San Francisco of the Northwest

June 29, 2015

Dolly the Dolphin sits in the deep forest of Fort Stevens OR

Sitting by a raging campfire in the deep woods of Fort Stevens State Park on the Northwestern tip of Oregon. It's a peaceful night. It's 9:00 and there's still light in the sky. It doesn't get dark here until close to 10:00 this time of year. The trees are full of birds of all kinds. A variety of sounds from the trees.

Cheri and I finished our meal of fresh grilled Chinook salmon steaks and organic veggies from the grill with a bottle of one of our favorite Oregon wines, Sokol Blossor Evolution, a crisp combination of Oregon grapes expertly blended. A restaurant meal would pale in comparison. And enjoying it out under the canopy of trees and sky makes the flavors pop.

Cannery Row in Astoria Oregon

We spent the day around Astoria, a lovely city at the mouth of the Columbia River. We found a fresh seafood stand selling fresh fish. It's a real treat to be in a seaport town like Astoria, where fishing is part of its core values. That, and now tourism. Astoria calls itself San Francisco of the Northwest. The town itself is hilly, like the City By the Bay, and the architecture features many Victorian-style homes.

Bowpicker Fish n Chips line

Yesterday, in Astoria, we came across a landlocked boat called The Bowpicker that was selling fresh Albacore Tuna Fish and Chips. Huge pieces of fish, made to order. Yelp reviewers raved about how they would travel over a hundred miles to feast on these tender morsels. And the line to get the fish was long. We waited in line for close to an hour. The wait was worth it. This is Astoria's version of Portland's food trucks - a food boat. It is an experience we'll treasure for many years.

Fort Klatsup, home to Lewis & Clark expedition

With our tummies satisfied, we then visited Fort Klatsup today, one of four forts here at the mouth of the Columbia. The Lewis and Clark expedition wintered there when they arrived in Oregon. The rain forest where the fort sits has trees that are so tall that when you look up, it seems they reach to the heavens. The feeling inside this forest was one of awe and wonder.
The drive from Portland is a lovely one. After our gathering of friends and family on Friday night in Portland, we drove up US Route 30, which winds its way down the Columbia River to the ocean. Dolly the Dolphin enjoyed the twists and turns of the road as it followed the river's path. Since we arrived, she's been nestled in the trees of the forest.

Satch & Bebop at Fort Klatsup. See you soon!

Tomorrow, we slide in, pack up and move on up the road. We'll cross over the Columbia back into Washington State and move up the coast to find the place where vampires have made their mark.