Day 26. May 31, 2019. Astoria Oregon

t's day 26.....its also May 31, 2019...and we are in Astoria Oregon...hey Oregon....I'm back!

Crossing over from Washington into Oregon at Astoria was a blast from the past.

Soaking in the scenery.....frequent stops for photo's....and yep...I'm reflecting again...

Remembering that it had been nearly 30 years since I had visited the Oregon coast, it was a welcome site.

At the same time.....I had this weird sense that I was leaving "home" (Washington)

But at the same time...I was kinda coming home in way....to (Oregon)

Weird

Right?

All those years ago....this angry teenager had been yanked out of his senior year in hight school.....drug, practically kicking and screaming,

halfway across the country from Minnesota to Oregon.

And plopped dead center, into small town USA....again....this time, it would be Fall Creek Oregon.

I'd finish my senior year of high school ....a few miles up the road from Fall Creek,

In a place called Lowell........where I would join a graduating class of 16.

I would quickly fit in....pulling pranks on the librarian....and yes...it involved a fire alarm...

Don't judge....we've all done it!

practicing reversal drops in the parking lot of the fish hatchery...

Reversal drops you ask? if ya have to ask.......hmmmm........how do i???? welll....there's a car involved.....it's full of teenagers......and....you need a good amount of space.....simple objective......how much smoke can you produce....using only the rear ties of your car...and....asphalt.

It's either....suuuuuper fun......or suuuuuper stupid.

Depending on .....whether your the teenagers in the car.....or the adult parents that own the car.

skipping class to spend afternoons jumpin off the Fall Creek Dam into the reservior....

and Friday nights cruising the gut in Eugene.

Day trips to Florence.....getting lost in the Oregon dunes...

late nights on the beach getting my brand new pickup stuck in the sand...oh and the tide was coming in......so having learned the trick of letting a bunch of air out of your tires so you can crawl out of the sand comes in handy....

Then....having to drive your brand new pickup from the beach to the nearest gas station.....at 2mph.....at 2am....so you can fill those nearly flat tires back up....not so handy.

Turns out....the cops in Florence Oregon....in the 80's anyway....had a keen eye....and they tended to pick up on weird things like a 1988 blue toyota pick- crawling up off of the beach...and along the road at conspicuously slow speeds....and 4 nearly flat tires...at 2am...

That was a lengthy conversation...and a ticket.

Oh.....and even less handy....when ya do all this on a first date. There wasn't a second date.

This Oregon...would be my life....and then....it wasn't.

Because...yet again....I would leave.

But this time....when I left....it wasn't because someone else made me leave

This time....I wanted to leave.....and that was 30 years ago

There were a couple of Holiday visits...but for the most part...it was in...and out. I was gone

What I am really thinking back thru....was exactly how little I appreciated this part of the country throughout the 8 years I called it home.

It was just one more place I didn't want to be.

Upon arrival....it was contempt...literally hatred....of a place called Oregon. In the mind of this teenager it was just some place....where it rained all the time and I didn't know anyone.

Sure...I would meet folks....

I would have fun....but.... didn't admit it at the time.....

We moved here in November....so definitely....the whole "rains all the time"...was proving true

But then....summer came....and ..... even a head strong teenager has a hard time finding ways to knock Oregon....during the summer

You know how us teenagers can be....

In fact...to this day.....there's a magnet on my mom's refrigerator, that reads

Attention Teenagers! Quick! Move out now while ya still know everything!"

So I did.

As soon as could.

And then....you know the gig.....it's work work work...some more school...and some more work!

And then I left.

Crazy how driving past a sign that says Welcome to Oregon....can bring all that back.

How it could bring "me" back.

But it did....and I'm back

The rugged beauty of the Oregon coast is a site that everyone should experience for themselves…and Astoria is a great place to start.

Located where the Columbia River meets the Pacific Ocean

the scenic beauty of where these two incredible forces of nature meet can be breath taking.

No surprise that the natural beauty, combined with the engineering feat of the Astoria Bridge has brought Hollywood to the area for years…resulting in movies ranging from the antics of a group of preteens finding a pirates treasure in “Goonies”

to a visit from Arnold Schwarztenegger in “Kindergarten Cop”

Even Benji, has had adventures here.

I can assure you...that this part of the universe....the Oregon Coast....is WAY more...than a beautiful backdrop or b roll in Hollywood movie

The city of Astoria official website probably sums up the area way better than I could…

“The City of Astoria is located in the northwestern corner of Oregon at the mouth of the Columbia River, within a few miles of Pacific Ocean beaches, with a population of nearly 10,000.

