Heading Home

As rain was forecast for Tuesday night through Thursday night with it heavy at times and strong winds we decided to start home.  We planed to stop at Yreka RV Park for the night but it was only 2:30 pm when we got there so we continued on.

As we traveled we started looking (google searches) for RV Parks closer to home that we could get to by 5-6 pm.  The RV Park at Seven Feathers Casino on the way up was nice so we checked to see if the RV Park at Rolling Hills Casino had spaces.  It did so we reserved a spot and arrived at 5:30 pm.  After a quick setup (didn't need to unhitch) we went to the buffet at the casino.  Not as good as Seven Feathers but OK.  

The RV Park has paved roads and gravel sites that are not perfectly level but it didn't take long to level the trailer.  At $28 a night it was fine.

Tomorrow we should be home by 12-1 pm.  It has been a shorter trip than planned but a good one.

Cape Blanco (continued)

The weather is changing with a storm forecast to come in Tuesday thru Thursday and the clouds have arrived with more wind. We were out and about this morning until the wind chill got the best of us.  

The campground is one loop among the trees, berries and other plants.  

The sites are nicely spaced and quite private.  These trees were 3-6' tall when we first came here.

In the center of the loop is the restrooms and showers making them convenient to everyone in the campground via several trails like spokes in a wheel.

A short way down the road down to the south beach is bluff with picnic tables and a bench to enjoy the views.

There is a trail that follows the bluff all the way to the lighthouse road with spurs that go back into the campground.  

Along the trail there are several spots along the bluff for views.

After taking the trail to the end of the campground we returned and too the truck over to the lighthouse for some pictures.  You can tour the lighthouse but we have done that before and opted to just take some pictures from the cape.

Looking north the beach goes all the way to the Sixes River.

To the south the beach goes to the Elk River,  That is Port Orford Head in the distance.

That is Whale Rock in the distance.

Exploded view of Whale Rock,  I don't know if that is the official name but that is what we have called it for the last 40 years.

Looking back to the cape and the lighthouse.

At low tide the tide pools in the rocks below the lighthouse are great to explore with all kinds of sea life in them.  It is a bit of a climb down and back up though.

At one time Cape Blanco claimed to be the western most point in the contiguous United States.  Washington differed with them and may have the honors but at least it is for Oregon.  The lighthouse is 5 miles out from US Hwy 101.

If you don't like a lot of wind, possible fog, and cold, Cape Blanco is not for you. It is famous for the wind.

We will figure out what is next tonight or in the morning.

Cape Blanco State Park

After we left Bandon I had the feeling of comfort from the familiar surroundings as we traveled south.  We past the cranberry bogs, fields of cattle, and the sheep as we approached the park.  We have camped in many of the parks on the Oregon over the years and the southern Oregon coast and especially Cape Blanco is definitely our favorite. We first came here in the mid 70s when our oldest daughter was just a baby and have returned many times.

We left Bullards Beach State Park about 10:30 and arrived at Cape Blanco about 11:15.
Our timing couldn't have been better as there were a number of sites available for us to choose from.  We found a deep one that has plenty of sun for Linda to sit and read.

After dinner I went down to the bluff where there are some picnic tables and a bench to sit and watch to ocean or the sunset.  

A the fog was a ways offshore I didn't expect to see a great sunset but waited just the same

This was about as good it it got.

Tomorrow we will spend some time on the beach and may go to the lighthouse.

Sunset Bay and Bullards Beach State Parks

Plans have been adjusted somewhat.  We left Cape Lookout on Friday planning to stay at Sunset Bay until Monday,  It was foggy with drizzle when we arrived and it was even wetter on Saturday.  Sunset Bay is down in a narrow canyon across the street from the beach and bay.  To top it off there was no cell service to the park.  From the picture you can tell there wouldn't be a sunset to be seen here.

Friday evening at about 7 pm

Saturday morning we went to Shore Acres Botanical Gardens (State Park).  Even though it was wet and most of the flowers were past prime it was still nice.

There are some flowers blooming most of the year but in the spring the Rhododendrons and Azaleas are in their prime along with many of the roses and other flowers.

The Dahlias were the best this time of year.

The droplets of water on this rose looked like diamonds on the petals.

After returning to our campground we decided we had had enough of the drizzle and fog so we moved to Bullards Beach State Park at Bandon, OR.  We were lucky to get a spot as the No Vacancy sigh was out but a couple of spaces opened up as we drove up.  It is only for one night so tomorrow we will try our luck at Cape Blanco State Park at Port Orford, OR.

This campground is much drier.

Some of our friends from the Northwood Rally had said they would be at Bullards Beach in September but we didn't know when.  After we got set up I sent them a text saying we were at Bullards Beach if they were here now.  They were here with three other couples for crabbing in the bay.  They were having a potluck dinner and insisted we join them.  We knew one of the other couples as they had camped at Wallowa Lake a few years back when we were there.  Good seeing them and a fun evening.  

