Everyone knows that I don’t like bridges – Beau Bridges being the exception. So why didn’t anyone tell me that you need to go over a bridge to get anywhere in this part of the world?
Portland’s “Bridgetown” moniker is not a joke. The Willamette River, divides the city into east and west sides and features a dozen crossings.
Yesterday we took a day trip to Seaside, Astoria and into Washington. We drove over the “mother of all bridges” from Astoria to Chinook. The Astoria-Megler Bridge stretches 4.1 miles. It has cantilevers, trusses, steel decks…..and I think a loop-de-loop. I’m not sure about that as I had my eyes closed! This crossing used to be serviced by ferry (why can’t we just leave things as they were….) and when the bridge was first installed it was a toll bridge. Having been paid off early, we can go freely and easily if we must…..
We stopped for the best clam chowder ever at a diner in Chinook. Surprise! Surprise! They asked each dog owner if it was a “service dog” before allowing every one of them a place at the tables all around me!
Then on to Cape Disappointment State Park. I want to see the town council meeting notes when they discussed the name for that area. Cape Disappointment is the Washington point at the mouth of the Columbia River. The Pacific Ocean is on the west side, Ilwaco on the east and Clatsop Spit to the South on the Oregon side. Missed the Spit! Ilwaco was more fun to pronounce than to drive through. The Cape was really beautiful with its lighthouse and the piles of driftwood strewn along the bay.
Loved the road trip. Cool day in the car. Beautiful scenery all the way. And just one bridge too many…..Next trip we will visit the cranberry bogs…..sometime in September.
Pamela
