venturing4th: Cape Disappointment Trail

We visited two lighthouses today - the first, this morning, was North Head Lighthouse.The short hike out to the lighthouse was a continuation of the trail we took on Monday, when we first arrived at Cape Disappointment State Park. But, it was late in the afternoon Monday by the time we arrived at the lighthouse parking lot, so we decided to hike back and return at another time to actually visit the lighthouse.

Located adjacent to Cape Disappointment State Park is the Cape Disappointment Coast Guard Station, home of one of the largest search and rescue facility in the state and the Coast Guard's only heavy-weather Motor Lifeboat School. This morning, the Coast Guard were at the North Head Lighthouse, practicing.

When we arrived at the parking lot and began hiking out to the lighthouse, we could hear a definite roar. "It sounds like a helicopter", said Frederick. And sure enough, there it was!

As we walked closer, we were approached and asked to wait before we continued because the practice involved the helicopter bringing the "victim" to the shore and it would soon become "very windy" where we were walking. (While we waited we noticed that the support guys were also enjoying a bag of chips - maybe it was breakfast.)

Views to the south, across the mouth of the Columbia River, to the Oregon coast.

Jetty that protects the navigation route into the mouth of the Columbia River.

North Head Lighthouse

View below the North Head Lighthouse.

View to the north - Long Beach, 25 miles of hard sand beach.

We also spent a good deal of time trying to find a spot to watch the debate tonight. With no internet access, we couldn't stream it on our computer at the Airstream. We asked at the Ranger Station and at the library and both suggested a sports bar in Long Beach, the next community up the peninsula. We drove up there but were told that they would not be putting the debate on any of their TVs. We tried the local Best Western Hotel, but they said we could not watch it in their lobby if we were not guests. We reluctantly concluded that our only option would be to return to the library, which would be closed, and to sit on the bench near the front of the building and watch on our computer sitting outside the library.

Before we returned to town for the evening debate, we hiked, on the Cape Disappointment Trail, to the Cape Disappointment Lighthouse.

Along the Cape Disappointment Trail is the Lewis and Clark Interpretive center - this is a view of the Cape Disappointment Lighthouse from the center.