Lewis & Clark's canoe landing

Just about a block down a remarkably peaceful trail through the dense woods from Lewis and Clark's Fort Clatsop replica, the trail gives way to a short boardwalk over the marshy ground. A few paces further, and you emerge at the spot used by the expedition as a canoe landing. They had already camped and traded on other parts of the Columbia River's mouth, so this was not their first stop, but it was the landing they used to access the fort during the wet winter of 1805-1806. Originally named the Netul River, it is now called the Lewis and Clark River. A short distance to our left, the river feeds into Youngs Bay and then directly into the Columbia. In this photo, you're looking south into Oregon.

Stepping out of dense woods onto the river at this point presents a rewarding view, so beautifully contrasted yet integral with the vegetation of the forest. The rigidly regular pilings you see in the distance are the remnants of a large lumber industry in past decades. Kayakers still use the river, and I'm sure it's used by fishermen as well. The day I was there, several people were paddling their way up the river in kayaks, making an interesting continuum to the history that was on my mind.

. For more photos of water, please visit Watery Wednesday and follow the links.