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



Wed, Oct 13, 2010

Wednesday, October 13, 2010

Ok, take yesterday and just say ditto, ditto, and ditto… only it was a few degrees warmer and the wind was calmer.  So the entire day was spent on the Oregon coast and it was perfect! 

The day of the dog.  Dogs are a common sight in Oregon.  Almost everyone has one walking with them or riding in their vehicle.  The weather is conducive to taking them everywhere and it is apparent there are a lot of dog lovers.  It’s not uncommon for service station attendants to offer milk bones to pups or to hear someone remark “pretty pups” as we drive by.  It’s a dog-friendly state for sure.

Even the pups are getting into this sleeping later.  At home they usually get up and Dodger or Paris shakes his/her head which makes their collars jingle and that’s their sign that they are ready to get up and go outside.  This happens at 5:00 am every day.  It does not happen at 5:15 or 4:45.  It pretty much happens with a minute either way of 5:00 am.  As soon as they have been out they are content to go back to bed if we request it.  When we travel the same thing happens which makes sense when we are still in the Central Time Zone but when we change time zones their inner clock adjusts as well.  For a day or two they might be off a little more than at home but after just a few days they are back to almost perfect timing.  When we changed to the Pacific Time Zone just a few days and they were back on track!  Just another thing about dogs that is amazing to us.

They have been getting Charles up right on time each morning but the funny thing is they have been more and more willing to crawl into our bed and go back to sleep with very little encouragement.  So that’s what we all did this morning… relaxed and dozed before making that pot of coffee. 

The motel where we stayed in Bandon sits right on the ocean and there is a wonderful winding paved path that meanders along the cliffs.  From this perspective you have a good view of the huge rocks out in the ocean and beach below.  We have had some pretty good weather on previous visits and we have had some wicked weather as well but almost always the wind is blowing.  Today was the exception.  The temperatures climbed quickly to the sixties and there was just the slightest breeze.  So we knew we had to take a walk before breakfast.  We strolled along the cliffs watching other dog lovers out strolling with their pups.  On the beach below us almost everyone on the beach has a dog with them.  The dog and owner that got our thumbs up today was an elderly gentleman who passed us on the cliff path.  I wouldn’t say he was feeble but he moved slowly and carefully.  With him was a standard poodle, on a leash who walked along right by his side.  They were a striking couple and we turned and watched them as they took the long winding steps that led down to the beach level.  The poodle stayed by his side straying only a few feet in any direction occasionally and not one time did he even pull the leash taunt!  He never reacted to other folks or dogs they met but was totally focused on his human companion. He did not appear to be an old dog and did not walk with any difficulty but looked very athletic.  It just seemed to be out of love that he was so cooperative and as we watched them walk it was clear that he was taking good care of his elderly companion.   Just another way that dogs are so good for us… taking us out for exercise!

After another hearty breakfast downtown we began our day of oceanside vistas, overlooks, waysides, beach walks, more good seafood, a much needed car wash, a walk in the redwoods, crystal clear creeks, puppy play at almost every stop, a beautiful sunset and then we concluded our day in Brookings, OR. 

We are well tonight and hope y’all are too. 

Peace, Hope & Love,

Donna, Charles, Paris & Dodger



Tue, Oct 12, 2010

Tuesday, October 12, 2010

Charles and I both love a fire so we had one from the time we got to our room in Yachats until we left during the middle of the morning today.  There was a large box of firewood outside our door and we burned all of that up practically before we went to bed!  The room on the opposite corner also has a fireplace but was not rented so we robbed their box so we could keep a roaring fire going.  It was wonderful… nothing relaxes us like a fire and a cup of coffee so this morning was perfect! 

Our favorite restaurant in the small town of Yachats was The Landmark and it sat overlooking the ocean where the Yachats River flows into the ocean.  Unfortunately, we learned at check-in last night that it had recently closed.  We truly hope someone buys it and re-opens a restaurant and that it doesn’t end up as the site of another motel or house. 

Charles, being the wonderful husband that he is, knew I wanted to stay by the fire so he went to another local restaurant and brought us back a full hot and hearty breakfast and we ate in front of the fire.  Ok, it doesn’t get any better. 

