It was difficult to leave Oregon. Loved the sun and the coast and hiking on the beach with the dogs. Learned that Oregonians don’t say beach, they say coast because of the rugged cliffs.
As we headed east, we stopped to see Jeremy and Michael, Jean and Dick Stauffer’s son and partner. We had such a good time seeing their house and having theirndogs play wit with Lenny. Then we walked to a restaurant in their neighborhood for lunch. It was such fun getting to know them in person instead of just through Jean’s blog.
This is their container garden. Love it.
After that wonderful stop, we kept heading east and decided to stay in Peach Beach Camground, just over the Washington border. Nice campground with a beautiful sunset and bright moon.
Decided to spend some time in Idaho since all we’ve done before was drive through. Ended us near Caldwell near Boise. Campground is nice but nothing special.
Headed north up a canyon to McCall and Ponderosa Staye Park. The drive was beautiful, very different than what we’ve seen.
Hiking in the Ponderosa State Park. Look, there’s still snow!
Yes that’s Reuben hiking in the snow!
When we got back to the campground we had a rainbow.
Today was a travel day. Left Astoria and headed east to Portland (guess we couldn’t go much more west). Jean and Dick Stauffer’s son lives in Portland so we texted them to see if we could take them to lunch. I’ve only met he and Michael through Jean’s blog so I wanted to officially meet them and see where they live.
They live on the east side of Portland so it was very easy for us to get there. They have the cutest house with a great backyard. Love their container garden.
Guess you can’t see the seating area that Jeremy designed and Dad Dick built. Very comfortable.
Walked to a restaurant and had a tasty lunch. Along our walk, they showed us the “monkey tree.”
But it was time to get on the road. Drove along the Columbia River gorge. Beautiful drive. Notice no trees. Getting too dry.
Ended up at Peach RV Park, Maryjill, WA, along the Columbia River There are peach and cherry tree orchards all around us but fruit isn’t ready yet.
Today began Bill’s exploration of the Lewis and Clark Expedition.
We first headed to Ft Clatsop where L & C and their Corps of Discovery had their winter quarters. We visited a replica of Fort Clatsop built to the dimensions drawn by Clark on the elk hide cover of his field book.
We hiked around the fort on a trail that took us to the Columbia River. The trees had so much moss growing on them.
The next place to explore was Cape Disappointment State Park in Washington. We had seen this bridge from a distance and wondered where it went.
Well today we found out! We had to go across this to get from Oregon to Washington. It’s about 3 miles long. Can you imagine what it took to build something like this.
This bridge took us into Washington and more of the Lewis and Clark trail. First we went to Cape Disappointment State Park where the interpretive center was. I liked the name of the state park. Had to learn more about it. In 1788 when English captain, John Meares, was searching the Columbia River, he missed the passage and named the river bar Cape Disappointment. In 1805, Lewis and Clark Expedition arrived at the Cape.
The Interpretive Centrr presented the Expedition with text, pictures and artifacts. A very well done exhibit.
After a little hike at Cape Disappointment with the dogs, we were able to see the Cape Disappointment lighthouse which is the oldest functioning one on the West Coast.
A Sitka spruce tree caught my eye. Only got a quarter of it because of its size.
On our way back to the campground we had to stop at the Rogue Brewery on Pier 39 that Shannon told us about. The beer and the food were worth the stop.
This is one of the ships waiting in the harbor. HUGE.
I also wanted to see the Flavel House, an 1886 Queen Anne architecture. Beautiful.
Back to the campground, till tomorrow’s adventure.
Today we left my most favorite place we’ve ever camped - right on the Oregon Coast at Tillicum Beach.
Bill has wanted to follow the Lewis and Clark expedition so we are staying at Fort Stevens, almost to the Washington border.
On the way up the coast, we stopped at the Quilt and Textile Center and Tillamook Cheese Factory.
The quilt and textile center is a wonderful and diverse place for a group of artisans to show their beautiful products. Enjoyed looking at the beautiful art work.
Look at all those New York beauties, Linda Zubler. . Think we’ll get ours finished?
Resident weaver.
Then on to Tillimook Cheese and Creamery. Had to try some of both. Bill had salted caramel butter pecan and I had s’mores! Yum.
We got to the Ft Stevens campground around 3 and decided to go for a short beach hike to where the Pacicic ocean meets the Columbia river. Lenny was very happy. Guess we are going to need to build a beach or at least a sand box. He went right for the water and started digging in the sand.
The campground we are staying at was the primary military defense installation at the mouth of the Columbia River. The fort serves for 84 years beginning with the Civil War and closing at the end of World War II.
Back to the campground for a fire and favorite meal - pizza mountain pies.
Then it was on to the Sea Lion Caves. It’s the largest sea lion cave in the US. From the lookout, we could see a lot.
Then when we got down in the cave we saw more.
And here’s a video so you can hear them (I hope).
After that wonderful experience we went exploring the town of Florence. Not a lot but they did have a dog store so Reuben got a new harness because bra been walking so much. Lunch by the water was clam chowder and crab cakes. They were so good.
Needed to walk off that lunch so on to the Hobbit Trail, through a coastal forest of old trees and moss hanging down ... hence the name hobbit. The trail too is to the beach so Lenny and Reuben had some more fun beaching.
Headed up the coast of Oregon to Tillicum Beach Campground which is about 15 miles north of Florence. We picked this campground because it is right on the coast. I have always wanted to camp by the ocean - now I have!
The weather was beautiful and warm today, in the 70s. We walked the beach for about 3 miles. A wave caught Lenny and he body surfed in to shore. He only did it once though! Reuben walked but didn’t get too close the water.
Had a fire and cooked sausages and s’mores. Turned on the TV and had stations via antenna even though we didn’t have cell service. Watched NCIS.
Decided to explore Coos Bay, a larger city about 30 miles north. The Visitor Center volunteer told us about a Horsfall beach that dogs could be off-leash. So away we went to see what Lenny and Reuben would do. Lenny had a blast. Ran around, dug holes in the sand and chased rocks. Even Reuben enjoyed walking and sniffing trying to find crabs to eat!
It was a beautiful, sunny and warm day. Perfect weather. We walked, sniffed and played for at least 2.5 hours.
Then decided it was time for a brew at 7 Devils Brewery.
A drive down the cost was gorgeous blue waters and sea lions! Noisy little buggers. We couldn’t get close to them because it was pupping season. There were hundreds on the little beach.
A small lighthouse could be seen in the distance.
Back to the campground for a snack. Took a walk around and saw the cutest tiny house. We’ve noticed as we travel across the US that there are a number of people who live in campgrounds, mostly in campers but some have tiny houses.
Since it was such a clear night we decided to go to Face Rock parking lot to watch the sun set. Another pretty one.
Bill thinks that should be enough sunsets for now. We’ll see!
