Tuesday 4th April – Film location day, 'Hey you guys!'

Hummingbird in shadow

I was awake quite early and did my usual check of the weather and wildlife by raising one of the blinds in what I will call ‘the lounge’.  Straight away, along with enjoying some very melodic birdsong, there were hummingbirds flitting here and there.  Sometimes resting in the tree right outside the window (left). 

I’ve failed to mention hummingbirds in the blog.  We first saw one in Arizona, by the golf course that we probably damaged whilst playing on it for Simon’s Birthday.  I have never seen a hummingbird in person in the wild before but they are sooo teeny.  That sounds obvious, I know, but they look too small to be birds, if that makes sense? They looked like large insects instead.  I’m not explaining this very well.  They’re amazing to see. And so fast!  No wonder people used to think they were some kind of magical beings! Becky managed to see one when we were in California and I’ve had the joy a couple more times but today was the first chance to try and capture one.  Sadly, it’s in shadow, so I wanted to step out to see if I could improve on this image.  However, I naturally ended up down on the beach where conditions were similar to last night, but with the added bonus of sea lions relaxing in the surf:

Our hummingbird haven camp site

I retired back to the RV where I sneakily slid open the side window to lie in wait for another hummingbird, cup of tea in hand.  This hide has good facilities!  Simon was having a recovery morning, so I even had time to go for a bike ride around the nature trail and a little further up the coast:

Red-winged blackbird

Skunk cabbage - yes, it does whiff a little...

The view up the beach - somewhat clearer than yesterday

Finally, it was time to head north on another search for famous film locations.  This time, the Goonies.  There may still be a few people out there who aren’t aware of this classic 80’s family pirate treasure adventure, but it’s a must-see.  However, it was probably best viewed in your youth, as, on reflection it may seem a bit crap if viewed for the first time as an adult!  Anyway, the film was largely filmed on locations in Oregon State, namely in the town of Astoria and along the coastline south of the town. Our first port of call today was Cannon Beach which is a wide expanse of sand with a famous landmark, Haystack Rock, rising out of the shallow surf. I will do my best with comparison photos to show the scene in the Goonies where the Fratellis (not the band but the fleeing criminal family, after which the band named themselves) are being chased by Police and use the annual beach car rally as cover to make their escape:

Above: Haystack rock April 2017; Below: Haystack rock, the scene of the Fratelli's getaway car chase

From there, it is only a mile and a half to Ecola State Park.  I say only a short distance but believe me, in a 30-foot RV it was far enough.  The road takes you up steep inclines through a dense, picturesque Sitka spruce forest along a thin winding route.  It was hairy, but we made it to the car park on top of a bluff with an amazing view down to the beach.  The weather was even playing ball today.  It was grey, raining and blustery - just like in the film!  We matched up the shapes of the rocks to online screen shots from the film.  We were definitely in the right place.

Above: the view from Ecola State Park bluff; Below: the Goonies cycle across the bluff in search of the treasure trail

This grassy area (left) is our closest estimation of where the Fratelli's hideout was built for the film.  It was at the same park as the above images but was purpose built for the movie before being taken down again after filming ended.  There were picnic benches there that they covered up for the film with piles of scrap and wood etc.

Overview of Indian Beach

I sound like a complete Goonies geek.  But when I discovered on locationshub.com that the next beach along, Indian Beach, had been used not only in the Goonies but also for the dramatic closing scenes of Point Break, then I was really excited!  You know… the bit where Keanu Reeves finally catches up with Patrick Swayze on Bell’s beach in Australia in the storm and they have a fight in the sea… don’t be too disappointed but it’s actually filmed here in the US of A.  Look:  

Above: Simon Swayze, circa 2017; Below: Patrick Swayze in Point Break

We think we even found the bridge that Johnny Utah (Keanu) crosses on his way down to the beach.  Another film to add to the list of must-see-agains. 

Having started out late and carefully made our way back along Ecola State Park Road, we were still about 40 minutes from Astoria where the Oregon Film Museum is housed inside the old County Jail building used in the break-out scene at the start of the Goonies.  

Sadly, the museum shut at 4pm and we reached the town at 430pm.  But we still took some pictures, especially as the Fratelli’s get-away car, complete with bullet-holes (right) is parked outside the front.  It is also just across the road from the museum where the Father of two of the goonies worked (below). 

Flavel House Museum

Then it was on to find the Goonies' house.  Sadly, the current owners have had to make a stand against Goonies fans.  After the film's 30th anniversary last year when masses of fans turned up at the house and made nuisances of themselves, you are now not able to approach the house or step foot on the drive, but we got snaps from as nearby as possible, through the mist:

Decision time.  We had hoped to reach Aberdeen in Washington State tonight so that we only had a couple of hour’s journey into Seattle tomorrow to meet Jo and Stu.  Plus, we have lots of preparation we want to get done - We want to create the right first-impression!  We decided to get the top-up shop done tonight in Astoria so that would be one less thing to squeeze into the day tomorrow.  We stopped at Safeways which had specific RV parking.  Bonus! After we shopped we confirmed with staff that it was perfectly fine for us to stop for the night in the car park – our last freebie for some time I expect.

It has not stopped raining since we arrived in Astoria.  They said it always rains in the Pacific North-West and this seems to be true.  We settled in for the night, accompanied by the pattering of rain on the roof and regular guffaws from the sea-lions in the bay only meters from our door.