Near Astoria Oregon
Two full weekends and the work-week in between. That is how long we stuck around the Astoria area, specifically Fort Stevens State Park. Fort Stevens was our base camp to explore the area, and explore we did.
Our first destination was to Lewis and Clark National Historical Park, my 71st National Park, where I immediately found out that I forgot to bring my camera’s SD again! Seriously, what is wrong with me that I forget the most basic of equipment to chronicle my travels so I may remember them longer than 16 seconds? Luckily, Kerri’s iPhone is always at hand… literally, that thing is never far away.
The visit lasted only long enough to grab my lapel pin, hike out to the old fort, and down to the river, before we returned to Washington State (just across a bridge) to Cape Disappointment State Park., but not before picking up my SD card (and Moose) from camp. Here, we hiked up (because the parking lot is no where near the building itself) to the Lewis and Clark Interpretive Center – which did a better job showcasing the expedition than the National Park – and took the tour before setting out on the trail to see the Cape Disappointment Lighthouse. 
The work week settled us back into a routine that we lost a few weeks back; going for short hikes each morning before the work day and visiting the town of Astoria a few evenings to enjoy the food and drink that it has to offer (as well as getting to see The Martian [I read the book first, much better]) which somehow included oysters each visit. Oysters make her so happy I tolerate the slimy things on the table where the most definitely do not belong.
The State Park offered a plethora of trails leading to a variety of places. We had the choice of hiking out to a small lake, an ocean beach, the old military fort, or just through the rain-forest that covers this part of the land… so we did them all. Over the course of the week we racked up some nice mileage, burned a few extra calories, which even the dogs got to enjoy.
