From the coast -- up and over the Coast Range on a rainy day -- and into Eugene. Lucky us it became a marvelous Indian Summer weekend and we did a bit of "duty free" shopping to take advantage of no sales tax in Oregon. A few new toys & clothes. A bit of hiking in the nearby hills and it was clear enough to see the Sisters Mountains to the east (they loom above Bend, OR).
Eugene is home to the University of Oregon -- it was homecoming weekend. The Ducks thrashed the UW Huskies. Who cares?
Down to Grants Pass and a side trip to Oregon Caves National Monument. Fun to explore a cave, but really not very remarkable.
Today we arrived in Ashland -- a bit of theater the next couple of nights & a chance to enjoy the healing hot springs. Then we will continue south.
Wednesday, October 22, 2014
Tuesday, October 14, 2014
Oregon Coast
Meandering south along 101. Miles of rugged shorelines -- cliffs, coves, rock stacks, sandy beaches. Acres of moss laden trees clinging to cliffs. Everything green and moist. Mostly gray and overcast skies but occasionally a snippet of brilliant blue.
We say farewell to Lewis & Clark at Ft Clatsop near Astoria. Our trail this year overlapped the Corps of Discovery since the Missouri River outside of St. Louis; to Ft Mandan in North Dakota; the Bitterroot Mountains, Lolo Pass, and the Columbia River. While it was an amazing expedition -- they were successful because of luck, good will from people of color, and a young Indian gal.
And...we somehow manage to have our trip coincide with the ocean lovers dream: ocean front camping & a full moon (think huge tides) & long period swells from that mega storm in Japan. What that means is SURF, ROUGH WATER, and SNEAKER WAVES. We were seeing 8+ tides.
We camped at the beach...but at high tide, oops, no beach. The Coast Guard and Park Rangers were plucking hapless folks from isolated rock points. We scrambled further up the dune from those sneaker waves. We watched a wedding party crowded up under the high cliff & that bride's dress looked a bit sandy at the hem! Waves crashed over the sea walls in small towns. It was mesmerizing & loud & stunningly beautiful. And...just beyond the surf line...there were the gray whales: blowing, rolling, diving.
We say farewell to Lewis & Clark at Ft Clatsop near Astoria. Our trail this year overlapped the Corps of Discovery since the Missouri River outside of St. Louis; to Ft Mandan in North Dakota; the Bitterroot Mountains, Lolo Pass, and the Columbia River. While it was an amazing expedition -- they were successful because of luck, good will from people of color, and a young Indian gal.
And...we somehow manage to have our trip coincide with the ocean lovers dream: ocean front camping & a full moon (think huge tides) & long period swells from that mega storm in Japan. What that means is SURF, ROUGH WATER, and SNEAKER WAVES. We were seeing 8+ tides.
We camped at the beach...but at high tide, oops, no beach. The Coast Guard and Park Rangers were plucking hapless folks from isolated rock points. We scrambled further up the dune from those sneaker waves. We watched a wedding party crowded up under the high cliff & that bride's dress looked a bit sandy at the hem! Waves crashed over the sea walls in small towns. It was mesmerizing & loud & stunningly beautiful. And...just beyond the surf line...there were the gray whales: blowing, rolling, diving.
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| Ft Clatsop -- winter on the Oregon Coast for Lewis & Clark |
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| Peaking through the glass floor of an Astoria brew pub -- friendly seals |
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| Hiking out Cape Falcon. See the surfers? |
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| Cape Lookout view towards the spit -- we are camped behind the spit. |
Monday, October 6, 2014
Geo Guesser...
So where are we? A few clues follow:
Wow. We have loved our hometown.
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| The city icon reflected in a Chihuly globe |
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| The land lord looking good. |
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| Famous film director poses for a photo shot |
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| All things salmon |
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| Every one is the 12th Man. Every crane is making the neighbor Amazon enclave. |
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