Any day in Astoria

This is one reason why some people love Astoria and others don't. This photo could have been taken any day of the year. As it happens, it was taken on July 13, 2009. Yesterday the sun came out, and today is starting off as in the photo, although the weather report says the sun should peek through later. Yesterday afternoon was gorgeous. You never know. I love the misty, drizzly days, too, but when the sun comes out, it brings smiles.

I took this photo from the top of the 6th Street Viewing Platform. The tiered decking is for public access to the river front. I've seen people catch sturgeon from this deck, or you can simply enjoy a fantastic view of the river and the ships, and sometimes seals and sea lions. Anything made of wood here is clearly at the mercy of the elements, and I've watched the effect that water has on this platform over the past few years. It's not unusual to walk along the waterfront and see the occasional replacement board or number of boards in their bright new-wood colors nailed right up against the fading gray. The upstairs of the first building is called "The Penthouse," a several-bedroom, beautifully decorated place that can be rented for groups or parties. Everything else here is business, whether office space or, like the yellow building, part of the fishing and packing industry. The photo is taken looking east, and most of the town is nestled behind the buildings or on the foggy shoreline. "Misty" or "drizzly" may be better words, as we don't get much dense fog here on the shore.

There's a coin-operated telescope on the platform that I've never used, and a plaque describing vanished lifeways of the local Indians. I like it that some of the history of the river can be found in pictures and words along the waterfront.

I've used this photo as my contribution to Watery Wednesday. Follow the link to see more pix featuring water.