Oregon Coast – Day 2

Yurt at Harris Beach State Park in Brookings, Oregon

This is the day that we officially fell in love with the Oregon Coast. It is the morning after our first amazing night in a yurt at Harris Beach State Park. We were in this unit, the Winchuck.

Caroline Wise trying to fly a kite on Harris Beach in Oregon

Caroline is trying her best to get this kite aloft and maybe she was a little successful, but not what she needed to feel it. The rock in the background is Goat Island here at Harris Beach.

Looking north at Harris Beach in Oregon

Looking north from the parking lot of Harris Beach.

Coos Bay, Oregon

For a moment, we had a glimmer of sunlight fall upon earth here at the Arch Rock Viewpoint.

Oregon coast

Our next stop was at Gold Beach.

Caroline Wise flying her kite on the Oregon Coast

Caroline was adamant that she’d get value out of this kite and again had it out, trying to have to take hold of the sky.

Kite over the Oregon coast

Success in getting the kite into its rightful place high above us, weaving in and out of the clouds and sending it to this patch of blue sky.

Port Orford, Oregon

A blustery ocean on a fall day in Port Orford, Oregon. This would become our favorite viewing spot to stop and watch the ocean on stormy days.

Caroline Wise at Port Orford, Oregon

The wind blows hard here, and in the years to come, we will see much worse but will always be enchanted with this place along the sea.

Cranberry bog off the Oregon coast

On the way to Coos Bay, we spot a cranberry bog. Our inner nerds are in a state of astonishment.

Cranberries in a bog on the Oregon Coast

Real cranberries in the wild.

Coos Bay, Oregon

Coos Bay, where they are still moving lumber over riverways.

Heceta Head Lighthouse in Florence, Oregon

Heceta Head Lighthouse here in Florence, Oregon.

Sealines Nautical Shop in Seal Rock, Oregon

In its heyday, this was the Sealines Nautical Shop next to the ocean between Florence and Yachats. It is long gone as I write this and sorely missed. We never miss an opportunity to stop by for a moment of nostalgia.

North Fork Yachats covered bridge in Yachats, Oregon

From the town of Yachats, you head up the Yachats River Road to Route 805; up there, you’ll find the North Fork Yachats Covered Bridge.

Forest along the Yachats River in Yachats, Oregon

The drive out and back through the forest along the Yachats River is worthy of leaving the coast. If only there was good work out on the coast, we’d move up here in a second.

Seal Rock, Oregon

Stopped at Seal Rock to check out some dramatic surf and enjoy the rain wearing the dorkiest rain gear we’ve ever owned. It is so embarrassing I’m not even posting the selfie of us because we just look too stupid.

Newport Aquarium Village, Oregon

We needed a little kitsch to go with our nature, so we stopped in at the Newport Aquarium Village and visited the Pirate’s Plunder shop. Bought some glass float in netting kind of shnickshnack thing, got to support the local economy. We still had quite a few miles to go and a couple of hours to get there. Tonight’s lodging was another cozy yurt at Nehalem Bay State Park.

Oregon Coast – Day 1

Sunrise in central California

This trip started yesterday at 2:30 p.m. and had us leaving Arizona via Kingman on our way to Tulare, California, north of Bakersfield, for an overnight at Budget Inn for the cheapo price of only $39.95. Yesterday got us 587 miles closer to our ultimate destination, and because we weren’t flying, we didn’t need to contend with Thanksgiving-style jammed airports.

We were up and going well before sunrise at 5:45 a.m. this morning. The above photo of the rising sun was taken at a gas stop around 7:00 after we’d merged onto Interstate 5 and visually and olfactorily encountered our first feedlot of cows.

Pigs in Red Bluff, California

Four hours later and we have moved from cows to pigs here in Red Bluff, California, which is about 200 miles north of San Francisco already. We are making great time.

Mount Shasta in the distance, Northern California

We are somewhere in Northern California. That’s Mount Shasta in the distance.

Deer next to the road in Northern California

Suckers for wildlife, farm life, and life in general, we’ll stop to look at anything that grabs our attention. Nearly every time I spot an animal next to the road staring at us, I can’t help but think of the comic strip The Far Side where a bunch of cows are standing up talking until a car approaches.

Moss growing on trees in Northern California

You don’t see many ferns or moss growing on cactus in the desert. This is serious eye candy for desert dwellers.

Swains Flat Outpost in Humboldt County, California

Nothing better than stopping at a roadside funky joint to replenish our energy. Sadly, here in Humboldt County, famous for its weed, there is none of that to be found. Honestly, though, we wouldn’t even consider getting stoned out here on these trips as, first of all, we are driving long distances, and secondly, nature gets us high enough.

Redwoods in the Humboldt Redwoods State Park in Northern California

How lucky people are to be able to just drive along beautiful winding roads that snake their way through groves of redwoods.

Murals in Eureka, California

These murals and many more are some of the endearing qualities should you find yourself in Eureka, California. The junkies, on the other hand, suck.

Clam Beach in McKinleyville, California

First stop at the ocean on this road trip. We are at Clam Beach in McKinleyville, California. Have I shared with you that we love oceans, rivers, lakes, and waterways of all sorts?

Surf bubbles at Clam Beach in McKinleyville, California

Psychedelic surf bubbles at Clam Beach.

Stone Lagoon, California

Foggy and mysterious Stone Lagoon, California. Just prior to this, we saw the grazing herd of Roosevelt Elk, but the photo was kind of meh.

Redwoods National Park in Northern California

Driving through Redwoods National Park at dusk does not make for conducive conditions for the photography of already dark forests.

Redwoods National Park in Northern California

I found a bit of a clearing that was still receiving just enough light that I was able to capture at least one reasonable photo of some young coastal redwoods. It’s strange to consider that this was the scene some 225 million years ago over in Arizona near Holbrook and the Petrified Forest National Park.

Pacific coast early evening

I can’t recall exactly where this was, nor do we have a note that hints at it, but from the time the photo was shot, I’d guess we were still in California just south of the Oregon border, which would imply that this is Crescent City.

Caroline Wise in a yurt at Harris Beach State Park in Brookings, Oregon

Our first yurt visit ever and our first time on the Oregon coast. Our yurt is at Harris Beach State Park in North Brookings, Oregon. Our impression is that we LOVE YURTS!!! Tomorrow, we’ll get our first impressions of the coast as we travel north.