Astoria

We stayed at a very nice friend's cabin (ambiguity? They're both nice!), outside Astoria, just a few misquito-infested steps through the woods to the Pacific.

The beach was expansive, with dark and fine sand. In places, the woods came right up to the ocean, but there were also grassy dunes.

We saw a bald eagle flying out of the Columbia river holding a fish as we pulled over to check out the elk jerky. Sorry, no picture of the eagle.

Astoria is a very river- and sea-oriented little city.

Anna and Bess order lunch.

Fort Clatsop, where Lewis and Clark over-wintered after finally reaching the west coast. The ranger let Bess and Anna lower and fold the flag (it was closing time). The flag had 15 stars (Vermont and Kentucky, in case you were wondering), and also 15 stripes.

We walked down toward the landing that Lewis and Clark used to launch their canoes.

After Fort Clatsop, we stopped by the Astoria Column.

Views to the southwest (left), and to the northwest (right). The Pacific Ocean is on the horizeon beyond the bridge.

The Columbian Cafe served us some tasty duck.

Anna invented, and then perfected, her warthog cartooning style.