LONG BEACH, WA TO SEASIDE, OR

Driving from the state of Washington to Astoria, Oregon, requires a crossing of the Columbia River on the Astoria-Megler Bridge.  This two laned structure is several miles long, and near Astoria, the steel bridge rises quite high over the Columbia River ship channel.  As we approached the bridge yesterday from the Washington side, I saw a large ship moving up river, also heading toward the bridge.

 

As many times as we've crossed the Columbia River, I can only remember one other time when there was a large ship on the move near the bridge.  As we drove south over the low section, it looked like the timing was going to be just about right for us to be above the ship as it passed underneath.

Wouldn't you know it!  Any other time, we would have waited on top of the bridge, as one way traffic is alternated in the area of the sandblasting and painting.  Nope, not this time.  We slowed to a crawl, then our lane was sent through the work area, and we just missed the ship as it passed under the bridge.  Patty got a picture as we descended into Astoria.

We checked into the Seaside Thousand Trails RV Park a little before noon, and scored side by side full hookup sites, almost directly across from our pals Nick & Terry Russell, publishers of the Gypsy Journal, and several RV related books.  Since it was lunchtime, Nick mentioned that several people had told him about a place that served the best burgers on the coast.  That statement got my attention, as my burger deficit has been at an all time low!

We drove a short distance to the Relief Pitcher, a small bar & grill on the highway, just south of Seaside.  We all ordered burgers, and mine was pretty darned good.  I'm not quite ready to claim it as the best, but it was right up there, and on our next visit to Seaside, you can bet this little pub will get a few of my bucks.  

We spent some time visiting, before heading back to Seaside, where Nancy was about ready to pull the trigger on an upgrade to her Thousand Trails membership.  After first consulting with me, then Nick, I think it might happen today.  If so, I'll have more details on tomorrows blog post, and I'm sure she will also.

Good burgers with good friends!

Miles traveled - 34  Cumulative - 8,665

Seaside Thousand Trails - $15  Cumulative - $1,741,92

(We've used our 50 free days at T.T., now we pay $5 a night)