DAY 46 - WARRENTON, OREGON 

JUNE 28 , 2014

This is our last day of the caravan.   We woke up early with it raining pretty hard along with it being cool.  But I believe that this weather is pretty typical for northwest Oregon.  

First thing on the agenda was to get coffee started. And then get all the breakfast food ready for the group.  

Around 8:00 we started seeing our friends arrive at the meeting room.  It was great to get to visit one more time with them.  There were lots of smiles and tears as we exchanged hugs and well wishes for the future.  

Look at all that good food!!!

Oh goody, more food

So where are you going from here?

I think I've had enough food!

Just one more bite!

Smile you are on Candid Camera

Is this all we do is EAT?

Jim and I want to personally thank each of our guests for being on this adventure with us.  This was a GREAT caravan with GREAT people and we all had a GREAT time. It is always sad to see everyone leave on the last day; but many of them we will see again.  We wish you all a very safe and blessed trip home.  (Hugs and more Hugs)

Rig 3 Jim and Betty (Assistant Wagon Master/Tailgunner)

Guests and staff:

The Guests

The Staff

DAY 45 - WARRENTON, OREGON 

JUNE 27 , 2014

The day did not start out great (it was raining). Mother Nature must be sad because this is our last full day with new  friends from all over the US and Canada. 

We headed down to the little Beach Resort town of Seaside OR.  Seaside has been revered as one of the most popular Oregon Coast destinations for more than 100 years - and for good reason.  With miles of soft sandy beach, beautiful ocean views, classic coastal attractions and abundant outdoor adventures, Seaside creates memories you will have forever.

Cal and Matt are on their way back from
viewing the Pacific Ocean

Olie's smile tells it all

Beverly and Jo-An also enjoyed
 the view of the Pacific Ocean

Chris, the museum curator, came on our motor coach to give us a little history of the town then we were off to explore the town. Some of us took a short walk to the  site where the Corps of Discovery set up their salt making area during their stay here in the winter of 1805 & 1806.

To make salt, the Corps had to find rocks to build a furnace, wood to burn, ocean water to boil, fresh water to drink and game animals.  Five men traveled to the beach site, built the camp and set five kettles to boiling, 24 hours a day, to produce salt.  According to their records, they set out from Fort Clatsop on December 28, 1805, and left the camp February 20, 1806 with 3 1/2 bushels or about 28 gallons of "excellent, fine, strong & white" salt. 

They used the salt for flavoring their food as well as curing the meat for storage.

Salt Works with the 5 kettle for boiling

A different view of the Salt Works

We spent a short time(about a hour and a half) wondering around the town of Seaside.  Several of us went shopping and other just enjoyed the ice cream and coffee shops.   All of us went to see the "End of the Lewis and Clark Trail' sign and statue.  

We did it!!!  From beginning to the end

Now this is shopping for something unique 

After our visit to Seaside we took a short drive site seeing  to Cannon Beach.  What a beautiful drive.  Some of group got off the bus to walk in the Pacific ocean and others wanted to get pictures of the Haystack Rock.  This gorgeous coastal town is nestled midst a forested headland and broad spans of sandy beach with stunning views of the Pacific Ocean and the towering monoliths.  Haystack Rock,which reaches to 235 feet above the ocean, is one of the largest monoliths in the world and a photographer's favorite.

Haystack Rock

Then we were off to Camp 18 for a fantastic lunch. Camp 18 is an old logging camp converted to a great place to eat. There is all kinds of logging equipment on display dating back a least a century, along with several wood carvings.

Camp 18 Restaurant

Wood carved Eagle

Wood carved lumber jack

Sue you really look small next to this guy

WOW this is a great lunch

After lunch we headed back to our campground where strawberry short cake was waiting. Although the weather did not cooperate, we all still had a great Day.

 

They are all waiting for the desert

Kittie is showing us her
strawberry shortcake

Well what is left of it.

Sue and I would like to thank all of our Lewis & Clark travelers for coming along with us on this journey.

 May all your travels be filled with fun and joy

Rig # 1 Phil & Sue (Wagonmaster)

DAY 44 - WARRENTON, OREGON 

JUNE 26 , 2014

Today was another early to rise.  We had a bus waiting for us at 8:45, to take us on the Astoria/Seaside tour.

