Tuesday, November 6, 2001

Hello from Tillamook, Oregon!

Start time: 0700

Start odometer: 23794

Weather: Cloudy with fog this morning, clearing as the day continued, then rain! Temperature 41 degrees F.

Did not see the sunrise, but the sun came out later in the morning. It was an interesting day of seeing the pacific coast, with a few stops to visit coastal cities and learn more about the Lewis and Clark expedition. I had planned to continue south beyond Tillamook, but saw the Air Museum, and that took me past sunset. I would have stayed past closing time (1700) if I could! Tillamook used to harbor many blimps at the local Naval Air Station.

I am still enjoying driving the "Blue Highways" (a book by William "Least Heat" Moon) because I get to see many things that small towns have to offer. Local history can be very interesting and enlightening, and many times it correlates to national historical events. It may even be something like the metal sculptures in Raymond, Washington. I will need to research what they are about later! The small town museums have so much to offer, too. Marsh's Free Museum in Long Beach, Washington is a perfect example. Many displays of unique and unusual items are throughout the building, numerous which would not be found (or considered as museum pieces) anywhere else. I enjoy these very much. Also, many of the towns display "The World's Largest" or "Smallest," or in the case of South Bend, Washington, calling themselves "The Oyster Capitol of the World!"

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A historic marker in Cosmopolis, Washington

Painting on tank behind marker.

As I was driving through Raymond, I noticed interesting metal sculptures throughout the town.

More sculptures.

South Bend, Washington...Oyster capitol of the world?

My visit to long beach began at Marsh's Free Museum, which is also a souvenir store.

A two headed animal!

This is the half-alligator, half-man being named Jake!

An old baseball game.

While this looked like a piano on the outside, it also contained several instruments inside.

The world's largest frying pan.

Access to Long Beach, Washington.

The kite museum, unfortunately closed today.

The wharf area at Cape Disappointment.

Continuing my drive south, a historical roadside stop was located just before the bridge to Oregon. This is where Washington claims was the final point of The Lewis and Clark expedition. As you will see later, a display in a fort in Oregon claims the final spot of the journey! More research for me!

Roadside historical stop explained this as the location where Lewis and Clark completed there long journey.

Carving of the explorers at the historical site.

The waterfront across the road from the roadside stop.

Looking south towards the Columbia River, and the bridge that connects Washington and Oregon.

I crossed into Oregon over the Columbia River, into Astoria. This is my first visit to Oregon, so I was anxious to see what the state had to offer. Just south of Astoria is the Fort Clatsop National Memorial. This is the location of the fort built by the Lewis and Clark expedition to stay through the winter after their arrival to the Pacific Ocean. Of interest to me was the models and maps showing their journey, and I was able to see where my journey matched theirs! There were several references to the previous winter, when they built Fort Mandan. I was able to visit that fort several months ago.

Entrance to Fort Clatsop.

Diagram of the fort.

Exterior view towards the main entrance.

Interior shot of the fort.

A trail leads to the waterfront. This is believed to be the location where Lewis and Clark originally landed and stepped ashore.

Canoes on display near the landing.

Canoe building is displayed, and all canoes constructed are required to be usable.

The Fort Clatsop Visitor Center.

In Seaside Oregon, I found this historical site where the salt works used by the expedition were located.

As stated before, there is ample opportunity to learn history, as the statue and plaque of Captain Robert Gray demonstrates.

Panel describing the salt works.

The salt works used by the expedition.

A view of the pacific coast.

The story of Captain Robert Gray.

Statue of Captain Gray.

Just south of Tillamook is the Tillamook Air Museum. You cannot miss it, as it is located in a blimp hangar with extremely large letters on the side of the building! (Pictures of the building side will be on tomorrow's page.) They have some great displays, and many of the aircraft can still be flown. They also discuss the history of blimps and the hangar.

The original entrance to the blimp hangar.

The entrance to the museum.

An interesting aircraft located along the road to the museum.

One of the first two planes to land at the North Pole.

An F-14 fighter.

An old C-47.

This hangar was HUGE! Years ago, basketball hoops were hung on both ends of the hangar above the doors at about 120 feet up! It was an interesting sight!

Inside the cockpit of the F-14.

From a postcard, as a demonstration, an airplane was flown through the hangar!

Tomorrow I head further south, and will be taking a left turn to head towards several parks in the interior of Oregon. Thank you for visiting!

Routes traveled today: Wa 115 - Wa 109 - US 101 (Some side roads along the coast)

Lodging: Red Apple Inn -

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