Monday, October 11, 2010
We’re at Umpqua Light House State Park which is 5 miles south of Reedsport, Oregon. A few days ago our friends, Carl and Anita, mentioned that they were headed to the Oregon Coast. Harris checked the 10 day forecast and found out that the prediction was no rain and temps in the 60’s so we asked to meet them for part of their trip. We decided to leave today (sunny) rather than yesterday (rainy) because we enjoy actually seeing the scenery. (Plus, Harris didn’t want to drive Howie in the rain. He might get dirty.)
A quick rest stop on the way down (and the leaves are starting to fall...)
Harris was excited to see how his two recent Howie upgrades would work out. The first one was adding a Lightning Rod to the hot water tank which is an electric heater element that replaces the anode rod (used to preserve the water tank) so that we can have hot water when plugged into shore power at campsites without using propane. He got the idea from Judy’s brother-in-law, Gene. The second upgrade was adding a second house battery under the passenger seat to increase the time we can run off the battery. So far we’ve tested the hot water (thumbs up).
Rock with geocaching clue (had a hole drilled out for film canister)
We left Lake Stevens at 9:30 this morning which for us means we got an early start. We took a shortened morning walk with plans to do another short walk on one of our stops along the way. First stop was REI in Lynnwood to return something for Judy. Our second stop was for gas. The third stop was in Woodland in Southern Washington. After running some water, Judy noticed that the water pump was not coming on properly. Harris looked under the rig and noticed a water leak and upon fiddling with fresh water drain cock broke it. Well the leak was now noticeably bigger—much bigger.
Interesting drain spout spotted while caching
The fourth stop was Camping World where he bought a drain plug and noticed some pebbles between the metal strap holding the water tank and the plastic tank. This was something that hopefully duct tape will temporarily fix when we get to our campsite until we get home. (So far, the leak seems to have been fixed.) We pulled into the last campsite available which just happened to be next to Carl and Anita. Wow, we should have bought a lotto ticket today. After chatting for a bit we parted to our respective domiciles to prepare dinner. Harris decided to be nice to Judy and selected “My Sister’s Keeper” to watch on our DVR/TV. Well, he was snookered. He thought it was based on a true story and felt manipulated by several “something in the eye” occurrences (those father/daughter scenes were killers). Judy was very upset that the movie changed the book’s ending completely. We both agreed that the movie was good at clearing the tear ducts.
Car we saw while caching in Wheeler, Or
Tuesday, October 12, 2010
We got up early, and were on the road geocaching by 9. Carl drove us around the Reedsport area, and by the afternoon we had logged 11 more finds. One of the caches took us to an old cemetery site that was located in a very hilly area. It was different in that the grave markers were scattered amongst the mounds with sand and brush without being clearly organized. We took some photos to show.
Two daily vistors around camp
We stopped for a great lunch of fish and chips on a floating houseboat/restaurant called Unger Bay Fish and Chips. Carl went for a ride on the sand dunes and Harris drove Judy and Anita into Florence to check out a quilt shop. When we returned to camp, Carl showed us one more geocache that was on a trail around Lake Marie. It’s amazing to us to see all these lakes, some small, some huge just over the dunes from the ocean. After we found the cache, we continued on a short hike around the lake, then back for drinks around the campfire. We had a small supper tonight, because we had had such a big lunch. We watched “The International”---good flick. The stars are out again tonight, but we know it’s fall. There is a chill in the air. The sun goes down early. We find ourselves going to bed earlier as well. Still, it has been sunny, and that’s what we sun-seekers came for!
Nehalem State Park is between the 2 bodies of water
Wednesday, October 13, 2010
Up at the crack of dawn, literally. That’s what going to bed gets you! Judy was trying to catch a few more winks, but Harris decided we might as well get up and get going. So, showers, breakfast and out by 8..but no morning walk. We thought we’d find a bakery open and supplement our breakfast since we were on the road so early. We missed the turn for the first one, so had to wait until we hit Waldport before we found another one. We shared a piece of coffee cake (just okay, the fantasy was better than the reality, we never stop at bakeries.) We also stopped in Newport so Judy could visit the quilt shop. We caught up with Carl and Anita there. Carl and Harris were in the parking lot when the owner of the shop building came out and started chatting. Amazing what people tell you. She’s owned the building for 20 years and just recently discovered her new windows were put in backwards 16 years ago. Anyway…onward up the coast on a beautiful, sunny, blue sky, crashing blue ocean day. We started to listen to a book, and decided we couldn’t concentrate on it with all the scenery, so just turned on some oldies music on our satellite radio and enjoyed the ride.
