Cape Disappointment

After we left Astoria, we crossed a bridge over to Washington state as we continued to explore the coast. We continued to see some nice coastal views.

We drove to Cape Disappointment State Park. Okay, a place with that name needs an explanation. The story goes something like this: A captain by the name of John Meares sailed along the coast of Oregon searching for the mouth of the Columbia River. Even though the river was there, he failed to recognize it and so registered his disappointment by giving it this epithet.   

We walked on a path to see the Cape Disappointment Light House and we saw some nice views along the way, especially a cove called Deadman's Cove.

Deadman's Cove

A different view of the Cove

When we arrived at the lighthouse, we saw some fantastic views (you might say the views did not disappoint.) This lighthouse is the oldest lighthouse in the state of Washington that is still active. 

After the lighthouse, we continued our walk to the Lewis and Clark Interpretive Center. We enjoyed some very informative displays about Lewis and Clark's journey, as they set out from St. Louis, made their way to the west coast, and spent the winter in this area before heading back east. Thomas Jefferson, president at the time, had given them instructions to reach the Pacific Ocean.

"Welcome to the Edge of the Continent"

We learned that as Lewis and Clark traveled west, they crossed the Bitterroot Mountains of Idaho. So we unwittingly traveled in their footsteps! They left St. Louis with a group of men known as the Corps of Discovery. They were given this task by President Thomas Jefferson shortly after the Louisiana Purchase to see if he had purchased land with anything of value (other than alligator jerky). Along the way, they met and tapped Sacagawea, the well-known Indian woman, as their guide and interpreter.