We begin with going to Fort Clatsop.  This is perhaps best known as the place where the Lewis and Clark expedition "wintered over" in 1805-1806 with the Corps of Discovery at the Fort.  The expedition spend its time hunting, making moccasins and clothing, trading with the Clatsop, Tillamook and Chinook American Indians and reporting in their journals.


We were first met by a ranger who gave us information about what we were going to see at the Fort.  We then begin with a movie about the life of the Lewis and Clark group, and ended with us walking up to Fort Clatsop.

Our guide did a great job of giving us information on the Fort

Bob, Sacagawea can't hear you!

Phil, we do have other seats in the theater

Our group picture at Fort Clatsop

Another guide explained how
Lewis and Clark expedition lived the Fort 

Jeff and Noreene with the guide

Jim and Betty had to try out the bench
 made of a tree trunk

Great picture of the firing
of the rifle 

   

Living quarters for Corps of Discovery

After spending much time at the Fort, we boarded the bus and headed to the Columbia River Maritime Museum.

This 44,200-square-foot Columbia River Maritime Museum brings to life the rich maritime heritage of the entire Columbia River region.  Exhibit galleries in the internationally acclaimed museum include fur trade and exploration; navigation and marine safety; fishing, whaling and canneries; sailing vessels; steamboats on the Columbia River; and naval history.

Columbia River maritime Museum

Our guide showed us around the museum

The Columbia river was named after this ship

Among many things In the museum, there was a section dedicated to the US Coast Guard.  The mouth of the Columbia is extremely dangerous because of the sand bar at the bottom of the river, with the tide coming in and the Columbia River going out.  This area is one of the main areas for training US Coast Guard and Pilot Captains.

US Coast Guard Boat

After the museum we were on our way to lunch.  What a wonderful lunch at the 'Baked Alaska Restaurant'.

With full tummies we boarded the bus again, and headed to the Lewis & Clark Interpretive Center at Cape Disappointment.  We watch a movie about Lewis & Clark landing here but because of the weather the Corps of Discovery chose to go back to the Oregon side of the river to settle down for the winter.  We wandered through the museum and viewed the light house before leaving to go back to the RV Park.

Sign for Cape Disappointment

Beautiful walk to the Interpretive Center 

Light House at Cape Disappointment

We got to spend some time with our great nephew and have decided he will be a future Adventure Caravan Guest

Youngest future Adventure Caravan Guest

Again, another GREAT Day!!!!

Rig #22 Jeff and Noreene

DAY 43 - PORTLAND, OREGON to WARRENTON, OREGON 

JUNE 25 , 2014

Today was a beautiful drive along winding roads with lots of wild flowers.  We wanted to stop in Cathlamet, Wa. to see the 1895 Pioneer Church built into a rock outcropping that overlooks the village, but couldn't see any place to stop.  But we did see some neat things.

Rusted tractor and wagon

Boat in someone's front yard

We continued on to Grays River to see the Covered Bridge.  We stopped at a vacant cafe parking lot and unhooked to go down to see the 1905 Covered Bridge with the 158-foot span and is considered the oldest remaining covered bridge in the northwest, and the only one of its kind in the state of Washington. To our surprise it was very plain.

Sign for the Historic Grays River Covered Bridge

1905 Covered Bridge 

Road to the Covered Bridge

The drive was just beautiful.  We followed the Columbia River all the way. We went from Oregon to Washington and back to Oregon. 

Columbia River

Logging Truck

Our next stop was the "Dismal Hitch", where Lewis & Clark were held up  by storms. 

Dismal Hitch

Dismal Hitch

And just before we arrived at the RV Park we had to cross the 4.1 mile "Astoria Megler Bridge".  In the middle of the bridge we entered the state Oregon.

We got in to the next RV park around 1:00 pm and just enjoyed the afternoon.

Kampers West RV Park

The afternoon was free to just relax and enjoy the day.

Girls playing 'Hand and Foot'

Guys with their 'Bull Session'

Around 6:00 pm our leaders cooked us some wonderful hamburgers and everyone else brought some GREAT food to go with the hamburger feast.   WOW what great cooks we have on this caravan.

We ended the evening with AVC Bingo. 

N39 

N WHAT?????

Another Great Day....... 

Rig # 27 Cal & Mary Kay