The Striking Viking (a Scootard): The Coast, the Glorious Coast

We awoke on the banks of the Columbia and headed for the breakfast room.
As usual the offerings were cereal, baked goods and a hot line including waffles.

I have used this combination before which although unconventional includes grain, protein and flavor. It consists of a Waffle, Gravy and a couple of Eggs. Unusual yes, tasty definitely!

We prepared to check out and I loaded the luggage in the car prior to departure.

Here's we! Ready for another day of exploring and reporting. Where to first?

This is the Gustav Holmes house. There are 2 floor of Museum quality architecture according to the listing agent, with an unfinished 3rd. floor ballroom.

This is the welcome to Astoria sign. The "DO NOT ENTER" sign does not apply to us, not due to our unimpeachable character, but because it refers to traffic trying to drive west on an adjacent street.

This is a picture of the Liberty theater. I have effortlessly included my thumb in the shot at no additional cost
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OK then, uphill to have a look at the Astoria Column. This is etched around with pictures and commentary on the outside. Here's more information.

Interesting Facts here.

The following two pictures illustrate the scope of the vista, looking across to Washington and then out to the wide blue Pacific.

Here's another picture of the column.

On our way out of town we got a picture of the Astoria-Megler bridge from below. This illustrates the height of the span and shows how one goes almost from river level up into the sky to finish one's trip across from Washington to Oregon.

ScooterChick has been "jonesing" for some beach time so we parked and walked down to the surf. You can tell it's still around low 60's and a jacket is required.

We approach the strand on a path through the dune grass. Many have trod this path before us and many more will no doubt come after.

Somebody found a stick and wrote an expression of love in the wet sand.

It's fascinating the way the wind sculpts the sand and leaves a fantastic texture which is erased with our passage. This is taken looking across the beach, from beach level.

A quick trip to the washroom to rinse off feet prior to getting back in the car.

There are markers on the lampposts. Just in case we had forgotten where we were...

The architecture is typically beachlike. Rhododendrons and azaleas abound.

This is downtown Seaside Oregon. Typical small town America with a tourist flavor. Places like this are usually graveyard quiet October to Memorial day and then crowded and a hive of activity until late September when they lapse back into somnolence.

The following are a few shots of our trip south towards Tillamook. The Oregon Coast is not to be believed from the mere picturing thereof, you must come and experience it for yourself. There is no other place on earth like it.

The headlands rise in the mist as you look either direction.

There is frequently a glimpse of the rolling surf through windswept evergreens.

Looking south one can see the Bayocean Peninsula that encloses Tillamook Bay.

This is my attempt at an art shot. I like it.

Returning back to sea level we pass through another small town. This one is named Garibaldi. Apparently General Giuseppe Garibaldi had succeeded in unifying Italy and Sicily in 1860 and the town was named in his honor. Curious that, considering Mt Garibaldi just north of Squamish is also named for him. That guy really gets around!!!

A log awaited highlight of our trip arrived, as we arrived at the Tillamook cheese factory. The last time I visited was around 1963 at the old factory and I remember it fondly. The new factory did not disappoint as we took the tour and shopped in their store.

The factory was started by a cooperative of local dairy farmers and has been in continuous operation since 1907. They take great pride in their cheese, and justifiably so.

Here they are vacuum bagging 40's which are blocks of cheese that way between 41-44 pounds and then set to age for a minimum of sixty days and up to three years to age prior to sale.

Here is some information about the Tillamook Bay area.

Here some of the proud contributors of raw milk for the cheese look fondly upon folks who are exiting the tasting line.

One of the advertising campaigns that was very successful for Tillamook Cheese was the Loaf Love campaign featuring a VW bus and bricks of cheese.

In front of the factory is a recreation of the schooner Morning Star which was built in Tillamook specifically to boost area trade and was lost in the Strait of Juan de Fuca. The recreation was built by locals and presented to Tillamook Cheese which is the largest employer in the area.

Behold the power of cheese! the parking lot was full when we arrived, and full when we left. Many folks itching to get their hands on some of that wonderful stuff.

By now it was definitely Cheese Time so we set up on the beach and prepared a picnic meal of sorts. Crackers, Cheese and Local Smoked Oysters.....mmmmm.

This is a picture of the world's shortest river. It flows from D Lake to the Ocean, a distance of not quite 300 yards.

I believe this is the hotel that our friend BobSkoot stayed in. Is that right Bob?

These are Sea Stacks. They are rock columns slowly being reclaimed by the sea.

This is the world's smallest harbor. It is located in Depoe Bay Oregon.

This is the entry to the harbor. There is a light flashing to indicate a difficult bar crossing to get to the open ocean. I don't think the light ever stops flashing. If your motor fails, it's the rocks for you.

We now reach our destination for the night. It has been many years since I stayed a night in Newport. The last time I overnighted here was 1998. I had previously spent time here as a kid.