Seaside Resort - Thousand Trails - Cloverdale, OR

Tuesday, June 26 - We packed up and drove Hwy. 101 to our new location at Seaside Resort, a Thousand Trails park in Cloverdale, OR. The park is set further inland, but it is just a short drive to the beach and town center. The park itself is laid out in two sections, with 50-amp service on the north side. Roads are gravel. Sites are adequate but we lucked out with a huge corner lot. Summer has come to this area, so there are a lot of younger families now in the parks. It is still a very quiet park and people adhere to the rules. The exterior roads were great as we passed through some very unique small towns. One was Garibaldi just north of Tillamook. They had beautiful homes up on the hillsides overlooking the Pacific. At least they don’t have to worry about the Tsunami warnings. We saw many logging trucks and signs on the hillsides of the sections where the trees have been removed. Garibaldi was originally a Tillamook Indian whaling village, then became a major lumber shipping port and is now a sporting hot spot.

Seaside was first visited by Lewis and Clark’s Corps of Discovery in 1805, Seaside has been the northwest’s best place to play at the beach for more than 100 years. Less than two hundred years ago, Native Americans lived along the shores and grassland plains of Seaside, where they gathered native berries, fished for salmon and collected clams and mussels. Elk and venison from the forests provided meat, as did whales and sea lions.
The Seaside Natatorium, a public saltwater bath house, was a popular attraction among Seaside’s early visitors. The Natatorium building now houses the Seaside Aquarium, but we didn't have the time to visit.
Saturday, June 30 - The weather is fabulous – high 60s and sunny skies. We drove north to Astoria.

Astoria is a city of 10,000 people on the Columbia River, just a few miles from the Pacific Ocean. Astoria is the oldest American settlement west of the Rockies. The city lines the south banks of the Columbia River and the north banks of Young's bay. Surrounded by water and tall evergreen Douglas Fir, Hemlock and Spruce trees. Our first stop was to see Fort Clatsop National Memorial that commemorates the western end of the Lewis & Clark Trail. This site commemorates the 1805-06 winter encampment of the 33-member Lewis and Clark Expedition. A 1955 community-built replica of the explorers' 50'x50' Fort Clatsop is the focus of the park. The fort, historic canoe landing, and spring are nestled in the coastal forests and wetlands of the Coast Range as it merges with the Columbia River Estuary. The Salt Works unit commemorates the expedition's salt-making activities. Salt obtained from seawater was essential to the explorers' winter at Fort Clatsop and their journey back to the United States in 1806
It was on a wet Christmas Eve day in 1805 that Lewis & Clark and their Corps of Discovery moved into a stockade fort surrounded by lush old-growth forest, wetlands and wildlife and rested from their arduous 2,000-mile westward journey. Fort Clatsop, the winter encampment site of the Lewis and Clark Expedition, was named in honor of the local Clatsop Indians. Astoria boomed once the canning industry took off along the lower Columbia River. Finns, Swedes, Norwegians, and Danes flocked to the area to make a living in the flourishing fishing industry, in logging, and in farming. By 1890, Astoria was home to fourteen canneries, fifty-four saloons, and thirty-five brothels. In 1897, two hundred fishermen, most of them Finnish, purchased a cannery site and it became known at the Union Fishermen's Cooperative Packing Company (Union Fish, for short).
Astoria has many cafés and unique shops. We wanted to tour the nationally acclaimed Columbia River Maritime Museum located on the waterfront, but we didn’t have the time to stop and we had Mitzy with us. We drove to the waterfront, but since it was Saturday, the expectations of finding fishing boats unloading their daily catches, seals and sea lions poking their heads up with a watchful eye on the fishermen's catch, was not happening. We did see Coast Guard Cutter ships and huge barges being pulled along by the tugs.

We saw great views of Astoria's historic Victorian home architecture and maritime character that paints its silhouetted hillside. We also saw the newly restored Old 300 trolley moving along Astoria's waterfront. The Old 300 was originally built in 1913 and is a 20-ton, 40-passenger trolley. The trolley travels on Astoria's original train tracks between the East End Mooring Basin and West End Mooring Basin. You can step back in time with a visit to the elegant Astoria home built in 1885 by Captain George Flavel, Columbia River bar pilot and the area's first millionaire. A magnificent example of Queen Anne style architecture with period furnishings and artwork, the Flavel House rests on park-like grounds covering an entire city block. Listed in the National Register of Historic Places, the Flavel House has been operated as a museum by the Clatsop County Historical Society since 1950. During the Christmas season, a tea with traditional plum pudding is served in the dining room.

