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| Day 1 - Santa Clara, CA Day 2 - Lee Vining, CA Day 3 - Baker, CA Day 4 - Las Vegas, NV Day 5 - Las Vegas, NV Day 6 - Grand Canyon, AZ Day 7 - Durango, CO Day 8 - Glenwood, CO Day 9 - Highlands, CO Day 10 - Highlands, CO Day 11 - Estes Park, CO Day 12 - Craig, CO Day 13 - Jackson, WY Day 14 - Cody, WY Day 15 - Mammoth, WY Day 16 - Choteau, MT Day 17 - Kelispell, MT Day 18 - Sandpoint, ID Day 19 - Omak, WA Day 20 - Anacortes, WA Day 21 - Anacortes, WA Day 22 - Poulsbo, WA Day 23 - Poulsbo, WA Day 24 - Poulsbo, WA Day 25 - Astoria, OR Day 26 - Lincoln City, OR Day 27 - Bandon, OR Day 28 - Eureka, CA Day 29 - Anchor Bay, CA Day 30 - Martinez, CA FINAL THOUGHTS |
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| Today turned out to be one of those days that fooled
us. We started out in fog but within a half hour were in sunlight.
Of course we got out of the room a little late today, like 9:45, but
we don’t have that far to go to day. It’s always nice when you’re riding down the Oregon coast so we didn’t stop to take any pictures for some time. The air was cool and the ocean drifted in and out of our view. Our first temptation came when we saw a road sign directing us west to Cape Blanco State Park and the Cape Blanco lighthouse. We both like visiting lighthouses, as you can already see, but we had just gotten started and started late at that, so we pass it up and continue south towards Port Orford. When we get to the city limits of Port Orford, the sunlit ocean, “battle” rock, and the view down the coast are just too much and we stop to sit by the sea and to take some pictures (photos 1, 2, & 3). Today is Friday, but some folks are out walking along the long sandy beach and enjoying the sound of the ocean. As I look out across, what I know to be a 7000 mile ocean, I can remember being a kid in Richmond and wondering just how far it was to China. Of course, we had no concept, and we still don’t, for that matter.
As the morning sun is getting higher in the sky, we continue our quest to reach Eureka, only 200 miles away, before sundown. To help us accomplish this task, we stop again in Gold Beach. Gold Beach is well known for running their “Mail Boats” up the Rouge River. As we were finding a place to park, many couples were getting out of their cars, obviously headed for a ride up the river. Linda and I keep talking about trying this trip, which seems like it would be fun and I’m sure you see parts of the river not accessible to most people. But today was just a chance to stop and take some interesting pictures. When we came across the bridge (photo 4) into Gold Beach, you could see the Rouge River just filled with salmon fisherman (photos 5). I was only able to see a few from my spot on the other side of the bridge. There was a Coast Guard inflatable headed out to keep order (photo 6) and watch over the group. As we were getting ready to leave, I noticed an old derelict boat wreck (photo 7). Another story I need to find the time to research. Maybe when I retire. Back on the road, it’s getting close to lunchtime and we’re almost at Brookings, OR, one of my favorite little towns. Actually, as we cross the bridge (photo 8), I’m thinking about the best, smoked salmon I’ve ever had, canned by “Dick and Casey’s” (800-662-9494) right by the boat launch ramp in the back of the parking lot (photo 9 & 10). As you can see, the place is always busy. I have a friend that kept telling me about this place on the Oregon coast that made great smoked salmon and I kept telling him about my place. Once, after he returned from vacation, he showed me a can of smoked salmon he bought and we discovered we were talking about the same place. They ship, if you’re interested.
We headed towards the end of the jetty area and had lunch at a little restaurant we both like. You can see Linda’s favorite house in Brookings, designed and built to look like a lighthouse (photo 11). If we ever get the money to build a house with a view of the ocean, bay, or lake, we would think about a design like this. It was time to get moving, so with full stomachs and lightened wallets, we continued onward towards California. They stopped and asked us at the border if we had any fruits. He was obviously doing this from rote and when we indicated that we had none, he motioned us along. The next major city was Crescent City and there is a lighthouse there that we both enjoy. It is called the Battery Point Lighthouse and it can only be reached at low tide. As we drove by, it was apparently a rising tide because the path to the lighthouse was already partly underwater and separated the little island from the mainland (photos 12 & 13). There were a lot of squirrels begging for food and one, looked like he was trying to reach up and grab the chain, hopping it would get him closer to someone with food to give him (photo 14). Either that, or he was trying to breakout of his cell Now we were starting to see some of California’s most famous residents, the California Redwoods. These trees are just unbelievable, so tall, so proud and if you’ve never seen anything but a tree that grows to a foot or two in diameter, so frigging big. Tomorrow we will pass a tree that you can drive thru; there are actually several of these around here. In Crescent City, we passed the Redwood Curl Motel, which is a motel with about 20 rooms, made completely from one redwood tree. We have stayed there and the walls, the floors, the outside, are all made from the redwood from that tree. It’s hard to believe that one tree could do this, but they have pictures and the story for all to see. With that much timber coming from an old growth redwood, which may be 2000 years old, you can see why the lumber companies want these trees. Only about 5% of old growth trees remain and when you see them in groves, they are something to behold. These first trees are not old growth, but they are impressive, just the same (photos 15, 16, 17, & 18).
We are headed back towards the coast again, and as we turn the corner we see the first signs of the California coast (photo 19) that reminds us that we are now on the downhill leg of our journey. We view this with mixed emotions. Glad to see the California coast but sad to know the trip is almost over. As we head back inland, we see another California landmark, Paul Bunyan and his blue ox Babe (photo 20). This place is called the Trees of Mystery, and it has been attracting tourist for 40 years. It has a very good Indian Artifacts museum inside but it’s all designed to get you to stop, come inside, and buy trinkets. I take the picture and keep going. We are closing in on Eureka now and soon cross, what everyone calls the Golden Bear Bridge, but is actually a highway bridge over the Klamath River (photos 21 & 22). Linda has been a little aggravated that she has seen a bushel load of elk on this trip, and I have never gotten a single picture. We have taken hundreds of pictures and not one elk in the bunch. Then, believe it or not, on Hwy 101, we come across a herd of California Tulle Elk, right on the side of the road (photos 23 & 24). Mission accomplished. We can stop taking pictures now. Yeah, right. As the clock edges toward 5:30 p.m., we finally reach Eureka. Linda spots a Holiday Inn and we are finished for today. A little dinner at a Chinese restaurant next door, and it time to relax. Tomorrow, Anchor Bay. From Linda: Hey, Ed, we still need pictures of a Bald Eagle and some California Golden Poppies! |
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