We woke up bright and early, and after considering how hard parking would be at Busick Court, decided to just have coffee and juice at the hotel. We got on the road and headed to the coast. Not long after reached US-101 we were detoured up Cape Lookout Road due to an accident that closed the road. We had initially planned to possibly do that detour up and around the cape, but this sealed it. It was a nice, but curvy and hilly drive that afforded one awesome viewpoint with parking, and several beautiful views that my mum described as I watched the road for potholes and dips.
We then arrived in Tillamook…my favourite cheese place ANYWHERE! The last two years we went to just the Tillamook Cheese Factory, but this time we also went to the Blue Heron French Cheese Company. It happened to be “sample day” at Blue Heron and we had a good snack of cheeses, dips, and sauces. My mum grabbed some Brie and I grabbed some white chocolate truffles and a homemade spicy blue cheese dressing. We then went up the road to the Tillamook Cheese Factory, where I grabbed a couple pounds each of Jalapeño Monterey Jack, Habanero Cheddar, and Garlic Pepper Cheddar. My mum grabbed an 8oz package of both old cheddar and a Jalapeño Monterey Jack. With our cheese mission accomplished, we were off again and heading north.
We stopped for a picnic lunch on Cannon Beach, close to Haystack Rock, and munched on last night’s leftovers from the Outback. Although the sun was shining on and off it was quite windy and, in turn, cold. I took a few pictures and then we headed back to the car to warm up. Off we were again up the 101 to Astoria.
We arrived in Astoria and headed straight to the Oregon Film Museum where we took a look at the different films that were shot in and around Oregon. The number one movie that interested me was, of course, The Goonies. I am a Goony at heart, so I was like a kid in a candy shop with all the memorabilia from the movie (My mum has still not seen the movie and was not as impressed). One cool thing that they had was a room filled with quotes from a lot of the movies that were filmed in the area and if you could match ten different quotes from ten different movies you win a prize. This helped get my mum into the mood and she was just as excited as I was, when we were able to get the ten movies. The prize was just a plastic gold coin that represented One-Eyed Willie’s treasure, but it was fun and something that brought my mum and I together with a common goal. I also bought myself a T-shirt that says “Hey You Guys”. (I bet all you Goonies out there read that in Chunk’s voice). After we finished up at the museum we drove to the Goonies House where I had a nice chat with the current owner of the house and thanked her for keeping the dream alive (including the “THE GOONDOCKS” sign on the front porch). After leaving the Goonies House I drove over to John Jacob Astor Elementary to take a picture of the school where Kindergarten Cop was filmed, and then the house where Ally Sheedy lived in Short Circuit. After that, it was off to dinner…
We had dinner at the Wet Dog Café & Astoria Brewing Co., which is right on the water (Columbia River). I had a blue cheese and peppered bacon chicken burger and my mum had clam chowder and a Greek salad. Not only was the food extremely good, but the atmosphere itself was perfect. They had cute signs on the walls and our waiter, albeit new, was great – I even picked up a cute T-shirt (that read “In dogs beers, I’ve only had one) as a gift. With dinner done, we headed across the Astoria Bridge and into Washington; staying in the quiet hamlet of Ilwaco.
Below are a handful of pictures from today; I hope you enjoy.
Talk to you tomorrow.
L
Oregon Coast from Cape Lookout
Haystack Rock – Cannon Beach, OR
Oregon Film Museum – Astoria, OR
Goondocks SIgn – Oregon Film Museum
Sign at base of Goonie House – Astoria, OR
Goonie House, – Astoria, OR
School from Kindergarten Cop – Astoria, OR
Short Circuit House – Astoria, OR
Cute Sign – Wet Dog Café – Astoria, OR
Astoria Bridge – Astoria, OR
