The State of Oregon, USA
Part of a year long trip from Sept ’94 - Sept ’95 through 36
USA States and 2 Canadian Provinces by Jean and Graham Beven in ‘Serendipity’ their
30 foot Winnebago Chieftain.
Oregon: Round Trip USA
We stayed and played in the state of Oregon, USA as there was lots to do
on our must see list of places to visit and we were waiting for the weather
to improve as we headed north.
There are however four National Wildlife Refuges, eighteen Bureau of Land
Management areas, four National Parks and ---- State Parks in the state
of Oregon.
The State Tourist Office for the state of Oregon, USA is: Oregon
Tourism Division
- 775 Summer Street NE, Salem, OR 97310
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24th May A monster day driving 311 miles. From Crescent City, California.
to Grants Pass, Oregon. via Crater Lake. Through Medford, Oregon
and up to Crater Lake, Oregon. and back. The snow was horrendous but
the view was worth the trip. Regrettably we arrived after the visitors
centre had closed. No trip to Oregon would be complete without visiting
Crater Lake National Park. The lake has amazing sapphire blue water
in the unique setting of being inside the caldera of a collapsed volcano.
The eruption ceased about 7,000 years ago. Crater Lake is the worlds
seventh deepest lake - giving rise to the water colour! There is a
terrific overlook close to the Rim Village Visitor Centre. The 'Rim
Drive' was closed due to snow! Opens each year in June.
On the way back down
we stopped a fish hatchery for tea. The salmon were collecting at
the fish ladder in their thousands. It was a spectacular site to behold.
Overnighted in Grants Pass, OR.
25th Back into California for
a couple of days crabbing in Crescent City, CA.
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27th Back from California -
Moving off north on Highway 101. 
Through Brookings Harbour, Oregon.
where we stopped to watch the boats coming and going before moving
up to Harris Beach State Park, Oregon. Stayed at the Rest Area. Spent
the day on the beach – sunbathing and walking. 28th and 29th same
again. We can’t rush north as the weather up north
is still too cold to do what we are doing at this time of year!
30th After calling back into Brookings to get some supplies we headed
off north through Pistol River, Oregon. Hunter Creek, Oregon. Gold
Beach, Oregon. Crossing the high bridge just to the north before
going through Wedderburn, Oregon and Neskia Beach, Oregon before
stopping at the Rest Area at Ophir, Oregon. Lovely views of the Pacific
Ocean. All we need now is some warm sun! Stayed 2 nights ‘till 1st
June, in this popular rest area with other campers.
Between 1st June and 4th Travelled north again to Coos Bay, Oregon.
through Port Orford, Oregon. Sixes, Langlois and Bandon, Oregon. There
were no places to overnight between Ophir and Coos Bay. We were disappointed
because the smelt were in at Bandon – Caught 15 smelt,
before moving up to Coos. Spent the rest of the week end at Coos Bay,
OR. Travelling backwards and forwards to Charleston, Oregon. where
we spent some time crabbing. Total catch 5 large Dungeness and 2 Red
Rock crabs. What a feast!
5th and 6th Stayed in the triangle Coos, Bandon and Charleston. Fishing,
Crabbing and sunning ourselves! Caught some herring and smelt and the
odd crab.
7th A dry mild day. Moved up the coast a little on 101. Through Hauser,
Oregon. and Lakeside, Oregon. Winchester Bay, Oregon. where we
spent the day – crabbing – no luck! Moved into Reedsport,
Oregon - to overnight at the visitors centre.
8th A few more miles today. Still on 101 through Gardiner, Oregon. Watched
dune buggies in the Oregon Dunes National Park at the Oregon Dunes
Overlook just south of Dune City, Oregon. Some schools are closing
for the summer today so we expect a lot more traffic on the roads now
particularly at the weekends. Travelled through Florence, Oregon.
and entered the Siuslaw National Forest, where we stopped at the Visitors
Centre and learned a bit about the area, whales and sea life. Followed
the Tide-pool Trail and saw Purple Sea Urchins, Starfish, Sea Anemones
and Hermit Crabs as well as many different species of seaweed.
When the
tide was at its lowest we were at Bolon Island on Hwy 101 just north
of the Umpqua River where we saw people out on the mud - we found that
we were permitted to go Clam Digging for Eastern Soft Shell Clams and
Cockles here so we had a go! We were given instruction on 'how to'
and ended up with a bucket load. Graham liked them fried with a bit
of bacon. Jean wasn't all that keen but ate some anyway.
After we left we passed the Sea lion Caves – Saw
over 100 sea lions (Stella’s)
on the rocks. Stella are a light brown.
9th, Florence, OR. to Cape Perpetua, Oregon. Stopped at Heceta Head
Lighthouse and saw whales ‘blowing’ about a mile off the coast.
Visited Devils Churn Viewpoint, low tide so not much of a churn more
a soup bowl! Drove up onto the top of the cape for the view - What
a view. Spent the rest of the day at the Cape Perpetua visitor centre.
Watching local films – viewing
exhibits about the cape and walking the trails. Through tide pools – held
a green anemone. Saw starfish, acorn limpets, mussels etc. A young
seal was basking in the sun. Overnight at the visitor centre. (Locked
in!)
10th Yachats and up to Waldport, Oregon. We like this part of the coast
a lot. Over the next few days we moved between Waldport, OR. and
Newport, Oregon. and back again! Bought a new crab ring from Wal-Mart
where we were camping. caught 4 crabs one day and then at Newport,
OR. on the dock we had a bumper day. 27 good sized Dungeness and Red
Rock crabs – Weather
was appalling but didn’t stop us having fun! Crabbing and ‘jigging’ for
smelt. Jean is really ‘hooked’ on fishing now!
11th to the 15th stayed around Newport, OR. Having cooked all the crabs
last night we now have to take all the meat out of the shells. including
the 4 from the other day we have 31 to shell! This we think will take
the best part of the day. We parked facing the sea at Agate Beach.
Lots of people come there in search of agate. But all they find is
sand, sea and driftwood!
We visited the Lighthouse at Yaquina Head on Hwy 101, 3miles north of Newport
- The tallest lighthouse on the Oregon coast. Climbed to the top over
90 feet above ground level. Got close up views of seabird nesting sites
on the rocks and cliffs around. Saw whales 'blowing' out at sea - but
couldn't identify them. A brilliant place to visit.
16th Thought we’d better move a bit so we headed north From Newport,
OR. to Neskowin, Oregon. passing through Agate Beach, Otter Rock – where
we visited the ‘Devils Punchbowl’ the tide was good so saw lots
of foam and geysers forced through blow holes.- Through Depoe Bay,
Lincoln Beach, Gleneden Beach, Lincoln City, Oregon and Otis.
17th From Neskowin to Garibaldi, Oregon. driving through Oretown, Cloverdale,
Hebo, Hemlock, Pleasant Valley, and stopping at the Tillamook Cheese
Makers. As a farmer owned cooperative, they take pride in continuing
the tradition of quality cheese making started over a century ago.
They believe it takes ‘a
purity of purpose’ to make cheese like Tillamook Cheese. That's why
they've used the same cheese recipe for over 100 years, and why they
say they will continue to use it in the future. Took part in a cheese
tasting - yummy!
We moved on to Bay
City stopping in Garibaldi, OR. Had our last crabbing session before
we move up towards Washington State the next day.
Between the 18th and 20th From Garibaldi through Rockway Beach, Wheeler,
Nahalem, Cannon Beach , Seaside , Gearhart and Astoria, Oregon. Crossing
the Columbia River on the afternoon of the 20th Into Washington State.
Saw whales today. Washington