We took a drive up Coxcomb Hill about 500 feet above sea level to see the historic Astoria Column, (built in 1926, it is 125 feet high and has 164 steps winding to the top – which we did NOT climb). The art on the column is a summary of the triumphs, conflicts and turning points of the frontier. It is to properly salute Astoria’s explorers and early settlers for their critical role in the United States’ stretch to the Pacific Coast. The scenic beauty from this vista takes your breath away as you see the Pacific Ocean meeting the Columbia River and the dense, lush green forests and its endless miles of sandy beaches.
Sunday, July 01 - We took a drive south and then east on Hwy. 202 to see the free-roaming Roosevelt Elk at Jewell Meadows Wildlife Area. Before we stopped we stopped to take a brief walk around the famous Camp 18 (Milepost 18, Elsie, OR). A log cabin building the size of a train terminal, features a main room supported by the largest known ridge pole in the US; twenty-five tons. On the walls are massive lumbering saws and old photographs of lumberjacks at work. Wooden carved statues are everywhere of bears, lumberjacks, birds, etc. The place was terribly busy at 10:30 AM because their Lumberjack breakfasts are known far and wide. We didn’t wait to eat, but enjoyed the beautiful scenery outside. I would recommend this to be on your lists of stops in this area.
When we finally arrived at the Jewell Meadows Wildlife Area we were very disappointed – no elk were to be seen. We turned around and got back home by 1:30 pm.
Monday, July 2 - Finally got the time and weather cooperated so we could use our new bar-b-q grill from Camping World http://www.campingworld.com/ . The filet's were perfectly grilled and tasted great! Of course the cleanup is always a chore, but Ray does that job. We sat outside with our drinks and soaked up the beautiful weather along the Oregon coast.

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Pacific City Resort, Cloverdale, OR

Thursday, June 21 - Packed up and left the Whalers Rest Resort in Newport, OR on HWY. 101 along the coast at 8:15 am and arrived at Thousand Trails Pacific City Resort in Cloverdale, OR around 10:40 am. The drive took us past or through small towns overlooking the peaceful Pacific Ocean with overcast skies and hills shrouded in clouds. We saw a lot of driftwood at Otter Rocks. There are several turns and twists of the highway where there are canopies of the trees overhead. We saw that many houses have been built right on the edge of the cliffs. With the Tsnami signs everywhere, what are they thinking? We know this is the whale watching coast and a favorite activity for visitors, but we just don’t take the time to watch for whales. Took neat shot of one of the tunnels we passed through.
We left early so we could be sure we got a good site and it was difficult to fine one with cable, sewer, and 50-amp service. We have one without sewer and the satellite does not work due to the high trees around us, but the park has cable so that's just fine. We have to check the weather channel every day. We leave in four days, so the lack of sewer is not an issue. It is a nice preserve, but very hilly with a long road and very tight turns to navigate to get outside the park in the truck to visit the sights. The ocean view was not available to 99% of the sites as there are so many trees. Little black rabbits were everywhere.
Drove into the town of Pacific City to do our grocery shopping. Small town driven by the tourist trade, but their local paper mentioned a major building boom here and we saw the effects of that in a beautiful subdivision across the highway from our park. * This picture is the view from these incredible homes and is the best that we have seen along the coast. The roads in this area are pathetic and full of deep potholes, so the infrastructure needs should be met with the increase of businesses and homes, condos, townhomes, etc. The roads department has 20-year backlog of projects and there is a prediction of layoffs. The town is not incorporated so their needs for law enforcement, fire and rescue are limited.
Monday, June 25 - Since we had no cell or Internet available at our RV Park due to the high hills and trees surrounding us, we drove downtown to Cape Kiwanda at Pacific City to get on-line to pay our bills and make some important phone calls. Since the weather was beautiful, there were several of the famous Dory boats out fishing. These days outboard motors have replaced oar power, enabling the dories to get 50 miles out to sea from the Pacific City shoreline. The picture of the “landing” they make on the only cape that allows a sand approach was awesome, and they are able to drive their trucks on the beach with their trailer to pick up the Dory.
The cape is always crowded with people playing in the sand with their kids, and surfers who enjoy some of the longest waves on the Oregon coast.
Most people will probably be content just to look up the coast from here at the knockout view of Cape Lookout or south at the unique spectacle of American fishing dories being launched into the ocean off the beach. The latter practice has been a tradition since the 1920s after commercial fishermen took these flat-bottomed boats out to sea when gill-netting was banned on the Nestucca River
The sight of Haystack Rock, a 327-foot sea stack a mile offshore in Nestucca Bay greets you after you make your way through tiny Pacific City. Some folks call it Teacup Rock. We were surprised by the sandstone escarpment of Cape Kiwanda just to the north of the beach. In storm-tossed waters, it is said that this cape is the undisputed “king of rock and roll” if you go by coffee-table books and calendar photos. While other north coast sandstone promontories have been reduced to sandy beaches by the pounding surf, it’s been theorized that Kiwanda, which extends a half-mile out to sea, has endured thanks to the buffer of Haystack Rock.
We took advantage of the perfectly beautiful day to see the sights along the coast as well as Tillamook located north of Pacific City.
The drive we took was on the Three Capes Scenic Loop. Big mistake. Although the scenery was great, the roads were not just terrible, they were deplorable! Pot holes, and stretches where they had repaired a portion of the road on one side and it was very uneven and very bumpy in the truck.

