The next morning, in Seaside, we get up late, have a nice breakfast and sit around talking until early afternoon when we headed back down to downtown so TJ could do some shopping.
On the way, stopped to look at the ocean.
The Pacific Ocean.
Seagulls having a party.
Then we headed downtown and visited this restored merri-go-round. It’s over a century old and very popular with the kids, and some adults too.
Ride anyone?
One of the seawater canals.
TJ stands on one leg to enjoy the view.
Seasides' main drag & tourist draw. During the summer, this place is elbow to elbow with tourists.
The Lewis & Clark statue and our favorite hangout in the background - The Shilo Inn.
On the main floor of the Shilo is a nice resturant and a bar. We usually hang out in the bar or at a table right next to those big windows and watch the tourists and the ocean. Very pleasant in bad weather. Pretty good food too, if a little expensive. Years ago, we spent the night up on the 3rd floor rather then attempting to drive back to Portland half drunk. Even only being up 3 floors gave us a really neat view of the ocean and beach the next morning.
Here's a shot of the huge beach that's here at the Seaside Turnaround. It's known that Lewis and Clark visited here.
Another shot of the turnaround.
Off to the south.
TJ has to stay up topside as I cavort down in the sand...no wheelchair access, and the sand is too loose.
Met this guy just hanging out, enjoying the beach.
Deserted beach.
And finally, sunset over the Pacific. From the Seaside turnaround.
After spending the night at the RV park, we headed back to Portland but instead of backtracking, we headed up the coast to Astoria. It’s only 17 miles up the road from Seaside. I’m sorry about the number of bugs on the windshield in the pictures but I’d been unable to wash the windows for a while.
Crossing the bay. Astoria is basically on and below that hill up ahead.
The bridge on the left played a bit part in the movie ‘Short Circuit’ starring Alley Sheedy. The name of the movie is coincidentally my CB radio handle. Like you need one anymore. I do have a CB radio just in case, but hardly use it.
TJ getting a picture.
Here's a pretty good shot of the bridge. It's really impressive. Either from the ground or while traveling over it.
Last shot showing how high the bridge is.
A few miles up the road I got this shot of the Columbia. It empties into the ocean at Astoria.
We got back into Troutdale, where TJ lives, around 6pm and I dropped her off so she could get ready for her boyfriend to arrive. He works out of town as a tower builder…you know those big wind generator towers? He builds those. Got layed off a couple weeks later.
I headed to Gresham and stopped at the rebuilt LT’s Tavern. My favorite bar before I had gone full time RV’ing. The original had burned down two years ago and the one I went to on this day was the rebuilt version, in a different place. To be honest, it just wasn’t the same. I know, you can’t go home again. Many of my friends came in over the next several visits I made there, and it was fun catching up with everyone. I even found a nearby parking lot where I could dry camp and spend a night or two.
I’ll get to that story in the next installment.