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!!