One mile west of Tillamook Head, a rock rises from the ocean. In the shape of a sea monster, it is where old Nor'easters go to die. Where Indians believed under ocean tunnels inhabited by spirits came to the surface. Where sheer cliffs drop straight into the sea to depths of 96 to 240 feet. Where clinging to the top, fighting off the gripping hands of the sea, stands a lighthouse. A symbol of the precarious line between human endeavor and the forces of nature. Terrible Tilly shone her light for 77 years. On September 1, 1957, Keeper Oswald Allik turned off the light, and penned the following final logbook entry, today on display at the Columbia River Maritime Museum in Astoria, Oregon:
"Farewell, Tillamook Rock Light Station. An era has ended. With this final entry, and not without sentiment, I return thee to the elements. You, one of the most notorious and yet fascinating of the sea-swept sentinels in the world; long the friend of the tempest-tossed mariner. Through howling gale, thick fog and driving rain your beacon has been a star of hope and your foghorn a voice of encouragement. May the elements of nature be kind to you. For 77 years you have beamed your light across desolate acres of ocean. Keepers have come and gone; men lived and died; but you were faithful to the end. May your sunset years be good years. Your purpose is now only a symbol, but the lives you have saved and the service you have rendered are worthy of the highest respect. A protector of life and property to all, may old-timers, newcomers and travelers along the way pause from the shore in memory of your humanitarian role.
































We stopped at Cape Meares Lighthouse tower, pictured here. The tower is only 38 feet tall, making it the shortest lighthouse on the Pacific Northwest coast. Small gift shop at the top and you can also climb the few stairs to walk around the light.
Since the drive took us a lot longer than expected, we had to curtail our visit to the Tillamook Air Museum which was on my list to see. We were able to stop at the Tillamook Cheese Factory. Purchased several of their cheeses and find the taste so creamy and smooth, we are going back for more before we leave this area. Also had their “peaches n’ cream” ice cream and loved it!
Tillamook Cheese Factory - “Our farmer-owned cooperative was formed back in 1909. It grew out of the desire on the part of a handful of farmers to ensure that the cheese produced in the area was of the absolute highest quality.” In 1894, T.S. Townsend, a successful dairy industry entrepreneur, established the first commercial cheese plant in Tillamook, Or. He took 30 orders for cows from local farmers. Then he traveled to Portland, Or. to purchase the cows and equipment necessary to establish a milk pool and run a cheese plant.
Townsend also hired Peter McIntosh, a Canadian cheesemaker experienced with the cheddaring process, who brought a recipe for cheddar cheese with him. Dairying in Tillamook County actually began long before T.S. Townsend set foot in the county. Back in 1854, several farmers banded together to build a two-masted schooner, dubbed the “Morning Star of Tillamook,” to transport their butter to Portland. “The Morning Star,” which set sail for the first time in 1855, can still be seen on our label today. A replica of that ship can also be seen in front of our Visitor's Center. b:if cond='data:blog.pageType !="item"> >

