Peninsula

Taken on December 31, 2012.
I hope everyone has a safe and happy new years eve. This is the peninsula we all love called Astoria. Happy New Years Everyone:).
-Jessie

Visit Jessie's Blog
Astoria, Oregon, Daily Photo is sponsored by Tapir and Friends Animal Store.

Astoria

A nice day in Astoria. I was driving over the bridge and I took this photo. Hope you all like.
Taken on December 30, 2012.
-Jessie

Visit Jessie's Blog
Astoria, Oregon, Daily Photo is sponsored by Tapir and Friends Animal Store.

Holiday Inn Express

Taken today; December 29, 2012. In the background of this picture is the street that going toward down town Astoria. The building to the left is the Holiday Inn Express. Toward the foreground of the picture is a nice little park that I like walking by to get to downtown Astoria. A couple minutes before I took this picture, it was raining. I love how the sky looks after it rains. Part of the sky is dark grey and it descends into a nice blue or white.
-Jessie

Visit Jessie's Blog
Astoria, Oregon, Daily Photo is sponsored by Tapir and Friends Animal Store.

Rivington

Taken On December 27,2012. I fixed the contrast. I hope you like it:).
-Jessie

Visit Jessie's Blog
Astoria, Oregon, Daily Photo is sponsored by Tapir and Friends Animal Store.

On the Riverwalk

Taken on December 27, 2012. This is a picture of  the bridge in the back ground but also as my sourses tell me I think it is an oven from a factory that burned down.

Visit Jessie's Blog
Astoria, Oregon, Daily Photo is sponsored by Tapir and Friends Animal Store.

Christmas

Date taken: December 24, 2012. 'Tis the season to be jolly.  I hope you all had a wonderful and safe Christmas. Mine was exactly how I wanted it to be, perfect. I was with my family and we spent the whole day together. I hope your day was just as special.

Visit Jessie's Blog
Astoria, Oregon, Daily Photo is sponsored by Tapir and Friends Animal Store.

Young's Bay Bridge

Date taken: December 24, 2012. In this photo there is Young's Bay Bridge. On the other side is Warrenton. 

I like this picture because the sky and the water color don't take away the attention from the bridge. In my opinion stands out amongst the other aspects in the picture. 

Visit Jessie's Blog
Astoria, Oregon, Daily Photo is sponsored by Tapir and Friends Animal Store.

The Pier

 

Date: December 20, 2012 Time: 2:16 pm. A good day in Astoria.

 Visit Jessie's Blog
Astoria, Oregon, Daily Photo is sponsored by Tapir and Friends Animal Store.

Rain and Sunshine

Picture Date: December 20, 2012 at 3:17 p.m.
In the picture there is the Astoria-Megler Bridge, the Wauna Federal Credit Union, and a hotel to my right. I was walking home from downtown Astoria, when I looked up at the sky and decided to take a picture. I could smell the fresh rain coming in and the nice sunshine about to be hided behind the clouds. I loved the nice sunshine, but was welcoming the incoming rain.
Not one of my best pictures but I hope you all enjoy:).

Visit Jessie's Blog
Astoria, Oregon, Daily Photo is sponsored by Tapir and Friends Animal Store.

Astoria Riverwalk Inn

This picture was taken on December 20, 2012 at 2:04 p.m. I like the color of the clouds in this photo. The building in the picture is the Astoria  Riverwalk  Inn. Behind this building is also where boats can be stored at docks.  The bridge in the picture is the Astoria-Megler Bridge. Where I am standing, is on the riverwalk. The riverwalk goes on for about 2 miles or so where you walk along the coast. It is quite beautiful.
-Jessie

Visit Jessie's Blog
Astoria, Oregon, Daily Photo is sponsored by Tapir and Friends Animal Store.

My First Post

   
 Hi my name is Jessie Holdbrook and I will be a guest blogger for a week. I hope you enjoy my posts.  By the way this is my cat Chairmen Mow. This picture was taken in February 2012 in Astoria OR.
- Jessie Holdbrook
http://jessie-nickole.tumblr.com/

This blog is sponsored by Tapir and Friends Animal Store.

Last Year on the Riverwalk

Astoria, Oregon ~ December 4, 2011

It was a cold day, but very beautiful along the river.

