AK Trip - Day Thirty Four - Thursday, July 19th.,

Tacoma, WA to Astoria, OR

After a pleasant visit with Ted’s family and a good rest, we left Tacoma and headed southeast to visit Mt. Rainier National Park.

We entered the west entrance and rode completely across the park, from west to east, stopping at the Paradise Visitor Center near the summit of Mt. Ranier. The views were magnificent. Last year the park suffered significant damage from winter storms but we found all of the roads open.

High in the Cascades, near Mt. Rainier.
One of the many National Forests we rode through today. We were held up for a while here while they completed some blasting about 1,000 ft from us.
Eventually, we made our way on the back roads to Mt. St. Helens Volcanic Monument.
Mt. St. Helens shrouded in clouds.

This bridge marks the end of the blast zone. Anywhere closer to Mt. Helens and you would not have survived. One cannot help but think about those that were on this road and in this area when the eruption took place. Most lost their lives. Near Longview, WA.
Near Cresent City, CA

Late in the day we crossed into Oregon at Longview, WA and made our way to Astoria to collect the Lewis & Clark National Park stamps. We arrived at the park near the visitor center's closing time. The signs instructed us to park nearly a mile away and ride a shuttle back the visitor center.

"NOT!"

We pulled right up to their front door and got the stamps two minutes before they closed. Afterward, we did a self-guided tour of the park on our way out.

We spent the night on the coast between Seaside and Tilamook, OR. in a small motel without Wi Fi.

The temps were mild today, mid 50's to mid 60's with off and on showers. We rode 500 miles today.

My favourite thing is to go where I've never been. ~Diane Arbus~