Oct. 31st
Today we are in Cloverdale CA and have no internet connection here so I will not be updating my blog until later this week. Hopefully the next campground I will be able to use my verizon internet. We leave here on Nov. 3 and head a little south of San Francisco. We are enjoying the Napa and Sonoma Valleys. It is beautiful with the vinyards everywhere. More wineries than you can count!! Happy Travels, Barb
Monday, October 31, 2011
Tuesday, October 25, 2011
Oregon and California
Oct 17, 18 & 19
Blue sky and nice weather is forecast for a couple of days. Dick decided he wants to go crabbing so we find a sport shop that rents crab rings and he also gets a three day shellfish licence. We stop at the grocery store and pick up some chicken legs to bate the rings and head down the road from our campground to a dock out in the river called South Jetty. There are quite a few people already there and they seem to be catching crab. One group of 6 are really pulling in the crab. The first time Dick pulls up the ring we have a legal crab. It slowed down until later in the afternoon and we finally got 4 crab for the day.
The weather is great again on Tuesday so we drive 20 miles south of Florence to the town of Winchester Bay. There is a really long dock there where people have their crab rings out. We stayed until 3 in the afternoon and ended up with 4 crab again today. We take them to a market and get them cooked and cleaned for $1.25 each. Well worth not having the mess in the motor home.
Early Wednesday morning we left to crab in Winchester Bay again. When we get there a cold wind is blowing and no one is on the dock crabbing. We decided it was too cold to get out there and drove south to the towns of North Bend and Coos Bay. In Coos Bay we visited a farmers market and bought bread, tomatoes and a cranberry/apple spread. Drove back to Florence and it was still too cold to crab so took back the rings. We stopped at a dune buggy place and decided to take the ride out on the dunes. The Oregon Dunes stretch for 40 miles along the coast and there are designated recreation areas. We went in a 10 seat dune buggy but it was only Dick and I. We were seat belted and shoulder harnessed in and wore goggles. What a wild ride! I held on the dear life and closed my eyes part of the time. I'm not really a fan of roller coasters and fast rides and we were treated to a fun but scary ride.
Oct 20,21,22
We didn't do much for the next 3 days. Ate a couple of meals out and stayed around the campground.
Oct. 23, 24
Sunday we moved south to Brookings OR which is a few miles from the California boarder. We stay in beautiful Harris Beach State Park. It is up on a cliff overlooking the ocean. We can even see the ocean from our motor home. Took a walk on the beach which is accessed from the day use area. Our campsite is large and surrounded by a low hedge. Oregon has wonderful state campgrounds with hookups and very reasonably priced. The coast is littered with large rocks on the beach and in the water. What a sight, the rock formations and the ocean crashing over them.
Monday we drive into California to the town of Crescent City. Stop at the Redwood National and State Park visitors center, the park is part state and part national, and got information and maps about the park. The state of California preserved some key groves in the 1920's. Congress created Redwood National Park in 1968 to protect the world's tallest trees. In 1880 redwood forests probably covered two million acres but gold fever subsided and redwood fever replaced it. Redwood lumber built some of San Francisco's great Victorian homes. Redwood National and State Parks protect nearly 40,000 acres of ancient forest, almost half of all that remain. Redwoods grow to a height of 380 feet and live to be 2000 years old. It's bark is 12 inches thick and the base will get 22 feet in diameter. We took one of the scenic drives on a narrow winding road through the giant trees to Stout Grove and then a short hike around the grove. It is hard to get a good picture of the giant trees because they are so enormous and tall. Pictures just don't do them justice. When we got back to Florence we took a ride north to stop at some of the vista points we had passed in the motor home. It is hard to stop at scenic overlooks with the motor home and a towed car.
