Another relaxed get-away this morning. We packed up the cars, finished some laundry, did some Helium work and were ready for breakfast by 9:30. The Best Western at Bandon served a breakfast and gave a partial credit for those staying at the hotel. This was a much lighter breakfast than previous days, a good thing after yesterday's massive feed.
Before leaving Bandon we drove through the older section of town noted as an art community. En-route we passed the Coquille River Light and of course arranged for a photo. Once in town we zoomed in on the artsy nature of the place with a stop near a park with local art made from trash and debris collected from the sea and local beaches; certainly different.
Departing Bandon, a center of cranberry production in Oregon, we caught glimpses of the local cranberry bogs, some currently ripe for flooding and harvesting. Further along we made one beach stop but after concluding that the route down to the beach and more importantly back up was too treacherous to risk our 60-something bodies, we savored the view, just another of so many vistas along the Oregon coast.
Arriving in Brookings, OR we gassed up, knowing that only a few miles ahead in California the cost would be greater by $0.40-$0.50/gallon.
Around 1 PM we crossed from Oregon into California. As it was time for lunch and we had left-over pizza along with cheese and crackers and fruit we headed to Jedediah Smith State Park. Diane and Greg had the "get-in-free" car pass, saving them the $7 day-pass fee; as out of staters, we weren't so lucky but these are fees I have no issue with as they go to help sustain the parks system.
In addition to finding a quiet lunch spot amongst the giant trees, we had one other mission while in the park. Sheila was determined to find the exact spot where we camped some 25 years ago.
Lunch in the outdoors is always good and this was no exception. We devoured the pizza and finished off some of the various cheeses we had purchased along the way.
With lunch completed it was hiking time. We started along the river trail and worked our way through the park. I'm forever awed by the giant trees, some thousands of years old, some of the tallest and largest living things on the planet. Somewhere along the hike, two of the hikers were convinced that we were lost. In any case we did find our way home but not before Sheila discovered the historic camp site, the site where we had tented, cooked out, hiked, etc. as a family so many years past; yes, the exact camp site and yes, I did say tented on the bare ground with critters of all types from black bears to banana slugs roaming around.
Upon finding the cars we breathed a sigh of relief; we would not be spending a night in the park after all.
As it was now after 4 and actually almost 5 o'clock somewhere, the decision was made to lay-over in Crescent City, CA, about 12 miles away. Crescent City is noted historically for being a tsunami target after Pacific Rim earthquakes. The Alaska "Good Friday" quake of March 1964 resulted in a tsunami that devastated the low lying areas of Crescent City. More recently the March 2011 Japan earthquake caused minor tidal damage.
Sheila and Greg tuned in to the Red Sox vs. Tigers game via iPads while Diane and I explored the tidal pools on the nearby shoreline. As the tide was low, the pools were numerous. Once acclimating our vision to the colors and shadowing of the rocky pools we began to see typical tidal pool creatures, crabs, shellfish and most interestingly, starfish of varied colors. Once back at the rooms we all sat out on the hotel room deck overlooking the rocky shoreline and setting sun with glasses of Willamette Valley wine to make our dinner decision. It would be the Chart Room.
The Chart Room is located on a long pier like structure at the south end of Crescent City. The location provides an excellent view of the setting sun and of the local Battery Point Lighthouse. In the restaurant I think we lowered the average age of the dinner guests when we arrived. We all had some sort of seafood dish. I would rate it good for a small town favorite but clearly not to be compared with the similarly named Chart House. Though we won't have breakfast at the Chart Room, of note was a sign indicating that for a mere $1.50 up charge, they serve "REAL MAPLE SYRUP" with the morning entrees. Sheila was obviously pleased to see such a iconic symbol of sophistication spreading from the Northeast all the way out to California.
Once back in the rooms for the night, it was puzzles, blogs and whatever.
We've got about 470 miles to go for our Friday arrival in Monterey.
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| Coquille River Light |
Before leaving Bandon we drove through the older section of town noted as an art community. En-route we passed the Coquille River Light and of course arranged for a photo. Once in town we zoomed in on the artsy nature of the place with a stop near a park with local art made from trash and debris collected from the sea and local beaches; certainly different.
Departing Bandon, a center of cranberry production in Oregon, we caught glimpses of the local cranberry bogs, some currently ripe for flooding and harvesting. Further along we made one beach stop but after concluding that the route down to the beach and more importantly back up was too treacherous to risk our 60-something bodies, we savored the view, just another of so many vistas along the Oregon coast.
Arriving in Brookings, OR we gassed up, knowing that only a few miles ahead in California the cost would be greater by $0.40-$0.50/gallon.
Around 1 PM we crossed from Oregon into California. As it was time for lunch and we had left-over pizza along with cheese and crackers and fruit we headed to Jedediah Smith State Park. Diane and Greg had the "get-in-free" car pass, saving them the $7 day-pass fee; as out of staters, we weren't so lucky but these are fees I have no issue with as they go to help sustain the parks system.
In addition to finding a quiet lunch spot amongst the giant trees, we had one other mission while in the park. Sheila was determined to find the exact spot where we camped some 25 years ago.
 |
| Lunch in the Park |
Lunch in the outdoors is always good and this was no exception. We devoured the pizza and finished off some of the various cheeses we had purchased along the way.
 |
| Tree Hugger? |
With lunch completed it was hiking time. We started along the river trail and worked our way through the park. I'm forever awed by the giant trees, some thousands of years old, some of the tallest and largest living things on the planet. Somewhere along the hike, two of the hikers were convinced that we were lost. In any case we did find our way home but not before Sheila discovered the historic camp site, the site where we had tented, cooked out, hiked, etc. as a family so many years past; yes, the exact camp site and yes, I did say tented on the bare ground with critters of all types from black bears to banana slugs roaming around.
 |
| Only 300' To The Top |
 |
| "Nature Girl" |
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| "Nature Couple" |
Upon finding the cars we breathed a sigh of relief; we would not be spending a night in the park after all.
 |
| So now, who's the tallest? |
 |
| "The EXACT Camp Site" |
As it was now after 4 and actually almost 5 o'clock somewhere, the decision was made to lay-over in Crescent City, CA, about 12 miles away. Crescent City is noted historically for being a tsunami target after Pacific Rim earthquakes. The Alaska "Good Friday" quake of March 1964 resulted in a tsunami that devastated the low lying areas of Crescent City. More recently the March 2011 Japan earthquake caused minor tidal damage.
Sheila and Greg tuned in to the Red Sox vs. Tigers game via iPads while Diane and I explored the tidal pools on the nearby shoreline. As the tide was low, the pools were numerous. Once acclimating our vision to the colors and shadowing of the rocky pools we began to see typical tidal pool creatures, crabs, shellfish and most interestingly, starfish of varied colors. Once back at the rooms we all sat out on the hotel room deck overlooking the rocky shoreline and setting sun with glasses of Willamette Valley wine to make our dinner decision. It would be the Chart Room.
 |
| Liking: REAL MAPLE SYRUP |
 |
| "Nature Boy" |
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| Battery Point Lighthouse |
We've got about 470 miles to go for our Friday arrival in Monterey.
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