After a somewhat rough night of adjusting to life in a tent trailer (we had a bit of a rookie-struggle with the heater) & enjoying some breakfast burritos (so easy to make on a pop-up trailer stove!), we set out to explore the campground trails of Fort Stevens. Â We meandered through trees and up the hills where Battery Russell hides under the sand and grass. Â After choosing not to sleep particularly well Samuel was quite sleepy, so he snoozed most of the time.
It’s a little creepy and really fascinating exploring the places created to protect our shores during war.  They are hollow & echoey, filled with creepy shadows and dark corners.  As we peered in each room and climbed stairs to the top it wasn’t hard to imagine the tension that must have been a part of every day life for the military men who were stationed there during the war.
Fort Stevens is a short skip & hop from Astoria, so we popped into town for lunch and the chance to use our hiking backpack some more. Â Fort George brewery served us well with great food and delicious beverages to share. Â This place gets busy but if you find yourself in Astoria & enjoy beverages made with barley and hops, this is a great stop! Â 
The Scorcher Cafe & Bakery is also right next door – we may have popped in to snag a couple pastries to enjoy with our instant coffee the next morning.
Another important moment of Day 2 was taking Samuel to the Peter Iredale ship wreck, a favorite spot for both Stead and I during our childhood coastal trips.  After exploring what remains of the rusty wreckage, Samuel felt sand for the first time.  He seemed to love it!
Night two was blessed with a very cozy trailer after Stead mastered the heater. Â Samuel did awesome and only woke up once. Â A decent night of sleep when camping with a baby is almost more of a gift than when it happens at home, because that means more energy for adventuring the next day!