Whalers Rest Resort (Thousand Trails) Newport, OR

Monday, June 18 - Packed up and left Florence, OR to drive US 101 on the coast to Newport, OR and Whalers Rest Resort. The lush green forests, rugged cliffs, impressive sand dunes and vast sandy beaches are breathtaking. The park has a new section that we decided to stay in after traversing rutted dirt and gravel road in the old park. The ranger said that the site was occupied, but the people were leaving. When we saw the location of the site, we decided to go further and lucked out with this site having all the amenities. Although it is tight for the RV, truck, and motorcycle.

Ray went to a seminar in the park on RV maintenance and found out a lot of information and we have to make an appointment to have the guy that gave the seminar come out and do an overall inspection of our coach since it has been almost a year. For $60 he will not only check our major appliances, but give us an overall inspection and answer any questions we may have.

Ray took off to get beautiful sunset pictures.

Tuesday, June 19 - So far Verizon air card has two bars and working. The park WiFi does not work at our location, but is available in the club houses. Ray is out riding on the bike to check out the area for a couple of hours. It is beautiful here and so close to the coast that our drive over in the RV was breathtaking, but we could not stop for pictures, of course.
We took a walk on the beach at Lost Creek State Park nearby around 9AM and we were the only people at the park until a young couple arrived to let their dogs run on the beach (two beautiful golden retrievers and they loved the water). Mitzy surprised us when she ran on the sand and wanted to smell all the new smells and kept on running. I could barely keep up with her. No, we can’t trust her without a leash. The rocks and pebbles are smooth from the constant ebb and flow of the tides. It was beautiful! Beachcombing is a thrill here because the beaches must be 300 yards flat out with the tides low in the mornings. The ocean was rather quiet and the waves were minimal, so the boats were out fishing. Newport (15 minutes away from the park) has a beautiful port and two major marinas that we plan to explore, eat dinner there, etc.
The days are sunny and high around 60, nights go to 45, loving life. We are on a site in the new section and all the RV sites are tiered so you don’t see your neighbors with all the foliage between us. We can hear the ocean when we are outside, but can’t see it due to all the trees.
The guy that did our seminar came over to inspect our hot water heater and drain it. Showed Ray things that he can do himself on an "as needed" or annual basis.
Picture of lighthouse off in distance is Yaquina Bay Lighthouse. Active from 1871-1874. Relighted in 1996.

Yaquina Bay Bridge

Waves usually strike beaches at an angle rather than head-on to create an off-shore flow known as the longshore current. This current travels parallel to the shore and, like a conveyor belt, moves sand along the coastline. The longshore current changes direction seasonally due to changes in the prevailing wind, transporting sand northward in winter and southward in summer. The movement of sand can create shifting sandbars at harbor entrances that pose hazard to navigation. Jetties diffuse the powerful action of waves and current, and by interrupting the movement of sand, they help keep harbor entrances open for vessel traffic.
Historic bayfront home to one of the largest commercial fishing fleets on the Oregon Coast. Every day, the fleet goes out to sea, returning with bounty that will give you a whole new definition of the word “fresh”. Shrimp, oysters, crab, salmon and other wonders of the deep.
Six beaches open to the public with no crowds, and plenty of sun, surf, and sand.
The birds like the Swainson’s thrush, passerines, wrentit, Anna’s hummingbird, woodpeckers, chickadees, mergansers, snipes, kingfishers, harlequin ducks, grebes, scaup, scoters, loons, bufflehead, are all known to this area.
Ttsunami warning signs. We became familiar with the signs and what they meant. When you feel the earth shacking, go to higher ground. If you feel the ground shake, it means the earthquake is close and there is no time to wait. Always be prepared. It may be the impending signs of tsunami. Although a tsunami cannot be predicted, the authorities along the Oregon Coast have taken measures to alert residents and guests of safe places to go if it seems a tsunami might be imminent. The signs show the way to evacuation routes. The warning sirens tone is different from a fire siren and will continue for a longer period of time. The signs also tell you when you are entering or leaving a tsunami zone. An earthquake may be felt. Large quantities of gas may bubble to the waqter surface and make the sea look as if it’s boiling. The water in the waves may be unusually hot. The water may smell of rotten eggs (hydrogen sulfide) or of petroleum or oil. The water may sting the skin. A thunderous boom may be heard, followed by a roaring noise, as that of a jet plane; a noise akin to the thumping of helicopter blades; or a whistling sound. The sea might recede to a considerable distance. A flash of red light might be seen near the horizon. As the wave approaches, the top may glow red.
Wednesday, June 20 - Woke up to an overcast day and chilly 52 degrees at 9:30 am.
Ray’s Reflections: Seaside, OR turned out to be a big small town and mostly tourist oriented. Nice wide beach with rock cliffs both north and south. In June, the business area and the beaches are very busy with mostly tourists. No one was in the water, so it must be cold. Many kites are in the air in all sizes and shapes. There is almost always a gentle breeze on the coast. Once again I picked a twisty, winding road on the GPS and rode the bike south on Rt. 53 through beautiful forests. The road was great for bikers, only passed two vehicles and lumber truck and van in over 30 miles. A lot of cut timber and newly planted tree areas. Had a very pleasant ride.
I also rode to Astoria and across the Columbia River’s high steel bridge on US 101 into Long Beach, WA. On the north side of the river, almost four miles wide at this point, there were many fishermen along the highway with their long 10-12 ft. poles fishing from the river bank. Cape Disappointment State Park on the Washington side was a neat park to ride. A lot of very heavy vegetation covered the hills and the roads were full of winding turns. The small town of Iwaco is a fishing village just inside the mouth of the river protected by the bluffs of the cape. The harbor looked like a picture in a magazine. This ride on US 101 for the most part was fast and comfortable.
We took a drive into Newport Old Town and walked the streets and ate dinner at Port Dock