Oct 25
We have been enjoying beautiful sunny weather for the last few days. Today we move 50 miles south to the town of Klamath California. It is located about in the middle of the Redwoods and we are staying here 3 nights. We did a scenic Coastal Drive which followed the coastline high up on the side of a cliff above the ocean. In the afternoon we go to the Trees of Mystery. This is a private attraction which has been owned by the same family since 1949. There is a wonderful Indian museum which has displays from different tribes and is free. We pay to follow a trail through interesting trees and displays and take a tram up the mountain where we have views of the ocean in one direction and the forest covered mountains in the other. We had a good day in the Redwoods.
We will be here in Klamath for 2 more days before moving further south. Happy Travels, Barb
Blue sky and nice weather is forecast for a couple of days. Dick decided he wants to go crabbing so we find a sport shop that rents crab rings and he also gets a three day shellfish licence. We stop at the grocery store and pick up some chicken legs to bate the rings and head down the road from our campground to a dock out in the river called South Jetty. There are quite a few people already there and they seem to be catching crab. One group of 6 are really pulling in the crab. The first time Dick pulls up the ring we have a legal crab. It slowed down until later in the afternoon and we finally got 4 crab for the day.
The weather is great again on Tuesday so we drive 20 miles south of Florence to the town of Winchester Bay. There is a really long dock there where people have their crab rings out. We stayed until 3 in the afternoon and ended up with 4 crab again today. We take them to a market and get them cooked and cleaned for $1.25 each. Well worth not having the mess in the motor home.
Early Wednesday morning we left to crab in Winchester Bay again. When we get there a cold wind is blowing and no one is on the dock crabbing. We decided it was too cold to get out there and drove south to the towns of North Bend and Coos Bay. In Coos Bay we visited a farmers market and bought bread, tomatoes and a cranberry/apple spread. Drove back to Florence and it was still too cold to crab so took back the rings. We stopped at a dune buggy place and decided to take the ride out on the dunes. The Oregon Dunes stretch for 40 miles along the coast and there are designated recreation areas. We went in a 10 seat dune buggy but it was only Dick and I. We were seat belted and shoulder harnessed in and wore goggles. What a wild ride! I held on the dear life and closed my eyes part of the time. I'm not really a fan of roller coasters and fast rides and we were treated to a fun but scary ride.
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| Dick throwing the crab ring |
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| Dune Buggy |
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| Top of a tree sticking out of the sand that is 80 feet high |
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| In our goggles |
Oct 20,21,22
We didn't do much for the next 3 days. Ate a couple of meals out and stayed around the campground.
Oct. 23, 24
Sunday we moved south to Brookings OR which is a few miles from the California boarder. We stay in beautiful Harris Beach State Park. It is up on a cliff overlooking the ocean. We can even see the ocean from our motor home. Took a walk on the beach which is accessed from the day use area. Our campsite is large and surrounded by a low hedge. Oregon has wonderful state campgrounds with hookups and very reasonably priced. The coast is littered with large rocks on the beach and in the water. What a sight, the rock formations and the ocean crashing over them.
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| Highway 101 south of Florence |
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| Bookings OR |
Monday we drive into California to the town of Crescent City. Stop at the Redwood National and State Park visitors center, the park is part state and part national, and got information and maps about the park. The state of California preserved some key groves in the 1920's. Congress created Redwood National Park in 1968 to protect the world's tallest trees. In 1880 redwood forests probably covered two million acres but gold fever subsided and redwood fever replaced it. Redwood lumber built some of San Francisco's great Victorian homes. Redwood National and State Parks protect nearly 40,000 acres of ancient forest, almost half of all that remain. Redwoods grow to a height of 380 feet and live to be 2000 years old. It's bark is 12 inches thick and the base will get 22 feet in diameter. We took one of the scenic drives on a narrow winding road through the giant trees to Stout Grove and then a short hike around the grove. It is hard to get a good picture of the giant trees because they are so enormous and tall. Pictures just don't do them justice. When we got back to Florence we took a ride north to stop at some of the vista points we had passed in the motor home. It is hard to stop at scenic overlooks with the motor home and a towed car.
