Day Thirteen (9/27/2010)

Final day of the trip.  Got up in the Nehalem Bay State Park, ate, unhooked, and headed for the last, and longest leg, home.

Made it to Portland in the afternoon, driving through brutal traffic, where we stopped at a Denney's, and met up with Don, an old college buddy who I hadn't seen in years.  This made it another high point in the trip, for me.  Unfortunately, we didn't realize, until much later, that we missed the chance to take some pics of him.

Continuing on, we drove the remaining distance home, stopping only to have some ice cream at Nisqually Flats, as well as to give Angus a chance to stretch his little, short legs, and to make his bladder gladder.  Not relishing the idea of driving through rush-hour traffic on I-5 in an RV, we left the freeway just before getting to Tacoma, taking Highway 18 up to Fall City, and going the "back way" home, through Monroe.  This maneuver eliminated Tacoma, Seattle, and Everett.  Got home in the dark.

Day Twelve (9-26-2010)

South Beach State Campground; Newport, Oregon


Woke up to the soft pattering of rain on the RV roof. 

 

Alert, excited, and champing at the bit

While getting ready to go, Tim & Cathy, a really great couple we met in the campground, yesterday, stopped by and talked with us for a while.  Afterwards, we went over to see their set-up, which is quite unique, as they are camping in an SUV, with no tent or any other sleeping facility.  They cover the windows with pieces of heavy, black paper, which they have precisely cut to press-fit into place, making it nice and dark, when they want to sleep.  All of their stuff is stacked into the back of the SUV, and they have to move it, in order to sleep, each night.  He is a college instructor (teaches financial classes, like taxes, auditing, advanced accounting, etc.) and she is a C.P.A.  They are the nicest, friendliest people that anyone could ever hope to meet, and we are hoping to stay in touch with them.  I wish they lived closer. 

Tim and Cathy, two gems





After pulling out of the campground, we stopped at the Oregon Coast Aquarium, again, so Bonnie could get some goodies in the aquarium store.  Next, we made our usual trip to Starbucks, to update the blog, have some coffee, and to check our e-mail. 

Today was kind of a dull day in more ways than one. It started out totally overcast and drizzly, remaining the same right to the end.  In addition, we didn’t really see much that was unique or interesting.  After wandering in and out of so many little coastline tourist shops, the seashells, kites, cheesy ceramic lighthouses, and stuffed animals all begin to look commonplace, losing their original flavor; habituation, I guess.  So far, aside from the beautiful coastline and redwoods, the best things I have seen are: the campsite tree frog; the cute little girl who was trying to stuff some food into a small dog’s mouth (the poor dog wasn’t having any part of it), a nice Pendelton shirt ($100), and--most memorable--the fully-restored, functional, Vought F4U Corsair, which is a gull-winged WWII naval fighter plane. 

After leaving Starbucks, we drove to a section of Newport called “Historic Nye Beach,” but it turned out to be rather boring, with nothing all that great to see or do.  The only thing of note was a big (about four feet) statue of an eagle with outstretched wings and spread talons, in a small shop that has all sorts of blown glassware. It was priced at "only" $37,500, making it pretty close to twice as much as the amount we borrowed from the bank, in 1975, to build our house.  The only thing about it that was noteworthy was the price tag; personally, you couldn’t give it to me for free. Although it was a good rendering of an eagle, it was too glitzy, making it look like something that belonged right where it was: in a little roadside art gallery, but not the Louvre.  

Continuing onward, about halfway between Newport and Depoe Bay, there is an interesting coastal geological formation, called “The Devil’s Punchbowl,” which is a circular notch that has been eroded out of the seaside cliff .  When the surf is up, as it was today, it makes for a spectacular display. As the water rushes shoreward, it crashes into the seaward side of the formation with a roar, sending spray upward, while the rest of the wave rockets through a small open channel, into the punchbowl, itself.  Of course, we stopped there and took some pics, before moving on again.  



The Devil's Punchbowl



Taken from the Devil's Punchbowl Parking Lot--Scenic or what?

After loading back into the RV and wiping the sea spray from our cameras, we made it as far as the Nehalem Bay State Park Campground, where we bedded down for the night.  Being a Sunday night, the campground was relatively empty, compared to other days. 

Day Eleven (9/25/2010)

South Beach State Campground; Newport, Oregon

After breakfast, we made the one-mile drive into Newport, went to Starbucks, to update the blog and check our e-mail.  Afterwards, we drove to the section of Newport called, “Old Town,” which includes the fishing boat harbor and the “touristy” area.  One of the travel guides which I had checked out of the library, before going on this trip, stated, “The only thing that Newport lacks is an off-season,” and it is readily apparent in this section of town.  Even though school started weeks ago, and it is now supposed to be the “off season,” Old Town remains thick with tourists, like so many milling termites, filling all the shops, sidewalks, and restaurants.  Finding a parking place gives one the feeling a vulture must have, while circling in a large flock, watching and waiting to seize the right opportunity and the right moment.  This whole challenge becomes even more challenging, when most parking spaces along the narrow streets are not suitable for an RV.

