Visiting the Northern Oregon Coast

The Astoria-Megler Bridge, the longest continuous truss bridge in North America. It runs from Astoria, Oregon to Washington state. Sam and I accidentally took a wrong turn and ended up taking the 5-mile long bridge over the Columbia River and to WA before we turned back around. Just one more of the crazy issues and technological difficulties from this trip!! :) Copyright (c) 2012 Wendee Holtcamp

I took Sam to the North Oregon coast last weekend, including Astoria and Cannon Beach. Astoria sets on the Columbia Rver near its mouth. This is the Astoria Column a 125-foot tall tower painted with a mural depicting important events in Oregon history.

A closer view of the column.

To get here you drive up a long, winding road to the top of a tall hill, and you can see the entire county! It's quite a view.

The county from another vantage point at the column site.

And yet another view from the column.

From the column parking lot, Sam and I took a hike to a 300-year old Sitka Spruce known as the Cathedral tree.

It wasn't near as large as some of the trees in Olympic National Park, but it was a nice tree. We met a guy on the trail who was a WWOOFer (Willing Workers on Organic Farms), and about to start grad school at NYU in Journalism. Sam dubbed him bro-han.

A shot of the Cathedral tree.

I took this using the Vignette app on my Droid and I think I like it better than the pics from my Canon!

We have seen a lot of these gorgeous red elderberries around Oregon and Washington. In fact Sam is so impressed with all the berries in general. I was so excited to see red huckleberries on the trail and we ate some. They were the berries I ate the most as a kid at my dad's (as well as raspberries, but those were planted). In fact I took photos of the huckleberries and they must not have turned out because I can't find them!

I was so excited to see this Stop sign on the road. When I was a kid, my dad had a big van (Van Morrison was its name) and it was set high up and I could never see the road. Dad used to say "We just ran over a Stop Sign!" And I was all, what?! where? I can't see! I want to see! And I would get so upset because I wanted to see the flipping stop sign and couldn't fathom how we could RUN OVER one?! What the heck? Of course as I got older I saw them, but at the time I thought it was silly and frustrating at the same time. So seeing this in Astoria brought back good memories.

Based on a recommendation, we ate at the Blue Scorcher cafe. I loved the concept but the food left a lot to be desired, in my opinion... The coffee was good though.

We were guests of the brand new Astoria Riverwalk Inn, which sets right on the water overlooking a marina and the bridge. This is the view right out the window. It was awesome! The owners Brad and Seth - i talked to Brad most - were super nice and helpful, telling us the best spots to go clamming, the techniques, etc. Sam was so freaking excited about going clamming I thought he would pee himself.

We had a two-room suite, and Sam had 4 beds all to himself! He didn't know where to sleep! Ha! The room also had a bean bag, a couch, and a game station!

We got up to go clamming during low tide in the morning. Wait, we actually went at 10pm at night because that was low tide, and you CAN clam at night with the caveat that you actually have been before and have some semblance of a clue what you are looking for. Sam was so excited to go, and so I took him at night. Big mistake. It was freeeeezing cold, dark, and we couldn't see crap. Being late, no one was out clamming and so we didn't have anyone to show us the ropes. We left frustrated but went back the next day and had much more success! This is Sam walking through the woods at Fort Stevens State Park to get to the beach, clam gun in hand.

You look for dimples on the flat beach at low tide, of varying sizes, and then shove the gun (a shovel) into the sand. After it's as far in as you can get, you cover a hole on it, which creates a suction, and then pull the sand out.

Theoretically, that sand contains a razor clam! There was a guy on the beach clamming who helped us with the technique.

Sam with his first clam! He was happy as... a clam! :) Seriously, he was VERY excited to get this first clam!

We tried for a while without success. It was harder than I thought to find the dimples.

Looking, looking... but then he finally had more luck and eventually got 12 clams. The limit is 15 but we left after 12.

This is a razor clam up close. And personal! :) After we got about 12 clams, we left the beach and went to Cannon Beach. But after the day was done, we went back to my dad's cabin, cleaned and cooked the clams, and enjoyed them!

Sam with the ocean in the background. I think I took this on a different day but I like the photo and hadn't put it online yet!

Haystack Rock on Cannon Beach. Cannon Beach is just about 30 or 40 minutes west of Astoria.

Another view of haystack Rock. Sam made the comment that this was winter weather in Texas and summer weather in oregon! The beach was completely full with beach-goers, kids playing in the ocean, people flying kites, women sunbathing - despite the clouds. Funny!

ocean dreams

A feather on Cannon Beach with Haystack Rock in the distance, Oregon Coast. Copyright (c) 2009 Wendee Holtcamp.

‎"Do not wait for leaders; do it alone, person to person."
- Mother Teresa

I am dreaming of fresh Pacific air, the sound of the surf rushing across the rocks, the feeling of my feet on cool, flat sand, and the scent of the misty coastal rainforest... these things bring my soul so much comfort. Everyplace has its own energy. And each person feels more at home in some places compared with others. Perhaps it is the place of our birth or the place where we spent our formative years. Perhaps there are some places that just energize us and other spots that soothe us. Oregon for me is a place that soothes my soul, a place where I feel truly at home. There, my spirit feels both energized and refreshed. I get so amped up when I step off the plane and even more when I get into Oregon's natural places. Just being there revs my engine! Hiking through the forests and walking along the beaches... sheer heaven.

Two years back I was there and I took a day on my own to go to Cannon Beach. I almost had a friend come but then I realized I really needed a solo day. I was in the midst of a temporary break-up and was in a contemplative mood, thinking about where I wanted to go from there. At that time, I decided ultimately to go back and work on it some more. But recently our paths have become solidified as separate. And the knowledge and the freedom this brings is such pure joy. That mourning and struggle is long past and the new day has dawned. Yes! Hallelujah. So this trip to the Oregon coast will be one full of... friends, family, and freedom! Bring it!