I have had a couple of nibbles, but have not resolved whether we will have a guest blogger, or who that will be. Still working on it. Thanks for your replies.

This blog is sponsored by Tapir and Friends Animal Store.

Unromantic?

Astoria, Oregon ~ September 19, 2012

This photo is unusual because: 1) I took it during a (please excuse me if you come from a place where these actually occur) rare traffic jam, and 2) It's not a spot I would normally think of photographing. This is the traffic circle leading onto the Young's Bay Bridge. I posted a popular photo here, where you see the same buildings and hill from a more photogenic angle. If you were to look out the passenger side window, you would soon see a view like this one.

This blog is sponsored by Tapir and Friends Animal Store.

Another Angle

Astoria, Oregon ~ June 20, 2012

. . . Just another angle on our interesting town.

This blog is sponsored by Tapir and Friends Animal Store.

Rhodies in June

Astoria, Oregon ~ June 13, 2011 

All of today's photos by J. Schu

On June 10, 2011, I photographed rhododendrons in front of the KMUN Radio Station house on 14th and Exchange. New in town, "J." happened to be walking around with his camera and coincidentally took these striking photos of the same building with its gorgeous floral dressing at almost the same time. He e-mailed me with the photos, and they have (unconscionably) sat in my "to be posted" file much longer than I'd like to admit. 

So, today let's all enjoy some color and remember one of the reasons we love the buckets of rain we're getting this week. Maybe December rains really do bring June flowers.

This last pic was taken on June 20, 2011.

Thank you, J., for the ray of sunshine, and I hope you are seeing this post despite my deplorable delay :-)

This blog is sponsored by Tapir and Friends Animal Store.

Theme Day: My Street

Astoria, Oregon ~ June 8, 2012

My "street," the Astoria Riverwalk, is so extraordinary that I've shown it many times on this blog. It runs along the river the whole length of town and beyond. Here you see a fraction of it in the foreground. It connects to Marine Drive (parallel, beyond the stop sign). Here it also intersects with 15th Street, which takes you up the hill to the college. The Riverwalk never looks much like a street, but like an alleyway, parking lot, paved walkway, boardwalk, or trolley trestle. I showed the view west from here in yesterday's post. Unaccountably, any building fronting the Riverwalk bears the address of some other street. For instance, the address just behind me is 1490 Marine Drive, and you can see how that would confuse someone  actually looking for it on Marine Drive.

See thumbnails for all Theme Day participants

Many thanks to Julie and Peter for giving City Daily Photo bloggers

 a new home on the web and reuniting old friends!

This blog is sponsored by Tapir and Friends Animal Store.

Foreshadowing

Astoria, Oregon ~ June 20, 2012

Sunset on the River Walk. The purpose of the title will become clear tomorrow. After all, foreshadowing is, by nature, a little vague.

This blog is sponsored by Tapir and Friends Animal Store.

Compulsive Edit

Astoria, Oregon ~ November 26, 2012

This sign in the parking garage under the Park Building on Exchange Street always bugged me, but it looks like it bugged someone with a marking pen even more. However, it was (and is) pleasant to conjure up a tropical island on a drizzly, dark day in Astoria's only under-building parking area.

This blog is sponsored by Tapir and Friends Animal Store.

Two Pilot Boats

Astoria, Oregon ~ November 26, 2012

Taken from upstairs, Doc's on 12th Street

The older pilot boat, Arrow 2 (left) doesn't get out as much as it used to. Although still plenty spry, its place has largely been taken over by the more modern and huskier Connor Foss on the right. When pulled up to a big ship, Connor looks capable enough, but she (she? Connor?) just does not have the romantic lines of the little Arrow. I suppose Arrow's era is passing. I don't know technically what Arrow lacks that Connor has, aside from youth, so if anyone can tell me, I'll be interested in finding out.

I love the look of the water. You can see how the rains have brought the mud down, and you can get a hint of some of the currents and turmoil beneath the Columbia's surface. 

This blog is sponsored by Tapir and Friends Animal Store.

