Wednesday - Oct 21 - Newport - Depot Bay - Lincoln City - Highway 18 North - McMinnville - Newburg - Tualatin - Tigard - Portland - Chehalis-WA - Home in Kenmore

430am - up and awake here in the Walmart parking lot. 

Saw a Walgreen's sign that said: "Fun or Snack Size Candy". I figure the fun candy is for pelting your neighbors house when you have run out of toilet paper and the snack size is what you find in your lunch box at school.

Drove around a little, but everything is closed. So crashed again at 515am back at the parking lot outdoor hotel.

805am - up again. Went to Starbucks....got there at 815am.
Are you keeping up with me?
Did some photo editing. Left at 145pm.

Went looking around Newport.....again. Highway 101 through part of town is the main drag....and crowded this afternoon.

Drove over to 1702 Yaquina Bay Road to see that tall, big, green tank on the river's edge. I think it's natural gas in there. I'm thinking if that blew it might just take Newport with it. The seals would likely whisper after that.

NOAA ship here.

Explored more along SW Bay Blvd.

Waxworks is here.

Took a picture on SW 2nd St looking toward the Pacific Ocean. (NW side of the bridge) It gives an idea of the kind of housing, apartment and condo buildings in this area long with blown trees and a general wind and salt graying of every wooded structure.

Things Rich & Strange is here.....just in case you were wondering about that thing you saw in a mansion or in that house that hasn't yet taken down their Halloween decorations.

Drove out to the Nye Beach area on the northwest side of the bridge and highway. THIS area I could really get used to living in. It has a bit of character and that beachcomber culture. It's very cool here. The beach is relaxing and I'll bet hot in all the ways a beach can be in the summer. Even this house, as crooked as it actually is, fits right in with the Nye look: (this is a creative feel at home area)

This picture is of the Nye Beach area. Gosh, you can only do 20mph here. Bikes go the way where there is no bike shop. Chickens. What are ya gonna do?

The essence of everything Nye Beach is in this picture looking north from Nye Beach.

Love the audience of one in this picture. I wanna be that guy on that bench.

Here's a picture of the beach looking west from this seagull scene. I would never grow tired looking at the waves coming in here nor hearing them crash on the beach from morning through the night. Great view for watching folks on the beach. These two look like they are clamming with their white buckets.

The housing here is like a compact Aptos, California of a beach cottages kind of place. Love it here. Reminds me of pictures I've seen of Martha Vineyard, places in Maine along the Atlantic Ocean, and cottage communities of the San Juan Islands in the state of Washington.

In the north end of Newport on NW Coast Way at the corner of NW 1st St is this beautiful Victorian style home with the longest chimney I've ever seen for a private home. And sure....it could be holding up the house. Santa would have a long way to go to get presents in their living room.

The whole Nye area has that coastal weathered wood thing going on. Love it here. Didn't I say that? I'm saying it a lot: Love it here.

On SW Bay Blvd. up along the river, north end of the bridge, are the Undersea Gardens. Wouldn't mind checking that out sometime.

East side and south end of the bridge over the river is bunches of cool places. There is what looks like a storage area where each aisle street is dressed up as storefronts where pirates go shopping. It's called "Aquarium Village". See the pictures below:

The village is all part of the Pirates Plunder Mall.

A little north from the village is the Oregon Coast Aquarium. Next trip I plan on taking a closer look here and going to the aquarium too.

Between the bridge and the aquarium....well, of course, you have to have a brewery for the pirates: Roque Brewery & Pub & Distillery.

Oh, yes...here's a picture of the bridge.....I wonder where the bouncing white ball is and what lyric I'm supposed to be singing. Or maybe there is a slinky nearby or this is a super ball roller coaster.

Still north tho at the edge of the river is the rather large campus of the Hatfield Marine Science Center. And nearby is the NOAA Marine Operations Center. Given the marine science center in Charleston and the ones here the Oregon coast must be a marine biologists' haven for study of the coast and the inland estuaries.

Not to mention Newport has an awesome harbor full of both cabin cruising and sailboat craft.

The Nordic Tug in front in red is one of my favorite boats!

The beaches here are awesome....sand that says come bring your bare feet here and bring your dune buggies.

Need a kite ....there is The Kite Company here. You'll have long stretches of beach to fly whatever you want to keep it high in the air.

The Yaquina Bay oysters I had at Mo's here on the wharf stripp on the north end of the bridge were to die for. Gosh I wish I could get those in Seattle. The farm is a ways down the river - The Oregon Oyster Farm - the state's oldest and still local farm. I'd like to visit the next time I am here.

The youth outreach company Shangri-La is building a facility in the north end of town. They have facilities in other Oregon coastal cities. A good thing for the struggling and vulnerable kids in these towns.

There are a lot of nice little old houses on the north end. Really enjoy driving around looking at them.

I drove up into a neighborhood where homes there have a view of the ocean. The homes are pretty weathered by the salt air. On Spring Street there is a house with a lighthouse mailbox no doubt to be their mini-Yaquina Head lighthouse that is just northwest from this location.

And here is another picture of a home on NW Spring Street that has that Nantucket weathered look as part of the design of a newer home style.

This area of homes, in the north end of Newport, is a lot like the saltwater weathered and worn are of Carmel and Monterey shoreline neighborhoods in California. Here's a view of Yaquina Head in the distance from NW Ocean View Drive and one zooming in on the Head.

320pm - Heading north on the coastal highway, skipping a visit to Yaquina Head park, but not before stopping on NW Agate Way to grab a picture of the beach and waves at the end of a dead end street. (The picture is edited to bring out the waves even tho this was taken mid-afternoon.)

On the same street were these multi-colored apartments....