Do you remember your first real best friend? In 7th grade, I met Kelli and we became fast friends. I only lived there (in Beaverton which is a suburb of Portland) for one year before moving on to Minneapolis and then Houston, but we formed a deep bond and kept in touch until I went to college. Then we lost touch. But thank God for Facebook, aye? I found her twin sis on Facebook and then her, and last October I got to see her and another dear friend from that era of my life - Jennifer. We only had a short time over dinner then, but now Kelli and I will have a bit longer to spend together.

Me and Kelli at Doug Fir in Portland, Oct 2010.

Of course on my visit, I will stay my dad and his lovely wife Bev at my childhood log cabin home (it was literally like "Little House in the Big Woods" - very pioneer like at that time!) I also organized one of my Portland-area writer gatherings; This time we will meet at The Press Club. I've never been but it sounds like a hip joint!

And last but certainly not least - I will feed my soul and explore the Central Oregon coast. These photos are from Ecola State Park and Cannon Beach which are further north but nevertheless similar in spirit. My (step)grandmother lived in Lincoln City for many years - which I will visit - and I have a memory of spending one memorable Thanksgiving there many moons ago. I haven't been back since, and that was in the 70s! I grew up in Eugene in my younger years too, and may get a chance to stop and visit there also (it is inland from the coast). Maybe I will go see my childhood home and the cemetery next door where I used to "redistribute the graveyard wealth." I felt bad for the graves that didn't have any flowers on them so I would take some from the graves with a lot and put them on graves without... draw your own conclusions.

I'll leave you with a few photos- just enough to make you jealous! Don't get too jealous though... the forecast for my visit calls for rain. I'm hoping the weather-dudes are wrong!

View through the forest of the beach at Ecola State ParkFerns, moss, mist ... coastal temperate rainforest, Ecola State Park

The log cabin my daddy built in 1972 (or so) and has lived there since! This is where I'll stay during my visit "home." Notice the rainwater harvesting - long before it was the cool thing to do!

A day at the beach is the best kind of day

"Sand in the sandwiches, sand in the tea, a day at the beach is the best kind of day!"
- A line from one of my favorite children's books I used to read to my kids. I'd credit the author but I don't know her name off the top of my head!

Yesterday I took a solo day and drove to the Oregon coast. It was a fantastic day! I arrived early-ish to Cannon Beach and walked down to the rocks at the end of the beach then back. I didn't actually walk to Haystack Rock which was on the opposite end of the beach. I took lots of photos and just enjoyed being by the OCEAN which I love!!

Next I walked around town a bit. It's a quaint little town - some might say touristy but still cool. I had clam chowder at the Local Grill & Scoop and then hit Bella Espresso to work for a bit (they have wifi). Then I decided to head to Ecola State Park which is supposed to have really cool tidepools. Ecola is just a mile or two from the public Cannon Beach which I hadn't realized or I'd probably spent more time there earlier when the tide was low, but by the time I got there i nthe afternoon the tide was halfway in, and I didn't see any tidepools :( Anyway the coastal temperate rainforest on the drive to the Ecola State Park was mind-blowing. Soooo beautiful and unexpected. Here are some pics from my day! After I left the beach I went to my dad's wedding rehearsal and then dinner. Today was the wedding, but I'll save those pics for later. I'm in Portland now and tomorrow is a get together with a bunch of Pacific Northwest writers and journalists!

Just me and my shoes and my camera at the Oregon coast yesterday! I went to Cannon Beach, which is a couple hours from where my dad lives. I went solo and had an amazing day!

I love love love this photo! I went on a long walk along the beach and took this on the way back in. I saw this feather and shot it with Haystack Rock in the background, and the coloration of the water and sand just made it turn out soooo cool!

Similar shot, different layout.

I walked through a flock of seagulls... isn't that an 80s band?! :)

If you blow up this photo you can see a bike ride and the pic looks pretty cool when it's bigger.

This is a taffy-pulling machine at a candy shop in Cannon Beach which is a cute little town. It was sour apple flavor, and they gave out samples!
After I left Cannon Beach, I stopped by Ecola State Park which is just a few blocks from the public beach, but on the way to the beach access you drive through this amazingly lush, gorgeous temperate coastal rainforest - wow!
Another shot of the gorgeous forest in Ecola St Park.
A view on the hike down to the beach.
The rocky shore at Ecola State park.
There were a lot of surfers and body-boarders. This pic I thought was cool because of the surfer in the waves. It looks good if you blow it up bigger.
A view of the beach at Ecola State park.
I climbed up and on the rocks here, looking for tidepools but the tide was mostly in so unfortunately I didn't get to see any. Major bummer!
After I left the beach I went to my dad's wedding rehearsal. Here's Cathy (left) pointing because she sees me arriving at the door! That's Bev my dad's fiance (then - now wife) to Cathy's right, my dad, and Cathy's husband Jim. Cathy and Jim live on Meissner Mountain near my dad and are long-time friends.
Laughing it up at the rehearsal! Bev has a great laugh!

Cathy and Jim at El Tapatio Mexican restaurant in Rainier, Oregon where we went for the rehearsal dinner.
I caught the two lovebirds whispering. Turns out they were saying a private blessing over their meal :)
Me and my daddy!

Dad heard some music and grabbed Bev for a quick dance. They're all romantic like that!
And just for the curious, this is a photo of the "Soylent Green" dish that I had at The Laughing Planet the other day... with my writer friend Ken in the background :) Soylent Green is Swiss chard, broccoli and tempeh over barley and quinoa with cilantro pesto. YUMMO!