Oregon Coast and on to California

Still on the Oregon coast, spent a day checking the sights of Newport, watched people crabbing off the pier, collected driftwood and seashell fossils on the beach and had clam chowder & fish and chips at Newport Café. Finished the day with a long walk on the beach where it, of course, began to rain and blow so we returned to the RV soaked and sandblasted. Found out that there had been 2 tornados not far north of us; luckily we just got the wind. Spent the next day storm watching, couldn’t travel due to wind warnings.

We left Oct. 16 to continue our journey southbound, first stop at Heceta Lighthouse viewpoint where we were excited to see sea lions in the ocean 280 ft below us – and you could hear them barking that far away. We passed Bandon, Oregon’s cranberry capital, and fields/bogs of cranberry bushes.

sea lions, 280 ft. below us

cranberry bog

one of many tsunami warning signs

 We stopped for 2 nights in Gold Beach, parked on the street as we are too cheap to park in an RV park when we don’t need to. Saw many flocks of Canada Geese flying south along the coast. Drove to see one of the oldest Myrtlewood trees, 88 ft. tall, 42 ft. circumference, trunk about 400 years old! Checked out a Myrtlewood factory and store, beautiful things for sale.  Saw some wild turkeys and of course collected more driftwood and interesting agates and beach rocks.

Myrtlewood tree

Left Oregon and travelled briefly in California to a casino in Smith River – good safe place to park and we found coupons in a pamphlet advertising $20 free play in the casino! Spent time on the beaches, hopefully Robin has learned to never turn your back on the ocean – a wave snuck up on him so he jumped up onto a large driftwood log but the wave was too big and caught him above his knees. He dropped like a rock and was completely dunked. Scary for him, a bit entertaining for me once I knew he was OK!

 

Robin, soaking wet!

Found an interesting antique mall and scored quite a find – I love malachite (green swirly gemstone) and I purchased a lovely heart shaped box for $14, quite a steal! Visited a Farmers Market and collected ideas for several new crafts to make.

my Malachite box

Visited Crescent City and were directed to a spectacular, breath-taking drive – the Jedediah Smith Redwoods. A dirt road through a dense forest of 2000 year old, massive redwood trees! Pictures don’t do it justice, definitely a highlight so far. Stopped at the Klamath River overlook where sometimes gray whales are seen feeding, but no luck for us – we will wait to see them on the Baja.

a very large redwood tree & us

Spent an evening listening to the final Hilary/Trump debate, surprisingly there are very few election signs to be seen. Not sure if we want to be in the US come Election Day.

Continuing south, drove through Bigfoot country; no sightings and stopped at the last beach that we will see for a while. Drove through more Redwoods, impressive but not as “up close” as the dirt road drive. Spent a night at another casino, only $10 free play here, again, we are no richer – but the weather finally got nice, 20C in the afternoon!

black oystercatchers

October 21 took us quite a ways south, through Lake Country, crossing the mountains, then into miles and miles of vineyards, orchards and cropland. We stopped to pick up some huge pine cones but when a big black & red spider crawled out of one they got left behind! Diesel is a bit more expensive here, $2.89/gallon but beer is about $1 per bottle! When we stopped to refuel we were surprised by the TV screen on the front of the gas pump – displaying clips from MSNBC & the weather! And we actually complained to each other about the temperature – 84F!!! Finally!!! But the butter still hasn’t melted.

miles and miles of orchards

 And the journey continues.