A lot of the businesses I saw on the highway included HVAC services, construction trades, the typical city stuff, car dealers, retail stores, breweries, fishing, movie theatres, etc. So there's of trades and living support here in Newport.

Depoe Bay sign came up and said it's nine miles north and that Lincoln City is twenty-four miles.

The beaches near Moolack Shores resort are 'sandy beach' gorgeous of long distance open beach.

Drove up past the Otter Rock area. Didn't stop by the small lighthouse there as in previous coastal road trips. There is a beautiful resort there in Otter Rock that would be fun to stay in sometime - Inn at Otter Crest.

340pm - Entered into Depoe Bay.  Drove over to the harbor side and took a picture of it.

Most of the boats are fishing boats. To get out to the ocean they have to pass through this tight small width s-curved path under this bridge to get to the ocean (lower left in the picture). It's easier to get out of the harbor and far harder to get back in so boaters don't crash their boats on the rocks. The trick is to center their boat in the channel on a wave that pushes it in just right to make it to the safety of the harbor. It's harder in bad weather and when there are big swells.

Lots of good places to eat here. Depoe Bay would be fun to come to if one lived in Newport. The US Coast Guard Lifeboat Station is here. I took some time to drive around Depot Bay. When I was at the harbor I had to use the restroom there, but when I opened the door for the men's side there was a senior aged lady in there. I quickly closed the door and later apologized to her. She said - 'oh don't worry about it, we're all older now.' I laughed with her about the incident. She too was traveling the coast.

Looking into the Depot Bay Winery wine tasting place the ceiling was covered in hanging one dollar bills! I think if you can throw a dollar bill toward the ceiling and it sticks you should get a free bottle of wine.

Took a picture of the ocean side beach bluffs here. They look like they were made by the laying down of a giant's hand.

I also took a picture of the main drag in Depot Bay.

There is an amazing amount of lava flow all along the Oregon Coast as you see above. I really don't know where it comes from. It's not like there are volcanos here, but apparently, according to geologists, lava flowed to the coast from as far as Yellowstone and closer from volcanos in the Cascades mountain range.

It was a bit overcast here in Depot....a little after 4pm.

There be whale watching here, some stores, lodges, a Thriftway grocery store, and the Depoe Bakery. Depot Bay looks to make it on fishing and tourism while many work in Newport or north in Lincoln City.

Drove up past Lincoln Beach and past the ever growing Salishan Resort. Need to explore that next time. The guy who put this in place is the same guy who put Sunriver together: John Grey.

421pm - Entered Lincoln City. 

West of Hwy 101 in Siletz Bay just before the mouth of Schooner Creek are these rocks sticking up with trees on them. Oddest thing really. Just past the bridge over the creek is the Siletz Bay Park where I parked, during construction of the hotel there, to see these rocks eroding away every so slowly by the shallow bay waters.

Wandered over to see a favorite Mo's on SW 51st Street....tho for as many times as I have been to seeing the place I still have not been there, but I've heard the best of Mo's clam chowder is served here.

Bumming on the beach....yep....Lincoln City has a thrift store for ya: Beach Bum Thrift on Hwy 101. And near by the thrift store is this beautiful turret home on SW Beach Avenue:

There's a community stage place here called "Theatre West". So cool!!

And, oh look....there's an independent bookstore here.

There's also an Outlet Mall. If you live between Florence and Newport you come here to the outlets in Lincoln City instead of going through the mountains to Corvalis or Eugene.

Charter Cable ...and here I thought this was an east coast gig.

Goodwill is here. So is AT&T.

Seems to be plenty of good things here.

Got a craving for snacks? No worry, there's a Snack Attack place here for ya.

The world's shortest river is here: D River.

There's a cultural center here and then there is this place: THE RED COCK. 'Oh for crying out loud it's a gift store !!' If you were thinking something else well you can go to the Nauti Mermaids Bar and Bistro.

Pacific Wave Resource Center? It's a marijuana shop. Who knew?!

Gotta come back here sometime and just explore all the cute little houses here. I really love what people do to create them and add to landscaping and design of their yards.

There is the quaint place to stay called the Beachfront Garden Inn and it's on the water.

Lots of shopping areas here.

Lincoln City is also home to kite flying contests on the beaches here. I used to come to them when I lived in the 80s in Portland, OR.

5:01pm - Decided I would like to go home. As much as I enjoy driving and exploring I was getting a bit homesick for the first time in my life. Saw a sign that it was 89 miles to Portland and about 160 miles to home. So I got onto Hwy 18 to head back inland. Passed the sign that McMinnville was 44 miles away.

1754-miles so far on this trip.

Drove by Widow Creek. Not really sure there was a creek.

Sidenote:  I'm living alongside a whole new generation who thinks texting is just another kind of email.

Stopped at Spirit Mountain Casino Shell station to get some gas, but it wasn't open.

Just passed the sign for the turn-off that goes to Amity and Salem (sign in the Bellevue area).

Passed the Lawrence Gallery. They are having a Salvador Dali show there. He's one of my favorite artists.

5:56pm - Entered McMinnville. 1796-miles so far.  Stopped at a Mobil station to get gas: 9.96gallons, 2.35/gal.

Ate some sandwiches at Burger King. This is the same place I ate at when I was on my way down 18 and off to Salem at the beginning of this trip. Great place.

Called my girl Carol to let her know that I was on my way home.

6:39pm - leaving McMinnville.

Drove by a business with the coolest sign: Goo Roo Designs. Learned later they are a smoke and headshop who makes custom glass if that's your thing. Highly rated.

On my way now to Newberg. 

Drove by a dog and cat inn called "Tail Wag Inn". I guess if you don't have a tail you aren't getting in.

Drove by Tina's ....turns out that's a fine dining place and has quite the menu of expensive good eats.

