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.
