Twilight Eagle Santuary, Oregon

Sadly, we left Astoria and traveled east on the East Columbia Highway (Highway 30) back to Portland to catch the red eye back home.  When we passed the sign, we knew we had found what our trip had been missing so we turned the Blue Devil around and headed to the Twilight Eagle Sanctuary.

The Twilight Eagle Sanctuary is located within Cathlamet Bay, 2.5 miles east of Astoria, Oregon, and just downstream from Settler Point.  This wetland Sanctuary was established in 1992, and along with Columbia Land Trust acquisitions in 2009, now totals over 100 acres of old growth forest, tidal wetlands, and shoreline, and stretches nearly a mile along the Columbia River. The Sanctuary is just off of U.S. Highway 30. A viewing platform overlooks acres of mudflats, tidal marshes, open water, and islands. It is an excellent location to observe birds and other wildlife living on the lower Columbia River estuary. The viewing area has several interpretive panels about the wetlands, bald eagles, and the Lewis and Clark journey.

We were excited that our Pacific Northwest adventure ended with a view of these magnificent birds in the wild.  Sadly, we headed back to Portland to catch that long flight home.

Astoria, Oregon

Leaving Fort Stevens we continued north east on Highway 101, across Young's Bay, and into Astoria, OR.  Starving, we made our way to Astoria's waterfront and into The Wet Dog Café and Brewery (Astoria's oldest brewery) where we ate a delicious lunch and enjoyed a local brew.

Astoria's historic waterfront

Old 300 Trolley still takes visitors along
Astoria's riverfront

The red building on the left is Pier 11

Astoria sits on the Columbia River just a few miles from the Pacific Ocean.  The city lines the south banks of the Columbia River, and the north banks of Young's bay.  Surrounded by water and tall evergreen Douglas Fir, Hemlock and Spruce trees, Astoria, is rich in scenic beauty, with a vista of the Pacific Ocean and its endless miles of sandy beaches viewed from a top of Astoria's historic Column.

The Astoria Column, in a wooded park
atop Astoria's highest hill, presents
a spectacular view of the historic city
and its surrounding rivers, bay, forest,
mountains, and ocean. The Column, built
in 1926, is 125 feet high and has 164
steps winding to the top.   We wanted to
take the 164 steps to the top, however,
the Column was closed for renovation
so we roamed the grounds and took in the spectacular views of the city from
the Column's ground level.

Indian Burial Canoe
located at the Astoria Column
         Symbolic Memorial dedicated by
Coboway's (Clatsop Indian Leader) 
descendants April 12, 1961

View of Columbia River and Young River

View of Astoria-Megler Bridge,
connects Oregon to Washington

Who can go to Astoria without visiting The Goonies House?  Not us!  We made our way to the house that sits on the hill at 368 38th St. and was used in 1985 movie about two brothers who go on an adventure to save their house.  Like all the other visitors we took a "selfie" in front of the house just as the home's owner drove up the hill, into the drive and disappeared inside.  Suddenly we felt ashamed of ourselves....a perfect time to head back to Portland.

Fort Stevens, Oregon

With our Pacific Northwest adventure coming to an end we said goodbye to Cannon Beach and drove north to Fort Stevens State Park near Warrenton, OR, on our way back to Portland.

Fort Stevens, WWII

Fort Stevens was once the primary military defense installation in the three-fort, Harbor Defense System at the mouth of the Columbia River (along with Forts Canby and Columbia in Washington). The fort saw service for 84 years, from the Civil War to World War II.   We roamed through what is left of this important installation.

Fort Stevens, today



Remnants of Fort Stevens



On the beach at Fort Stevens is also what remains of the Peter Iredale.  The Peter Iredale was a four-masted steel bark built in Maryport, England, in 1890 and owned by British shipping firm Iredale & Porter. On September 26, 1906, the Iredale left Salina Cruz, Mexico, bound for Portland, where it was to pick up a cargo of wheat for the United Kingdom. Despite encountering heavy fog, they managed to safely reach the mouth of the Columbia River. Unfortunately strong winds and currents made the vessel run aground and the ship was abandoned without any injuries. 

Remnants of the Peter Iredale on the beach