One Restaurant & Lounge. We watched the fish docks and the boats returning home, some with a catch went to the docks and unloaded. Too bad a cold front was coming in and there was no sun out as it would have been a great picture. Of all things, the restaurant was out of crab cakes, which is why I wanted to eat there in the first place. Oh well. Ray had the Captain’s Seafood Plate, which was acceptable. I liked the grilled halibut.

Famous bridge in Newport Harbor “Port of Newport – Dock 7”

We took a lot of pictures around Newport Old Town. Until 1936, ferries shuttled people and vehicles to and from Newport’s waterfront. With the completion of the Yaquina Bay Bridge that year, however, traffic bypassed the old town area. Commerce and development moved to the highway corridor, and the Bayfront faded in importance. Within the last couple of decades, the pendulum has swung back, and the Bayfront District is now one of Newport’s prime attractions, with some of its best restaurants and watering holes, shopping, and tourist facilities. One of the first things that’ll strike you about the Bayfront today is that it’s still a working neighborhood, not a sanitized re-creation of a real seaport. Chowderhouses, galleries, and shops stand shoulder to shoulder with fish-processing plants and canneries, and the air is filled with the cries of fishmongers purveying wharfside walkaway cocktails and the harmonious discord of sea lions and harbor seals. On the waterfront, sport anglers step off charter boats with their catches, and vessels laden with everything from wood products to whale-watchers ply the bay. Unfortunately, the severe catch limits and cost of equipment make this less of a working port every year. In deference to the Oregon commercial fisherman and other endangered species, wall murals memorialize fishing boats and whales here on the Bayfront.

Mitzy all grown up and 16 lbs, instead of the

10 lbs we expected.

Did you know that US 20 starts in Newport, Oregon and ends in Cape Cod? ...

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South Jetty Resort Park Thousand Trails - Florence, OR