As the oldest American settlement west of the Rocky Mountains, Astoria has close historical ties to the Lewis & Clark Trail.

In 1811, John Jacob Astor, (hence the name) a New York financier, sent fur traders to the area and the trading post of Fort Astoria was established.

Surrounded on three sides by the Columbia, Youngs, and Lewis & Clark rivers, the steep hillsides of Astoria exhibit beautiful Victorian and Craftsman homes.

River, bay and forested views abound.

Art galleries, restaurants, microbreweries, eclectic shops and the restored 1920’s Liberty Theater reflect a revitalized, vibrant downtown.

Family oriented attractions and recreational activities are plentiful; a five mile river walk, hiking trails, aquatic center, numerous parks, boat moorages, the Columbia River Maritime Museum, the Astoria Riverfront Trolley and the Astoria Column are all within city limits.

Ocean beaches, Lewis & Clark National and State Historical Park and Fort Stevens State Park are just outside the city creating many opportunities for the northwest outdoor experience. " end quote

Not only...is Astoria the oldest American Settlement west of the Rockies....it is also, the oldest city in Oregon.

and the county seat of Clatsop County.

From it's founding, in 1811, by John Jacob Astor as the first permanent American Settlement west of the Rockies...

To 1812 when it was sold to the British North West Company and renamed Fort George

To 1818 when it was returned to the United States

To 1846, When the Oregon Treaty ended the joint occupation of the Oregon Country and Astoria becoming part of the Oregon Territory

To 1876...when the city was incorporated by the Oregon Legislative Assembly

To 1926 when the Astoria-Megler bridge was completed....connecting Astoria to Washington across the Columbia River. At the time....it was the longest continuous truss bridge in the world and was considered an engineering marvel.

The 1980's were tough on Astoria. In fact...the 80's were tough on the whole state. Traditional industries such as logging and fishing experienced significant declines....that took their toll on the area.

But....just like the rest of the state.....Astoria would bounce back.

Today....the whole area continues to boom...with new hotels, restaurants, breweries and businesses opening in the city.

Each year....over 125,000 folks check in at the Astoria Oregon Visitor Center.....who knows how many more come to Astoria and explore on their own....

It's easy to do.....

Whether your here to do nothing more than take in the natural beauty ........ the sheer force of nature called the Pacific Ocean....and the Columbia River....

Or maybe...you want to visit Fort Stevens State Park....A former military fort that today lets you camp, hike, bike or walk the beach.....all while experiencing a little piece of history.

An afternoon spent at the "Best of the Northwest" museum.....is time well spent discovering the natural and cultural heritage of the Columbia River region.

Maybe even a ride on the Astoria Riverfront Trolley. A historic trolly that runs along the waterfront and offers scenic views of the city...and the river. Hop on and off at any of the frequent stops showcasing everything from historical sites...the best food the city has to offer.

This ...... this feels like Oregon

It feels like a place that could change ones perspective....at least this guys perspective....

Doesn't come as a surprise to me.....that driving by that "Welcome to Oregon" sign could make me rethink...maybe even re-remember....a few things.

I'm the same guy....with the same memories.....

Except....sitting here today....in a place that can render you speachless....just by looking at it.....

I think back over....

Senior Skip day....when all 16 seniors piled into three vehicles to hit the Oregon Coast for a day of troublemaking. How did 16 kids fit into 3 vehicles? There was pickup involved....lets leave it at that Thinking back on that trip,....standing here looking at the Astoria Bridge....I think I smile more now.......then I did then....actually doing it....living it.

Thinking back on our time in the Oregon Dunes....and remembering all to well why those dune buggy's had roll bars...roll bars are a good thing

The house on place road....

I would drive past that place again...this go around. Sorta funny twist of fate moment I guess.

As I approached the place....trying to remember exactly where it was on this rural country road....

30 years is a long time.....and things change....

I would slow down and be nearly past it, by the time I recognized it.....I noticed two ladies on the front porch as I went by...

drove up to the next driveway, turned around....and drove past the house again....slowly

This time....the two woman were studying me closely....

No doubt curious about the guy that keeps driving by slowly.....and staring

This time....figured I'd just pull in her Driveway.....introduce....and explain myself.

I quickly explained that I used live here....a long time ago. I explained that my folks had sold the house, to move south....shortly after I moved out.

She asked my folks name

"Yup....she said......thats who I bought it from....32 years ago.

Before I could even think up a way to ask .......she offerred......"Ya wanna have a look around!"

30 minutes later we had walked the entire 2 acres....including the house.

