Started out yesterday morning (Tuesday) feeling right at home when we stocked up our cooler at a Trader Joe's in Eugene, OR, then on to the coast of Oregon. What a view along the coastal Hwy 101. We made our first coastal stop at the famous Heceta Head Lighthouse.
We hiked up and got a tour of the most photographed lighthouse in the US.
Going on up the coast there were many state parks and viewpoints to experience (even a few cheesy touristy towns along the way).
We stopped for the night in Newport, OR at a very quaint mom and pop motel (very old...not even any three prong plugs in the room) that was a walk to the beach. We ate a great dinner at the Rogue brewery (don't worry, Ky was just sad in the photo because she wasn't able to order all of the beers available).
Ky woke this morning shivering from the cold of OR with a smile on her face....wooooohoooo...cold weather rocks sprang from her lips :o]
Newport is the home of a great Ocean Aquarium. There was a special exhibit...Oddwater...for us to see this morning. Ky and CY fit right in!!!
Next, we ate our way up the coast of OR. First for lunch was the "best clam chowder in OR" at Mo's. The afternoon snack took place at Tillamook's Cheese Factory and Creamery, a farmer owned and operated establishment for over 100 years. After our self guided tour we had some fabulous ice cream and Ky got some of her squeeky cheese for the road. The next stop was Barnacle Bills Seafood Store for the "Best Smoked Sturgeon"...it really must be the best because there was no smoked sturgeon to be seen...our AAA book was after all a bit outdated, so we settled for smoked salmon... fabulous stuff!!! Dinner was spent in "The Wet Dog Cafe and Brewery" overlooking the mouth of the Columbia River and Pacific Ocean in Astoria, OR.
Tomorrow Ky crosses this bridge to WA (the longest continuous 3 span, through-truss bridge in the world...4 miles in length) to begin the next chapter of her life....
Look out WA...once Ky crosses your bridge tomorrow you'll never be the same! Hide the beer :o]
The OR coast, especially plus/minus 30 miles of Newport, is where I took g'ma and g'pa when I visited. Stayed in Yachats several times, ditto Beachside state park just south of Waldport. Camping literally just feet (maybe 50) from high tide. And pleasantly cool, with the ocean breeze!
ReplyDeleteNewport is where Vy and I sailed in the America's Cup racing boat. Nice memories it conjures for me.
Gotta play my surf sounds CD!
Mmmm....beeerr!!
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