Aug 25th
We left Waldport today after spending 4 nights there. It rained most of the day on Sun. so we didn’t go to spot the whale; instead we toured the two lighthouses of Newport. One has been closed since 1874, it only operated for 3 years because of the location the light was not as visible as it needed to be, so they built another one a few miles north and it is still working. We climbed the 110 steps to the top to see the Fresnel lens flash two seconds on, two seconds off, two seconds on and fourteen seconds off then repeats it signature. These were called Yaquina Bay and Yaquina Point Lighthouses.
We also learned about the Bridges that we’ve been crossing coming down highway 101.
They are spectacular and most of them were designed by Conde B McCullouch and built from 1927- 1936. Oregon is paying special attention to them to preserve them; everything out here near the sea really takes a beating! We ate on the dock again, this time at Rouge brewery where we both had Halibut.
This morning we moved south about 30 miles to Florence to Sutton National Recreation area. The campsites here are wooded and we are about ½ mile from the shore. We have electricity but no water or sewer. I guess we’ll see if we can make it for 8 nights. We didn’t want to move with Labor Day coming up as we were afraid we wouldn’t be able to find a campsite, and it won’t be hard to take 8 days on the beach! This Golden Pass is the best thing about getting old, only $12.00 a night.
This part of the shore changes drastically. We have gone from rocks to sand dunes. After we arrived here today we went north again to perpetua point, We were lucky to be there while there were several gray whales spouting, and we had the perfect view point!
26th
Again today we traveled north back up to Perpetua Point, We had seen a shiny airstream parked in a campground along the ocean, and it looked like the one we have just purchased (after the rehab, of course), Norm wanted to see inside so we were looking for the owners, we found them, a very nice couple with 2 girls from Portland. It was a 26’ and ours is a 22’. After the tour, which gave me a smidgen of hope, we went to the tide pools at Perpetua. It was a high low tide so we didn’t get to see as much as we had the times at seal rock, but we still saw lots of star fish and some sea anomies. More great views and home to Casey’s coach.
27th
We woke up to rain again, but it cleared and got beautiful in the afternoon. We spent the day at the sand dunes on the beach. What a change in beach.
28th
Today we headed south 60 -70 miles to Coos Bay. Rt101 breaks away from the coast between Florence and Coos Bay, and the area next to the ocean is Oregon Dunes National Recreation Area. Going south we stopped at Winchester Bay where the Umpqua River flows into the ocean. There are lots of RV sites all around the harbor. From there we continued to Coos Bay. We found the ocean loop which was just delightful. We’ve never seen so many sea lions and seals. Norm guessed there were at least 1000!
29th
Today looked like the perfect beach day, so we decided to spend a day just soaking in the sun, but Oregon weather can change in an instant and when we got there the mist was so thick you couldn’t see the water for low clouds or mist. The breeze was cold too! Inland it was sunny. We went to watch the sand dune buggies climb the dunes.
The firat picture is of our new trailer. and the second of the older lighthouse at Newport.
Hope all is well with you. the summer has flown by, can;t beleave it's Labor Day weekend. Lois