Sunset, Columbia River Highway

Leaving Cape Disappointment, we crossed the Astoria Megler Bridge again, hooked up with US 30 and headed east along the Columbia River. Not too far out of Astoria, the fog started to dissipate and we were treated to the beauty of the scenery along the East Columbia River Highway interspersed with afternoon sunlight. 15 miles or so west of the town of Clatskanie, some fellow travelers apparently were distracted in the process of negotiating a curve in the roadway and wound up with their car in a pretty bad way off the side of the road. First responders were already on site, so we continued onward,  albeit a bit more cautiously, an ambulance speeding towards us serving to reinforce the need for drivers to drive and pay attention to the road. A few miles east of Clatskanie, we were heading up a hill and treated to the setting sun behind us. We pulled off onto a logging road and I managed to squeeze off a few shots. I'm a sucker for sunsets-used to chase them when I was young and look for higher ground so I could capture the final rays of light in the deepening sky. Not an easy task in the  relatively flat farm country of Northern Indiana, but it was great fun.

North Tower Antenna Mast

The Newseum in Washington, D.C., has a permanent exhibit featuring headlines from around the world following the horror of 9/11/01, including the antenna mast from the North Tower of the World Trade Center.

It is not enough to remember all those who perished in the 9/11 attack. We must also remember all who perished and who will perish as a result of the Iraq and Afghanistan conflicts as well. It should serve as a sobering reminder that whomever we elect to represent us in the United States, they must be qualified to lead us and lead us wisely in times of great crisis. Our elections should not be determined by campaigns waged by pre-packaged candidates and partisan PACs with millions upon millions of dollars to spend on reckless, fear mongering tv ads and hit piece direct mail campaigns. It's said that the 2012 Presidential election will top 1 billion dollars. Think of the good that would do to underfunded school districts, community food banks, homeless shelters instead of lining the pockets of political ad agencies, printers, and owners of tv stations.

Cape Disappointment, WA

Following our visit to Cannon Beach, OR, we decided to look for the sun and headed north on the Oregon Coast Highway, aka US 101. A few patches of it broke out around the town of Seaside. Undaunted, we continued north to Astoria, OR, and when things didn't improve, figured, might as well cross the Astoria-Megler Bridge and see what was on the other side- the state of Washington, of course. Learning of a place called Cape Disappointment not far off, headed there. 

Even with the fog and heavy air, I can't say we were disappointed, the gray gloom adding to the mystique of the park, even if it didn't provide us with the picture perfect postcard view. This also coincides with my sense that there is always something of interest to photograph if you are open to seeing in terms of being in the moment rather than letting  preconceived expectations cloud your vision of it.

 

As if to be rewarded for persevering in the face of such a foreboding seascape, we discovered the existence of the North Head Lighthouse. 

Though not as tall and magnificent as the lighthouses we visited on Long Island in May, it does have it's unique charm and utilitarian dignity standing as it does on a cliff overlooking the Pacific. Unfortunately, we arrived after the last tour of the day and so were unable to go inside. Nevertheless, it did present a number of graphic possibilities as the detail of the entry door attempts to portray.

Detail of the entry to the North Head Lighthouse

Lighthouse keepers lived large. This is the lightkeepers house for the North Head Lighthouse you can vacation in. There's a smaller assistant lighthouse keeper's house on the grounds, too, also available for overnights. It, too, seemed more than adequate for the task.

More Cannon Beach, OR

Looking south down Ocean Avenue in Cannon Beach. A gravel road at that, and yes, dusty.















It wasn't that windy to bend that Cypress tree over when we were there, but it's safe to assume there's a prevalence of a nearly constant on-shore breeze to train it that way-and judging from the sparseness of the limbs, those breezes can be strong.

Cannon Beach, Oregon

 The Coaster Theatre, in the City of Cannon Bach, Oregon, began life as a roller skating rink in the 1920's. In 1972 it was acquired by Portland art patron Maurie Clark who renovated the building into the theatre it is today. When he died in 2001, the Coaster Theatre Playhouse became a not for profit organization. 

Here's a good example of employing elements of vanishing point perspective to draw the eye to the theatre's marquee.

Building materials & architectural elements of the Coaster Theatre.

The City of Cannon Beach is very much a resort town-it has 1600 or so residents but attracts hundreds of thousands of visitors a year. There are a number of very attractive beach rental properties available and in the mix, a fine array of eclectic and individually appointed residences as well as the usual mix of Cape Cod themed homes. Coincidental with the tourist trade are souvenir and novelty oriented shops and restaurants, however it would appear the civic leaders take their role seriously and keep the tackiness level to a minimum.

A   very healthy hydrangea waiting to devour a house on Ocean Avenue.

Some of the local labels available at the wine shop across from the theatre. Sorry to report I cannot give a review of any of them. Maybe next time.

Oregon's Cannon Beach

Finally made it to Vancouver, WA, to visit our daughter who lives and works there. Great surprise when she arrived to pick us up at the airport in Portland with a new set of wheels! Naturally, we had to drive it hither and yon, not just for the experience, but to beat the heat that had been going on for a week or so. Forecast was for Cannon Beach, OR to be gorgeous, so that's where we went. Into a fog bank, naturally. View of Haystack Rock , above.

Overcast days don't mean you don't get out and do it- even if your chosen method of transport is a bicycle.

And water dogs don't give a fig about rain, or sun, or cloud. It's all about retrieving the ball, or stick, Frisbee, or whatever was tossed into the surf.

Newseum Photo Mural

Another sobering exhibit at the Newseum is the memorial for journalists, photographers, broadcasters, and cameramen who have died in the course of getting and reporting news. Their names are etched in glass plates that rise two stories tall. There is also a wall mural with photographs of many of them as shown here. Makes you think twice about how dangerous the news can be, especially when powerful people may not want the world to know what they are up to.

Memorial Day Weekend

At the Pentagon City Mall. Have to say I've never seen a palace to consumerism decked out so patriotically. Though it was devoid of any blatant electioneering blather, it still seemed a bit irreverent. Memorial Day is supposed to remember the fallen who gave the last full measure of devotion so that we may live free. It's the bunting that makes it a tad too festive. It's fine for the 4th of July, but perhaps black wold be more appropriate with some mention of POW's & MIA's on this more somber day. Guess that wouldn't be such a great marketing strategy for the retailers though.

Newseum Photo Galleries

Visiting the Newseum was an amazing experience for me and re-iterated the importance of having a viable free press as a means to keep governments in check, citizens informed and what can happen without one.

Among the numerous exhibitions & galleries representing the highlights of the modern age and how it was reported, was a gallery devoted to Presidential photographs taken by their respective personal photographers, as seen to the right.

Highly recommend it on any trip to Washington, D.C.

Two Sides of the Berlin Wall

 The Newseum, in Washington, D.C., has an exhibit of  several sections of the Berlin Wall on display as well as a guard tower. It's completely gripping and the most graphic representation I've ever seen of the divide between communism and capitalism as seen between 1961 and 1980, probably the hottest years of the Cold War prior to Gorbachev's glasnost policies. To the right, a view of the Wall as seen from West Berlin, emblematic of the freedom in the West as evidenced by all the graffiti.

To to the left is the flip side of the section above, as seen by East Berliners. No graffiti here because if you approached the wall from the East, you got shot. So it's pretty clean by comparison.

 

Detail of the graffiti on the West side of the Berlin Wall. 

I think I prefer the colors of freedom to lock step mind set.