After a nice walk on the beach we were ready to pack up and head out.  The first item on our agenda was to find the North Fork Yachats Covered Bridge.  About ten miles up the Yachats river and a couple of twists and turns not included in our directions, we found it.  It was a beautiful bridge in excellent shape and still in use (if you call a bridge on a one lane road with very little traffic in use).  Unfortunately, the position of the bridge and the vegetation around it made it difficult to photograph.   After climbing down a bank to the water I got a fair shot.  From there we took another side road that took us over several high ridges in the deep dark forests of western Oregon.  We probably drove 50 miles overall and came out about 6 miles down Highway 101.  Oh, well the point is not to go the shortest route but to see as much of this beautiful land as we can.

Then it was time to find a puppy play spot!  We chose the Cummins Creek Wayside.  They had a big time playing in the creek where it runs into the ocean and then we walked down the beach to a rocky area and watched the waves crash on the rocks as the tide was rolling in.  Neither Dodger nor Paris will play in the ocean… they are used to the ponds and creeks on the farm but are intimidated by water that chases them!

After playtime we made the short drive to one of the Heceta Head Lighthouse overlooks.  From this overlook we can see the lighthouse and the rocks below are covered sea lions.  It is just a few hundred yards below the famous Sea Lion Caves.  We sat at the overlook a good while watching the sea lions swimming and playing in the waters below before continuing our trek south.

At Florence, OR we took the South Jetty Beach road out to one portion of the huge Oregon Dunes National Recreation Area.  There is a large dune covered with sea grass that runs the entire length of the Jetty road and we hiked up to the top and found a path thru the waist high grass that went along the ridge.  The pups find the deep sand easier to traverse than we do and the walk down from the top was a lot easier than the climb up.  From there we drove out to the end of the Jetty to see the pass into Florence harbor. 

Just south of Reedsport we drove thru Winchester Bay and out to the overlook to view more of the huge sand dunes of the Recreation area and also a closeup view of the Umpqua Lighthouse.  Then it was on through Coos Bay and finally we arrived at our destination of Bandon, OR.  We got a room at our usual motel and then headed to the Wheelhouse Restaurant for a delicious dinner of Creole blackened Halibut… melt in your mouth good and the best coffee we have had since we left Mississippi. 

The temperature today made it into the sixties by afternoon and the wind was quite tolerable with the warmer temperatures.  Another great day on the road!  Back at the room, the pups fell out immediately and I’m sure Charles and I will both sleep soundly tonight too. 

We are well tonight and hope yall are too.

Peace, Hope & Love,

Donna, Charles, Paris & Dodger



Mon, Oct 11, 2010

Monday, October 11, 2010

We have been on this road trip for two weeks and I think it is probably a good time to remind those of you who are still checking in and perhaps even reading some of this that I’m not trying to write a great book.  It’s meant primarily for me and Charles and our family.  The reason for this is simple… probably no one but our family would find any of this especially interesting.  Truth be told, they probably don’t find it interesting either, but they humor us by acting like they do.  So if you are not a family member, but yet still are hanging in there with us… well good for you!  I hope you are still able to find something in my ramblings to enjoy.  

This was a very good day!  We awoke this morning after “suffering” thru the night with a fire going in the fireplace.  We had to leave a window open so we could do it… we both love a fire!  We slept late, watched the news, read the papers and drank way too much coffee this morning.  The motel has a wonderful continental breakfast so we took advantage of that before packing up the Jeep. 

We didn’t go far but only drove across the street to Canon Beach where we spent most of the morning walking on the beach.  Then we decided to take the Three Capes Scenic Loop which took care of the rest of the morning and well into the afternoon.  One of the neat things we saw on this trek was the largest Sitka Spruce tree in the state of Oregon.  It was at the end of a fairly short hike and just as we were beginning to wonder if it was going to be worth it, we walked over a knoll and there it was.  This was an old growth section of forest and the trees in it were rather large and impressive already but this tree was breathtaking.  It stands 144 feet tall, has a 15 ½ foot diameter and a 48 foot circumference! It is estimated to be 750 to 800 years old.  All I could think about as I stood there peering up into the large limbs overhead was “just think how many different people this tree has seen over 800 years!” 