That Hole in the Ground Revisited

Astoria, Oregon ~ November 27, 2012

I thought I'd take a progress-report photo of the hole in what used to be the Safeway parking lot on Duane Street between 11th and 14th Streets. I can't actually give you the report, because I have no idea what they are doing. I like the colorful sandbags. For the amusing (or not so amusing) first report, check out my original post from 2010.

This blog is sponsored by Tapir and Friends Animal Store.

Repairing Docks

Astoria, Oregon ~ October 9, 2012

The crane barge was busy much of the fall repairing docks at the 17th Street Pier. The building with the white roof is the Maritime Museum. The building in front with the round hole is the office of Columbia River Bar Pilots.

This blog is sponsored by Tapir and Friends Animal Store.

Coolest Sign Award

Astoria, Oregon ~ November 20, 2012

I could fall in love with almost any Victorian house, but I have a special place in my heart for Italianate Victorians. I can't tell you why. They're not as interesting-looking as the more ornate Victorians, so maybe it's their unexpectedness or their stately effect. Or maybe it's the name. This house across from the rectory (or whatever denomination it is) in my last post gets my personal "Coolest Sign of the Day" award.

Circa

1870

This Italianate was built to be the

home for the Charles Heilborn

 Family. In 1904 it became the 

home of Geo. Nelson, a ship's

Chandler. Eleanor – his

 wife – was the daughter of 

Capt. Gustov Holmes.

1929

Mildred Stacey arrived in

Astoria the night of the 

1922 fire. She moved into 

this house in 1929 and ran 

an upscale boarding house 

from 1930-1960's. She lived 

here until her passing at 

the age of 104 ~

 private     residence

This blog is sponsored by Tapir and Friends Animal Store.

Rectory in the Rain

Astoria, Oregon ~ November 20, 2012

I always love the variety of design and detail found in Astoria's older buildings. This one bears a plaque from the historical society. I believe this is on Franklin Street. I know it's near 15th. I did not take note of the denomination of the church next door, so maybe someone will tell me.

This blog is sponsored by Tapir and Friends Animal Store.

It's 8:00 a.m.: Do You Know Where Your Trash Can Is?

Astoria, Oregon ~ November 19, 2012

With local high winds, that's a good question. My recycling bin (above with the red lid) was blown onto the neighboring lot. The trash can (same design, but with a black lid) was in the middle of the River Walk another few yards away, and would have blocked traffic if there had been any. Wind and rain continue. I love this weather, and as far as I know, the damage is only of the nuisance variety. These lightweight cans make excellent wind-catchers.

This blog is sponsored by Tapir and Friends Animal Store.

Bright Flowers on a Gray Day

Astoria, Oregon ~ September 18, 2012

Outside the Co-op

By this time, I wasn't getting out much, and when I did, it was hard to stand up long enough to take a photo. It was always a pleasure to see the changing floral array when I would stop to buy food.

This blog is sponsored by Tapir and Friends Animal Store.

Orange and Wet

Astoria, Oregon ~ April 9, 2009

Although it was taken in 2009, this is a perfect photo for a dark and rainy day like today.

This blog is sponsored by Tapir and Friends Animal Store.

Bucolic Shoreline

Astoria, Oregon ~ September 15, 2009

The shoreline looks downright bucolic in this photo from 2009 taken over the railing of Pier 39. One of these days I'll get around to photographing what it looks like now.

This blog is sponsored by Tapir and Friends Animal Store.

Bright New Paint

Astoria, Oregon ~ November 15, 2012

Welcome to a bright, sunny, winter's day. I've posted this basic shot a number of times (as it's easy to get to, and always changing in some way). Today the radio tower has new paint. This happened over the summer, and now I wish I'd gotten photos of the guy in the cage being hauled up and down. It seems that tower-painting is is a specialty job, and a family came up from southern Oregon to tackle it. They were nice, and hung around for a few days until it was done. Sorry about the skewed tower. I tried to skew the buildings straight, and now the tower looks drunk.

A French Connection:

I have a request from Belgium. A follower of this blog, Gwenola Bonnessoeur, is a young French woman from Reims, now studying in Brussels. She loves Astoria (from the movies? I'm not sure) and hopes to visit. She would like to exchange messages on Facebook with Astorians for fun and to improve her English. You won't have any trouble understanding her. Go ahead and look her up :-)

Thanks for all of your kind messages yesterday.

