Scenes of the Road Home...

If you've ever been on a long road trip, you know that, at some unpredictable place, you get to a point where it's just time to go home. Well, we're at that point and our travels are more about gaining miles than making memories. We'll be home tomorrow after a 380 mile drive.

Even Lewis & Clark are pointing and telling us to go home that way!

But not without a stop at the sadly named Cape Disappointment.

Cape Disappointment earned its name when Captain John Meares failed to cross the river bar in 1788. The feat was accomplished in 1792 by American Captain Robert Gray. The Lewis and Clark Expedition arrived at Cape Disappointment in 1805.

It is home to another lighthouse to admire.

I don't think I've mentioned recently but I have a thing for hatcheries. This was a stop we tried to make but it was closed up tight. Damn COVID!

A last minute right turn brought us to Fort Columbia State Park, a place considered one of the most intact historic coastal defense sites in the U.S.

Constructed between 1896 and 1903, renovated during World War II and de-commissioned in 1947, this day-use park on Chinook Point near the mouth of the Columbia River shared the history of the early 20th Century.

"Fort Columbia’s small size and the historic integrity of its buildings give visitors an intimate feel for what life must have been like during its active years. Stroll amidst officers’ homes, artillery batteries and two 6-inch, rapid-fire, World War II-era guns that are among six still in existence. The guns were transferred to the park in 1994 from a U.S. Navy facility in Newfoundland. Peruse the park’s interpretive center for artifacts, photos and stories about exploration, the fur trade and the military community on the Columbia."

Oregon is known for its amazing bridges and when we left Washington on the Astoria–Megler Bridge, a steel cantilever through truss bridge, we knew it was something special. Opened in 1966, it is the longest continuous truss bridge in North America and the final segment of U.S. Route 101 to be completed between Olympia, Washington, and Los Angeles, California.

It was also an indicator that we were nearing home.

A definite stop on our way home was at Tillamook Creamery.

It was 1909 when this yummy company truly began. Several small creameries joined forces to ensure all cheese made in the Tillamook Valley would be the same high quality. Each creamery contributed $10 to start the cooperative: the Tillamook County Creamery Association (TCCA).

It wasn't until 1947 that they started making ice cream as an experiment, selling the original ice cream brand, Tillamook Maid, around town. When the new plant opened, they went into full-scale production. Since we were in Oregon, I chose the Marionberry Pie flavor. Oh man, it had chunks of crust in it. WOWZERS.

We actually came for the squeaky, salty, creamy cheese curds. They did not disappoint.

Go Cheesemakers! How about that mascot name? The company is a big supporter of local schools. They have always been proud of Tillamook youth—proud enough to feature the high school football team in a Sunset magazine ad in the 80s (below).

Okay, so you are learning a great deal about the items I have "a thing for". One I've mentioned before are Blimp Hangars. In 1942, the U.S. Navy began construction of 17 wooden hangars to house K-class airships that would be used for anti-submarine patrol and convoy escort (I grew up next to two of them). Two of these hangars were built at Naval Air Station Tilllamook, which was commissioned in December 1942 to serve the Oregon-Washington-California coastal areas. Decommissioned in 1948, it now houses an air museum which we'll put on our post-COVID list of things to do.