The first thing you notice, when getting out of your vehicle in Old Town is the raucous barking of the sea lions which are lying all over the floating docks and the jetty, in the boat harbor. Like crows, they never shut up, with several of them barking at the same time.  Being too dumb to know better, they even fill a large cage which was made by the marine biologists, for the specific purpose of catching them and hauling them away; pretty funny. We watched as one tried to get into the cage, but couldn’t, slipping back into the water, because the cage was so full.  Willing captives. 

Somehow, the word "haughty" comes to mind, when I look at this guy's expression; kinda like he's thinking, "Ain't I great?"

                                     

Willingly sleeping in jail

We spent most of the day, wandering in and out of the many little shops, but still couldn’t make it to the end of the street, so we will do so, tomorrow.  The whole place makes me think of Leavenworth, but with the obvious difference of being a seaport, instead of a faux Bavarian village.  Before leaving, we saw a small restaurant that was totally full, so, taking that as a sign of offering good cuisine, we stopped and had a really great seafood dinner.

The seafood here was outstanding (fish and crab louie)

Finally, after looking in a kite store, we returned to the campground and took Angus for a long walk on the beach, so he could chase a stick and a few rocks, which he sorely needed, after lying in the RV all the while we were walking around town. 

Shaking out the sand

How to chase a rock 101:



                               Pooped!!            

Day Ten (9/24/2010)

Bullard Beach State Campground, Oregon

Had breakfast, and was getting ready to hit the road.  I opened the cover to the campground’s electrical connection box, only to find a little tree frog sitting on top of the plug.  Cute little guy, for sure.  I ate him. 

After breakfast, we continued north, retracing our earlier route, until we came to Coos Bay, where we found a Starbucks (thanks to our GPS unit) in a Safeway; this allowed us to check e-mail, having some coffee & a roll, then do the blog.  Before leaving town, we stopped at the Mill (Something-or-Other) Casino, where Bonnie lost $1,000, playing the slot machine.  Here’s a pic of her doing that.  You can’t see it, but she also has a cigarette in her other hand, as well as a small shot glass of Jack Daniels.  You never know what people’ll do, when they get away and lose all their inhibitions, I guess. Just kidding. Actually, she only lost six bucks, after having a lady sitting at the neighboring machine explain how to run the thing.  They don’t have any of the old-fashioned slot machines with a handle you can pull, hoping to line up the cherries, lemons, or whatever; everything’s totally electronic, now, which was kinda disappointing, ‘cause I always wanted to try one of those things.  Oh well, it was six dollars worth of fun and we only stayed for a total of probably twenty minutes.  The best part was watching all of the other people, wondering how many are compulsive gamblers.  I couldn't wait to get out of there, due to the cigarette smoke that filled the air...gross. 



Notice the excited expression that only a fervent gambler can experience; how sad



As I remember, at this point, she had just won a whole fours bucks...only to lose it again, of course

On the way to Newport, near Florence, we stopped at a little roadside shop which features all kinds of stuff carved out of Myrtlewood, a hardwood with a distinctive fragrance. It comes from, logically enough, the Myrtlewood tree, which grows only in southern Oregon, northern California, and the Holy Land, according to the lady in the shop.  The leaves are also used in cooking, much like Bay leaves.  Bonnie got some gifts there.  I got bored. 

The day was one of mostly driving, and we made it to Newport, stopping for the night, once again, at South Beach Campground, one mile south of Newport. When we were about 20 miles away from the campground, we called ahead, to see how many sites were still available.  There were ten, and she said that we would probably make it, before everything filled up. 

After hooking up and having supper, we went for a walk on the beach, hoping to get some pics of the sunset, but got there only five minutes after it had set, so we had to settle for some misty, twilight pictures of the beach grass and dunes.

Riding in an old RV is not exactly the top thing to do, for little Angus.  Whenever we stop driving and take him out on his leash, he gets tail-waggin’ happy, but when we turn back toward the RV, he stops dead in his tracks, pulling back on the leash like a mule.  Poor little guy.  While we’re watching the beautiful Oregon coastline go by, he’s spending most of his road time, staring at everything that’s down at his eye level, which includes such exciting scenery as the sides of the seats, the walls of the coach, and our legs.

A bored little doggie

 

 

Day Nine (9-23-2010)

Redwood National Park, California

Shafts of Morning Sunlight in the Prairie Creek Campground

(a sign in this campground warns people to be careful of the elk that browse in this little prairie)

Breakfast in the Redwood Forest

Got up at the Prairie Creek Campground, which is in the Redwood National Park system of northern California, just south of the Oregon-California border. Compared to the Oregon State campgrounds, the California state campgrounds are terrible.  This campground has small camp sites which were about as level as the Sahara Desert dunes. There was no soap or paper towels in the bathroom.  No water, no electricity, no nada en los campsites.  Tonight, after returning to Oregon, I mentioned all of that to the gal attending the park entrance booth at the Bullards Beach Campground, and she said that she has gotten that same comment from  several people.  And, adding insult to injury, California charges more than Oregon does, so you get less for more money; what a deal! 

