In Retrospect.........

As an Old Broad, I have a mind full of memories (a privilege I cherish until senility creeps in). Certain recollections cause me to wonder how I wandered off the trail.

That's me on the left, above, in a newspaper photo taken in the early 60's in Camp Lowami. I was a Blue Bird in the Camp Fire Girls. The Campfire Girls program (now the more PC Campfire USA) promotes camping and outdoor activities for youth. There. I had a chance to discover my love of the outdoors at a young age. What happened?

Today, I pondered that question when we took a walk in the Lowami Hart Woods, still a tiny island of nature in Beaverton, Oregon remaining from the days of Camp Lowami at this very location.

Perhaps, just as this nature oasis holds out against the neighborhoods pushing at its edges, a tiny seed of passion remained in my brain holding off the "life" that gnawed its edges.

I just wish it hadn't taken so long to sprout.

Astoria, Oregon Promenade and Old Houses

We walked the route described in 100 Hikes/Travel Guide: Oregon Coast & Coast Range (Oregon 100 Hikes). From the Columbia River Maritime Museum (which I'll talk about later), we walked west along the waterfront promenade. After watching the activity there, we turned south into town to take a look at the grand old houses of Astoria (some of them built even before the Old Broad was born!). I was huffing to make it to the best houses, yes, uphill, between Grand and Franklin Streets. The Flavel House Museum (pictured above) at 8th and Duane Streets, sells a guide to the old beauties.

We found a nice concrete bench at the corner of 16th and Franklin to enjoy the view of the Columbia River, but then, it was a sunny day and how often does that happen in Astoria?

Astoria Column View of the Columbia River Meeting the Pacific

From Coxcomb Park, this was a "wow" view even before I dragged myself up the 164 steps to the top. Climbing the circular staircase inside the Column, I stopped on nearly every landing for a little breather. Old Broad privilege.

I did not fly a glider from the top, but that's only because I didn't see them until after I was down. Note to self: it's not always good to avoid the gift shop.

In Astoria, Oregon at the top of Coxcomb Hill. Follow the signs (some on the pavement) from 15th St. More information.

The Afternoon of the Day

Being an Old Broad isn't so bad. I can stand in the dark after heating up water and watch the electric burner fade from red glow to black just to see how long it takes. When I catch a spider in the house, I can carry it outside instead of just stomping on it. When the leaves blow, I can run to the middle of the street to see if I can feel the whirlwind. If anyone notices me doing these things, they just excuse it, thinking "crazy old broad."

There is an "O" in Yosemite

I watched an entire episode of Oprah today for the first time in my life. In the end, she encouraged people to go to Yosemite National Park. I don't think she took the same shine to the camping experience.

Some of my favorite quotes: "Camping is a lot of work." "I liked the people. Camping people are different." "We have a tent trailer. Is that really camping?"


I have asked myself the same question with our setup. Let me make it clear, however, that the Old Broad has a tent and we actually used it this summer, albeit in a nod to advancing age, I slept on a cot instead of on the ground.
What would Oprah think?

There's No "O" in Camping

I'm not old enough to watch TV (because it involves mainly sitting around and because I'm not "mature" enough for some shows), but this video of TV personality Oprah Winfrey and her friend Gayle setting up a pop-up trailer ranks an Old Broad thumbs up for humor. Thumbs down, though, when it was reported she said later that she'd never go camping again. What?

Fort To Sea Trail-North Oregon Coast

We walked about three miles of the Fort to Sea Trail north of Seaside, starting at the Sunset Beach trailhead and turning around at the Skipanon River (which makes it the Sea to River trail for us). About the hardest part of this hike is squeezing through the cattle guards. There's a few short climbs but I managed to hobble up them.

As far as natural scenery, you be better off somewhere else. There's a short section where I creaked my neck up long enough to see some birds, but then it was all cow pasture until the highway tunnel. (But maybe you were raised on a farm and are looking for a little nostalgia.) Some deer and elk tracks and scat, which I managed to avoid stepping in.

If you really can't follow in our footsteps, try the 1/3 of a mile to the Sunset Beach viewing platform. (Come on, you probably walk that far in Walmart every time you go in there.) From the platform, we saw..... the beach (and we were expecting.....?) If it's not too cloudy (and it probably is), there's a nice view of Tillamook Head to the south.

Both hikes start from the Sunset Beach trailhead. Look for signs about 8 miles north of Seaside on Highway 101.