7pm - Entered Newberg.  - would like to explore more here sometime. It's changed quite a bit from when I lived in Oregon back in the mid-80s. Tried to look for Mr. Miller's old house. He was like a grandfather to me when I lived in Tualatin, OR. We went to the same church together and I had spent a bit of time with him. I really drove around a lot to try to find that house, but I don't think it was there anymore. Maybe someone had bought the property and tore it down to build something new. It was night time when I was looking ....so maybe it would be better to attempt it during daylight on another trip. Mr. Miller has a kind of grass growing on his property that the University of Oregon has never seen anywhere else in the world. Mr. Miller also loaded his own bullets - was quite knowledgeable about them and guns in general. He had been a gardener all his life. He was quite the person to talk to about Christian things and bible verses. I had always enjoyed by time with him at church, him showing me things at his house and going grocery shopping with him. He has long since passed on. I could feel his energy and our time together when visiting around the area where he lived ...on this trip.

Drove by a bookstore called "Chapters Books". Love that name.

Drove by a buffet called "99 Pounds Buffet" - Japanese and Chinese. Learned later it has closed down. It's a Black Bear restaurant now.

Entered Sherwood. This is a place I used to come down through here to get to Newburg when I lived in Tualatin. I hardly recognized, but that might be because it was dark when I drove through here.

Took the turn-off at Sherwood to go to Tualatin. I used to live in Tualatin in the mid-80s. Great place to live. I really enjoyed by time living there.

Downtown Tualatin has really exploded - it's very different from what I remember. Drove my my old apartment there at Rolling Hills Apartments. It's become a bit trashy these days. Too bad. Was a great place to live. I had a studio with separate 1-bedroom as they called that back then.

Tualatin has become southern Californized. They have an open mall area similar to the one in Tigard near I-5. In Tualatin mall shopping area there is a statue of an elephant. Seems inappropriate, but perhaps it's owned by someone in India where that might be of importance. It just didn't fit. I didn't like seeing it there. There is nothing elephanty about Tualatin. What Tualatin is famous for are crawdads since they can be fished out of the Tualatin River and that Tualatin has a Crawday Festival each year. So there should have been a statue of a crawdad there.

The topless place I enjoyed going to called "Giggles" is gone. Oh so many memories there. It was there in 2010.

Ah, but there is Dick's Sporting Goods nearby. It's 'home for big truckers owners'.....yea, the sign out front says that.

Driving on I-5 there is just too much space between cars. I think I should give out 'less than capacity' tickets.

In the Bridgeport/Tigard area is an open mall like those I saw in Los Angeles and in San Diego. Drove up to Washington Square shopping area and Powells Bookstore where I went all the time when I lived down here and Fuddruckers burger joint that I loved to eat at are both gone. The mall area here is totally different and yuppied up a bit on steroids.

8:38pm - Stopped at ate at an old kind of restaurant that I loved to eat at when I lived here - Bannings. And it was really, really good ....as I remember. They are open 24 hours. Just awesome food and good waiting. They really take good care of their customers. Left about 950pm and started the long trek home.

The Portland skyline....it's always been good and STILL IS !!

10:25pm - Left Portland area and crossed the border into Washington. I have to say tho that I still miss living in the Portland area despite the changes. So I hope to come back some time.

Pretty dark now driving north and through the deader than the desert at night segments of the trip.

11:34pm - Stopped at Love's truck stop just before Chehalis to take a nap. Woke up at 117am to get back on the freeway to head home. 

3:02am - Took the Lake City turnoff from I-5.

3:15am - made it home. Yay!! Did 2036-miles on this trip. Really glad to be home! Oh, but this trip was everything awesome. Thank you so much to my friend Mary for making this happen.

End Note: 
I didn't write much after leaving Lincoln City, OR as it was dark by the time I reached the Amity sign area and into McMinnville. I wiggled my way into Tualatin, got something to eat at Bannings and took off for home up I-5. There are so many places I want to come back to now, so many places I saw that I loved, so many places that now have memory markers laid in so I can experience that emotion that happens when you know you've been there before. I look forward to that....a lot!

I'll probably do some updates on this trip blog so look for that.

End of Trip Blog

Tuesday - Oct 20 - Coos Bay - Charleston - Coos Bay - North Bend - Oregon Dunes - Winchester Bay - Reedsport - Woahink Lake - Florence - Devil's Churn - Waldport - Newport

Up at about 830am....slept pretty good this time. Not as cold either as on other nights.

Looking to be a nice day. Clean air here. Feels like a good airy morning just stretching here by the car trying to wake up.

Looks to be a lot of nice looking women on this coastline...busty, cute, outdoorsy....hidden away gems you only read about. Proves the best of gals are in the small towns.

Stuck around McD's editing photos, checking the map. Left about 1222pm. Took my usual routine of meds, changed socks.

Warm day today. Clouds, but not rainy.

Nice apartments by Big Lots.

So in the shopping area where Big Lots is....there's this sign at the pulling-in area to the parking lot that says "No Parking". Go figure.

Seems to be enough little businesses here. Feels like a Bellingham size kind of town.

Took a picture from the Cape Arago Highway/Grinnell Lane area looking southwest (great view from there) toward the inlet that's the entry from the ocean into the waterways around Coos Bay. Must have been low tide.

It's just gorgeous here.

I found Charleston is pretty nice area in the daytime. Has that seafood salty smell in the air.....love that. There is RV repair here. Gives that idea you live on the beach in your RV for 14 days....then go for a ride for a day and return for another 14-days. And there are other RV places here to stay in too.

Took this picture of the roadway along the OSU Marine Biology research center.

Took this picture of Captain John's Motel....figured I should have a motel in my name.

Went to Coos Head. Took this picture from there looking into the inside waterways looking north.