This blog is sponsored by Tapir and Friends Animal Store.

Where I've Been

Portland, Oregon ~ November 2, 2012

Shaking from stress and weakness, I found the camera in my backpack and took this photo in Portland a few days after my surgery. It was the first picture I had wanted to take in weeks. The leaves in Portland and on the coast in Astoria have been stunning this Fall until now the rain has drummed most of them off of the trees. I enjoyed observing, but the gorgeous, bright colors were just one more scenario I hadn't felt like taking pictures of. There have been many. I have missed a lot in the last couple of years. I will explain.

To my faithful blog friends. Thank you for reading and for your kindness over the months. Thank you, every one of you.

On October 30, I had a second surgery at OHSU to correct a very serious illness. The first surgery in April only partially solved problem, and it came back. This recent surgery was completely successful. I am so incredibly grateful to be where I am today. I will be okay, although recovery may take some time. I was extremely sick, and I was sick for a long time. I'm not sure why I never mentioned it on this blog. I am not all that private about my health, but I usually wait until I have something positive to say. That may be a failing, as it leaves me feeling isolated during the hardest times. My thanks to E. for turning me on to a terrific Ted Talk video about vulnerability and connection. From this video I also found a second one by the same speaker. I recommend both of them highly in this time when perhaps many of us struggle with connection despite – or maybe in part because of – our electronic connectivity and what it often becomes.

My illness was not cancer, but benign parathyroid tumors that destroyed my lifestyle, and can eventually take a person's life if not diagnosed and removed. Parathyroid glands are not the same as thyroid, although they reside in the same place in your throat, and each affects your entire being in a different way. Parathyroid hormone regulates the calcium in your body, and calcium regulates how your muscles, bones, and nervous system work. Benign parathyroid tumors affect all of these systems. I had been sick for at least eight years and didn't know why. And then something happened at the end of May 2010. I collapsed with exhaustion, and it was pretty much downhill from there. It eventually became impossible for me to walk around and take photos.

There is no known cause for parathyroid disease and apparently no known risk factors, although I am at the median age for people who are diagnosed. One of my doctors said, "Parathyroid disease is tricky to diagnose." I think it isn't. I think the doctors cover each other's tails by saying things like this. Maybe the subtleties require some diagnostic skill, but there is a HUGE red flag that anyone can recognize. ANYONE. My doctor in Astoria overlooked it on a standard blood test in 2004, and it may have been on later tests as well. The red flag is simple, and the cure is simple. I want EVERYONE to know what that red flag is. If you are a doctor, if you are a nurse, if you are a person watching out for your own health, and if you are concerned about the health of your friends and family, you can recognize the red flag before it ruins someone's life. The red flag is this: An adult should never have a blood calcium level over 10.1. The cure is also simple. You remove any enlarged parathyroid glands. Each person has four of them, and you can live comfortably with about one half of a gland left. They are virtually never cancer. You remove the affected gland and the problem is solved. Not to frighten anyone unnecessarily, a child or growing teen can have a calcium level higher than this – I believe it may be up to 10.6. I was in my 50s in 2004, so a calcium level of 11.3 on my standard annual complete blood count should have sent me to a specialist ASAP. It didn't. Unaccountably, my doctor did not recognize the red flag. Nothing was said, nothing was done.

The way I understand it now, there may be factors such as certain medications (hydrochlorothiazide) that can bump your calcium level up to 10.2 or maybe (I'm not sure) 10.3, but even these numbers need to be checked out. The cure is minor surgery – typically outpatient surgery done by a doctor who knows what they're doing. A person in our technological age should never have to get as sick from parathyroid disease as I did. 

I'm just saying, if you or anyone you know has a high-end calcium level of more than 10.1, don't wait, and don't let your doctor tell you, "We're going to watch and see what happens." Get it fixed and you can get on with your life. 

After several painful and debilitating years and two surgeries, my problem is now fixed. I'm beginning to feel that my life may become normal again. It won't happen overnight, but I am on the way. I was sick for so long that I ended up with not only the primary symptoms of parathyroid disease, but also crippling foot problems as a secondary condition. Parathyroid surgery was on October 30. Some painful symptoms were better by the time I woke up in the recovery room. Each day I've noticed more improvement, sometimes dramatic. Finally, in the last few days I can feel even the more stubborn symptoms beginning to abate. It's a dream come true, and I'm filled with hope.

