The ‘cousins’ like to visit the Astoria Column every year when we come to Ocean Park for our family reunion. We don’t always make it, but this year we did. I don’t remember how long ago it was that we discovered that you could buy balsa wood planes from the gift shop in the parking lot and then launch them from the observation deck at the top of the column. My brother, Jim, bought each of the 10 kids three airplanes and they headed up the 164 steps of the interior spiral staircase to the observation deck at the top. Once at the top, the kids started launching planes. Some of the planes catch the air currents and float, sometimes for a mile or more, down into the wooded hillside.

Others were not quite so aerodynamic. I took the first shift of collecting any plane that did not clear the top of the hill. After collecting at least a dozen, one of the boys came down to get them from me and take them back up to try again. I then made the trek to the top and got some photos from there and tossed an obligatory plane. Jim came down and scavenged another dozen or so planes from the bushes along the road leading up to the column which were promptly launched into the wild blue yonder once again.

After all the planes had floated away we headed back to town to find something to eat. We parked the car and walked along the waterfront looking for a good place for 11 people to eat. The first place we entered was getting ready to close and shuttered at the sight of our group. The second place made us shutter when we multiplied the cost per meal by 11. So we ended up stopping at Papa Murphy’s, buying 4 large pizzas to take back and cook in my brother’s hotel room.

While walking around Astoria we came across some nice old Fords. I am always a sucker for a classic and these definitely fit the bill. They had all been restored beautifully and almost looked like they were in the right time period where they were parked.

The Astoria Bridge is amazing. It climbs over the roof top of Astoria before making the four mile journey across the Columbia River. Maybe next year I will find a good vantage point to shoot the entire bridge.

Bateman Island Sunset 8 - tilt

Bateman Island Sunset 7 - S Curve

Bateman Island Sunset 6 - Through the Trees

Bateman Island Sunset 5 - Ripples

Bateman Island Sunset 4 - Rattlesnake Mountain

Bateman Island Sunset 3 - Burning Sky

Bateman Island Sunset 2 - Purple Sky

Bateman Island Sunset 1 - Ripple Sky

I left the office as the sun was going down and immediately wished I had left earlier. The clouds were quite distinct and the sun was casting a beautiful orange glow over the whole western sky. I drove as quickly as I could dared down to the river where I hoped to get an unobstructed view of the setting sun over the river and Rattlesnake Mountain.

Even though I made record time down Columbia Center Blvd, the sun had definitely gone down a little further by the time I got down to the river. I hopped out of the car and took some photos from the parking area which gave a great view but then walked down to the causeway to get some water level shots as well.

I forgot I would be battling not just the setting sun but also mosquitoes! As soon as I got down to the causeway, the mosquitoes realized dinner had arrived. I also would make sure to put some bug spray in my camera pack!

All in all I am happy with the results. At least 2 of these will get enlarged to 8×12 and one of those might even get some more fancy treatment. Which is your favorite? Let me know in the comments below.

Boondocking at Multnomah Falls

Multnomah Falls

Boondocking at Multnomah Falls

Boondocking at Multnomah Falls

Leaving is always the hardest thing to do. Especially when you are leaving for a 10 day vacation in a 26′ travel trailer. We have found that rather than leaving in the morning, it is always best to leave the night before. It always takes an extra 2 hours to pack, so if you plan to leave town at 8am you never get out until 10, but if you plan to leave around 7pm you can get out of the house at 9pm, get a couple hundred miles down the road, and actually be on vacation the next morning.

Benson Bridge & Multnomah Falls

Benson Bridge & Multnomah Falls

Benson Bridge & Multnomah Falls

Benson Bridge & Multnomah Falls

Benson Bridge & Multnomah Falls

Benson Bridge & Multnomah Falls

Benson Bridge & Multnomah Falls

Benson Bridge & Multnomah Falls

Benson Bridge & Multnomah Falls

Multnomah Falls

Multnomah Falls is a great place to stop for the night. After locking everything up we all crawled into bed around midnight. The train tracks are only about 40 yards away but if the train went by while we were there this year, I sure did not hear it. I was wakened at 6:30am by our little schnauzer, Fritz, who needed to do his business. I am so glad I forced myself out of bed and did not make the boys take him out. The air was clear, it was a gorgeous walk up to the falls, and I had the place to myself.

Multnomah Falls

Multnomah Falls

Multnomah Falls

Multnomah Falls

Train Tracks at Multnomah Falls

Train Tracks at Multnomah Falls

Train at Multnomah Falls

Multnomah Falls

Multnomah Falls

Train Tracks at Multnomah Falls

Multnomah Falls

Multnomah Falls

Multnomah Falls

Multnomah Falls

Multnomah Falls

Multnomah Falls Trail

Multnomah Falls

After taking pictures of the falls, Fritz and I walked east along old Highway 30 and the train tracks. The sun was peaking around the mountain but I was not able to get a good photo of the sunrise. As we were walking I saw the train coming so I set up to take a picture of the train as it whizzed by. Well, the conductor had the last laugh. I was holding the camera to get just the right shot. The train had just reached me and the conductor blasted the train whistle. I must have jumped a foot and am sure the conductor was laughing all the way down the track.

When I got back to the trailer around 8am everyone was awake and we decided to hit the road and get breakfast and coffee in Wood Village, outside Portland where we had planned to make a pit stop anyway to visit Camping World.