on the waterfronts of wheeler & astoria
Nothing behind me, everything ahead of me, as is ever so on the road. ―Jack Kerouac, On the Road
Friday, 22 January 2021. On the road again.
The Oregon coast is dotted with small towns and unincorporated communities. While driving US Route 101 one comes often upon clusters of homes, maybe with a store nearby, probably not, probably no filling station either.
These are small, quiet communities. Some are far enough away from larger towns with stores and gas stations; they have not attracted the city folks, those Portlanders and those California-types, who might be looking for a beach house.
Before heading further north to Astoria, I stopped in Wheeler. It is not large–Wheeler–but it does have two hotels, which makes it big. On the west side, in the middle of Wheeler, there is a rest stop that offers views of the Nehalem Bay, Neahkahnie Mountain, and the river estuary. (Click on any photo to see it larger and in more detail. Cliquez sur une vignette pour l’agrandir.)
Astoria to the north is the small big city. It has many filling stations and restaurants and hotels. It is busy. It is not quiet. Along the waterfront one will see pathways, walkways, and trolley tracks that give the place a sense of history. (Click on any photo to see it larger and in more detail. Cliquez sur une vignette pour l’agrandir.)
Between the main route east to Portland, or south to Newport, and the Pacific Ocean, there are some warehouses that hide these murals. They face the waterfront. From the main street one cannot see them. (Click on any photo to see it larger and in more detail. Cliquez sur une vignette pour l’agrandir.)
More specifically, one can stroll the Astoria River Walk that is parallel to the Columbia River Highway and Marine Drive and then look somewhere near the Astoria Brewing Company building between 11th Street and 12th Street.
un Voyageur 
Hi Mike ! Always enjoy your musings. There are no bad days at the coast ! On one of my birthdays, perhaps #65, the whole family went crabbing off the dock in Nehalem Bay. It was the first time for my son-in-law, who grew up in Arizona, had only caught bass, crappie, etc. He was so jazzed to catch crab to feed everyone. He had reeled in a crab hitchhiker the day before in a different bay while fishing for whatever would be attracted to his bait. With proper rings, off the docks of Nehalem, he got 2 ! We were going to have them cooked right there at the marina. Unknown to him, one was just too loose of a fit in the crab gauge. It had to go back into the bay via the marina staff. I bought a legal one from their tank, and it joined Randy’s for a warm swim. To this day I am the only one that knows. OOPS…..now it’s out there ! Best Regards, Bill
Thank you. It has been a long time, hasn’t it? Decades since we played together as kids on Dillow Dr?
I remember it like yesterday. Kick The Can!!!! Playing catch with you in our front yard, catching it with my left eye, knocking the lens out of my glasses.
Last time I saw you was at Mom and Dad’s 50th at the Mclean House. You said my name coming to me from the side and caught me off-guard. I was so busy that I didn’t get a chance to talk and catch up with you later. Regretfully!
I can never comment in the comment line???
But loved the photos especially the Murals! So beautiful…and so glad you are traveling again!!
Diane
Thanks, Diane. I don’t know how the comment line works. Maybe I should try it?