Driving to Florence

Driving to work in Florence this morning, I caught the ducks squabbling in Lake Tahkenitch, noticed the mist hanging over Lake Woahink, and the wake of a boat while passing over the Florence Bridge. I looked forward to this drive twice a week. Florence is one of my favorite towns on the Central Coast.

Here on the Oregon Coast, there is so much beauty. On drives like the one this morning, I want others to experience it. Driving through Gardiner and seeing the sunrise over the water or the sunset on my return, inspires me to get the word out.

Wrecking a perfectly good shipwreck

The Peter Iredale was a 287-foot, four-masted, steel-hulled British sailing ship. It ran aground southwest of Hammond near the mouth of the Columbia River in 1906 and has been slowly disintegrating ever since. The remarkable thing is that it is such a famous landmark and tourist destination, but with a similar wreck on the beach near Coos Bay, the state of Oregon seems intent on removing it.

The New Clarissa was a chip ship that ran aground several years ago. The state got something like $25 million for the job in a court settlement and evidently they feel guilty about not doing it, even though it just sitting and not hurting anybody. Perhaps they ought to use that money to purchase the land around it and establish a state park? Let's not remove what little reminders we have that this is the rugged Oregon Coast.

Astoria, My Kind of Town

Astoria is one of the most charming places on the Oregon Coast. Just about as far north on the Oregon Coast as you can get, this once fishing and lumber town has been transformed into a vacation spot. there are many interesting places in Astoria.

One of the things you notice about old City Halls is that they have a much grander notion of what city government represents than the modern ones. Here in Reedsport, we have a utilitarian-looking one that visitors won't remember. In Astoria, the citizens built a Big One in 1904. It's still in existence today, looking out grandly over Astoria at the corner of 16th and Exchange, but the city offices have moved on. Now it houses the Heritage museum, which displays the region's heritage from the days when it was populated only by Indians through the explorers and later the pioneer farmers, loggers, and fishermen.

There are some interesting bed and breakfasts around Astoria. One of them is the Uppertown Bed and Breakfast. Another is the Rosebriar Inn. There are a number of nice hotels in Astoria as well, but you can try one of these for an even cozier experience.