05-01-2013

05-01-2013

First 24 hours in Seattle area were amazing. Judy and I were able to see some of our family here and will see more tomorrow.   The view from our bedroom balcony at Greg’s house is one of a kind. The snow topped Olympic Mountains just beyond the Puget Sound are pretty cool to see when you awake.   Greg has a real special red 1965 Sunbeam Tiger that actually is connected to his childhood. It is a beautiful car and he is pretty proud of it, rightfully so.   Judy and I took a little drive to a nearby village of Mukilteo. It is a pretty cool town with a lighthouse, great seafood, and a ferry. We wandered around the village, photographed the lighthouse and boarded the ferry for a ride over to Clinton and back. When we got back, it was time for lunch so we visited a well known walk-up seafood “joint”. We had a halibut and chips special and it was by far the very best I have ever had.   In the afternoon, Greg offered to give us a tour of the area if Judy would agree to be the pilot. The photos speak for themselves.   [alpine-phototile-for-picasa-and-google-plus src=”user_album” uid=”117292386093793315084″ ualb=”5873186783270305857″ imgl=”fancybox” dltext=”Picasa” style=”floor” row=”4″ num=”160″ size=”220″ border=”1″ highlight=”1″ align=”center”...
04-29-2013

04-29-2013

For those of you still hanging around this website, here are some beach and sunset photos that I took today.   [alpine-phototile-for-picasa-and-google-plus src=”user_album” uid=”117292386093793315084″ ualb=”5872480434157562689″ imgl=”fancybox” dltext=”Picasa” style=”floor” row=”4″ num=”160″ size=”220″ border=”1″ highlight=”1″ align=”center”...
After 28 days, it is over.

After 28 days, it is over.

The Pacific was the destination assigned by President Jefferson and The Corps succeeded.   So many months, and days, and miles, and troubles, and struggles and yet it is sad that it is over. That pretty well describes the feelings of Captains Lewis and Clark; and I must say it also describes my feelings. This afternoon, I am sad that it is over.   I can honestly say that I have “planned” or at least dreamt about this journey since I was a young boy. Of course I didn’t know everything about their journey and I still don’t, even after this trip, but I knew enough about it that it created a deep curiosity and a yearning in me. I wanted to see at least some of the places they described and to contemplate their strengths and their drive.  Now I have done just that. Numerous times, over the last 28 days, I have stood at the river bank, read a selection from their journals, looked upstream and pictured them rounding the bend headed west.   I didn’t get to see any live grizzly bears and I didn’t get to the point that I had to eat anything undesirable, but I did see buffalos, an elk, a few bald eagles, a lot of ring-necked pheasants, and even a few prairie dogs. I didn’t have to “camp” in my truck even though I was prepared to do it if necessary. I did struggle a few days in the snow and several days in the rain, but I also had some beautiful sunshine that kept my spirits up.   I ventured off the Lewis and Clark journey...
04-27-2013

04-27-2013

Cold, windy, and rainy; just as described in all their journals.   The Oregon coast lived up to their descriptions in all aspects. A beautiful coast for sure, but cold and damp all day.   As the one sign says, “The end of the Lewis and Clark Trail”.   Seaside, OR N46.01491 W123.91120   Salt Works N45.98466 W123.93213   Ecola State Park N45.91955 W123.97405   Daily data:   Beginning odometer at  Comfort Inn, Astoria, OR was 31,025 miles. Ending odometer at the same place is 31,071 miles. Bought fuel at Astoria, OR. Bought 9.333 gallons @ $3.439 for a total of $32.10.     [alpine-phototile-for-picasa-and-google-plus src=”user_album” uid=”117292386093793315084″ ualb=”5871666593272316209″ imgl=”fancybox” dltext=”Picasa” style=”floor” row=”4″ num=”150″ size=”220″ border=”1″ highlight=”1″ align=”center”...
04-26-2013

04-26-2013

“Ocian in view ! O! the joy”   Everyone was thrilled to learn that they actually made it to the Pacific Ocean as directed by President Jefferson.   BUT, the last several days were not easy, in fact they were miserable but they made it.   Daily data: Beginning odometer at the Days Inn in Greshem, Oregon was 30,806 miles. Ending odometer at the Comfort Inn in Astoria, Oregon is 30,997 miles. Fuel purchase at Cathlamet, Washington.  Odometer was 30890, bought 12.443 gallons @ $3.739 for a total of $46.52.Meals for the day were $28.00 Meals for the day were $28.00 Lodging for the night is $105.60   [alpine-phototile-for-picasa-and-google-plus src=”user_album” uid=”117292386093793315084″ ualb=”5871345920197158977″ imgl=”fancybox” dltext=”Picasa” style=”floor” row=”4″ num=”150″ size=”220″ border=”1″ highlight=”1″ align=”center”...
Fort Clatsop

Fort Clatsop

A fort, hastily built to survive the cold, wet winter of the Columbia River and the Pacific Ocean.   Arriving in mid-November, the fort had to be built quickly to assist in their survival for the winter. The fort is much smaller than I expected, but it obviously fit their needs.   N46.13397 W123.88036     [alpine-phototile-for-picasa-and-google-plus src=”user_album” uid=”117292386093793315084″ ualb=”5871344913245914625″ imgl=”fancybox” dltext=”Picasa” style=”floor” row=”4″ num=”150″ size=”220″ border=”1″ highlight=”1″ align=”center”...