This next picture from Coos Head is looking directly at the inlet and the beaches on the north side of the jetty.

It's such a beautiful and almost surreal area here. Looking along the beaches the waves and all.....could see this for miles that feels like it just goes forever. I'm very happy being here.

There is that sort of 'New England small fishing town along the coast' feeling to this area. I like that.

The people who live here I think are lucky because they can have a view of the inlet waterways and the ocean and retire here easily. It's a very sustaining sort of place. Everything you need is here or certainly not too far away.

There's a store here called "His Junk & Her Treasures".

The K&K place is here in the Barview area that makes and sells guitar pickups....quite good ones.

Population in Coos Bay is 16,000.

There is a bit of traffic for the daily grind here tho nothing like the big cities, but I'm sure folks here get their own kind of tired of it.

I'm betting it's pretty inexpensive to live here.

There's a big Safeway here and the usual kind of retailers.

Doesn't appear to be anything like a mall here. That's ok.

There's a spot on my left knee a little down from the right of it that hurts when I put pressure on it. Feels like bone on bone. I think a lot of this is from the foot problems I am having and having to sleep in my car and being on the road driving. But it bothers me. It could be the cold too.

236pm....going to start driving north toward Florence.

Coos Bay is an old town. Nice bridges here tho....old metal bridges with high spires and swooping saddle design between them. Love that. Majestic. That's what the bridge is like when leaving North Bend going north.

I'd like to come back and explore this North Bend area more. It's funky.

Entered the Oregon Dunes area where the sandy dunes are to the left and so close to the freeway, hilly and rolling. I remember years ago in another road trip that I had stopped to explore them.

Coos Bay is a great place to have a small boat, go fishing and just to relax and settle down in.

I need to remember that what I've done is better to focus on then what I have not.

Love these lakes along the freeway that I've been passing. One is called Saunders Lake. Flashing through my mind is that idea of having my own private pier and a small boat on such a lake. I rather like that idea.

So glad I came to the coast. Today's weather is just awesome.

Love these ocean wind blown trees.

Clear Lake is wooded and just way too beautiful.

Decided to go see this Salmon Harbor at Winchester Bay. It's a little pocket kind of place. Big harbor tho really. A bit of RVs here. There is an inlet from the ocean. You can catch crab here off the crab dock. There are pleasure boats on one side and fishing vessels on the other.

Took a pic of a wood sculpture of a man baiting a fish from a pier. I should just tell all my friends it was carved from one piece of wood.

Tiny area. It does have a market.

323pm I hit Reedsport. I like it better, I think, than Coos Bay. Sense of home....like a place a person grows up in and then leaves and later in life returns to retire in. It's quaint here, inland and protected some with good access to the ocean when one wants to get there.

On a small island west of the freeway just north of Reedsport is the Fred Wahl Marine Construction Company that builds some very nice big commercial boats. Check them out here: http://www.fredwahlmarine.com/ . I suspect they are Reedsport's big non-government employer.

On Laurel Ave off Highway Ave is the little dinky house loaded with Halloween decorations. It was awesome....including the Dead Terrorist! I think the owners thought if the monsters wouldn't get ya that their barking little dogs would....cute critters too!

On my way over to take this picture above I had dropped my camera on the pavement. It still works thos thankfully. The battery door on it doesn't close as well, but it's ok....it closes enough as long as I don't hit it much because then it opens, the camera shuts off and the batteries fall out. The lens is ok, no breaks to the screen on the back and all the auto functions work.

There's a bit of wood art here.

Downtown Reedsport is east of the freeway. There is a Les Schwab here, Safeway, McD's, Subway. And I am betting it's cheap to live here. Not everything one needs is here, but Coos Bay south and Florence north are both about 30 minutes away.

The Winchester Bay wood thing of the fisherman on a pier is made here.

The Umqua River flows through here. Like that.

Started back to going north.

Entered Gardiner area. There is a terraced cemetery here on the Old Highway 101 off the latest one.

There's the Tsunami Gallery here.

The Tahkenitch Lake is alongside the road here along with small boats and small housing too. On the map it is huge. Would love to come explore it more another time.

One of the things that I love about the Oregon coastline are all the fresh water lakes along it.

The incredibly awesome and beautiful Oregon Dunes are in this area. In another trip I walked on part of them. Love the sand on them.

Forget the phone book when looking for a massage.....find this sign: "Adopt a Hiway by Barefoot Massage by Debi". It's near Dunes City.

Came up on Woahink Lake....downright beautiful! Took a picture alongside the freeway with my traveling pets Miss Dolphin and Mr. Lobster.

Yes, here they are looking at you. Don't tell them this....they're lovers, but that's a private matter. They won't tell you anything.

Here's the lake in all it's glory! My favorite of lakes along this coast trip.

Drove by Honeymoon State Park. Sorry Virginia, but the Oregon Coastline is for lovers. The road west off the freeway to the park leads to Cleawox Lake and on one side of that lake the Oregon Dunes drops all the way to its edge. Has to be one fun place to fish, swim, and boat....or just to relax.

As I was coming into the Florence area and just before the bridge into the town area there is this sign: "Our Lady of the Dunes" - a Catholic church - St. Mary's. Forget the Hail. She'll get you with her holy sand!

Before crossing the bridge I drove down Glenada Road eastward and took a picture from the ever-so-small Prichard Wayside Park (a state park) of the Siuslaw River and the marina on the other side in Florence. I have no idea if that is a frisbee or ball of unlit light in that cut-off tree there down from right center of the picture. Perhaps it is an orb or a missing song pong ball.

Here in Florence to the west of town you can see the Oregon Dunes high and sandy in all it's beauty.

