Photo Frenzy!!!

Thursday afternoon, Andy and I had a four-hour block to do whatever I wanted.  So we flew to Astoria.  It’s the northwesternmost (big word) point in Oregon, where the Columbia River opens into the Pacific.  Lady J and I visited the town when we were first up here almost a year ago to check things out. 

She was a wee bit jealous that I was flying there and commanded me to take lots of pictures.  

So I did.  It was a thouroughly gray and overcast day, crappy for pics, but I did the best I could.

East of Astoria, flying westbound over the Columbia River.

There’s this tower outside of town that I believe depicts the exploration of the Columbia and the settling of Astoria…

…it’s pretty stinkin’ tall.

Astoria Municipal Airport.

This plane was parked near the fueling station, I have no idea what it is.  I just know it’s old and cool. 

…so old and cool that they had to duck tape the nose.

Coast Guard Station Astoria, right next to the airport.

And now….the coast.

Like I said, overcast.  There were times where I couldn’t even spot the horizon because the ocean and sky looked so similar.  There are jobs in the Gulf of Mexico that involve flying crews out to the oil rigs down there.  Imagine flying for an hour with this view.  Doesn’t sound too enjoyable to me.  (try to ignore the reflections in the window)

Approaching Seaside, OR.   I believe this is where Goonies was filmed.

Coming up on Cannon Beach, with Haystack Rock.  This also made an appearance in Goonies.

Now on the way to Tillamook, where we turn east and head inland.

We saw this weird wiggly line moving away from the beach.  It looked like a big crack in the ocean floor, like a faultline or something.

Then when we got closer and over it, it looked like a raised cliff, or a reef, I dunno.  If anyone has ideas on what this might be, please let me know, I’m really curious about it.

One of Andy’s other students is the guy named Sam, he lives with his parents in Tillamook.  They have a lot of land out there, and his uncle owns an R44 helicopter.  Basically just a four-person version of what I’m flying.  ”It’s a hobby,” he says. 

They were just landing in the backyard (y’know, know big deal) when we were in Tillamook, so we asked if we could set down.  We hung out with Sam’s dad and uncle for awhile, chatting about school and flying.  And I’m thinking, “yup, I’m jealous.  This would be friggin awesome.”

Then we started heading back home over Hwy 6.  Along the way we spotted a CH-46 Chinook from Columbia Helicopters doing some logging work.  Y’know those giant army helicopters with two rotor systems that can lift houses and carry trucks in the back?  That’s what this is, with a prettier paintjob.  It’s insane how much power these things have.