Captain William Clark Park at Cottonwood Beach - Washougal, Washington



Captain William Clark Park at Cottonwood Beach - Columbia River

 

A mild January day, sunbreaks and no rain for a change. This is the Washington side of the Columbia River at Washougal. Along the top of a dike, is the 3.1-mile Captain William Clark Park Trail with jutting-out metal observation platforms, benches and informational signage.

The west end of the trail begins at a pedestrian tunnel that leads to the city. Inside are seven carved basalt panels decorated with petroglyphs in the style of the native Columbia Gorge tribes. The east end of the trail is the Steigerwald Wildlife Refuge. Along the way are Steamboat Landing, interpretive canoes, and Captain William Clark Park. The scenery looking north, is not so nice, with industry and sewage treatment.

But looking south .... A jungle of bare cottonwood branches, robins call alarm, littler birds flitter by, as a nearby hawk watches. The sun breaks through momentarily, sparkling ripples in the river, and lighting up an emerald green pasture at the top of a hill way across in Oregon. A few ducks bob in the water and a few big birds (could they be Bald Eagles?) soar above.



Oregon across the Columbia River from Washougal, Washington



Washougal means 'rushing waters' because there used to be some here before the Army Corp of Engineers changed all that. Washougal was busy in 1792. Boston fur trader Captain Robert Gray 'discovered' the mouth of the Columbia River in May. In October George Vancouver sent young Lieutenant William Broughton upriver to investigate. It is believed he came as far as Washougal. It is here that he named Mt. Hood and Point Vancouver.



Monday, March 31, 1806, Captain William Clark camped at Cottonwood Beach for 6 days. The Corp of Discovery had discovered the Pacific Ocean, overwintered near Astoria, and were on their way home. The Chinook people said food was scarce east of the Cascades, so the Corp camped here, killing big game, drying meat, and sewing it into leather sacks.



A tunnel leading to Washougal city from the river has these carvings, inspired by images created over the eons by Indians of the Columbia Plateau.

 

 











Jefferson Street Artesian Well and Yashiro Japanese Garden

For years the Olympia Brewing Company's slogan, "It's the Water," attested to the pure taste of the artesian water used to brew their Olympia Beer. Today you can still access that water at a parking lot near the corner of Fourth and Jefferson Streets in the historic Theater District of the state of Washington's capitol city of Olympia.


There are a few "15 minute artesian water parking" spaces next to a simple pipe coming up out of the asphalt. Some large blocks of concrete protect it from bad backer-uppers and such type drivers. A seemingly endless stream spills out unimpeded and at a rate whereby the steady stream of people can quickly fill up their various size containers. The overflow drains away through a grate below.

Just down the street at McMenamins Spar Café there is a water fountain at the front entrance serving  the same artesian water they're using in the basement to brew their beer. It didn't taste as good at the parking lot water, which was colder and therefore more refreshing. Plus the old water fountain looks kinda disgusting....

...Like these old urinals still in use at McMenamins saloon and former brothel, the Olympic Club Hotel in Centralia, Washington pictured here. The lady's room has a blurry-eyed selection of faucets. Draw your own conclusions.

And on another topic: the Yashiro Japanese Garden in Olympia. On a cold rainy day, I had the place to myself.