I may write more about my experiences on my personal blog, I'm not sure. I don't want to dwell on the past, but I do want people to understand that what I have gone through can almost completely be avoided. With a history of fibromyalgia – or was it really the parathyroid disease all along? Some symptoms are identical – I waited and didn't become enough my own advocate. To be fair to myself, I had gone to many doctors with symptom complaints that eventually turned out to caused by the malfunction in my parathyroid glands. They had no clue. To be fair to THEM, yes, diagnosing parathyroid disease from symptoms is probably almost impossible. There are many symptoms, and you can read more about them at parathyroid.com. Thank God I didn't have all of these, but I did have some that are not on that list. So the absolute serum calcium number on the standard blood test becomes all-important. It should have been so simple.

As I write this, I am still spending most of my days on the couch or in bed. On Monday I began to feel that I could eventually become normal again. I began to feel that I will again walk more than a few yards at a time and spend more than an hour or two a day sitting up. I will keep you posted, and I will return to blogging. You will see my progress through the photos I take, although I may return to my archives now and again for want of time or travel, or just because I like some of my earlier pictures of Astoria. I wish I had said something sooner, but I was embarrassed that my photos were becoming restricted, showing only the scenes close to home. I never knew whether I should be honest about my condition on the blog, and now I wonder why it was such a big deal.

I have made tremendous friends through blogging, and I hope to make many more. I appreciate those of you who have asked after me – both those to whom I replied, and those I ignored, feeling wordless and hopeless at the time I received your email or comment. One way to make friends is to be honest about who you are. I knew that, and yet . . . why is this such a hard lesson?

This blog is sponsored by Tapir and Friends Animal Store.

Hunkered and Preening

Astoria, Oregon  ~ October 9, 2012

These birds have had a long, dry summer to enjoy the sun. They seem to know what's coming, though. It has been pouring in buckets today, although when I took the photo on October 9th, the seagulls were only battened down against small gusts and a few drizzles. Lest anyone wonder about the Oregon climate, note what the seagulls' perch looks like after one of the longest dry spells on record. 

I wish I could do what this gull is doing with its head.

This blog is sponsored by Tapir and Friends Animal Store.

I've Got Company at the End of the World!

Near Chinook, Washington ~ December 2, 2011

Please welcome Amy, who has just started Long Beach Peninsula Daily Photo. I woke up this morning to an e-mail telling me I was no longer the only "City Daily Photo" blogger between Portland and the Pacific Ocean. In a minute you can read Amy's letter, but first let me show you where she lives. I've posted our Astoria-Megler Bridge many times, but I have not shown much of what you'll find on the other side. If you turn left and take the highway alongside the Columbia River, you will eventually reach the hills on the horizon. This is the Long Beach Peninsula in Washington. The southern end forms the north side of the mouth of the Columbia, and the peninsula continues a long way to the right. Amy will delight you with its wonders as she gets going on her new project.

A short aside: Back when City Daily Photo still had a functioning web site (I'm shedding a tear here and hoping it will come back), I looked in vain for other affiliated bloggers from my area. It seemed there were none (we have some very interesting bloggers around, but with different objectives). Needless to say, I was happy and surprised to find the following in my morning e-mail:

-------------

Hi from across the river!

Hi Sheryl,

I've been following your Astoria Daily Photo blog for several years. When I was living away from the coast, I looked forward to the photo updates every day. It was a way of staying connected to this area I love so much. Thanks for that.

I'm now living full-time in Long Beach and was inspired by your blog to start a daily photo blog for this side of the river. Would you be willing to link to it on your website?

It's here: http://longbeachpeninsuladailyphoto.wordpress.com/

I'm just getting started so there's only a handful of entries, but I'm having a great deal of fun exploring the area on the hunt for good photos.

Amy

-------------

Sheryl again. Hop on over, take a look and leave Amy a comment, OK?

This blog is sponsored by Tapir and Friends Animal Store.