Map showing the many lakes along the Oregon Central Coast
We stopped at a viewpoint to make lunch. It’s called Winema Vista. While we were there, Harris chatted with a couple in a huge RV. They were looking down at the beach from the vista, and saw some RV’s parked and decided to investigate. The husband buzzed down the hill in the little car they were towing, and came back to tell us he was going to go there to camp for a few days. There was a private RV camp, run by a church mainly for summer camps, and they rented out the other spaces for $22 a night for full hookups. It was right on the beach, no sand dunes or trees between you and the view. We went down as well to check it out, and decided we’d have to come back to camp next time we’re down this way. We took a walk on the beach…very prosaic words to describe what may be the highlight of the trip. Warm, almost hot sun. Miles of almost deserted beach. No wind at all. Judy even picked up a sand dollar, whole and unbroken. Such peace.
Carl walking among the many grave sites
When we were leaving the beach, we ran into an older couple. Harris said, “Gorgeous day, isn’t it?” That was about all we said for the next 40 minutes! By the time we edged away, feeling almost rude because we couldn’t really find a natural break in the monologue, we knew the man’s life story. (Where and when he was born, when they married, had kids, when his parents divorced, when his grandparents died, the land he inherited, etc, etc, etc. ) He was a nice enough guy, but we just couldn’t believe how much he talked!
One of the many decorated grave sites
So, between that and another stop at the quilt shop in Tillamook, we were pretty late getting to the camp ground. Carl called us to see if we were still coming! We arrived about 5, had a drink and headed for the beach again to take sunset pictures. (This time we had to climb a dune…just a short walk.) Harris will post one or two when he decides which one of the 50 he took is good enough!
Best day ever.
(well, almost. Day we got married, days our kids were born, a few others come to mind, but you get the idea.)
Harris and Judy enjoying the sun and water
Thursday, October 14, 2010
Yesterday the man we talked to on the beach told us the weather would change today. We didn’t believe him because it was soooo gorgeous. We should have! We woke to a cool wind, and a few feathery clouds in the sky. By the time we were ready to leave for geocaching, Harris had changed into long pants. By the time we stopped for lunch it was very, very gray. By the time we returned to camp, it was raining! Guess those locals know something about the weather patterns!
Our "Travel Buddies" for this trip, Carl and Anita
But we had fun geocaching, and Anita and Judy found a new quilt shop in Wheeler, one of the little towns around here. We ate a picnic lunch on top of a hill that had a lookout with all the local peaks labeled, but alas, the clouds prevented us from seeing any of them. We must have found 15 or 16 caches today!
We loved the added car details to the restaurant
We stopped for some wine tasting at a local winery in Nehalem. We bought a Riesling, Carl bought 2 reds, and because we had 3 we got one bottle free. We decided on a peach flavored white wine that was quite delicious to share tonight.
One of our favorite light houses along the coast
Harris grilled steaks for everyone tonight and did a great job on them. Peach wine doesn’t really go with steaks, but it did taste good. After dinner, Harris finally talked Judy into playing cards. We played Quarters. Judy lost. Again. And, after giving away 2, count them 2 wild cards, she’s decided that we don’t need to play cards ever again. So, Harris threw away the cards. Guess we’ll have to play Bananagrams from now on. Sure.
A birds eye view of the coast
Friday, October 15, 2010
Yesterday’s rain passed on, and the skies cleared up overnight. We were able to watch the stars come out as we went to sleep, and even this morning as we awoke early. Since we were leaving today, Carl graciously offered to make us a special breakfast. Of course, we took him up on it! Sourdough pancakes with apples, sausages and eggs, and fruit. What a feast!
After breakfast, we took off, deciding to go up the coast as far as Astoria before cutting over to I-5, since it was such a beautiful day again. We stopped at Cannon Beach for a quilt shop, and again at a couple in Astoria. We stopped for some lunch in Kelso, and otherwise just drove home. It was a great trip! Oregon really has the best state parks and the best coastline.
Passing a VW bike along the way...
Judy saying good-bye to the ocean
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