2010 State Park Challenge

Christmas 2009 I received a zine named Explore Oregon State Parks. The zine lists 189 State Parks in Oregon, shows a little map of where they are located and a check box in front of each park. The Challenge, among family and friends, is to see how many States Parks you can visit in the calendar year of 2010. The Proof, your picture in front of the State Park Sign.

January 1, 2010 - Road Trip - always fun and what a way to start the New Year! Did you know there was a State Park in West Linn? I did not and I have lived in Portland many years. Mary S. Young State Recreation Area is right off of highway 43 in West Linn. It has a lot of trails that lead to the Willamette River or follow little creeks including Mary S. Young Creek.

Another charming creek was Turkey Creek. It may look small, but even this small creek has carved some impressive gullies through the forest.

One thing you can count on in an Oregon State Park, especially in western Oregon, is trees. The other thing you can count on is that I will take a lot of pictures of trees - it is my way of stopping to rest. Here is an example of Mary S. Young State Park trees.

And on to the Willamette River.

This is a great park even on a rainy cool day (47 - 50 degrees).

Only 188 parks to go. Stay tuned.

Afternoon on Sauvie Island

April 23, 2006 Bec and I went for a drive and ended up on Sauvie Island. Sauvie Island is about 10 miles from the city center of Portland. We explored with Wildlife Refuge (mostly from the car) on this wonderful spring day.

Here is a history of the island from Wickipedia.

1792 - British Lieutenant William Broughton in George Vancouver's expedition explores the island and names the northern tip "Warrior Point" after being greeted offshore by 23 canoes of armed Multnomah Indians.

November 4, 1805 - The Lewis and Clark expedition lands, names it "Wapato Island" after the abundance of Broadleaf arrowhead plants.

1832 - Much of the native population dies in an epidemic; Hudson's Bay Company at Fort Vancouver removes survivors and burns settlements.

1834 - American Nathanial J. Wyeth builds and occupies Fort Williams, a small trading post, to compete with the British; abandoned 1836.

c1836 - Hudson's Bay Company establishes dairies on the island, managed by French-Canadian employee Laurent Sauvé (after whom the island is now named).

1851 - "Mouth of Willamette" Post Office established; renamed "Souvies Island" the following year.

1858 - James Bybee builds the Greek Revival Bybee-Howell House. The structure was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1974, and today is part of the Metro's Howell Territorial Park, operated by the Oregon Historical Society.

1889 - Warrior Rock Lighthouse established at Warrior Point.

1930s - The Army Corps of Engineers builds flood-control dikes.

1940s - Sauvie Island Wildlife Area acquired by the state of Oregon

December 30, 1950 - Sauvie Island Bridge opens; Sauvie Island Ferry closes.

2006 - Multnomah County begins construction of new Sauvie Island Bridge, due to open in 2008.

To find out more about this beautiful island visit their official website Sauvie Island

Creek

Creek
Originally uploaded by nanwinn45.

..and then there was the creek in the middle of the island...

Creek

Creek
Originally uploaded by nanwinn45.

Same creek as seen from the other side of the road.

Mossy Trees

Mossy Trees
Originally uploaded by nanwinn45.

You could really notice all the moss on the trees because the leaves were not all of the way out. The Columbia River is just on the other side of the trees.

Dirt Road

Dirt Road
Originally uploaded by nanwinn45.

In North Carolina there is the Great Dismal Swamp. This part of Sauvie Island reminded me of it. Eerie but beautiful.

Dirt Road

Dirt Road
Originally uploaded by nanwinn45.

This is all part of the Natural Wildlife Refuge. It is a big stopover for the birds that migrate.

Mt. St. Helens

Mt. St. Helens
Originally uploaded by nanwinn45.

This was such a nice day that you could see Mt. St. Helens and Mt. Hood. This is toward the north end of the island and I think this is McNary Lake, but I am not sure.

Black Cow

Black Cow
Originally uploaded by nanwinn45.

In many places on Sauvie Island, the cows roam free.

Mt. Hood

Mt. Hood
Originally uploaded by nanwinn45.

As seen from Sturgeon Lake.

St. John's Bridge

St. John's Bridge
Originally uploaded by nanwinn45.

Taken from Cathedral Park, under the St. Johns Bridge, looking across the Willamette River.

Originally uploaded by nanwinn45.

Looking up from the Willamette River to Highway 30 crossing the St. Johns Bridge.

Big Barn

Big Barn
Originally uploaded by nanwinn45.

One of the farms on Sauvie Island.

THE CANDLE

THE CANDLE
Originally uploaded by nanwinn45.

At night time this 'candle' is lit. When you see it you know you are coming in Scapoose, OR.

Boat Dock

Boat Dock
Originally uploaded by nanwinn45.

The boat dock in St. Helens.

