From Bandon, Oregon in the south we came up much of the rugged Oregon Coast on the legendary Route 101. It is an impressive stretch of high Dunes, bold rock bluffs, and many strong rivers and streams. The rivers were particularly impressive- fast-flowing and clear, just tumbling down the steep banks, making their way to the Pacific. We took two days to run up the coast toward our destination, Cape Disappointment, just across on the Washington side of the mighty Columbia River. Rain pelted us on this stretch, just routine according to one local we chatted with at a rest stop.
The towns along this stretch are mostly characteristic of modest summer places we might see along coastal Route1 in Maine. They will look much better in full Summer bloom, but look a bit tired and dull in the rainy season.
We were much impressed with our camping at the State Park at Cape Disappointment. It is much bold bluff, marked by two lighthouses and gorgeous long beach with eagles and what seemed like a convention of all the sandpipers on the West Coast, They are such delightful birds to see at work- industrious and indomitable. We have a fun video of them scurrying around the edge of the surf but I can't seem to upload it.
Cape Disappointment, you may remember, was the farthest western encampment of Lewis and Clark, who wintered there in 1805. They did not spend a happy winter- too much rain and too many "bothersome Indians". Hence the name or so we thought until visiting the Lewis and Clark Center perched on the headland. In fact, Cape Disappointment had been named by an earlier English explorer who came up the coast by ship and was disappointed not to find a river there. Of course there was a mighty river there but somehow it was missed.
Still, the Center does a fine job of chronicling that remarkable expedition that defined the western expansion of the United Sates and completed the extraordinary vision of a young country whose ambition would carry settlers from coast to coast.
Now we are in Chimicum, Washington at the gateway to the Olympic Peninsula where older daughter Carrie and grandson Greg live. daughter Emily, her husband Andy, and grandson Greg live just an hour south on Bainbridge Island and will join us here for the weekend.
Next week we will turn for home- six weeks and almost 7000 miles already, amazing really. So far so great. This is an impressive country.
Comments