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| Stout Grove |
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| Redwood tree root |
Oct 25
We have been enjoying beautiful sunny weather for the last few days. Today we move 50 miles south to the town of Klamath California. It is located about in the middle of the Redwoods and we are staying here 3 nights. We did a scenic Coastal Drive which followed the coastline high up on the side of a cliff above the ocean. In the afternoon we go to the Trees of Mystery. This is a private attraction which has been owned by the same family since 1949. There is a wonderful Indian museum which has displays from different tribes and is free. We pay to follow a trail through interesting trees and displays and take a tram up the mountain where we have views of the ocean in one direction and the forest covered mountains in the other. We had a good day in the Redwoods.
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| Trees of Mystery |
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| Indian Museum |
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| Going to the top in tram |
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| View of ocean from the top |
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| View of the mountains from the top |
We will be here in Klamath for 2 more days before moving further south. Happy Travels, Barb
Monday, October 17, 2011
Oregon
Oct.10, 11, 12, 13, 14
We are at a campground by Newport OR called Whalers Rest. Newport has a wonderful old town area down along the waterfront that we visited. Lots of shops and restaurants. We ate lunch at Mo's and had fish and chips and chowder. Found a boat which sold live crab so we bought a couple and took them home and boiled them. Having them for dinner tomorrow night. California Sea Lions are along the water with their loud barking sound.
Tuesday we drove back up the coast to Pacific City and Lincoln City to check them out. Looked at a campground in Pacific City that we were going to camp at but people had told us it was tight to get our motor home into. We found it to be O.K. and would stop there next time. Went shopping at the outlet mall in Lincoln City.
Wednesday we visited the lighthouses around Newport, Yaquina Bay and Yaquina Head. Yaquina Bay is the second oldest standing lighthouse structure on the Oregon coast. It was only in service from 1871 to 1874 before the brighter Yaquina Head Lighthouse was commissioned and eliminated its necessity. The light is built on the top of a house where the keeper and family lived. The house is open and furnished as it was when it was a working lighthouse. Yaquina Head Lighthouse in a 93 foot high tower and the tallest on the Oregon coast. Illuminated in 1873 and is still a working lighthouse. We were able to climb to the top and saw a wonderful view of the rugged coast. Oregon has one of the most beautiful coastlines we have seen. The Cabot Trail in Nova Scotia is as beautiful. Highway 101 winds along the rugged rocky coast and we got wonderful vistas of the ocean below.
Thursday we had a delicious dinner at the Local Ocean Seafood Restaurant. We sat at the bar right in front of the open kitchen and watch our dinner being prepared. We had Fishwives Stew and was loaded with all kinds of seafood in the tomato broth with crusty bread. It was one of those memorable meals that you never forget. All the dishes being prepared looked really good. We will definitely go there again.
Friday we left Newport and drove to the next campground in Florence called South Jetty. It is a nice wooded campground and plan on staying for 9 days.
Oct. 15, 16
Today the weather in going to be sunny. We have had lots of cloudy days since being on the Oregon Coast. We spent the morning in Florence's Old Town which is along the water. Lots of shops to visit and little farmers market on the grassy area at the end. We couldn't resist eating lunch at one of the restaurants. We had delicious clam chowder, bread and salad. It rained hard in the night but by Sunday morning we had sunshine.
Today we drove to see another lighthouse back north or Florence. Heceta Head Lighthouse, illuminated in 1894 has an automated beacon which is seen 21 miles from land and rated as strongest light on the Oregon coast. We couldn't tour it because it is closed for renovation so just took pictures.
We are staying in Florence all next week and moving further south on Sunday, Oct. 23rd. Next week we plan on doing some crabbing off the dock if the weather is nice. Happy Travels, Barb
We are at a campground by Newport OR called Whalers Rest. Newport has a wonderful old town area down along the waterfront that we visited. Lots of shops and restaurants. We ate lunch at Mo's and had fish and chips and chowder. Found a boat which sold live crab so we bought a couple and took them home and boiled them. Having them for dinner tomorrow night. California Sea Lions are along the water with their loud barking sound.
