In late 2025 and early 2026, I took a couple of road trips to southwest Washington. This is a wooded and mountainous area, a dramatic contrast to the urban sprawl of the Puget lowlands and the Seattle-Tacoma metro mess.
Let's take a big clockwise route by driving south on I-5 to Kelso/Longview and then heading west along the Columbia River on Washington Route 4, the Ocean Beach Highway.
I wrote about Kelso in May 2026 (click the link). And I posted a few scenes from Longview in November 2026.
Rosburg
 |
| Store, 4193 State Road 4 (Zeiss Ikon ZM camera, 35mm ƒ/2 Summicron lens) |
Rosburg is quiet, a farming community on State Route 4 in Wahkiakum County. I took the two frames above at dusk, with the camera tripod-mounted.
Naselle
Naselle is at the junction of Rte 4 and Rte 401, the Lewis and Clark Trail Highway. I turned off on 401 and proceeded to the Astoria-Megler Bridge, which crosses the Columbia River to the city of Astoria. Let's continue along Rte 4, which turns northwest and merges with US101 south of Nemah.
South Bend
South Bend is the county seat of Pacific County. It has a superb court house up on a hill overlooking the city and the Willapa River.
 |
| Treasures on US 101 west of South Bend (35mm ƒ/2 Summicron lens) |
 |
| Warehouse (Ilford XP2 film, Pentax MX camera, 28mm ƒ/3.5 Pentax shift lens) |
 |
| Pacific County Courthouse (Moto G5 digital image) |
 |
| Rotunda in the Pacific County courthouse |
This 1910-1911 courthouse is an architectural gem. It is in immaculate condition. From the national register of Historic Places:
Today, the courthouse remains an exceptionally well-preserved, sophisticated example of public architecture, all the more remarkable for its location in the heart of a rural lumbering and fishing district.
In terms of its massing, its wall articulation, and its arcaded fenestration pattern,
the courthouse may best be described as an example of the Second Renaissance Revival style.
Raymond
Raymond is a lumber town on the Willapa River. I wrote about Raymond earlier in 2026. Here is a 2022 frame from a garage/museum off of Route 6 east of town.
 |
Waiting for a ride, 1500 Henkie St. (Rte 6) (Kodak Gold 200 film, Kodak Retina IIa camera, 50mm ©/2 Xenon lens) |
Menlo
Menlo is a tiny town about five miles southeast of Raymond on Rte 6. I have stopped at the historic 1924 country store and post office in 2022 and looked inside. If you are passing this way, definitely stop and check the interior.
 |
| Menlo country store (Portra 160 film, Zeiss Ikon ZM camera, 5 cm ƒ/2 Summitar lens) |
Pe Ell
I like this little town with its unusual name. The Willapa Hills Trail comes into town, but I have not bicycled this far yet from Chehalis. Maybe on my eBike.
 |
| Former hotel, 311 Main Street (5 cm ƒ/2 Summitar lens) |
 |
| Main Street, Pe Ell (Ilford XP2 film, Pentax MX, 50mm ƒ/2 Ricoh lens) |
This ends a circular road trip through southwest Washington. I mixed and matched pictures from several years here.
Continue of Washington Stare Route 6 and you soon reach Chehalis and the junction with I-5. Time to head out again.
I took these pictures with Kodak Gold 200 and Portra 160 films (color) and Ilford XP2 black and white film.
No comments:
Post a Comment