Bonnie and Half a Redwood

Bonnie, Angus, and a Whole Redwood

These trees were alive during the Roman Empire.

So how many 2"x 4"s do you think this'd yield? 

After having breakfast and taking Angus for a short walk in the park, we hit the road, turning northward, toward home again.  As we were leaving the Redwoods Park, we pulled over alongside the road, looking for a big ol’ redwood tree, called “The Corkscrew Tree,” due to its spiral, twisted trunk.  While standing outside the RV, a passing SUV slowed down, the driver waved, pulled over & stopped.  It was Peter and Debbie, the couple who we had befriended the day before, at “The Trees of Mystery.”  We talked with them for a few minutes, then parted ways.  They were going to take a hike to a small canyon that is lined with ferns, and is supposed to be a photographer’s paradise.

Part way up the coast, we stopped and took a few  more pictures at the Harris Beach Campground, where we stayed, a couple of nights ago, then continued onward. 

Photos from the Harris Beach Campgrounds beach area, near Brookings                                               

 

The plastic cover to the electrical hook-up chord fell off somewhere along the highway a couple of days ago, so, after encountering a light rain, we pulled over, today, and covered it over with good ol’ duct tape, man’s best friend, aside from doggies.

We arrived at the Bullards Beach Campgrounds just around twilight, and set up camp for the night. 

Day Eight (9/22/2010)

Harris Beach State Campground, Oregon

Got up this morning, in the Harris Beach State Park, only a few miles from the Oregon-California border.  The weather was a little foggy, with a high cloud cover, but it was warm. 

Deciding that we had been spending too much time getting ready to hit the road, we got out of the campground fairly soon, after breakfast. 

Stopped in Crescent City to get some information about the Redwoods National Parks, and to look at a lighthouse, but the tide was in, preventing us from walking out to it, so we went to a pizza place for lunch; I guess food always works to satisfy, when you're frustrated. 


Redwoods National Forest

Got on the road after lunch, and made it to the Jedediah Redwood National Forest, gawking at the huge redwoods on both side of the road.  In one place, a redwood was so close to the road that they had actually cut a notch out of the side of it, so large trucks and RV’s could make it by, without having a collision. 

We did the normal tourist thing at the “Trees of Mystery,” where they have the big statues of Paul Bunyan and Babe, the Blue Ox.  There is a short trail through the redwoods, and, afterwards, we took the gondola ride, called “The Sky Train,” which is about one mile long, taking you up through the canopies of the redwoods. 

Debbie & Peter, in the gondola car behind us

View of the Redwood Forest from the top of the Gondola

On the trail, we met Peter & Debbie, a couple with whom we hit it off, right away.  We took pictures of them and they took pictures of us, we exchanged addresses and e-mails.  Great people, and we hope to stay in touch with them. 

Peter & Debbie

Bonnie, standing by what she later called, "The Blue Moose"

None other than Paul Bunyan, himself

There is also an interesting museum in the gift store at the “Trees of Mystery,” full of Native American artifacts, such as baskets, arrowheads, clothing, old photos, etc.

 

This couple seemed nice, so, trying to be friendly, I nodded and said, "Hi," but
they seemed a bit aloof and unresponsive. Oh well, you can just never tell
by appearances.

After leaving the "Trees of Mystery" tourist trap, we traveled on to the Prairie Creek Redwoods Campground, where we stayed for the night. 

Day Seven (9/21/2010)

How's this for scenery?

Awoke in the Bullards Beach State Campground, had breakfast, then, since we were only about sixty miles from the Oregon-California border, we headed for the Golden State, hoping to get a look at the fabled giant coastal redwoods (Sequoia sempervirens).  Traveling only about five or six miles, we needed to get some gas, so we stopped and did so, also buying a few quarts of oil.  Here's an absolutely stunning shot of me, checking the oil.  Try not to get too excited (this is the kind of human interest stuff that could go viral, if placed on YouTube):

One old dipstick, checking another old dipstick

The bottom of the driver-side mirror assembly had become detached from the door, when one of the sheetmetal screws vibrated loose, so we headed for an Ace Hardware store, in search of a new one.  After pounding the door metal flat and attempting several different sizes of screws, it became apparent that a whole different approach was going to be necessary, if the mirror was again to be attached solidly to the door.  There was a NAPA auto parts store directly across the street, so we drove over there, and after a lot of help from one of the guys in the store, we got the mirror reattached, and were soon back on the road again, as Willie Nelson would say. 

Struggling with the mirror



However, this all took way too much time, and, as previously stated, we had only gotten about six miles from our morning start.  Oh well, at least we had gas (the RV, that is), oil, a firmly-attached mirror, and were now ready for a new start on life.

Continued on to the Harris Beach State Campground, arriving at 3:40, where we stayed for the night.