There is a powerful flow of inviting and good energy here. Love how it makes me feel. I think I could make the choice to live here in a heartbeat. And there are my kind of gals here...shapely in all the right places. The florist at the local Safeway....short, cute, red hair, and oh so ball shaped sexy breasts nicely packaged in all her clothing. I think I almost froze in awe there.

Regular gas here is $1.99 to $2.05 a gallon. You can get to Eugene by taking highway 126 east if you need to do serious shopping. It's 59 miles away. There is more shopping too in Newport about 50 miles north.

Another, tho older, cute busty gal down by the marina.

The marina area reminds me of the Aptos beach area in California.

Town is a lot like that cute they have in Pismo Beach, California.

Even tho Florence sits on the Siuslaw River....the feeling is that the view here is about as good as the close-by ocean that is no too far away. A protected area from being on the beach, but where getting to the beach is a stone's throw away. The Oregon Dunes stretches from the Coos Bay area to here in Florence. So lots to do and the lakes along the freeway make this place a recreational paradise.

I find Florence to be a magical place. I have visited here many times in my past and always found it to be my favorite place along the coast. That magic has never dwindled each time coming here.

Definitely a place for fantasy when you see this flying dragon here at Premier Landscaping on Quince Street.....and a ghoul missing his nylons.

The historic Florence is along the north side of the Siuslaw river.

West of the freeway I took this picture looking southwest across the river to the dunes that come down to the shoreline of the river. Here are some of the pilings too. I call this picture "The Twelve Pilings of Florence". Looking between them to the dunes....there is a bit of that flow and magic I can feel here.

Just remembered that there is a place in Coos Bay called Fish and Pets.

Fred Meyers is here.

505pm - going now to Newport. 

Decided to skip eating at the famous Moe's here who makes the best clam chowder on the planet ....as I remember anyway.

Overall, I think Florence would be nice to live in, but as with other coastal towns hard to make a living here. Over the years of visiting this place tho....I have always loved being here. So there is a bit of a draw. Living in a place tho like this with relatively easy access to somewhere bigger is nice. This sort of idea worked well living in the various smaller towns in the Portland OR and Seattle WA areas.

I do prefer the upper middle class areas tho like that of Bend OR, Ashland OR, Boulder and Estes Park CO. McMinnville Or was nice too. Tho I do wonder if I could make it in a small town since they tend to have the artsy down home crowds and lots of recreational activities about. Do I visit these places or should I live in them? It's always a toss up. Realistically, I love the access whether bigger place to smaller or vice versa. It's a discussion that seems to flow through my head every time I visit here and other similar places.

C&M Stables Horse Rides to the beach is here.

Bones from Star Trek didn't die. He came here to Florence and opened Bones Nursery.

The best view of miles of beach and ocean waves can be had there at Soundview Lane just off the freeway. It's incredible. I didn't grab a picture of it, but you can see it on Google Maps.

Drove by the Sea Lion Caves area. Driving up to here there had been a lot of road work going on. I'm finally pass that point. Got past the Hecata lighthouse area. I've been there and the beach by it. It's beautiful there. Very picturesque. And the beach is awesome to relax on.

539pm now. This trip from Florence to Newport proves to be the most beautiful along the coastline here.

Drove past Ocean Haven....cool, small resort house. It has a tiny house behind it that's my kind of place with the ultimate view of the ocean. Later got up to Stonefield Beach. Very nice beach. The Oregon coastline is loaded with this beautiful white sand.

Drove past the Seaquest Inn Bed and Breakfast. There are lots of these along the coast. Sounds like a decent way to retire and have a little bit of business.

Drove past the Sea Perch RV Resort.

There are small cottages for sale at The SeeView Motel (not SeaView). The cottages look newer than what looks like the "Bates" motel. You gotta have somewhere to run to I guess.

I'm 18 miles north of downtown Florence and yet I am still in Florence.

Interesting lookout and area to hike around in and see a number of rock croppings along the beach here at the Strawberry Hill parking area. Later on there is Newport Park....not so rocky. It's at the mouth of a small creek....so there is some beach there.

Finally got to a place I have been too before: Devil's Churn. One of my favorite places. Powerful energy here...overwhelming!

Here is a picture of a churn area. Lots of lava rock like much of the coast here. This must have been a very active area at one time.

There is a parking area here, bathrooms, and lookout perches.

I parked in the top parking area, walked down some stairs to head to a lookout perch. Both my legs hurt so much from all the sleep and sleepless nights in my car in nightly temps lower than I had planned for, the extremely painful muscle cramps I would have whenever I moved wrong, and the plantar fasciitis I am suffering in both of my feet. After getting to the area just down the few stairs I stood there slightly bending my knees to manage the pain I was feeling and thinking if I couldn't ever drive again I wouldn't want to live anymore. I was in that much pain and anguish. I love driving my car and taking these road trips. I hoped I would heal. I pleaded and spoke out loud to my Guides and spirits to be with me, to enter my legs, my knees and into my shins and feet to work on healing them. I cried a little and started to fall apart emotionally inside. I remained silent for a bit. And after a bit of meditation I walked slowly to my right over to the lookout perch. There I marveled at the white bubbly water moving back and forth through the spaces between the lava rockery while in my deep thoughts, my strong need for care and for help to sooth my pain. I asked the Guides and spirits to please take away my pain. I spoke to the Dreamland Man for this moment to push away the hardships from the world upon me, to take away the pain and to work with the Guides and spirits to help and to care for me, to guide me the rest of the way on this trip. I waited for a bit. I hoped I would be relieved of these pains. I wanted to regain my faith to be able to enjoy driving and the rest of my trip.

Upon leaving Devil's Churn I no longer suffered leg pain and muscle cramps for the rest of the trip. My fasciitis was quite a bit less too. I was thankful for what the Guides and spirits and the Dreamland Man were able to do. The intense pain I felt was diminished enough that I could enjoy driving and the rest of my road trip toward home.

