Happy Independence Day!

July 4th -

We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness. — That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, — That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness.

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Last time we were in the Pacific Northwest we were with the Blankenbillers. We stumbled upon the most crazy and exciting 4th of July celebration we had ever seen in Long Beach, WA. We said that we would be back! We decided that since we are only about 30 miles from Long Beach we would celebrate there instead of Seaside. We decided to make an entire day of it.

On the way to Long Beach we decided to get there via Cape Disappointment State Park. They have two lighthouses that we have been to before, but wanted to go to again. 

We noticed a State Park called Fort Columbia and did an abrupt U-turn and visited it.

Fort Columbia

This Fort has history but most recently protected the mouth of the Columbia River from 1904 to just after WWII.

Officers Housing

The bunkers were built into the ground for protection.

Bunkers

Just to the right of the picture you can see a dark spot on the deck. This allowed you to go down into the rooms of the bunker.

Bunkers II

There was a self guiding tour at many of the areas tied to our Android phones. Using  QR codes that look like this: 

The Android phone would bring up pictures and stories and even sound bites about each building or area. It was very well done!

Here Patty is looking for the enemy through her binoculars!

Spying the enemy

I guess she should have been looking the other way! LOL!

In the stockade!

We believe these rails were used for moving armaments.

Armament Rails

These large caliber guns were called "hiding guns". After shooting and for reloading the guns would retract in the cases.

Hiding Guns

Don't worry, the Fort is safe! :)

Protecting the fort!

We just thought this picture Patty took was really cool! There was a Mine "bunker" just to the left of where the picture was taken. They would mine the river with electronic controlled mines that could be remotely discharged. That way fishing boats and freight boats could still safely go up the river.

Awesome Picture!

Now it was time to go to Cape Disappointment. There are two lighthouses within about 2 miles of each other because the seas are so treacherous here! 

Here is the Cape Disappointment Lighthouse. You can not go into this lighthouse so we settled with just taking pictures and not hiking to it. 

Cape Disappointment Lighthouse

We then drove the two or so miles to the NorthHead Lighthouse. This one you can pay $2.50 each and go to the top. It's about a 1/2 mile walk round trip to the lighthouse. 

Trail to lighthouse

The NorthHead lighthouse is still a working lighthouse. 

NorthHead Lighthouse with caretakers!

What surprised us is that the bulbs they use are regular 12v automotive tail lights. You can look right into the lens and it is not blinding, but in the dark the ships can see it 7-9 miles out to sea!

This picture was taken from the top of the lighthouse.

NorthHead Lighthouse view

We left Cape Disappointment State Park and headed for Long Beach. 

Long Beach, Washington

This place is WILD on the 4th of July. Fire Crackers are illegal, but almost anything that goes into the air, even HUGE mortar type explosives are legal! 

Longest Beach!

All day long into the night it sounds like a war zone in Long Beach. It is legal to drive on the beach so they start early parking their cars and trucks on the beach.

Parking on beach

And it is strange, because not just 4x4's, but BMW's and Ford Focus' and mommy vans are out on the sand, I don't get it!

But as we said from morning till night KABOOM all the time, and it is legal!

Daytime Fireworks!

As the evening progressed it just got more intense. In Ventura sunset on the 4th was 8:09. Up here is is 9:11. Of course it is still not totally dark until after 10:00! 

This picture is still private fireworks from the beach. It was constant, seriously several BOOMS every second for hours!

Personal fireworks from beach

Eight years ago we sat on the beach, this year we sat on a bench on the boardwalk. In the following picture you can see whale bones. They are real! We sat just to the left of them on a bench.

Boardwalk

Finally at 10:00pm sharp the real city sponsored fireworks started. It was a great show! It lasted until 10:30. The other fireworks barely slowed down during the show though. The entire sky continued to light up all around! 

City fireworks

As one city worker told me, "This is the one bastion of freedom we have left!". I think he's right. As crazy as it is, you must experience it at least once. The people who were sitting next to us said they drove in 2 1/2 hours from Aberdeen, Wa. Eight years ago people near us said they drove in from Seattle. 

We have been blessed to enjoy it twice now.

I know this blog was long, but we did SOOO much Wednesday! Thursday is laundry and such day so no update for that..

Thanks for reading,

Love you all!

Brian and Patty