Thursday, June 14 - We drove 75 miles from Shamrock Village Rv Park, Eugene, OR to South Jetty Resort Park a Thousand Trails park in Florence, OR. The park is heavily treed and we can’t get the satellite to work and local channels with antenna are fuzzy and not worth watching. We have internet access to get the weather forecasts. Ray had to drive the RV in facing the rear of our site for the first time. Kind of nice to face schrubs and trees instead of the road.
Drove just north of Florence, OR, on US-101 and went past the Sea Lion Caves and stopped at the scenic overlook on the left. From here you can get an excellent view of Heceta Head Lighthouse and the keeper's house. Located in the middle of a steep tree-filled mountain side 205' above the sea this beacon of light, coming from a first order Fresnel lamp, has been sending its signal since 1894. I counted a flash at ten second intervals. It is a sister and a duplicate to the Umpqua River Light in Winchester Bay, OR.
Once we left the scenic overlook we went north on US-101 through the tunnel and over the bridge. The turn for Heceta Head Lighthouse Park is on the left not too far after the bridge. The park is a great way to enjoy the enormity of the Pacific Ocean and its constant wind and wave action against the massive rocks. It is also necessary to park there and climb the trail leading up the mountain to the lighthouse if you want to tour the lighthouse and the keeper's house.
At another stop on our return to Florence, we took pictures of the sea lions out on the rocks below us. The Steller sea lion is a member of the Otariidae family, or eared seal. It is characterized by an external ear which can be closed when entering water and by hind feet or flippers that point forward. This animal is also considered non-migratory because there is no mass movement to summer or winter grounds, although individuals or small groups may travel hundreds of miles in search of food. Sea lions breed and bear young in the spring, usually in May and June, although some breeding occurs as late as July or even August. We saw Western Gulls and Cormorants out on the rocks as well. We didn’t see any boats nor ocean surfing. Guess the 58 degree temperature was too cold.

Pictures of the mouth of the South Jetty Suislaw River.
Friday, June 15 - Rained in the morning, but the sun was out by 2pm so we drove to the Oregon Dunes. The wind was gusting a strong 20 mph and it was chilly, but we had fun driving through the park and seeing the beauty of azure blue sky meeting the sand dunes, some covered with green shrubs and yellow grasses moving in the winds. We climbed up one of the lowest dunes and tried to get a picture of the beach and the wind was so bad the sand was blowing so hard we decided not to go down to the beach. We retraced our steps and went on to see the ATV’s in action on a park specifically made for them called Goose Pasture Staging Area.
The Oregon Dunes National Recreation Area (or NRA) is located on the Oregon Coast, stretching approximately 40 miles north from the Coos River in North Bend, to the Siuslaw River, in Florence. These enormous sand dunes were formed nearly 12 million years ago when the sea that covered most of Oregon began to recede. The sandy sea floor remained and created what is now Oregon Dunes. The dunes themselves range from 50 feet to almost 3 mile wide. This is ATV heaven. Goose Pasture is staging area for ATV’s. Saw seals in crystal clear water north of the South Jetty Suislaw River.

Went to eat at the famous Mo’s Seafood Restaurant in Old Town. This quaint fishing village is situated on the banks of the Siuslaw River and has been beautifully restored in colorful themes reminiscent of the Victorian era. Numerous restaurants, art galleries, clothing and specialty shops; candies and T-Shirt shops are mixed among Gazebo Park and the new Boardwalk overlooking the fishing docks. The attraction to Mo’s must be the view, as the food was not anything we would want to recommend.
Siuslaw River Bridge
This magnificent span of beautiful architecture crosses the Siuslaw River just south of Florence. Built in the 1930's, it is another example of a McCullough bridge of which there are many up and down Hwy 101.
Saturday, June 17 - We drove south on Hwy. 101 to see the Sea Lion Caves while it was sunny. It was an awesome day with cobalt blue skies. When we parked and left the truck, we noticed a bad odor and asked the attendant and he verified it was the sea lions excrement we smelled from the rocks they sit on between fishing for food in the waters. The rugged landscape provides little shelter for the birds and sea lions, yet they find a rock to gain access from the open water. The cave was cold and damp, but really interesting to be able to see the sea lions up close.
Sea Lion Caves The Guiness Book of World Records has recently confirmed Sea Lion Caves as the largest sea caves in the world. It is the only known remaining home of wild stellar sea lions on the North American mainland and has attracted people from all over the world since its opening 65 years ago to the public

Sunday, June 17 - Took a drive south to see the landscape and get to Coos Bay. Stopped in Reedsport, a city in Douglas County and an hour’s drive from Florence. It was named for a local settler, Alfred W. Reed, who founded the city in 1912. Dropped a few dollars at the Sugar Shack Bakery & Espresso shop. Their bakery was awesome with everything homemade. We drove a long while on what we were told was the scenic route to Coos Bay. We were led to believe there were a lot of large ships inside Coos Bay loading up the lumber from the local mill, but didn’t see any. It was getting late, so we headed back to Florence.

