TWIN HARBORS State Park

It was getting late in the day when I realized this is still Memorial Day weekend!  So, better find a nice place to camp before all the room is taken.  I stopped at this place and a quick drive through, it looked packed, folks were either camped or setting up everywhere!

The office was across the highway.  A quick run over there confirmed that lucky me would have a nice space for the evening, on the "beach row" where there is a short path right behind my parking space that leads straight to this beautiful beach!

So, I explore this area a bit more the next morning and wow, what a beautiful beach area!

and interesting things discovered along it!

 

Walking down the beach a mile or so, I discover these huge red bluffs with big conifers growing right here on the edge of the ocean!  Nature is marvelous indeed.

Drive Into Washington

I decided to drive from Portland over to Astoria OR and then up Hwy 101 along the Pacific coast to eventually end up at the southwest corner of Olympic N P ( this is the area where the rainforests start).  On the way out of Portland, the highway to Astoria follows the river (Columbia) and it’s many marshes along it’s route to the ocean.

For lunch I stopped at this delightful preserve area, and was surprised at the beautiful flowers and extended marsh areas.

After crossing into WA, I noticed some folks way out on the mud flats, and stopped to investigate.

Looking down below my feet, the answer was obvious – Razor Clams!

I detoured into the small village of Tokeland following a sign pointing to the remains of a famous historic hotel.  I never found the hotel, but the drive around the old fishing village was interesting, reminded me of Maine.

A few more miles up the road (yes, northward) at Grayland Beach State Park, I get my first stop at the Pacific Ocean! What a sight!

 

Clackamus River Steelhead

Let’s see, the local fly shops say “the bite is on” “that’s it – Clackamus River up towards Barton”  “all you need are these few flies”.  And of course the fish are always biting when you need to sell some flies and tackle.  So off I go  to find the River near Barton!
I will say it’s a beauty of a River, with some nice public access, so I stayed two nites and fished at several different spots on the River at least morning & evening without a single bite! Tough fishing in the waist deep strong currents and without any action!

The folks in the area were nice, and the local guides floating the river pointed out that the steelhead bite is really in the fall.  They were all out for trout.  The highlight of the stay was spotting this merganser mom with her many chicks.

Oh well, nice stay along the river, at a free city park in Estacada, a quaint little town with a great “Harvest Market” near the park.

Trilium Lake–A Beautiful Surprise!

On the southwest side of the Mt Hood bypass, I see a sign on my left “Trilium Lake 2mi”  I actually passed it by, then turned around and came back – something was calling me for sure!

So, I drive back to this place in the middle of a dark forest, park and walk down to the Lake and OMG!  what a sight to behold!

Later that evening I took the 2-1/2 mile hike around the lake, very scenic place.  The colors and smells were terrific. Although the lake was crowded by folks enjoying the fishing and spring-like weather for Labor Day weekend, there wasn’t another soul on the trail.

The pictures here will tell the story, and although I stayed overnight and fished both evening and morning, I only caught a few small “stocker” trout.  But there beauty of this place was well worth following the call.

Mt. Hood Scenic Byway

I had been getting glimpses of Mt Hood from afar for a few days now, and I was somewhat anxious to get to Portland, but the thought occurred “I’m right here, why not go closer – I may never be near here again”.  Only a few miles south of Hood River, I got my first clear view of the mountain, breathtaking!

Walking back to the truck I get somewhat of a surprise.  Wait a minute, there’s Mt Hood again, behind the truck, how can it be?  Getting the Delorme map book out for Washington confirms my suspicion, it IS indeed Mt. Adams back there!

Hey, I’m in wine country, why not stop and have a taste or two?  after all, this is a vacation!  So, next stop appropriately named “Mt Hood Vineyard”.  Not wanting to have too much alcohol, I opted for the “signature wine” from “the regions signature grape” – a Pinot Noir.  Very disappointing, our own St Clair Vineyards in Deming produces a much better one.

But they sure do have one hell of a view from their front yard!

At the top of the pass on the south side of the Mountain, I stop to do a bit of hiking on the PCT (Pacific Crest Trail).  Crossing at the same spot is the Barlow Road, one of the first roads built in America!  Nit easy traveling today judging from the pile of snow.

And just around the corner is the battered sign for the PCT.  Had to go back to the truck for my hiking pole, as I didn’t expect slippery snow and ice on the trail.  OH well, at least I can say I’ve done a short segment on the PCT – very short.

From this side (south) the mountain appears more majestic, with some of it’s “rough” character showing.  With my binoculars, I could see one of the ski lifts running, but not many folks up there today. What a nice drive!