Drive-by Astoria #17: Perspectives

Astoria, Oregon ~ September 15, 2012

Marine Drive

At the beginning of the drive-by series, starting with photo #2, we were tripping along Bond Street. Now we're heading back toward town on Marine Drive paralleling Bond, which is somewhere in the midst of the vegetation climbing this hill. I'm not sure which row of windows is street level on the white building ( believe it's the second row from the roof), but . . . (see below) . . . 

. . . this nearby tall building is the back of the apartment complex I showed in this post. The lower row of windows seen here is at street level on the other side. You can just see the top of the windows on the 4th floor, and there is one more below that - the apartment where I lived when I first moved here. From this angle, it looks like it wouldn't have much of a view, but it certainly did.

When I stepped out the back door and climbed half a dozen steps . . .

. . . the world opened up. These last two photos were taken August 7, 2001.

This blog is sponsored by Tapir and Friends Animal Store.

Drive-by Astoria #16: The Butterfly Fleet

Astoria, Oregon ~ September 15, 2012

W. Marine Drive at Columbia Street and Bond

I was surprised a number of weeks ago to see a new mural in Astoria. Apparently it was unveiled about July 10th. I was no less surprised to learn about the butterfly fleet itself and these amazing sails that look like wings. At one time there were 2,500 of these boats in our coastal waters, but the Maritime Museum was not able to find a single one remaining. The mural was painted by local artist Dorothy Danielson on the side of the Wauna Credit Union building. There is a book called The Butterfly Fleet on Amazon.com. The cover is very similar, but I don't know the connection. The scroll on the mural reads:

THE BUTTERFLY FLEET

BEFORE ENGINES - THEY FISHED

IN BOATS POWERED BY THE WIND

IN THEIR SAILS & WERE CALLED

THE BUTTERFLY FLEET

THEY WERE AT THE MERCY

OF THE WIND & TIDES 

& AS SUCH IT WAS A VERY

DANGEROUS PROFESSION - THEY

DID NOT ALWAYS COME BACK -

THESE PREDOMINATELY SCANDINAVIAN

FISHERMEN & WOMEN PREFERRED 

USING GILLNETS - WHICH THE FISH

SWAM INTO & GOT HUNG UP. THERE

WERE DAY FISHERIES & NIGHT FISHERIES -

THE NIGHT ONES WERE LIKED AS THE

FISH HAD A DIFFICULT TIME SEEING

THE NET, SINCE THEY HAVE BEEN KNOWN

TO SWIM ALONG SIDE OR GO AROUND -

ON A GOOD TRIP THEY CAME HOME

LOADED TO THE GUNNELS --

Speaking of adventures, Lee Spangler is off on a new one. For anyone who would like to follow along, his blog is here.

This blog is sponsored by Tapir and Friends Animal Store.

Drive-by Astoria #15: Concrete in the Sky

Astoria, Oregon ~ September 15, 2012

Astoria-Megler Bridge

I'm still in drive-by mode here. The bridge dominates so much about Astoria, including the views as we move about town. This isn't much of a photo, but it brings to mind several things. 

1. I get a feeling when I'm this close to the bridge similar to the feeling I get standing near a moving freight train - a sense of how huge and powerful it is. I don't know why a bridge feels "powerful" exactly, but it does. Does it feel "alive"? I think so.

2. In so many other places I've traveled to or lived, this much concrete in the sky means only that you're passing under a freeway. While their engineering and usefulness is also a wonder, they don't usually bring us to thoughts of awe and beauty. Our bridge can do both. I love living in a town where this monument is part of my life.

3. Something to think about: When the bridge was opened, tolls were collected to pay for its construction. At some point it was paid for and the tolls were ended. Can you imagine?

This blog is sponsored by Tapir and Friends Animal Store.

Drive-by Astoria #14: Uniontown

Astoria, Oregon ~ September 15, 2012

Marine Drive, Uniontown

Still on our drive-by excursion, we pass some buildings in the short stretch of Marine Drive called Uniontown that were apparently built as houses, but most often are home to small businesses. I enjoyed the funky and eclectic "Captain Fishhead's Emporium," or whatever the official name was, but it's emptied out now. Stores in this area have ranged from the fun and funky to the downright sleazy. I got my favorite shoes mended in this vicinity, so that was quite useful. You can see in the upper left of the photo how the bridge ramp vaults into the air at a nice clip.