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| California Sea Lions |
Tuesday we drove back up the coast to Pacific City and Lincoln City to check them out. Looked at a campground in Pacific City that we were going to camp at but people had told us it was tight to get our motor home into. We found it to be O.K. and would stop there next time. Went shopping at the outlet mall in Lincoln City.
Wednesday we visited the lighthouses around Newport, Yaquina Bay and Yaquina Head. Yaquina Bay is the second oldest standing lighthouse structure on the Oregon coast. It was only in service from 1871 to 1874 before the brighter Yaquina Head Lighthouse was commissioned and eliminated its necessity. The light is built on the top of a house where the keeper and family lived. The house is open and furnished as it was when it was a working lighthouse. Yaquina Head Lighthouse in a 93 foot high tower and the tallest on the Oregon coast. Illuminated in 1873 and is still a working lighthouse. We were able to climb to the top and saw a wonderful view of the rugged coast. Oregon has one of the most beautiful coastlines we have seen. The Cabot Trail in Nova Scotia is as beautiful. Highway 101 winds along the rugged rocky coast and we got wonderful vistas of the ocean below.
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| Yaquina Bay Lighthouse |
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| Inside lighthouse keepers home |
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| Yaquina Head Lighthouse |
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| View from the top |
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| My reflection at the top of lighthouse |
Thursday we had a delicious dinner at the Local Ocean Seafood Restaurant. We sat at the bar right in front of the open kitchen and watch our dinner being prepared. We had Fishwives Stew and was loaded with all kinds of seafood in the tomato broth with crusty bread. It was one of those memorable meals that you never forget. All the dishes being prepared looked really good. We will definitely go there again.
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| Fishwives Stew |
Oct. 15, 16
Today the weather in going to be sunny. We have had lots of cloudy days since being on the Oregon Coast. We spent the morning in Florence's Old Town which is along the water. Lots of shops to visit and little farmers market on the grassy area at the end. We couldn't resist eating lunch at one of the restaurants. We had delicious clam chowder, bread and salad. It rained hard in the night but by Sunday morning we had sunshine.
Today we drove to see another lighthouse back north or Florence. Heceta Head Lighthouse, illuminated in 1894 has an automated beacon which is seen 21 miles from land and rated as strongest light on the Oregon coast. We couldn't tour it because it is closed for renovation so just took pictures.
We are staying in Florence all next week and moving further south on Sunday, Oct. 23rd. Next week we plan on doing some crabbing off the dock if the weather is nice. Happy Travels, Barb
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| Heceta Head Lighthouse |
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| Sea Lions enjoying the sun by Sea Lion Caves |
Sunday, October 9, 2011
Travel for winter of 2011 and 2012. Oregon Coast
Oct. 5
We got the water turned off and the house closed up for our winter trip. Able to leave Colfax and on the road again by 9:15. We spent the first night in Ainsworth State Park which is along the Columbia River not far from Multnomah Falls and about 35 miles east of Portland. It rained on us off and on through the day and heavy rain in the night.
Oct. 6
Today we drive to Seaside Oregon to spend 4 night. The campground is nice and surprising, lots of camping rigs. We exprore the town and find the area where all the shops are. Spent the afternoon checking out the shops. The street goes to the beach where there is a turn a round and a statue of Lewis and Clark. We also sat for awhile and watched the people on the beach flying kits etc. Had a great seafood dinner at Normas Seafood Restaurant. The weather cleared and the sun even came out. We had a good day.
Oct. 7
Rain in the night and still rain in the morning. Decided to go to Canon Beach which is just down the road about 10 miles. We had mist most of the day. Had fish and chips for lunch and walked around the shopping area of Canon Beach. We road along the beach to see the famous Haystack Rock. Too cold and rainy to even get out of the car. Not many people on the beach.