From there it was on to a few more short hikes and drives thru small fishing villages and a few dairy farms as well.  Around every turn or over a hill brings another breathtaking view.  About 2:00 pm we arrived in Pacific City and one of our favorite restaurants, Pelican Pub & Brewery.  After a delicious meal we slowly made our way down the coast stopping frequently to enjoy the beauty of the Pacific ocean and the unseasonably mild temperatures.  One nice stop, which we have made several times was at the Yaquina Head Lighthouse. 

Just a short drive further south and we made it to our planned destination of Yachats, OR.  Luck was with us again and we were able to get our favorite room at the Yachats Inn which is on the southwest corner with two corner windows facing the ocean (about 100 feet away), and a fireplace!  As I sit here typing, we have had a fire going for about two hours, we watched a nice sunset and had a light supper and Dodger and Paris are lying next to me on the couch as Charles reads to me about some potential places to visit tomorrow.

We are well tonight and hope you all are too!

Peace, Hope & Love,

Donna, Charles, Paris & Dodger



Sun, Oct 10, 2010

Sunday, October 10, 2010

The forecast for the day still was for rain but as we checked the radar it looked like we might be able to take our time heading west and maybe we wouldn’t be in the worst part of it.  After breakfast we crossed back over the Columbia River Gorge to the Washington side (the interstate runs along the Oregon side) and began our way toward the Pacific Coast. 

We made a number of stops along the way with one rather lengthy one at one of our favorite spots… Dog Creek Falls.  By lunchtime we made it back to the Oregon side to the Columbia River Gorge Historic Road (Old Oregon Hwy 30) that runs from near Cascade Locks to just east of Portland.  It’s one of the last remaining sections of the old original highway built in the early 1900s.  It is a beautiful road that winds its way thru the Oregon forests and passes by at least five very dramatic waterfalls.  The first fall you encounter when traveling the road from the east is Horsetail Falls but the second is the more famous Multnomah Falls.  It is probably one of the most photographed falls in the world.  Unfortunately, just as we arrived it began to rain.  We put on our raincoats and hit the trail.  I can’t say it was a lot of fun trying to photograph in the rain but we did the best we could to keep ourselves and our equipment dry.  We didn’t tarry too long however.  As we continued along the route the weather improved and we were able to take several nice hikes to see some of the falls we have missed on previous trips. 

At the end of this drive is the historic Vista House, built by Samuel Lancaster, a Highway Engineer who supervised the Columbia River Highway Project. It sits atop Crown Vista a high point on the gorge from which you can see up and down the river.  As Lancaster described it, the Crown Point promontory was the ideal site for “an observatory.” And it could “serve as a comfort station for the tourist and the travelers of America’s greatest highway.”  It’s a beautiful building with a dramatic views.  As we walked around the overlook after touring the museum inside, the sun began to peek through the clouds.  Yes, things were looking up!

We had used up most of the day and still had about a 100 mile drive to get to our planned destination of Canon Beach.  We hit the road again and made the drive into, thru and out of Portland with ease.  From the west side of Portland it was about 50 miles to Canon Beach and the drive went quickly with just one short puppy break.  Once in Canon Beach we headed straight to our usual motel Inn at Canon Beach and got a room.   Then it was off to Warren’s Pub for a good dinner and we finished just in time to make the short trip across the street to one of the public parks on the beach for the sunset.  The temperature on the pacific coast is almost always cool and we joke that it is always 55 degrees and today it was just about that as we walked out on the beach.  The good thing however was that there is often a healthy wind as well but tonight it was perfectly calm.  We stayed out on the beach until the sun set below the horizon and we made calls to both our mothers to tell them we were standing on the west coast. 

Back at the room we have a nice fire going in the fireplace and are going to relax.  The forecast for the entire week is perfect for the coast and we plan to enjoy every minute of it. 

We are well tonight and hope yall are too.

Peace, Hope & Love,

Donna, Charles, Paris & Dodger