#192 Oregon Coast Trip

Anne and I finally got to do a little traveling, a very short trip on the Oregon coast. I did remember to set myself a photographic goal: try to get five photos each of the three days of the trip that are good enough—quality or story content—to share on a blog post.

Day One. We packed the Forester and were on the road by 9:30 AM. The weather was overcast and cool, but good for traveling down the I-5 and then to Junction City and the Poodle Creek cutoff to Florence (a route we had used many times when we lived in Brookings).

Our first stop was at the freeway rest stop (like a layby) just before Albany. We pulled into the facility and had to park near an individual having a dramatically punctuated discussion with himself. He was loudly argumentative and obviously high or mentally/emotionally challenged or both. From the car I took a picture, the first of the trip, but I don’t believe I should share the photo—perhaps if I were a photojournalist doing a story I might feel differently. Lots of weirdness in the world. Stop two was at Fiddler’s Green Golf Shop between Junction City and Eugene. We love to browse this shop and usually find an item or two to add to our golf supplies. On this trip, besides balls to lose, I bought a new PING putter because you can never have enough putters. It was a pleasant hour drive from Fiddler’s Green to Old Town Florence and coffee and a sweet at River Roasters. 

Anne at River Roasters

After a relaxed 45 minute break we walked down toward the docks and Anne’s favorite stop in town, All About Olives. There she spent almost as much on olives as I did on a PING putter—I do exaggerate…a little.

This plaque at the gazebo in Old Town Florence commemorates The Oregon Dune Mushers Mail Run, a trip by dog team over dunes, through rivers and streams, over quick sand flats for 72 miles in two days. I was one of the original mushers who ran the trail. I participated in the Mail Run for the first five years before my speech team activities got in the way.

We next drove out to the South Jetty for photos in the dunes. We managed to get a couple of decent photo stops, but the lighting was very flat. We killed a little time trying to get a few good images.

Grebe or Cormorant?

I think this is some kind of pussy willow which grows wild in the wetlands between the dunes.

It was now time to check in to the Landmark Inn, a block off Hwy 101 and only a few blocks from Old Town. Our unit was nice, a one bedroom with kitchenette (only missing an oven) and a dinette on the ground floor. The parking there is slightly tricky, but fine with the Forester (last visit we had a full size pickup). We took a short rest and then went back to Old Town for dinner at The Waterfront Depot. We didn’t have table reservations, but did get two seats at the end of the bar. The bartender was our waiter and put on a good show mixing drinks. Dinner wasn’t cheap (nothing on the coast is), but the meal was outstanding and well worth the price. Anne and I shared yummy calamari strips as an appetizer and I had the best seafood alfredo I’ve ever had. Even with my Glenfarclas 10 year old single malt, 

My Evening Tipple

we didn’t break the bank. We tried to pay for part of our trip at the Three Rivers Casino, but a couple of hours was enough to give up all we wanted. Time to go to our home for the next two nights.

Day Two. Late start this morning, both of us were tired from a travel day (out of practice). We got out to breakfast at the Little Brown Hen by almost 10:00. Always busy, always good. There are so many delicious breakfast choices it makes deciding difficult. I ordered two eggs, a side of bacon, and a plate-sized blueberry pancake. 

Several people (customers as well as waitstaff) commented or asked about the way I ate the pancake from the middle out. Even Anne had never noticed I do that. When I explained that starting in the middle keeps the syrup corralled, whereas starting the edge risks slopping syrup off the edge of the plate, I even got one “brilliant!”

After breakfast we drove down to the North Jetty where we’d never explored. We found some interesting forest paths and good river views. 

Too much photoshop?

Visited with a friendly local in the back of his pickup in the North Jetty parking lot.

The best photo opportunities came when we got closer to the dunes near the river mouth. 

Dunes of North Jetty

War of the Worlds anyone?

I’m glad we saw the North Jetty area, but the South has more photo potential. From North Jetty we drove back to the casino where Anne had a little luck and I ended up as slot fodder. Lattes and work time at the coffee shop took care of the rest of the afternoon. 

For dinner we went back to Old Town to the 1285 Restobar, a favorite of ours for good food and excellent service. I again had seafood alfredo which was delicious, but not quite as good as at Waterfront the night before. Give one 10/10 and the other 9.5/10. We went back to the motel and struggled to stay up until about 9:30. We are definitely out of traveling practice—it really wore us out.

Day Three. The trip home. We got a more efficient start today; up and packed and ready to check out by 9:05. Breakfast was again at Little Brown Hen—it’s the best spot in town and nothing else is very close. I had bacon, eggs, hashbrowns, and toast. Treat of the morning was the special homemade jams, blackberry and strawberry, which I used on the toast. Simple, delicious.

On our way out of town we stopped for gas at the local Fred Meyers. The whole trip in the Forester took one tank of petrol—good with current prices over $4 a gallon. We had planned on photographing at two locations on the way home. First was Haceta Head and Lighthouse. 

Hecta Head stands out in black and white.

I got good shots of a crow and the lighthouse from the Hwy 101 cliffside pullout. 

Hereto Beach

We walked out on the Haceta Beach for more photos before stoppong at our second spot, Seal Beach. Part of the walkway with views at Seal Beach was closed for repairs, but we still got some good views from where we could still walk.

The rocks at Seal Beach are more dramatic in monochrome. For those who know some Oregon coast geography, the small pinpoint of white at the upper right is Yaquina Head Lighhouse north of Newport. For those who don't know the geography, the dot is still the lighthouse.

In Newport we went to Starbucks for a latte break. Then, because we were making good time, we drove out to the Yaquina Head for photos of the lighthouse and resting sea lions. Our last planned stop of the trip was in Lincoln City at the Robert’s Bookshop. It’s my favorite used bookstore and I found a couple of photo books on the West and Southwest. 

But who's counting.

They make good editions to my collection. Anne bought a couple of books as well. 

The rest of the drive home was uneventful, In fact, the whole trip had been uneventful, but even though it may seem boring we both had had fun and felt safe. Now, Covid restrictions are opening up, but there’s a new variant to contend with. We’ll see what travel is next for us.