Day Trip to St. Helens

When you really need to get out of the house and do not know where to "take a drive" I would recommend the short drive to St. Helens. From NE Portland can head west on Lombard St. (business 30). This way you can drive over the recently upgraded and painted St. Johns Bridge. St. Johns Bridge is beautiful whether you drive over it or visit Cathederal Park under it. It reminds me of the OZ books. Of course you will also be able to see some of the Willamette waterfront docks - not so beautiful, but that is just the way it is.

Once over the bridge you enter the small community of Linnton. Lewis and Clark made their way through this area the great 1805 expidition. Linnton/Lewis & Clark Linnton has many old houses high up on a cliff above the Willamette River.

Highway 30 follows the Willamette River to where the Willamette flows into the Columbia River. At the mouth of the Willamette is Sauvie Island, the biggest inland island in the United States and maybe the biggest inland island in the world. Sauvie Island is very fertile and today it has many beautiful farms. The west end of the island is a bird sanctuary and a great place to bird watch. Before Lewis and Clark, Native Americans used this island for hunting and fishing.

There are several little areas along Highway 30 that I would like to know more about. For instance there is Burlington. The main things that you see in Burlington are 1. a tavern 2. another building that for years had mannequins inside and outside 3. a house that has been "in remodel mode" since at least 1987. Another place I would like to know more about is the area where there are about 4 or 5 small houses (cabins) that all look the same. What were they used for when they were fist built? Someday I will find out.

The next town along Highway 30 is Scapoose. You will know when you get close to Scapoose because you will see the Giant Flaming Candle. Or maybe it is a giant stick of dynamite! One time while "checking out" Scapoose we discovered that there are miles and miles and miles of tree farms along the Columbia River. The trees that were growing, I am sure, were to be used in the paper mill that is located in St. Helens.

Along Highway 30 you will pass at least two Pioneer Cemeteries. One is well hidden. See if you can find them.

Next town is St. Helens. This day trip destination. Enjoy the old town houses, the old town square, the new boat dock and watching the tanker ships in the Columbia River traveling up river to Portland and back down river to the Pacific.

Yes, you too can enjoy a few hours out of the house on this little day trip.

Columbia View Park

Columbia View Park
Originally uploaded by nanwinn45.

Looking toward the Columbia River, the Court House is to the left. The tip of Sauvie Island can be seen to the right.

The day that this picture was taken is known as a 5 mountain day. Although you cannot see all 5 mountains in this picture all five could be seen. Starting from the north - Mt Rainier, Mt St Helens, Mt Adams, Mt Hood and just the very tip of Mt Jefferson.

Old House

Old House
Originally uploaded by nanwinn45.

Old Town St. Helens is built down by the Columbia River waterfront. Many of the Old Town houses are built up on a cliff. When you look at the house from the street the house will look like they are one or two stories high but, as you can see they have several more stories that go down the cliff. I will try, as time goes on, to get more pictures of these great old houses.

Columbia County Court House

Columbia County Court House
Originally uploaded by nanwinn45.

The Columbia County Court House is built along the Columbia River. The view here is what you see from the river. The Court House was built in 1906 and is still impressive today.

Court House Square

Court House Square
Originally uploaded by nanwinn45.

The small town of St. Helens is on the Oregon side of the Columbia River. St. Helens is about 35 miles a little north and west of Portland. The old town was built around this square that features the Columbia County Court House.

Shaniko Museum

Shaniko Museum
Originally uploaded by nanwinn45.

One of the buildings in the Old Town of Shaniko was the Shaniko Museum. Inside was this sign indicating what a massive amount of wool went through the town..... There were lots of pictures and old records in this tiny museum and I would recomend anyone going to Shaniko to visit it.

Changs Laundry

Changs Laundry
Originally uploaded by nanwinn45.

The interesting thing about Changs Laundry is that the full sign says Changs Laundry and Undertakers. Now that is a combination of businesses that you rarely (if ever) see today.

Shaniko Hotel

Shaniko Hotel
Originally uploaded by nanwinn45.

When Shaniko was a thriving town this hotel was booming with business. When wool sold out to synthetics the town of Shaniko closed up including this hotel. Several years ago the hotel was refurbished and is now a bed and breakfast. It has helped bring people and life back to Shaniko.

Shaniko

Shaniko
Originally uploaded by nanwinn45.

Of course every ghost town has to have a jail to hold the ghost of times gone by.

Old town

Old town
Originally uploaded by nanwinn45.

Ghost Town

In July of 2005 we (Jen, Bec and myself) decided to take a trip to Shaniko. Shaniko is in Central Oregon and at one time it was the sheep capitol of at least the Northwest. Today it is trying to make it's comeback as a ghost town. Here are some pictures and comments about Shaniko.

2006

My daughter pointed out to me the other day that it has been a year since I posted anything on this blog. How time does fly!! I did manage a few trips around the Oregon roads in 2005 and I do want to point out some places of interest. Sooooo, stay tuned.

