Pages

Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger...

Saturday, October 3, 2009

End of summer

Brown Pilings, Columbia River at Astoria, Oregon I took this somewhat dreary end-of-summer photo on September 22. Compare it to this one taken on June 16th. The green stuff (moss, algae?) has almost burned away in the last two months of comparatively dry and occasionally hot weather. The gray building is the Columbia River Bar Pilots' dispatch office (and what a location for an office, eh?); you see it from the other side in the June 16 photo. The pilings are what's left of city structures and (perhaps) sheds to dry and mend nets. I haven't checked the exact history of this block, but an interpretive plaque nearby says, "Before the fire of 1922, much of downtown Astoria was built on pilings over the river. People built out from the original hilly shoreline, creating a level commercial district with access to the water. Every type of business might be located over the water: hotels and taverns, churches and fish canneries, lumberyards and a railroad depot."

Some people complain that winter brings rain, and that we have all too much of it, but I look forward to winter, too. The visiting crowds thin out, the pilings turn green again, and the skies are brightened with the most amazing sunsets. We even have a number of bright t-shirt days. At the moment, however, toes and noses are pretty cold.

11 comments:

Unseen Rajasthan said...

Hello Friend ! This is so a neat shot !! Nice and lovely !!Unseen Rajasthan

cieldequimper said...

I like the composition. Keep warm and have a great weekend!

B SQUARED said...

Kind of a floating city at one time. Very unusual.

Lowell said...

I don't think this is dreary at all...I love it! Of course, with all those pilings, you must find that taking a great photo is kinda like falling off a log!

Have a wonderful weekend and try to stay warm. We're visiting our daughter in South Florida and are hoping it cools down to the high 80s today!

Ugh!

James said...

Hi Sheryl Todd, I love your part of the country it's so beautiful. I enjoy the ocean,forests and rain.

You asked me to let you know when I started my reflections meme. Well last week was a trial run and it's in full swing this week.
It would be a pleasure to have your participation in "Weekend Reflections" It runs Friday through Sunday every week at my Newtown blog.

Have a great weekend!

tapirgal said...

@James - Fantastic, I'll post my contribution from my other blog today :) Glad you got it going.

Anonymous said...

This isn't dreary it is a wonderful tribute to the end of a season Sheryl.

Don and Krise said...

There's nothing dreary about this photo if you've lived in the northwest very long. Just look how far you can see. As much as I love summer, and as hard as it is to put the shorts back in the dresser I do love rainy fall and winter days now and then. Brisk days and a warm sweatshirt. Yes indeed.

VP said...

Love the image and the tone of your post.You remind me that part of my city is built on top of old pilings, but they were interred at the time.
Hope your weather keep nice for a bit more...

Buenos Aires Photoblog said...

Beautiful picture and informative post! Seems you have once had your own little Venice up there. I like how you captured the atmosphere of approaching fall.

Lee Spangler said...

I love that shot. It reminds me also how often, when the weather is bad, that seagulls sit on all of them

You might also like

Related Posts with Thumbnails