We may have to take up crabbing next year.  

Paula, Linda and Ken

Cape Meares and more cheese

We saw our friends off, had a lunch of slices of baguette with pepper Brie.  The Brie was disappearing pretty fast, so it looked like another run to Blue Heron Cheese Company was in order.

Linda wanted to go to Cape Meares lighthouse gift shop to pick up something for a friend so off we went.

The trail to the lighthouse and gift shop is only .2 miles one way but it is down hill and a pretty good climb back up.  As it was fogged in I opted to wait by the truck as Linda made her shopping foray.

This was the view of the ocean from the parking lot and was worse at the lighthouse.  That was fine as we have been here before and on a beautiful clear day.

Next it was a stop at Safeway for some fresh Mozzarella and fresh basil to fix with sliced tomatoes we brought from our garden.  Then on to the Blue Heron Cheese Company for some more pepper Brie.

Since we were so close I decided to go on to pickup some cheese curds at Tillamook Cheese as you can't buy those in the grocery store.  They make a great snack anytime.

Hopefully the fog will lift by evening for a great sunset as it has most days.  If not, we will be on the coast for at least another week so plenty of good opportunities.

Tomorrow we go south to Sunset Bay State Park near Charleston, OR (Coos Bay).

Tillamook, OR then to the beach

This morning when we got up and moving (again about 8am) it was foggy with a little mist. Our friends had suggested going to the Blue Heron French Cheese Company in Tillamook for their selection of Brie cheese.  We had been to the Tillamook plant before and really didn't need any cheese that we could buy in most grocery stores.  Not ones to pass up good Brie we were off to town.

In a building next to the Cheese Company store was a gallery of various art works. Everything was very nice with comparable prices.  One intricate metal sculpture of a Blue Heron was $4000.00 but for the number of hours that went into it the price was probably reasonable, that is if you had a desire for a Blue Heron sculpture.

For some reason Linda wanted a picture of me by the Pepsi truck.  At least it is a nice looking truck.

We sampled their Brie cheeses; traditional Brie, smoked Brie and pepper Brie. We bought the smoked and pepper as well as a baguette to put the Brie on.  When we asked if they still make the cheese on site the woman said no as the market was greater than the plants capacity.  It is now made for them on contract by a company in Stockton.  We drive 600+ miles and buy cheese that is made 50 miles from home.

Next it was what Linda enjoys doing on all of our trips, quilt shops and related places.  Per Linda:  Knowing how much I enjoy anything quilt related, a friend had mentioned the Latimer Quilt and Textile Center.  The museum is housed in an old schoolhouse, which was in use from the late 1800's until 1959.  It contains quilts from as early as 1859 that have been loaned to the center.  It also sells reprints of old fabrics and other items.  There is a wide selection of yarn as well.  One room is devoted to looms where people are learning the art of weaving.  All in all, it is well worth the visit if you are a fan of any of the textile arts.

I've been in a number of quilt shops with Linda but pink ones are a bit too much.  Per Linda: This was called Jane's Fabric Patch on Main Avenue in Tillamook.  Amazing how much can be crammed into a small house.  They had a little bit of everything.

After lunch which included some of the great Brie we took a long walk (about 2 miles RT) on the beach at the campground as the fog was lifting.

This is the sand berm that protects the campground from the sea.  There are signs that indicate Tsunami evacuation routes but if it were a large one I don't think these would do much good.

Sadie said it has been too long since she was able to run on the beach and she loved it.

We came across these wind blown souls on our walk.

Linda and Sadie heading back.

The day was capped off with a great dinner provided by our friends.

Hike on Cape Lookout Trail

We woke to a beautiful sunny day with clear sky and no fog on the horizon.  OK so it was almost 8 am but we enjoyed sleeping in.

The plan for today was to hike the Cape Lookout Trail which is 4.8 miles round trip with some tough stretches climbing over and through the roots in the trail.  There are some muddy spots but some have short boardwalks to get around the mud.  We made it about 1 3/4 miles out when our friends which covered the trail faster than we could were coming back to meet us.  They got to a spot where the mud was over ankle deep with no route around.  Much of the trail is on the edge of cliffs so it is the trail or over the edge.   So all decided it was much better to return to the trial head.

From the trail looking south to Sand Lake in the far distance.

This is looking north from the trail.

Looking north towards Cape Meares (top right)_

Sunsets on Cape Lookout beach.

Tomorrow we plan to spend some time on the beach and let the dogs run.  Next we may go into Tillamook in the afternoon.  The nice weather is supposed to continue for the rest of the week.  As I said before, the is the best time of year for the good weather on the coast.