Heading South, Washington and Oregon to California

Our route from Washington to Oregon took us over the Astoria Bridge.

The Astoria–Megler Bridge is a steel cantilever through truss bridge that spans the Columbia River between Astoria, Oregon and Point Ellice near Megler, Washington. Located 14 miles from the mouth of the river, the bridge is 4.1 miles long and was the last completed segment of U.S. Route 101 between Olympia, Washington, and Los Angeles, California. It is the longest continuous truss bridge in North America.



Up, up and away

The bridge is 21,474 feet in length and carries one lane of traffic in each direction. The main span is closest to the Oregon side and measures 1,232 feet long.  The bridge was built to withstand 150 mph  wind gusts and river speeds of 9 mph.  The south end is located at what used to be the toll plaza,

 WikiMiniAtlas

 / 46.18723; -123.85427 (Astoria-Megler Br at the end of a 2,130 ft long inclined ramp which goes through a 360° loop while gaining elevation to clear the channel over land. Since most of the northern portion of the bridge is over non-navigable water, it is low to the water.

 WikiMiniAtlas

/ 46.24084; -123.87493 (Astoria-Megler Bridge nor

 

The area of Astoria is a nationally significant historic region at the western end of the Lewis & Clark Trail. Astoria is the oldest American settlement west of the Rockies; a place that takes visitors back to simpler times, its architecture dominated by hundreds of Victorian homes clinging to steep wooded hillsides and with a revitalized 1920s era downtown; all set against a backdrop of tremendous natural beauty in the temperate rain forest at the mouth of the Columbia River.



 Tillamook

  

Not sure the sign shouldn't say Tillamook Ice Cream! Most people leaving the tour all had a great big ice cream cone in their hand. 

The Tillamook County Creamery Association was formed in 1909 as a quality control organization for the ten cheese factories operating in Tillamook County.  By 1948, the cooperative had developed into a marketing agency for all the cheese factories in the county.  Product quality has always been the driving force in what has made Tillamook Cheese and other related products what they are today. 

The Tillamook Cheese Visitor Center is one of Oregon's most visited tourist attractions, attracting over 1 million visitors each year.  At the Visitor Center, you can take a video tour, watch the cheesemakers at work from the observation deck and visit the gift shop.  If you are hungry, you can sample the cheese and curds, buy your lunch at the deli and taste some of the most delicious ice cream in the world - Tillamook Ice Cream. 

Pacific City

Sunset at Thousand Trails Campground

 The northern Oregon coastline is beautiful. We will have to revisit this area when we have more time to snoop around for sights and local attractions.

Netarts Bay


Sand Lake
The Sand Lake Recreation Area is located along Oregon's North Coast, 15 miles southwest of Tillamook between Cape Lookout and Cape Kiwanda.
It covers 1,076 acres of open sand dunes, surrounded by forests and adjacent to the Pacific Ocean.
 The Sand Lake Recreation Area is popular with Off-Highway Vehicle enthusiasts. It offers riding on open sand dunes with access from campgrounds or day use areas that are open year round.

We aired down the tires and had some fun in the dunes. Years ago we spent some time riding our ATC's in the sand dunes near Coos Bay. Cruising in Jeep was fun, but not quite the same...."just sayin"

Reedsport 

The Dean Creek Elk Viewing Area is the year-round residence for a herd of about 100 Roosevelt elk. A mild winter climate and abundant food allow the Roosevelt elk to remain at the Dean Creek Elk Viewing Area all year. Dean Creek is a Day Use Only site. 

 Stopped along the Umpqua River and picked wild berries. These will make a fine cobbler in a few weeks.

Diamond Lake

Mount Shasta 

 Just on the other side of mountain is our campground. We'll have time to rest up before the Square Dancing starts. Hope we remember all the calls.....