Wednesday, May 17, 2017

Astoria

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 Bill and I took a little mini vacation to Astoria. We stopped at Jewel Meadows where herds of elk stay throughout the year.
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 We saw this juvenile eagle on a piling as we came into Young's Bay.
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 The bridge across Young's Bay
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 We stayed at our favorite hotel, the Cannery Pier.
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 It is right next to the Astoria Bridge that connects the state of Oregon to the state of Washington.
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 A Great Blue Heron is often seen on the dilapidated pier next to the hotel.
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 I've never watched a Heron go through so many gyrations :).
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 He must have really had an itch!
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 Huge ships passed by our window throughout the time we stayed (the hotel sits right out over the water). This one is a Hulk Carrier.
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 Pilot ships take the marine pilots from their ships to the shore. Unfortunately, due to increased security, foreign pilots are no longer able to come and go as they please.
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 Another Hulk Carrier
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 Fishing Vessel
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 Tug boat...
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 pulling a barge
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 Another tug boat pulling a barge
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 Coast Guard
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 Another tug and barge
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 Tug boat
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 Hulk Carrier
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 The fog slowly creeped up the Columbia
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 An ethereal world
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 This cruise ship came in so quietly we didn't even know it was there!
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 A Panamax Carrier (it is the longest and widest ship able to go through the Panama Canal)
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 Flavel House (there is another Flavel House that belonged to George Flavel, a well known bar pilot; this home belonged to his posterity)
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 Unfortunately the home has a bit of a sinister story behind it. It looks like a haunted house, and has accumulated more than a million in fines as it sits in disrepair.
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 I like this cafe in town. They make wonderful homemade bread!

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Here is a sample loaf of herbed bread :)

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 We went to Cape Lookout on the way home, and I snapped this beautiful view.
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 We also went to Cape Kiwanda where I snapped the cape in the mist. You can hardly even see Haystack Rock. Our little vacation was a wonderful break for both Bill and I. We need to make time for such things as this!



Becky's Birds

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 Today I saw a Lazuli Bunting for the first time. It came right to my feeder!
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 We have several grosbeaks coming to our feeders now. This one is a female. She loves the suet!
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 The bunting is a very beautiful little bird! I've always wanted to see one, and I can hardly believe it came right to my feeder :).
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Easter 2017

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 Three beautiful granddaughters, Jane, Charlotte and Pearl
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Sisters!