Thursday, August 5, 2010

August 3, 2010

End of Alaska Adventure (for now :) )

Day 95

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We left pretty early to try to stay ahead of the heat.  Overcast in Calistoga but quickly sunny as we started down the east side of the valley.  We took the hilly back country route to Davis.  Narrow, twisty road but carbus did fine.  We stopped in Davis to visit briefly and drop off some souvenier gifts then on to Roseville to gas up the carbus and get a few groceries.  We were home in Auburn by 1:30.  Now to do laundry, deal with mail, wash vehicles, and do maintenance on cars, carbus, house, and yard.  Also have to organize photos and journal the last 95 days events.  It was a great trip.  More later after we reflect for a while.



Monday, August 2, 2010

August 2, 2010

South on 101 (mostly)

Day 94

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We took US 101 south to the wine country.  US 101 alternates between two lane windy road, four lane highway, and four lane freeway for over 100 miles.  Most of it is pretty picturesque. One section that is now freeway we did deviate from however.  This is why:

DSC08491 Avenue of the Giants DSC08494 Avenue of the Giants

The Avenue of the Giants.  One of my most favorite roads.  We drove the entire length.  Narrow in spots but no problem for carbus.  We have been on many pretty roads in the last three months, each with its’ own beauty.  This thirty mile stretch of road is second to none of them.

We are now in Calistoga in the middle of wine country.  Here are some grapes.  :)

DSC08519 Grapes, North of Healdsburg



Sunday, August 1, 2010

August 1, 2010

Last of the Oregon Coast and into California

Day 93

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Today started as yesterday ended, bright and sunny.  It remained clear all the way down the Oregon coast to about one mile from California. 

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Then fog.  Fog off and on (mostly on) to Eureka.

0801-89 CA Coast

Even with fog, the drive through the redwoods was like nothing else anywhere.  Even with several hundred miles to go, we were home.

0801-84 Hwy 101, CA

Parked at Eureka Elks lodge which had lots of RV parking.  We got the last spot.

We had dinner at the Samoa Cookhouse.  We always try to hit Eureka at a meal time so we can go to this place.  We highly recommend that anyone going through Eureka do the same.

0801-123 Samoa Cookhouse 0801-124 Samoa Cookhouse



Saturday, July 31, 2010

July 31, 2010

Back to the Coast

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This morning we loaded the car with some items to take to Auburn for Rick and Tabby’s wedding.  Saves them some space.

Back west to the coast.  Much nicer drive than I-5.  Overcast almost all the way.  Started to clear about 45 minutes from Port Orford.  Coast is pretty but much nicer in sunshine.  Fog was still hugging the shore when we got to RV campground.  After parking we went to visitor center and learned that tours of Cape Blanco Lighthouse ended at 3:30 for the day.  So off we went to what they claim is the western most point in the lower 48 United States. (A spot in Washington has a similar claim)  When we drove up to the light house the fog was still thick enough to hide the view and even haze the light house only yards away.  We went to sign up for tour and when we came outside this is what we saw.

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View from Headlands south of light house.  Site of old Coast Guard rescue station.

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On our drive back from the Coast Guard State Park/Museum we met this guy.

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Port Orford dock.  This is the only port that directly faces the ocean.  No bay or even jetty to protect it.

DSC08323 Port Orford Dock

Some times the sun does shine on the Oregon coast.

DSC08329 us at bay at Visitor Center



July 30, 2010

Inland for a Day

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We turned our path east for a day.  Our primary reason was to visit Rick and Tabby whose wedding we will be attending next month.  They live in Springfield which is just east of Eugene. 

Just north of Eugene is the western manufacturing plant for Monaco motor coaches.  We arrived in the area in time for the days’ tour so we went to see how RVs are put together.  Like all RV makers, Monaco has seen better times but they are still in business and making RVs.  Pretty impressive to see the whole process.  No pictures allowed so we can just recommend taking the tour if you are in the area.

Following the tour we went to Rick and Tabby’s.  Nice visit.  Tasty meal.  Conversation on many things.  Toured the house and garden. Met the ducks.  :)  Fun evening. Nice visit.  Got late too fast.

 DSC08228 Rick and Tabby's house in Springfield, OR



Friday, July 30, 2010

July 29, 2010

Cheese Factory, Coast Views, and Sand Dunes

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We started our day (late morning) with a visit to the Tillamook Cheese factory.

20100729-7 Tillamook Cheese Factory

This morning was far less crowded than yesterday afternoon.  They have spruced things up a bit from last time we were here but layout is pretty much unchanged.  Self guided tour (basically a second floor viewing area looking down on cutting and packing operations), gift shop, cheese shop, cafe, ice cream counter.  We each got an ice cream cone.  Very good.

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Sign in gift shop

 

 

South along some of the most scenic of the Oregon coast.  Going from north to south is definitely the more scenic direction.  Also easier to access turnouts.

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Guardian of a view point

 

 

 

 

20100729-106 Heceta Head Lighthouse

We camped in a state park just south of Florence which is at the northern end of the Oregon Sand Dunes.

20100729-122 Pete on the Dunes 20100729-124 Dunes

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Dune buggy

 

 

 

 

 

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Wild cranberry plant



Wednesday, July 28, 2010

July 28, 2010

Into Oregon

Day 89

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Another short day.  Over a long bridge across the Columbia River to Astoria and then down the Oregon coast.

Before heading down the coast we visited Fort Clatsop (again).  This is the site where Lewis and Clark and their party wintered over after reaching the Pacific.

20100728-43 Fort Clapson 20100728-44 Fort Clapson, inside with Pete 20100728-45 Fort Clapson, inside 20100728-58 Fort Clapson , canoe

Now south.

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Haystack Rock.  Often photo’d landmark

 

 

 

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Oregon coast a little south of Haystack Rock

 

 

 

We stopped in Tillamook and were going to visit the cheese factory.  Before going in we called a nearby state park to inquire about space.  They only had two spots left and they were first come first served.  Cheese tour was put on hold as we hurried to state park to get a spot.  We will go back tomorrow.

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Looking south from Cape Lookout SP.

 

 

 

 

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Looking north from Cape Lookout SP.

 

 

 

 

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Waves directly off shore.



July 27, 2010

Longest Beach, Kites, Cranberries

Happy Birthday Ken!

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We took the very rural scenic route south.  Our road the shore of several bays passing several fishing and logging towns, clamming flats, cranberry farms, and other picturesque farms and lands.

20100727-52 South Bend

 

 

20100727-66 Oyster cannery

 

 

Cannery with pile of shells on left

 

 

 20100727-11 Oyster farms along Hwy 105

 

Oyster farm

 

 

 

 

20100727-151 Long Beach 20100727-152 Long Beach, World's Longest Beach

 

20100727-143 Long Beach

 

20100727-167 cranberry field

 

Cranberry farm

 

 

 

 

20100727-171 cranberries

 

Cranberries up close

 

 

 

 

20100727-94 Long Beach, Kite Museum, WWII weather and Barrage Kites

 

Kite museum.