Five Summer Joys

There are many things that give us joy in the summer, and here are only five.  Joining Tom's Willy Nilly Friday Five and Eileen's Saturday Critters:

1. Coming out in the mid-day heat to catch a young jackrabbit in "the shade"

2.  Knowing the mule deer sometimes take advantage of the shade under our deck

See the deer's legs?

3.  Filling with pride when I see our beautiful American flag

4.  Knowing we are prepared for winter (and just hoping it doesn't come too soon)

5.  Getting to enjoy my favorite sandwich...made from a vine-ripened home-grown tomato from my garden, on a bed of mayonnaise, liberally salted and peppered and only on white bread!!!!   Heaven!

The Oregon Trail, Laurel Hill

Coming home from Portland we stopped on the highway to read an historic marker, and found a reference to what was once The Oregon Trail.  Oh how we have all imagined traveling the trail at some point!   This little snippet of the trail, a spot on Laurel Hill, was so small compared to the enormity of that journey long ago!  I loved having the reminder.  Joining Tom's Tuesday Treasures and Mersad's Through My Lens:

Lake Simtustus and Putnam Dam

We were traveling a back road through the Warm Springs Indian Reservation and found a few surprises.  Joining Tom's Willy Nilly Friday Five:

1. Putnam Dam on the Deschutes River:

2.  Honoring  Plesher Simtustus, a Native man who helped his people, with a Lake on the Reservation:

3.  On Lake Simtustus a recreation area where people were enjoying their day....

4.  The osprey nest I shared HERE...

5.  Beautiful views of the Deschutes River...

Back at Fort Vancouver

We were over an hour early for my husband's Dr. appt in Vancouver, WA at the Veterans Admin. and since it's right next to historic Ft. Vancouver we decided to drive over there for a bit.  I shared posts about the Fort HERE and HERE last year, focusing then on the early years of exploration and trade.  Anyway, there was just enough time to hit the gift shop, and then drive around a little bit on the grounds.  Here I focus on the more recent history of the Fort.  Sharing our time there last week with Mersad's Through My Lens, and Tom's Tuesday Treasures:

The Fort was in use from 1849 to the present, becoming Vancouver Barracks in 1879.  Built in 1849, the Grant House on Vancouver Barracks' Officers' Row initially served as the post's Headquarters and Commanding Officer's residence. Today, the historic house is directly adjacent to Fort Vancouver National Historic Site, managed by the City of Vancouver, and home to a modern restaurant.

The Marshall House, named for General George Marshall is a highlight on Officer's Row.  It is of the Queen Anne style, built in 1886.

Vancouver Barracks, in use during World Wars I and II

Parade Grounds

Fort Clatsop Part II

To continue with my photos of Fort Clatsop, I am joining Tom's Tuesday's Treasures....If you missed seeing Part I, click the link HERE.  Also, I have to note that the 5 foot bronze statue of Sacagawea and Jean-Baptiste I show in that post is a replacement for one that was stolen...yes, I said STOLEN....and sold for scrap metal!!! Yep!!!  in 2008 by a man who only got 60 months in jail!   Unbelievable!  The first statue was located closer to the entrance where there was easier access.  The one in my photo is behind the building and now covered by serious security cameras.  I just discovered this, and was pretty mortified!  The stupidity of some people never ceases to amaze me!  And the justice system sure didn't do their job either in this event!

Bunk beds for members of the Corp

Sleeping quarters for Meriwether Lewis and William Clark

Office space for Lewis and Clark

Clark's maps were so accurate, even with his limited resources, that he was only off by 40 miles over the entire trip!

There was no interpreter here to tell us, but I believe this represents where tallow would have been rendered.

We enter the wonderful museum....

A beautiful bronze statue called "Arrival" was created by Stanley Wanlass in 1982.  Lewis is depicted standing on the shore while Clark examines a flounder held out by a Clatsop Indian and records the event in his journal.  The statue includes Seaman the Newfoundland dog that accompanied the Corp of Discovery.  The piece was commissioned to celebrate the 175th anniversary of the expedition.

Wonderful exhibits of Clatsop Indian artifacts.

Quotes from Clark's journal and related exhibits....

Some of the firearms and equipment they used.

The type of boat used...

More of the Clatsop exhibits....

I always love the Native basketry and pottery!

Shots From Astoria

For Mersad's Through My Lens, shots of the town of Astoria we visited a few weeks back:

The column high on a small mountain overlooking the city and the Columbia River, is a tribute to Lewis & Clark, Jefferson and Robert Gray (who named Mt. Hood)

You could climb up into the tower, but we did not do that because we can't.  But these photos were taken from the base of the column.

The town itself is built on a very steep incline, kind've like much larger San Francisco....actually it reminded me of Catalina Island we visited a few years ago, off the coast of Los Angeles.

This is why we were here...to see Ft. Astoria about which I have recently read.  This expedition, financed by John Jacob Astor, and also traveling overland, followed Lewis & Clark's Corp of Discovery by just a few years.  Astoria was founded to establish trade on the coast that would benefit our new country, trading sea otter skins so highly prized by China, as well as other furs to other areas of the world.  This venture was fated to fail after a short time and most people have never heard of it, but the story is fascinating!   There was nothing left of the Fort but a small patch of grass with a mural on the back of a business located there, a small reproduction of a fort tower, and plaques commemorating the history.  I knew the fort wouldn't be there, but I had expected a little more!