Devil's Churn is one of my favorite places. I consider it a powerful place where energy flows through me. I am strengthened by being there. And this part of my trip was one of the hardest on me to write about it. I feel this place and remember my pain there when I read this part of my blog.

I'm going to include a picture here from a past trip to Devil's Churn area looking south from a turnout on the left side of the roadway (driving north past the park).....it is one of my favorite pictures of this area. The park is located south of this location and further inward from the left side of this picture.

606pm - Arrived at Yachats. 

I always had this idea that this area was for writers and folks who wanted to be away from it all, that it was expensive to live here, that it was secluded and people here were private about their lives here. I don't actually know this really to be true, but I'm betting, like a small town, it takes some time for folks to open to newcomers here.

Lots of house here. I could see living here and working in Newport. The commute would be refreshing both ways. I don't think I would ever tire of it. I'd like to visit Yachats again, spend more time here, really explore it, talk to those who live here. There's a draw here.

Drove up 3rd Street and found this.....a little dark when I took the picture so the mostly white wall appeared more grey. It's an active club of ladies creating all sorts of events. Love this. Adds a bit of character in this way to Yachats unlike so many other places along the Oregon coast. So unique!

24 miles to Newport from Yachats.

Drove up into San Marine. The streets here are all named after states of the United States.

622pm - Finally came into the Waldport area. 

Took a picture of the sunset out over the ocean south of the bridge that's just before getting into the town of Waldport. I just happened to get reddish outlines to show on both sides and in front of the sun that lead up from the water to the clouds.

I also caught a picture of the bridge during this sunset as it lite up the arch, north and south sides and the "V" braces underneath the bridge. The bridge goes from Waldport on the south end to Bayshore to the north.

I love the sunsets on this coastline. I love what the colors do to the landscape. The Oregon coastline has never disappointed on any of the times I've road tripped up and down it. I always look forward to coming to explore the length of it and each of the towns along the highway.

In Waldport along the main highway is Whittler's Workshop and Made by the Beach up on Highway 34....two places I would like to visit when they are open.

Waldport is an artsy place with hidden treasures if you drive around it a bit and take in the detail.

Highway 34 here takes you to Corvallis if you need to do shopping or that you work out there and live here.

There's a Rays supermarket here, Ace Hardware, Alternative Pet - I guess for those who have something no one has seen before, and the fire department where "Burning is now open". I just wonder if that means I have to light on fire anything I litter.

Then there's the bridge at Alsea Bay. Seems to me that if one dresses up for Halloween and holds their lit litter ....the bridge would be a good place to do that....ya know like at night so everyone sees ya. Bring your fire department permission slip.

Seal Rock further north might not seem like much is there, but the beaches are to die for.....beautiful long sandy beaches.

644pm - Entered Newport. 

....tho it comes up later after passing the Airport area.

Car dealers here.

The OSU Hatfield Marine Science Center is here on the south end of the bridge.

It looks like there are over 500 pleasure crafts in the harbor here. Love that.

Downtown there is a historic inland river coast main street with lots to see and explore. I could spend lots of time here. This are is called the Bayfront District. One can hear seals barking here....I think they are under the piers. Ripley's is here, no really it really is. Trident fishing is here. The original Moe's is here - since 1946 - named after the grandmother of the owner.... Mohava.

Decided to eat at Moe's. I have eaten at the one in Florence. Moe's is the same as the clam chowder you buy in the stores. Had halibut, oysters, the Moe's cookie, cheesecake, the famous beans. My waiter was Manuel. He was quite good. The temp in the place was pretty darn cold. Yea....you have to have a special thermometer to get that temp....ya know....too damn cold, pretty darn cold, is that warmth I feel, that tiny reading you might miss 'I think it's getting warmer in here', it's a little hot, pretty darn hot, too damn hot. I splurged a bit, but enjoyed the experience of eating in the original Moe's. And the food...loved it tho the fish could of been less store bought looking. The oysters, cheesecake and the cookie were awesome.

Decided not to write at McD's....no power to hook up there.

830pm - Crashed at the Hotel Walmart north of town.

End of this day.

Monday - Oct 19 - Grants Pass - I-5 to Winston - Myrtle Point - Coquille - Bandon/101 Turn-off - W. Beaver Hill Road - Seven Devils Road - Charleston - Coos Bay

Up at 6 am and got out of the parking lot there at Walmart.

Drove down NE 6th Street (one way street) and just as I got past N F Street....there is a metal over-the-street structure that's rather interesting. It's laced with five pairs of red lights typical of those for a railway crossing. Between each pair are criss-cross white signs where they say "Rail Road" on one strip with a cross strip over it that says "Crossing". In addition, on the metal structure, there is a pair of lights on the lower left side and on the lower right side. Beyond the metal structure are the two crossing drop-down gates. Before you get to the structure there is an X in each lane and before those there is a yellow R & R sign on each side of the street in line with each other. I guess the city really wants you to get the message there is a railroad crossing coming up. Imagine how many accidents that took to get that many announcements put up!

Washed up at McDonald's, but didn't stay to work on my computer....no power there.

Stopped at Shari's and ate there and did some blogging. Didn't stay too long. Left at 855am.

For the most part.....as a self-sufficient and self-contained town that Grants Pass appears to be....a feature of it that I like....it's a bit out of date. It's a highway stop tho spread out a bit. Parts of it are artsy. However, it's not moving forward. And perhaps that's ok....because people can still come here and remember that what is still her was there pretty much or exactly as they remembered from long ago. THAT....I do like because so much has changed now in places I have lived in my past. If one were born and raised here....such could enjoy coming back to see their past. For those who don't like much change....Grants Pass would be perfect for building long term relationships with folks who live and work here. The vegetation here is wooded and plenty on plants. I like that. No matter what direction one could ride into Grants Pass....one would know they home. I like that.

