Pacific Coast Trip: Tillamook & Astoria, OR

I apologize in advance for the lack of a banana slug picture. We stood staring at this creature for what seemed like hours while at Munson Falls Natural Area. I thought I took a picture of it, but alas, it is not in my camera roll. I’m going to blame it on the rain. Once again, the Gray Family members were troopers and were determined to make it to all the cool sites no matter the weather!! We all enjoyed the Lewis & Clark National Historic Site and are already dreaming of a new trip following their trail to the West.

Ainsley:

First things first today. We hiked to Munson Falls Natural Area. It was a short hike but it was raining while we were hiking. We saw a big banana slug slithering across the trail. It was very slow! When we came back down the trail, it was only on the side of the trail. It hadn’t moved very far. This waterfall is hunormous! There was a river right next to us while we were hiking. I think the river is from the big waterfall.

Then we went on a medium drive to Lewis and Clark National Historic Park. The park is a bunch of different sites. We went to the Fort Clatsop Visitor Center first. We watched 2 long movies there. The first one had a girl talking about the Indians’ life when Lewis and Clark came around. She wanted us to know that the Clatsop tribe is still around today. The second movie showed the characters walking around faded on the screen. This showed that these people were from the past. The places weren’t faded because people can still explore the areas. The movie talked about Lewis and Clark’s expedition, which was called the Corps of Discovery. While we were there, I got a junior ranger badge! I earned private level because I haven’t been to all the sites yet. Mom and Dad said we would go to more sites today and tomorrow.

Then, we went to the Netul Landing site. This is where they first landed at Fort Clatsop. Next, we went to the Salt Works site in Seaside. Do you know what that is? That is a place where they made salt for the meat and other types of food. They used salt water from the ocean to make it! We drove by the place where Lewis and Clark saw a beached whale. It is called Ebola State Park. We didn’t get out because it was raining too hard.  

Finally, we played in the sand at Cannon Beach. We saw Haystack Rock there. There were supposed to be puffins on it. But, it was raining and it isn’t April yet. April is when they start showing up. :( Also, there was a statue of a whale. I pretended I was a whale next to it.

I’m glad Lewis and Clark took that expedition around the United States. We couldn’t do this trip if that hadn’t happened!

Travis:

Today I went to Lewis and Clark National Historic Park, but first, we went on a small hike to Munson Falls Natural Area. There was a big banana slug on the way. It was just crawling along slowly and minding its own business. Soon we came across a roaring waterfall. It was way bigger than the ones we saw in California.

After that we headed to the visitor center at Fort Clatsop. We watched a movie about the American Indians during the time of Lewis and Clark. The American Indians there were the Clatsop. After that movie, we watched another movie about Lewis and Clark. Then we read signs in the visitor center and we went to the fort that was nearby. There were 3 enlisted men quarters, a store room, an orderly room, a room for Sacagawea and her family, and Lewis and Clark's quarters. There was a small path to a well that they would get their water. I liked running from room to room and reading about who stayed there despite the rain and the cold weather.

When we were done exploring, we got our junior ranger badges.

Then, we went to the Netul Landing site. There was just some signs there explaining how the Corps of Discovery landed here to make their fort. I wish we could have walked the Corps of Discovery Trail from here, but it was raining and we were already very wet. Then, we drove to the Salt Works site. There was a replica of the salt oven there.

After that, we went to Haystack Rock. There were supposed to be puffins on it but It was not their breeding season yet. I was bummed because I love penguins. Even though these puffins aren’t the penguins I like, they have the same name and look very similar. I guess we’ll have to come back someday in the summer.

Finally, we came home. What another amazing day!