We woke up to pouring rain. Fortunately the thunderstorm severe warnings came to nothing here!

We decided to go to Astoria and not to the mountains due to the weather ( and driving would be difficult up there)

The marine museum was very interesting and we learnt a lot about salmon fishing and dangers from the bank of waves coming into the river over a bar from the sea. Many ships have been lost over the 200 years.

We saw a monument high up above the town and so went to see it. It is called Astoria’s Column and has paintings all over it. There is a 360 * view from up there.

People can climb up the tower and the tradition is to fly a paper plane from the top.

There was a traditional first nation canoe up there too.

Grandad was brave and went up to the top. He said it was so very windy on the platform and he felt unsafe. Can you see him on  the side in the wind?

The bridge at the top is the long bridge we crossed over the wide Columbia River

The next 2 pictures are of an historical covered bridge.  Over a small river. Washington State has a few of these dotted around. The bridges were all built of wood and to make them last longer they were covered over to protect from the weather

Tomorrow the weather is better and we are going back to the volcano Mt St. Helen’s

Well done Anona for being nominated for an award for all your work as a student. I know some one else got it but you have done so well! Love you very much!

Lily good luck for next weeks SAT’s and don’t worry about them, just try hard and they will soon be over xxx

Louis I loved the photo of you marking off our journey on the map. Good boy! xxx

Also lots of love and hugs to Otis Xavi and Alice xxxxx

Here’s a little bird singing a song for you all