Living the Dream...: Thursday, October 9, 2014 (Fort Stevens State Park, Hammond, Oregon)

We had another full day of sightseeing and walking today...we may not be doing our resistance exercises but we are certainly getting lots of walking in!

We started our sightseeing day at Lewis and Clark National Historical Park. When we pulled into the parking lot, there were a couple of tour buses along with a school bus...a busy place this morning!

We went into the Visitors Center and paid our admission (we purchased the Oregon Coast Pass....it covers entry, vehicle parking, and day use fees at all State and Federal fee sites along the entire Oregon Coast for 5 days. Since we will be visiting at least one more park in the next few days, it was worth it. Otherwise, the cost is $3/person).

Since the display area was full of school kids and tour bus people, we decided to head outside and see the replica of the fort along with the surrounding areas first and return inside later. This is the trail to the fort...

Although nothing remains of the original fort, this 2006 replica is based on William Clark's journal descriptions and floor plan. Three Sergeants and twenty-four men squeezed into three small enlisted men's quarters and the orderly room. Captains Lewis and Clark shared a room, as did the interpreter, his wife and baby; York, a slave, may have lived in the orderly room.

Some of the school kids were also viewing the fort...

We took the trail down to the Canoe Landing.

The Corps of Discovery arrived at this site in its four dugout canoes and one Indian canoe on December 7, 1805, to establish Fort Clatsop as its winter quarters. During the Corps' sojourn here, this place along the river (which is now the Lewis and Clark River) served as the expedition's canoe landing.

After walking a little further along the river, we headed back to the visitors center to check out the interpretive displays. We were just in time to watch a movie on the expedition of Lewis and Clark...and then we continued onto the displays. It was all very well done.

We spent a good couple of hours touring the site and then decided to eat our lunch in the parking lot before heading into Astoria. The sun was starting to break through the fog and clouds as we made our way across another of the many bridges in the area...

A monster truck!

The Columbia River Maritime Museum has a big parking lot with RV parking and although we weren't planning on going into the museum (other than to use their restrooms), we parked there so we could access the Astoria Riverwalk.

The Barbey Maritime Center at the Columbia River Maritime Museum hosts wooden boat building courses and many other workshops...

This paddle-wheeler was moored in front of the museum...we couldn't see a name on it, though...

The Lightship Columbia, is a National Historic Landmark...apparently you can board this ship that once guided ships to safety at the mouth of the Columbia River...

We started our walk going west from the parking lot. It was a beautiful day but windy with clouds and fog moving in and out...

Pilot Boat Station...

California Sea Lions playing in the water...

The Buoy Beer Company opened up recently...of course, we had to go in and try it out!

They have a section of glass flooring where you can view the sea lions...this fellow posed for Steve. Too cute!

After our beer stop, we continued walking a little further, up to this viewing platform, and then turned around...

We walked back, passing the museum (and our truck) and continued east along the riverwalk.

New homes surround a small inlet...

An old cannery perhaps...

Ahh...finally, our destination...Pier 39 and Hanthorn Cannery Museum. It's the oldest cannery building on the lower Columbia River built in 1875. (I had no interest in going into the museum)

Also housed on Pier 39 is Rogue Ales Public House...looked interesting but we'd already had our quota of beer outings for the day :)

Coffee Girl, a unique coffeehouse is also located in the cannery building. We didn't go in but a friend said that she had the best scone there...apricot ginger, fresh out of the oven...sounds yummy!

A few boats on display outside of the museum...

After checking out Pier 39, it was time to walk back. Too bad the Astoria Riverfront Trolly is on it's fall schedule, only running on weekends...I could sure use it now, my feet were killing me!

There is a fish cleaning room at the East Mooring Basin...dad is cleaning the salmon his son on the left caught. The other boy told Steve it was suppose to have been his fish...