Day 6.

Our actual anniversary!!

We drove down Long Beach Peninsula on our way back towards the Columbia River and Oregon.

It was very windy. And damp.

On the other side of the Peninsula, and pictured above, is Willapa Bay. 

Famous for it's Oysters. 

We saw shell piles the size of small hills.

Fishing boats docked in Ilwaco.

The North Head lighthouse keeper's residence. 

Available for rent each summer.

You know, in case you've always wanted to live near a lighthouse for a few months.

The views were worth the bone-achingly damp hike.

It is extremely Rainforest-y on this end of the Peninsula.

Worlds away, in other words, and yet a mere 20-ish miles from the northern end.

A World War II bunker.

North Head Lighthouse.

Beach along the north jetty. 

A view of Cape Disappointment. 

(Despite the glaring sun you might just be able to make out the Lighthouse.)

The Cape is not named for it's stunning views. Obviously.

They do no disappoint.

No, the sea captain who discovered the Cape was annoyed at having missed the mouth of the Columbia River.

He was being a tad dramatic, in my opinion...

Crossing the Columbia.

Oregon!

Scenic overlooks on Hwy. 101.

 Pacific City.

Devil's Punchbowl.

It was from up here that we were able to look directly west and see a whale!

Oregon surfers.

(Trust me. They're down there.)

We walked a few beaches...

...like too many to count...

And ended our day in Yachats, with views of a cold, mellow sunset, a crazy fabulous meal in a cozy pub and live music. 

Day 5.

We drove up to Mount St. Helens.

And even though the clouds and the fog and the rain never permitted us a clear view of the dome, the other views we saw on the twisty, turny, up and down drive were amazing.

We stopped at a museum run by the Weyerhaeuser Timberland company and learned all about the eruption of 1980.

It was fascinating. And sobering. 

To see what sheer devastation nature is capable of, and then to see what re-growth and recovery look like, was very, very moving.

A couple we met on the train recommended we not miss Mount St. Helens and I'm glad we didn't.

It did mean we had to forego Portland. Which was definitely a bummer. But I guess we have to save something for the next time we travel out this way.

Behind us is the Toutle River. 

Moss grows everywhere.

Raspberries and Huckleberries, too.

This view.

I mean...seriously...

...can you even...

On our way down the clouds finally lifted and we felt it only appropriate to put the top down.

We drove along the Columbia River and ended up in Long Beach, Washington. At the very tail end of another storm. We still got out and walked.

And we able to see not 1, but 2 rainbows.

We stayed in a Victorian beach cottage about 2 blocks from the Ocean. It was picturesque. And damp.

After dinner we went for another walk along the beach. At sunset. 

The weather, the water and the sand were all very cold.

Josh took all these photos. I was too frozen.