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Shamrock Village Rv Park, Eugene, OR

Thursday, June 7 - Well it is my birthday today. It is sure different without family and friends and “boss” giving me the special treatment. Ray will have to be the one to make it special, but tomorrow, not today. I have already selected a place in Eugene to get a massage and go to dinner -- place to be determined. I LOVE Oregon coastline.
We left Klamath Falls this morning with 35 degrees at 7:30 AM. We have arrived at our park Shamrock Village Rv Park in Eugene, OR. Tight quarters. Our slides are out and we have satellite all by 3:00 pm, so we are happy campers. It is much warmer here than Klamath Falls. We have reserved seven days here at Shamrock Village. The scenery along our drive even on I-5 was unbelievable. Never have seen so many fir, pines, and other trees I can’t identify.
The park has a train track about two blocks away and the traffic is quite heavy outside the fenced-in area located three sites away. Doesn’t really bother us as long as the trains and traffic are minimal at night. Obviously I didn't take pictures.

The train just went by and it was loud and blowing its horn constantly. This certainly was not mentioned on the web site!

Covered Bridges: "They don't build 'em like that anymore." As a matter of fact, they don't build 'em at all anymore. Covered bridges are anachronisms in an age of 70-mile-an-hour interstates and no time to stop and linger.

Oregon has the largest concentration of covered bridges west of the Mississippi -- 51 of them scattered around the Willamette Valley south of Portland. There is even a special organization, the Covered Bridge Society of Oregon, dedicated to the preservation and restoration of these historic remnants.
In the days before creosoted and chemically treated lumber was available, bridges were covered to protect them from the elements so they would last longer. The state's first covered span was built in 1851 in Oregon City, and at one time Oregon boasted several hundred of them. The reason the Willamette Valley has so many is that a large number of the early settlers came from New England, where covered bridges were common. These people built them from familiar designs, using Douglas fir that grew abundantly in the area.

Ray’s Reflections: We have spent several stays in smaller cities, so we opted for a larger city, Eugene. As always, when we are looking for another RV park, we have only the reviews of other and the park ads to determine if this is our next stop. Shamrock Mobile Home Park and RV Park on the east end of Eureka turned out to be two or three blocks from a homeless town and near railroad tracks. The park spaces were so tight we could hardly open our slides. Obviously designed for older and smaller trailers. One good thing, while unloading my 900+ lb. motorcycle from the truck bed, the usual bystanders gathered to ask questions and make comments. From this group one of the fellows asked if I wanted to ride with him. He said about 200 miles and 4-5 hours over to the coast. I didn’t have to think about that answer. Our route from Eugene was I-5 south on Rt. 38 west Rt. 101 north coastal, Rt. 34 west back to I-5. On Rt. 38 near Reedsport, we stopped to see the Elk grazing less than 100 ft. away. The coastal ride can’t be described in words or photos. Awesome! River was great with some of the roadsides full fir and pine tree canopies overhanging. Again, with my personal guide, Bill, the ride was great. We put on 244 miles in 7.5 hours. The day was beautiful with blue skies and lots of sunshine.
Friday, June 8 - Weather is great today with sunny skies and 70. Cool at night down to 47. We drove around to see the 4 nearby covered bridges and decided that we didn’t need to travel elsewhere to see the remaining 22. Parvin Bridge was erected to replace one dating in the 1880's. Lowell Bridge is the widest covered bridge in the state at 24 ft. and the only one that crosses a reservoir – it was used by logging trucks until it was closed and is now only used by pedestrian traffic. Unity Bridge with a Howe truss span and full-length window on the upstream side. Pengra Bridge also straddles Fall Creek.
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For my birthday, we went to a local restaurant called North Bank and is located on the north bank of the Willamette River. Beautiful setting and outside seating was available. We preferred to be seated indoors with a view of the river due to the chill in the air. Dinner was great and prices were reasonable and we loved the casual atmosphere and young people. We both had baked trout special since we hardly ever fix fish at home anymore. Saturday, June 09 - Rainy day with off and on showers

Wednesday, June 13
Our day to get packed up and ready to drive over to Florence. Ray went to Wal-Mart and brought home two Lucky Bamboo (Dracaena) plants that have artificial orchids blooming on the stems. They look so real, I was fooled. Never have seen this before. Put one on the dash and one near my desk. Hope they last a long time.b:if cond='data:blog.pageType !="item"> >