At M Street near Grants Pass Highway is a rather interesting place where the sign there says "Gary Peterson" with a drawing of a cement truck on top. There I found colorful windmills you'd find on a farm, an orange caboose and an old green tractor and other old metal things. See the pictures below......

And just the windmills here.....

I love the eccentric and curio kind of things you find in small towns like Grants Pass that are landmark identifiers.

There are some timber and door products manufacturers here.

There are big stores like a Walmart, Big Lots, Target, Winco, a Dollar Store and even a Grocery Store Outlet here. They are closer to I-5. People come to shop here and then disappear into the older areas. I like that too.

Decided to see more of Grants Pass while it's light since I had arrived here last night.

Today is a work day and there isn't any traffic here....well, at least, not at all like Seattle.

I've seen four women here who look exactly like Bonnie....tho that dead-haven't-left look about them. It think that's because she wants me to know she's with me on my trip and just wants me to know she's around. She had passed recently and so seeing her around....I like that. Why she showed up here in Grants Pass I don't know. Perhaps she has been here before or she found me here.

Drove back into that neighborhood that had the house with the chandeliers in the tree and just roamed around that area. I like it there quite a bit....visited on 8th, 9th, and Mead streets....all this is in the northeast part of town. I also like the northwest part of town too where Washington and Savage cross each other. I would love to just walk these areas and take the time to take it all in. They are neighborhoods of older homes, older mature trees and filled with inviting good energy that refreshes me a bit....says to me 'stay awhile....we have a lot to show you'. I like that. I could used to living in an area like this.

Here are a few of the older homes.....some dressed up for Halloween.....

And this old and magnificent tree with its arms reaching out to all those who come to visit this old neighborhood to remember or carve out a place for themselves....or just to explore....

I love these neighborhoods. The speak of volumes of those who have experienced spending a great deal of time in them. There are memory markers here from all who have. There are faint images of those who have and continue to be living here.....throughout their ages.

I drove past some car dealerships.

It's a city of the past .....60s or older.

There are a number of what I would call worthless stores....the kind that begs the question of how in the world they stay in business. Tho perhaps at best they hold the memories of those who have come to visit them who had shopped their in the past.

Drove up past Rogue River that flows through this town and headed toward the freeway.

It's 957am....and I am leaving Grants Pass and getting on I-5 and going north.

I think I would like to explore Grants Pass a bit more. I find the area interesting and perhaps enough to consider living here.

It's raining today.

At the Hugo exit off 5 is Jump Off Joe Creek.

Got to the turn off for Sunny Valley. However, for today, it was raining.

Reached the Summit Hill Summit....yea, well that's what the sign said because you might be on Summit Hill, but not at the summit. Anyway, this summit is 1730-ft.

Later reached Stage Road Pass.....elevation 1838-ft. Must have run out of summit signs.

It's been raining cats and dogs all day.

Reached yet another summit tho its elevation is not marked. Must have run out of measurement tools.

Took the Winston turn-off.

Time for bathroom. There's a Love's here. Need to check the weather to determine if going to the coast from here is worth it. I made the decision to go anyway thinking that maybe it will be better despite the heavy rain here.

Went to McD's for eats for lunch. Couldn't get any phone reception here. Apparently, the sign builders didn't load this area with phone access. I did manage to get caught up on my blogging.

Wildlife Safari is here in Winston....so you don't have to go out to Africa anymore.

It's 302pm now.

On the way up to Winston on I-5 and after getting on to Highway 42 there be a lot of farmings and wood products going on.

After McD's I passed through Winston on my way toward Coos Bay with the intent to get to Charleston....a place I have wanted to see for a very long time.

I had decided to go the ocean figuring that I might just be lucky enough to not run into more rain and sure enough I didn't. As I headed west there was less to no rain. Tho I had thought I would have gone anyway just to see the coastline in wet, cold, dry whatever.

320pm - hit rain west of Tenmile. Might explain why there is this street: Suicide Creek Road.

Saw a lot of blue Jesus signs here.

Just past Camus (Valley) this road came up:  Hard Cash Lane. I mean if you didn't get the deed done on Suicide Creek Road you'd better have some hard cash with you....unless you pay here on your way to Suicide Creek Road.

Lots of different kinds of trees along the road here. It's like an infinity of gardens.

The Middle Fork Coquille River flows through this area.

So many changing colors of the flora here.....love that!

Came up to a place that must have had a lot of slides. The signs here said "Roadwork till Fall 2015'. And here it is October already and they are still working on it all.

Near Weeping Willow Lane is the Tour de Fronds....apparently (learned later) this is a famous Oregon bicycle event. I just thought someone spelled 'France' in a skewed french manner.

And it's raining again only it's like hail, but dropping down in the 'coming at your windshield' way like snow.

Started to come out of these low foothills into Myrtle Point. A bit of farming here....I decided to take a look around. It had been a long trek to get here from Winston. Many of the homes look to have been built in the late 1800s. So pretty many of them in all their detailed construction and painting schemes. A bit of an old and wet looking town even if it hadn't been raining as it was when I drove around in it.

The Myrtle Point Cemetery is near the end of a dead end street. I call that good planning.

There is a bit of a few identifiable neighborhoods here which I found interesting for such a small town. There is character here.....love that even tho it is the Halloween month. I say that because in some small Oregon towns their character only comes up during Halloween.....dressed up streets for the event, residents in the yard, at the windows or on the front porch.

There is a decent size grocery store here.

There is an actual downtown area along with VFW and Lion Clubs, three hardware stores, bunches of churches, a track, football field, a tax guy, a high school and stadium.

