Pictures from the Beautiful Oregon Coast

My husband and youngest daughter Mary and I were able to sneak away for a 10 day trip to the Oregon Coast and Columbia River Gorge at the end of August, our first, well deserved, vacation in over a year. I thought it would be fun to share a few pictures so you can catch a glimpse inside our Urban Homemaker family. We camped a few nights in the Hood River Region near the Columbia. This area is known for fruit farming, primarily Pears. The view of Mt Hood is spectacular. It is a little over 11,300 feet tall and still has snow on it. In contrast, Mt Lamborn, near our home is a similar elevation but has no snow.


The next day we traveled along the historical highway along the Columbia. We were so shocked at the lack of development along the river, it is still beautiful and unspoiled for the generations to come. One stop was the Bonneville Dam, built during the depression, and the first dam on the Columbia.


From the Hood River area we drove to the Oregon Coast. This was Mary's first time to the Pacific Ocean, and my first visit to the famed Oregon Coast. We were not disappointed. We camped at Nehalem Bay State Park, just east of the dunes separating us from the Pacific Ocean. The next day we took a hike to Cape Falcon about 15 miles from where we camped. This picture looks South along the coast towards the state park. I just wish the water was warm enough to swim in.


While headquartered at this state park, we visited Ft Clatsop, the place the Corps of Discover (Lewis and Clark Expedition) spent the winter. This ranger dressed in period costume explained why the Corps ate
primarily elk and deer meat while they spent the miserably rainy winter of 1805--1806.



Our last stop was at the Golden Spike Historical Park in Utah where the Central Pacific and Union Pacific rail lines met in 1869. We just "happened" to arrive minutes before the May 10, 1869 ceremony was re-enacted by costumed actors. To be authentic, they actually had a pastor open in prayer and he closed the prayer in Jesus Name. We were blessed.