PROLOGUE

We arrived in Astoria Oregon on Monday after 700 miles of mostly scenic driving. We stopped in Ashland( about halfway) and took my son Trevor out to lunch. He currently attends Southern Oregon University.

We are staying at the Cannery Bay Hotel in Astoria which sits out on the water over the Columbia River. The staff here are unbelievably nice and engaging. Upon arrival they handed both my Dad and I a glass of wine right there in the lobby and after a few minutes of conversation they handed us a whole bottle! Never happened to me before.

The rooms all have amazing views of the river and we spent the first hour in our room drinking wine and watching silent 700 foot cargo ships move with massive grace through the water seemingly right in front of us on our balcony!

 Today we visited the Astoria Column, where Dad and I threw balsa wood glider planes off the top observation deck in keeping with local tradition. He claims his went further. We also paid a visit to The Maritime Museum and the Fort Stevens Observation deck overlooking the treacherous Pacific Ocean/Columbia River confluence where many a vessel have met with doom.  Food here is awesome and the pace of life is casual and social.  

Tomorrow(WED) around 8:30 AM is go time. Panniers have been packed and repacked.  The weather looks decent, at least for the the day, and there is a nice couple waiting for me in Bay City about 60 miles south.

If I didn't take one peddle stroke tomorrow this trip would have already been worth its weight in gold. It has been years since my father and I have spent time together and I have realized over the last couple of days what I have been missing out on. I wont make that mistake again.

Until next time..........                                                        

View from balcony