Thurs, Oct 14, 2010

Thursday, October 14, 2010

We have picked out a tentative route back to Mississippi… well actually not really all the way back but we have decided to go back through Yellowstone.  I know… big surprise right? To do that we need to drive back north along the coast backtracking the same roads we took down to Brookings yesterday.  That means we get one more day on the pacific coast! Yahoo! 

After a good night’s sleep we got up and made the long trip across the street to “Mattie’s Pancake House”.  It was one of those great locally owned restaurants with in-house owners.  They were busy and they were friendly and the food was delicious.  The service was good and there was laughter and good vibes all around which made it a great place to start the day.  When I asked our waitress who qualified for the senior menu she said “Everybody does, we don’t ask!”  It was the type restaurant you wish you could find for every meal. Sets the tone for the entire day.

So with that good experience “under our belt”… literally if we keep eating these “hearty” breakfasts we’re going to have to get longer belts! Anyway, we drive every bit of five miles and made our first stop at Harris Beach State Park.  We were just going to drive over to the beach access and look… yea sure.  I sit way too many hours at a desk and for the 25 days before we left on this marvelous road trip I worked about 10 hours a day to get ready to be gone.  I’ve never shied away from hard work but it does take its toll and one way is I am woefully out of shape.  So as the trip has progressed (and after my knee healed) we have tried to take longer and more difficult hikes.  I’m always amazed at how small an amount of exercise can bring some pretty significant results.  The hike down to the beach turned out to be a surprise challenge.  There was a lot of natural vegetation and trees between us and the beach but we headed out down the trail to the beach we were tricked by a number of switchbacks.  As we rounded the last turn and stepped out of the blackberry brambles onto the beach… it was worth every aching step. We were surrounded by piles of driftwood followed by sandy beach, then rocks and crashing surf.  It was, as most of the beaches on the Oregon coast, “take your breath away” beautiful.  So much so that I forgot about the hike back up and my burning legs.  After a long walk down the beach exploring and making photos we headed back to the “hidden” trail and I actually made it out with only one stop to catch my breath.  This was far better than some earlier walks and it was beginning to feel good to push myself.  Charles, of course, being in the good shape that he has always been in, just patiently waits for me and encourages when necessary. So what began as just a quick stop… well it was a little after twelve noon when we drove back out to Highway 101.

Less than an hour headed north and we had to stop at the Meyer Creek wayside.  It’s one of our favorite stops and from the parking area to the beach is just a short walk thru some beautiful grassy sand dunes… no hidden trails with switchbacks here!  We walked out to the massive rocks, some of which resemble huge whales pushing up out of the water.  As we got closer to the creek there was a huge gathering of seagulls and groups would take off in a flurry and fly around the rocks then return to a spot further down the beach.  At times the sky was full of them… although if they had flown closer to us it might have seemed more like a scene from Hitchcock’s The Birds.  We found about a dozen sand dollars and the pups used up the last of their energy until they were content to just walk between us on the way back to the jeep. 

We made it to Bandon about 2:30 and made one quick stop to let the pups stretch and so I could get a good workout by climbing another sand dune trail… burn baby burn!  Then it was time for a late lunch of Halibut fish and chips at the harbor.  With the exception of three or four seats inside, the majority of the seating is outside and since the weather was again perfect we ate outside.  A friendly patron walked by our picnic table and remarked about how good the food was.  Charles and I both answered in unison… “yes, great!”.  He then asked if we were from the area to which I replied “If you hear us say more than two words you’re going to know we’re not from anywhere near Bandon!” “Oh, he said, yall are definitely from the south.  About 30 minutes later we parted ways after a very pleasant conversation.  He and his wife were originally from California, decided after 30 years they needed a change and lived 20 years in Boise, Idaho before moving to Bandon.  He was one of those “never met a stranger” types and was a good ambassador for Bandon, giving us several good tips for other restaurants to try on our next visit.

After finishing our meal it was time to put some miles behind us and we made a very pleasant drive from Bandon to Florence where we somberly said goodbye to the pacific coast.  A beautiful winding highway took us the sixty miles from Florence to Eugene with no problems and we have a great room at the Red Lion.

Tomorrow we will trek across Oregon heading in the general direction of Yellowstone.  It was another great day on the road and we are very well tonight. We hope yall are well too.

Peace, Hope  Love,

Donna, Charles, Paris & Dodger