Took a pic of a blue house that I liked here on 7th Street near Willow Street.

Take notice of the finer details there above the front steps to the right of the house, the roofing above the windows, the coordinated and matching color schemes, the haunted looking curtains. I have to believe that at night if the air is just right that a few characters around town only come out at night. Halloween eve must be really well .....watch your back kind of place.

For as small as this town is....there's an OSU extension here. Where can I get my spotted owl meal?!

Got gas here.... $2.19 a gallon at the Myrtle 76 station. Interesting guy working there. Perhaps Greek....maybe has a restaurant here. Didn't ask. He had this 'been in this town and stuck here with kids' demeanor. Cool tho.

There's two car parts stores here and one tire place.

Across from the 76 station is the Railroad Avenue Station Restaurant.

Chase and Umqua have banks here.

And then there is the "Historic Norway Cemetry"! Guess if you can't bury Norwegians in Norway you can bring them out here.

445pm - on my way to Coquille. Spotty on the rain here.

In Coquille is the Bully Garden Supply. Wonder what the gardens are like of those who shop here.

There's a Safeway here....a small one.

Lots of Victorian homes here.

There is quite the size of a lumber and log mill here.....a big lake just for logs.

506pm - off to Coos Bay.

Came up to the Coos Bay Speedway. They have mud drag racing here on Saturday nights. And I thought such places where only in the movies.

Then....then....I drove by Confusion Hill Road. You can't make this stuff up.

518pm - took the Bandon/101 turn-off going southwest and headed for Charleston instead of going up into Coos Bay.

Appropriately, of course, I came across Furry Friends Therapy.

Saw the sign on the right that said Charleston this way and low and behold that road was called Beaverhill Road! And all along that road it was patch cut city EVERYWHERE!! I had to wonder if anyone really wanted me to get to Charleston. I figured I would be buried soon up here and nobody would ever find me.

But hey....there's the Interpretive Center here at the South Slough National Estaurine Research Reserve. I learned later this research center focus on the country's sixth largest estuary into Coos Bay. Oregon seems to be loaded with scientific research. It's off Seven Devils Road (what Beaverhill Road turns into). So is the estuary caused by an angry demon who's head was about to explode?

Started to see glimpses of the ocean. I am still pretty high up tho in the mountains here. Houses along the road started to show up as I was going downhill.

547pm - came into Charleston. 

Stopped by the Davey Jones Locker store to get some munchies. Cool store. Then drove out to the Bastendorf Beach Park. Took a pic off Bastendorf Beach Park looking south. The shot happened to include a couple in the lower right corner walking hand in hand.

If someone put me here without telling me where I am and then asked if I could guess I would have never guessed this was anywhere in the US. It's beautiful here in this early eve.

I drove down onto the beach. One can stay at the beach for up to 24 hours, but at the north end near the jetty people can stay here for up to 14 days which is perfect if you are camping or just need a place to stay for a bit if you are living in your chosen vehicle like an RV or camper. And sure enough there were people out there in their RV, camper and with tents and gear. Very nice and the older hippy like crowd. Some waved at me and pointed as to where to park, but I didn't stay. Loved it tho. I'd like to come back during some better weather. Has to be awesome to sleep so close to the ocean like this.

Got done looking around here and headed back up to the harbor.

There is a lot of oyster farming that goes on here.

There is a Fisherman's Grotto here.

There are some sinking fishing boats here in the harbor.

There is seafood processing that goes on here.

The harbor here is called "The Charleston Marina Complex". Sounds real official.

The University of Oregon has their Oregon Institute of Marine Biology here. Students and staff can live and work and study here.

Charleston is home to the US Coast Guard Housing Complex and provides services in the Coos Bay area. They have a lookout on Coos Head....small two story working and staffed 24/7 tower.

624pm - Took pics of the harbor this early, but quickly getting darker eve. Here is one of a red and black tug with blinking white lights on it.

I drove over a paved jetty that is the breakwater for the harbor. I took a picture of the harbor from it. It's a working man's harbor, small, quaint. There is a lot of good energy in this place Charleston. I really love it here. There is a draw to this place. For all the years of looking it at it on maps I've always wanted to come here. I don't know why, but I find it intriguing.

There are fishing vessels on the other side of the bridge between the two harbor sides too.

There is Pacific Seafood here and Bandon Seafood too.

Lots of places here to have some seafood. I didn't stop to have some, but I bet it's really good here.

Started the drive up to the city of Coos Bay. Old roads and houses here.....weather beaten.

One can have a house on the bay shore side.

Downtown is north of the harbor in Charleston.

I'm on the main drag coming up from Charleston on Cape Arago Highway.

There is a Grocery Store Outlet. Love that store chain.

There is South Western Community College across from Walmart here. There are places on campus for students to live at here. Very nice.

Called Carol (my girl) to see how she was doing before she heads off to bed. She's tired. She wanted to know where I've been....she was asking about it. She said she hurt her other knee (left) while dancing at work, but that people there caught her so her fall wasn't so hard on her. She said her right knee is doing better. She had hurt that one on a fall another time in the recent past. She was scared tho and would contact L&I on November 11th about it. In the eves since I've been gone she said she hears noises and thinks it's me and she goes to check and no I'm not there. I like that tho. She misses me. And I miss her too.

I stopped at McDonald's for some food and to check my computer and catch up some. Left at 1021pm. I did take my meds tho as usual (diabetic).

11pm I crashed at the Walmart parking lot in Charleston (sort of inbetween Charleston and Coos Bay). Had seen a church earlier that looked like a capitol building called Grace something. When I look on the map it's called "Celebration Center". It's all white and very majestic with tall columns in front like a place of government.

End of today's trip.