Bridges map

bridgesmap
Originally uploaded by nanwinn45.

Click on Map to make it bigger

Lambies and Mommy

lambies
Originally uploaded by nanwinn45.

We saw many of these cute little lambies on our drive.

Thomas Creek

Thomas Creek
Originally uploaded by jensect.

Thomas Creek as viewed from inside of Hannah Bridge.

Hannah Bridge

Hannah Bridge
Originally uploaded by jensect.

Just off of Highway 226 on the way to Lyons. The Hannah Bridge was built in 1936. It goes over Thomas Creek.

Linn County Covered Bridges

OK. I know it has been a long time since I have written anything here. It does not mean that I have not thought about writing or that I have not gone on trips in Oregon. I have done both of those things. Now I will attempt to tell you about those trips, starting from the last one taken.

Yesterday, February 6th, we went to Linn County and took the Covered Bridge tour. You have to remember that this is February, the middle of winter, and it was 50 + degrees outside AND it did not rain while we were on the trip!! Amazing.

We started out by going south on I 5 to Albany and then we headed east on US 20. Did you know that US 20 starts in Newport, Oregon and ends in Cape Cod? Now, that is a road trip that I would like to take someday. Well, back to the day trip. We have a book called "Scenic Driving, Oregon". The book has a lot of good scenic drives, including the Covered Bridge Drive, but the maps in the book only tell about half to two thirds of the roads to take. Needless to say we ended up on the wrong roads but that was OK because it was still beautiful and I always say you are never really lost in Oregon. We got back on the correct road and headed toward Scio, the first incorporated city in Oregon - 1866. Scio is the hub of the Covered Bridge Drive in Linn County. We saw three of the five bridges. All of them were picturesque and all of them are currently being used.

Linn County is mostly a farming county. We noticed many many sheep and it must be lambing season because there were lots of baby lambs. There are not many things that are cuter that a baby lamb frolicking in the pasture.

This time of year there were many very green fields of something growing and also fields of grass growing for commercial use. There were fields of purple leaf low to the ground growing plants. What they were, we do not know. We also saw quite a few cattle, horses, goats and a few chickens and pigs. The pigs, giant as they were, were have a great time in the mud and in the troughs.

Soon, with any luck, I will write about the trips to Central Oregon, Yamhill County - wine country and the trip to the beach. Stay tuned.

Shimanek Covered Bridge

Red Bridge
Originally uploaded by Monquee.

As you can readily see, this is a red bridge. It was built in the 1960s and is the newest of the covered bridges in Linn County.

River/Creek

River/Creek
Originally uploaded by Monquee.

One of the views, looking west, from inside of the Larwood Bridge.

Larwood Bridge

Larwood Bridge
Originally uploaded by jensect.

On Fish Hatchery Drive. We never did see the fish hatchery but this bridge is in a beautiful setting. It was built in 1939.

Horsetail Falls

Horsetail Falls
Originally uploaded by nanwinn45.

Horsetail Falls is close to the Columbia River Highway. When standing one of the viewing places you can feel the spray from the falls. The falls is 216 feet tall and it is very impressive.

Crown Point

Crown Point
Originally uploaded by nanwinn45.

The Columbia River Highway has many interesting guard rails and this one shows detail on the Crown Point guard rail. If you look carefully you can see more of Columbia River Highway through the trees.

Columbia River

Columbia River
Originally uploaded by nanwinn45.

This picture was taken from a view point just east of Portland looking up river.

Drive Up The Gorge

The Columbia River Gorge is one of my all time favorite places to take a drive. From the mouth of the Columbia, where it pours into the Pacific Ocean to the tri-city area in Washington, the Columbia River is beautiful. The river continues to its point of origin in Canada, waiting for me to see its wonders.

The Columbia River drive that I most often take from Portland is on old Columbia River Highway. This highway orginally opened in 1915 and follows the Columbia River from Portland to Eastern Oregon. Within 30 miles, along this highway, you can find many waterfalls, beautiful forests, picnic areas and lots and lots of trails. According to some of my friends the trails are all level, no uphills!!

As you drive east on the Columbia River Highway the first park you come to is the Women's Forum. This park has a spectacular view of the Columbia River and of Crown Point. Crown Point is a combination gift shop, museum and rest rooms. It is currently being refurbished and when completed it will be a must see. After going by Crown Point you start to see the falls. Latourelle Falls, Bridal Veil Falls, Wahkeena Falls, Multnomah Falls, Horsetail Falls and Oneonta Falls. Watch for pictures of all of these falls on "flickr".

Horsetail Falls is a descriptive name for the falls. It is 216 feet tall and it is impressive. This water fall is close to the road and is easy to see.

This drive is especially nice because you can take a leisurely drive east, up the gorge, and come home quickly on Interstate 84. What more could you ask for.