Great Joy in the Roadtrek!

Sept. 1-2, 2003

On Nov. 7, 1805, William Clark wrote, "Great joy in camp we are in view of the ocean, this great Pacific Ocean which we have been so long anxious to see..."  We felt somewhat the same as Clark and the Corps of Discovery as we approached the mouth of the Columbia River, even though the trip here lasted 18 months for Clark and only 20 days for us.

The mouth of the Columbia, as seen from the hill above Astoria.

Cape Disappointment on the Washington coast. Lewis and Clark came here before deciding to spend the winter on the Oregon side, where the elk were more plentiful.

Lewis and Clark discovered many new species of animals and plants unknown to (white) men prior to their trip. Among them was the Washington black tail deer. This deer, which I think is a Washington black tail, came to greet us on the trail at Cape Disappointment.
 

The reconstructed Fort Clatsop west of Astoria. The fort has been built to the dimensions given by Clark. The original Fort Clatsop housed 33 people in an area 50 feet by 50 feet.

This "replica" of the salt works is in Seaside. The Corps of Discovery had run out of salt, so they sent a crew to the ocean to boil seawater to get salt. It took about 6 weeks, running a round the clock operation, to get enough salt for the winter and the return trip home.

This brings us to the end of the Lewis and Clark part of our trip, but I couldn't resist putting in this ocean sunset picture. Next we head south down the Oregon coast to California to visit family before heading home.