What are your favorite or least favorite places in Uniontown?

This blog is sponsored by Tapir and Friends Animal Store.

Drive-by Astoria #13: Which Way?

Astoria, Oregon ~ September 15, 2012

Marine Drive

This traffic light is where you turn left to get onto the bridge up ahead. It's the beginning of a block-long loop into the sky, and there is no turning back. It's kind if like when you get strapped into the roller coaster, headed for a wild ride. I love driving over this bridge, but you roller coaster fans can keep your adrenalin rushes, thank you very much! This is as close as I come to catapulting myself into the sky unless it's in an airplane.

This blog is sponsored by Tapir and Friends Animal Store.

Drive-by Astoria #12: A Woodsy Scene on Marine Drive

Astoria, Oregon ~ September 15, 2012

Marine Drive

Being built on a hill, Astoria provides numerous views like this one, and being in the Pacific Northwest (PNW), the views are usually green, even before the rains start after summer. I took this photo along Marine Drive not far fron where the bridge crosses to Washington. There may be Blackberries in there. . . .

This blog is sponsored by Tapir and Friends Animal Store.

Colorful Flowers at the Co-op

Astoria, Oregon ~ September 25, 2012

Outside The Astoria Co-op on Exchange Street

I thought I'd post this cool box with colorful flowers in a brief break from my "Drive-by Astoria" series. 

This blog is sponsored by Tapir and Friends Animal Store.

Drive-by Astoria #11: Houses on Young's Bay

Astoria, Oregon ~ September 15, 2012

Still on Young's Bay Bridge almost to the Astoria side, we get a good view of Astoria's cool wooden houses along Marine Drive at the base the Astoria hill. The pilings with lintels (?) are left over from a dock. There was also a beautiful red boathouse (which I never saw) and net shed where people could be seen mending nets. Gill net boats were often tied up there as well. The building was blown down in a storm in about the 1970s. If anyone can describe more about Astoria's lost features at this location, please comment or send e-mail. That's Florence Avenue starting its trip up the lower part of the hill. The tall hill with the Astoria Column on top is out of sight on the right. 

This blog is sponsored by Tapir and Friends Animal Store.

Drive-by Astoria #10: Two Bridges

Astoria, Oregon ~ September 15, 2012

Highway 101

For any non-locals who wonder what the relationship is between Astoria's two largest bridges, this photo shows it pretty well. Coming from Warrenton, we're approaching the part of Young's Bay Bridge that lifts on the rare occasion that a taller boat needs to go underneath. After you hit the traffic circle at the end of the bridge, a couple of blocks takes you to a traffic light. Go straight and you're headed for downtown Astoria. Turn left onto the bridge and you're on your way to Washington. (See map.)

This blog is sponsored by Tapir and Friends Animal Store.

Drive-by Astoria #9: Saddle Mountain

Astoria-Warrenton, Oregon ~ September 15, 2012

On Young's Bay Bridge

Crossing Young's Bay back to Astoria, the passenger gets an unobstructed view of Saddle Mountain. I've hiked to the top, but not recently. Here are other views of Saddle Mountain from earlier posts. Scroll a bit and you'll see the mountain's top.

The white patch in the water is a flock of birds - maybe seagulls? It looks like Canada Geese in the foreground. 

This blog is sponsored by Tapir and Friends Animal Store.

Drive-by Astoria #8: A Sign with Boats

Warrenton, Oregon ~ September 15, 2012

Highway 101 

Here we've crossed the Young's Bay Bridge and have stopped at Rite-Aid. I took the opportunity to snap this photo in the other direction. I don't know if the sign is brand new or if I've just missed it until now, but it looks pretty shiny. It shows the harbor at Hammond, just down the road along the Columbia River. The museum, near the harbor, has been posted at other times, although I've never been there when it was open.

Thanks to those who were concerned for my safety and asked if I'd been taking the pictures while driving. No, I wasn't. Lee was driving, and I was the passenger with the camera. I still have a few fun shots to show you of the trip back.

This blog is sponsored by Tapir and Friends Animal Store.