Sharon has done amazing things with the place

Thanking her for her generosity....and taking the time....

I backed out of the driveway pondering how nutty life is

That for over 30 years....a place like this ....in my head

Was a dismal, dark, wet place. The place where I would trudge thru the mud each morning at 6am....and then again....a 4pm....to feed the horses.

A place I hated.....

The reality....it is a stunning 2 acres.....in a park like setting.....smack dab in the middle of the Willamette Valley.

In a beautiful place.....called Fall Creek Oregon.

Clearly....I'm and idiot

Or...more accurately....I was....a teenager!

So with this nostalgia in my head.....you know I had to take a drive through Fall Creek and Lowell and learn a little more about them.

Fall Creek is an unincorporated community in Lane Country Oregon. It was named for the Fall Creek...

A stream originating in Willamette National Forest and flowing into the middle fork Willamette river, just below the community.

The area was widely used by the Kalapuya tribe for fishing, hunting, and camping.

It's tough to nail down exactly how long they lived in the area....but as one of the oldest indigienous peoples of the Pacific Northwest region....we do know that they inhabited the region for thousands of years.

In 1856, the Kalapuya people were forced to sign treaties with the US Government ceding away over one million acres of their land. They were relocated north to the Grand Ronde Indian Reservation which spans just over 11,000 acres in Yamhill and Polk Counties.

The area is also home to the Pengra, and Unity Covered bridges...both built in the late 1930's to facilitate traffic in the area.

Lane county has the largest number of covered bridges in the state...20 of them......

Some date back to the 1920's....and many are listed on the National Historic Registry. Several of these are within a short distance of Fall Creek.

1,579

Today, with a population of around 1500 Fall Creek continues to thrive as folks seek out areas just like this to live in...

Enjoying life in a beautiful small town....while maintaining access to work with easy commutes to The Eugene Springfield metro area.

And what about Lowell....

Every town...I'm learning...has an interesting story...and Lowell is no different.

Beginning with settlement and how it got it's name.

Lowells story begins in the 1850 sometime when a wagon train attempted to use a new free wagon road which had been reported to enter the middle fork valley, by crossing the Cascades at a point near Summit lake.

Unfortunately for the settlers...the new road had been blazed but never actually constructed...which made their rate of travel quite a bit slower.

Winter was approaching, so the emigrants sent one of their members .... a Mr. Blanding...ahead to the valley to get help.

Blanding reached the future site of Lowell when his horse went into labor and delivered a still-born colt.

Blanding then set up camp and built a fire to roast the colt. Blaaaah! A very different time indeed!

Anyway....Settlers in the area saw the smoke and suspecting it to be the work of hostile natives...went to investigate.

They found Blanding and sent help back up the river for the remaining emigrants in Blandings party.

The group would settle in the area....and opened the areas first post office....naming it Cannon.

After a couple years....the residents tired of their mail being sent to places like Cannon Beach adn Canyon city to the post office was renamed....Lowell....some say the name was picked after another resident's home town in Lowell Main. Other references can be made to a Lowell Illinois

Lowell did quite well econoically all the way into the 1950's and early 60's. At one time the town boasted a drug store, a liquor store, three cafe's, five gas stations, two general stores, two barber shops, a tackle store, a shoe store, a hotel, a builk fuel dealer, a wrecking yard, two tow truck businesses, and auto mechanic shop, a plyweek patch manufacturing plant and their own American Legion Hall.!

Things would shift for Lowell as a result of the construction of the Fall Creek Dam

Construction of the dam would begin in 1961 as part of the Willamette Valley Dam System. Upon completion of the system it would include 13 dams. The construction was developed mainly for flood control in the valley but also provides significant recreation and power opportunities along the way.

The Fall Creek Dam was completed in 1966. It's completion meant the loss of farmland and sawmills.

At the same time changes in policy within the US Forest Service meant the loss of logging revenues, sawmill operations and Forest Service jobs.

The shift would send residents to the Eugene and Springfield for work....and most would do their shopping there as well meaning the small town businesses of Lowell would die off over time.

In recent years the community has developed an industrial park in the town and brought a couple players in the logging industry back to the town....and re-established a gas station.

In addition you will find a food manufacturing facility, a circuit board manufacturing facility...and even a dentists office.

But for the most part...the community continues to work towards holding onto, and learning from it's past...

While enjoying their spot on the map today....and looking towards the future.

Well done Lowell!

As for us....enough reminiscing for now...

Climbing into the drivers seat wondering....where next....

I dunno....out there somewhere....

And wondering...what are we gonna learn there?