On Sunday, 11/30, we began the last travel segment of the walkbaout when we entered Oregon. We had a very long drive from Eureka, CA to North Bend, OR, just north of Coos Bay.The trip included another visit to the Redwood forest with a short walk in the woods just off the Drury Scenic Drive. So cool to wander among the giants.
We began our tour of the Oregon Coast by continuing along Rt 101, past Port Orford, the westernmost town in the Lower 48. We have seen lots of “…est” along the way: oldest, longest, largest, strangest, worstest. It all depends on how you phrase it! We were the only campers in the North Bend KOA. The mornings were typical Oregon, foggy and misty. We toured North Bend and had lunch at the Captain’s Choice (the bestest chowder on the South Coast). On Tuesday, we toured the coast that we had sped past on Sunday, overlook from the Orford Heads and the Cape Blanco Lighthouse (the westernmost lighthouse). A great sunset at Bandon Rocks (pictured above).
Wednesday dawned with thick fog that burned off by mid day. We headed north to Reedsport and hiked the Oregon Dunes Nat’l Rec Area – a mile from the edunes to the beach! Finished off the day with a tour of 10,000 Christmas Lights display at Shore Acres S.P.
We continued north on Thursday, after a brunch in Coos Bay. As we did the switchback road we saw the Heceta Light (the brightest lighthouse in Oregon). We stopped for a photo and heard a large group of sea lions below. Quite a treat. We camped in Waldport, once again the sole campers. Must be winter. Friday was a beach day- here that means wind and fog. We walked Patterson S.P., Smelt Sands S.P. and the Yachats River delta (watch out for sneaker waves!) Had happy hour and dinner at the Landmark Lounge with a great blues harp player – danced the night away.
More coastal tours Saturday and Sunday, with a marvelous Holiday Lighted Boat Parade in Newport on Sat and Carl Washburne S.P. on Sunday (fun despite the fog and rain). Monday we continued north to Cape Lookout S.P., just behind the dunes from the ocean. Once again, we were almost alone in the camp. A fantastic sunset on Tuesday.We stopped by the world’s largest wooden building in Tillamook ( a former blimp hanger now Air Museum).
We are presently camping just outside Astoria, on the Columbia River. A very fascinating place, the graveyard of the Pacific (2000 shipwrecks since 1700), the terminus of Lewis & Clarks’ Corps of Discovery journey, home of the Astoria-Megler Bridge (the longest continuous three-span, through-truss bridge in the world). Saw the highest tide of the year during a mild gale on Saturday. Suday was the coldest day in five years with the most snow at sea level in memory.
Today we visited the World Kite Museum in Long Beach (the world’s longest beach(that you can drive on)).
A superlative adventure in its closing (greatest) days.
More to come.
J&A
