then two guys egged him on and without warning we were down the hill on the beach. YIKES!!!!! The man is certifiable.

We drove down the beach and waited for another beautiful sunset. However, it got so cold we had to get back in the Jeep and turn the heat on. So much for warm temps at the end of June.