Oct. 8
Today we head north to Astoria. Stop at Lewis and Clark National Historical Park. There is a reconstructed Fort Clatsop there. It is where the origional fort was located. The Corps of Discovery remained at Fort Clastsop from Dec. 7, 1805 until March 23, 1806 when they started their return trip. They didn't have a very good weather while there. Of the 106 days the explorers spent at the fort, it rained every day but 12. We watched a movie about their trip west and stopped at the museum in the visitors center. We walked down to the canoe landing where an old dougout canoe was in the trees.
Went into Astoria and looked around. Stopped at a grocery store and Costco before going back to Seaside. We wanted crab for dinner so stopped at a seafood market and bought two big crabs. Seafood is expensive along the coast so we have only bought these two crab. Have enought left over to have crab cakes for dinner tomorrow.
Oct. 9
It rained hard in the night but is just cloudy today. We went to visit the Salt Works here in Seaside. By the time the Corps of Discovery arrived at the Pacific Coast its supply of salt for preserving and flavoring food was nearly exhausted. To remedy this, three men set-up a salt making operation at the beach in present day Seaside. Salt was obtained by boiling sea water day and night in kettles placed on an oven built of stones and fueled by trees and wood debris along the shore. Soon it was producing three quarts of salt a day.
Tomorrow we leave and go down the coast to Newport area and will stay there for 4 nights.
Happy Travels, Barb
We got the water turned off and the house closed up for our winter trip. Able to leave Colfax and on the road again by 9:15. We spent the first night in Ainsworth State Park which is along the Columbia River not far from Multnomah Falls and about 35 miles east of Portland. It rained on us off and on through the day and heavy rain in the night.
Oct. 6
Today we drive to Seaside Oregon to spend 4 night. The campground is nice and surprising, lots of camping rigs. We exprore the town and find the area where all the shops are. Spent the afternoon checking out the shops. The street goes to the beach where there is a turn a round and a statue of Lewis and Clark. We also sat for awhile and watched the people on the beach flying kits etc. Had a great seafood dinner at Normas Seafood Restaurant. The weather cleared and the sun even came out. We had a good day.
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| Lewis and Clark |
Oct. 7
Rain in the night and still rain in the morning. Decided to go to Canon Beach which is just down the road about 10 miles. We had mist most of the day. Had fish and chips for lunch and walked around the shopping area of Canon Beach. We road along the beach to see the famous Haystack Rock. Too cold and rainy to even get out of the car. Not many people on the beach.
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| Haystack rock at Canon Beach |
Oct. 8
Today we head north to Astoria. Stop at Lewis and Clark National Historical Park. There is a reconstructed Fort Clatsop there. It is where the origional fort was located. The Corps of Discovery remained at Fort Clastsop from Dec. 7, 1805 until March 23, 1806 when they started their return trip. They didn't have a very good weather while there. Of the 106 days the explorers spent at the fort, it rained every day but 12. We watched a movie about their trip west and stopped at the museum in the visitors center. We walked down to the canoe landing where an old dougout canoe was in the trees.
Went into Astoria and looked around. Stopped at a grocery store and Costco before going back to Seaside. We wanted crab for dinner so stopped at a seafood market and bought two big crabs. Seafood is expensive along the coast so we have only bought these two crab. Have enought left over to have crab cakes for dinner tomorrow.
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| Sacagawea and Jean Baptiste |
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| Fort Clatsop |
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| Canoe Landing |
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| Dougout Canoe |
Oct. 9
It rained hard in the night but is just cloudy today. We went to visit the Salt Works here in Seaside. By the time the Corps of Discovery arrived at the Pacific Coast its supply of salt for preserving and flavoring food was nearly exhausted. To remedy this, three men set-up a salt making operation at the beach in present day Seaside. Salt was obtained by boiling sea water day and night in kettles placed on an oven built of stones and fueled by trees and wood debris along the shore. Soon it was producing three quarts of salt a day.
Tomorrow we leave and go down the coast to Newport area and will stay there for 4 nights.
Happy Travels, Barb
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| Salt Works |
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