Astoria 3

Tuesday 20th July.

We being this day with a few more not-to-be-missed Astoria activites:

Take a ride on the Astoria Riverfront tram ... over 2 1/2 miles of riverfront tramming. Just don't leave it till the next day (we only spotted it on our late afternoon stroll). It doesn't start running till noon and for only $1 per trip (or $2 for an all day ticket!) with commentary it isn't a drain on the pockets!

Travel the bridge ... it rises dramatically:

and then there was climbing the 169 steps of the Astoria Column. This has great views of Astoria and the rive. The climbing will really test your fitness levels and the lactic acid charge will give you a boost, of sorts. You will use some muscles that have been a little neglected of late - just ask Bini. You can even buy a model plane (balsa?) and carry it to the top of the tower to then set it flying around and around and around and ... It's a tourist thing!

So there we go for a few glimpses of Astoria. This place has to be on any Oregon touring schedule.

Next stop Portland!

Astoria 2

Dinner:

Ah, how delightfully scrumptious. We are discovering such glorious unknown places ... at least unknown in any of the papers we have read.

Take for instance dinner at the Wet Dog Cafe (named after the original owner's dog which was always wet). This place really is very special. Fantastic food, wonderful atmosphere, just great service that is not overdone (thanks Jessica); I think there is even a stage for performances on Friday and Saturday nights and if you like beer, well this place has its own special brew (like a lot of Oregon ... I am told)

We are feasting on foods that we don't commonly dine on at home so as soon as I saw Alaskan Halibut Fish-N-Chips (wild) with Baby Red potatoes, and the clam chowder, it was instantly snapped up, along with the Oregon Hazelnut salad (served with a raspberry vinaigrette) and finished off with Marionberry Cobbler. Thank goodness the stomach is learning to cope!

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Tuesday 20th July

Day two began waking in Hotel Elliot.

This is a lovely old fashioned (historically listed) hotel and after we returned from our delectable dining and riverfront walking (it is still light at 9pm here - so perfect for an evening stroll), I had planned to add a few more notes. Alas, the lights in the room were so dim it was impossible to see, even to read, and the shower had so much pressure that it was hurting! Pity, because the beds were quite lovely ... as the sign says "wonderful beds" - well maybe wonderful is a little too descriptive, but they were definitely comfortable!

Seattle to Astoria

Monday 19th July

So now begins the real driving part of the holiday down the west coat of the USA to San Francisco, not taking the fastest route along the interstate but the more leisurely drive down highway 101. We plan to drive no more than about three hours a day so that we can stop and look at any of the interesting sites we discover along the way.

First stop for the night ASTORIA.

Now, a few folks have said "Why drive to Astoria?" Well, why not we say ... especially when it is such a lovely little town, a step back in time that sure seems to run at a slower pace, with that old country feel where everyone makes you feel welcome and the locals know one another. This place is described as the little San Francisco of the north west.

After Jennifer (yes we are using a sat nav to guide our way and it is magical) directed us to the doorsteps of the Hotel Elliot and we off loaded our bags it was time for an afternoon coffee. Being a small town, we noticed that many shops had closed by the time we were ready to nibble and drink. But we did discover the Danish Bakery Maid.

Here hot chocolate (it was too late for us to have an afternoon coffee) comes in make-your-own sachet and the cinnamon scrolls are scrumptious.

and THIS is how we know we are most definitely in country America:

And we absolutely loved how at 5 minutes after the late, late closing time, while we were still there and the floors were being washed Mary entered the store for her daily coffee and pastry and chat. Time stood still, as did the floor cleaning as the coffee and Danish were organised while Mary parked herself at a booth. The friendliness and warmth was fantastic.