Horray - We Have Wi-Fi Again

After several days without web service we’ll catch you up with our travels.  We crossed into Oregon and were surprised there was no ‘welcome sign’.  Maybe they don’t want people in their state!!! 

Outside in the grass at our campsite were the largest brown slugs and banana slugs we have ever seen.  Mike thought it was dog do-do, but he was wrong, since do-do doesn’t move on its own!!!  I guess they are a common thing in Oregon due to the damp weather by the coast.  Yuck!

Newport, OR

We took a tour of the Yaquina Bay Lighthouse which is on the south end of Newport.  The lighthouse keeper’s residence is one of the largest we have seen, and we have seen many.  The light is on top of the residence and this light was first used at Morro Bay.  It soon became apparent that the light was not as visible as needed, so the government decommissioned it in 1874. 




Yaquina Bay Lighthouse



Rogue Brewery

We then went to Newport Bayfront area where we stopped at Rogue Brewery, ate an early dinner where we sat at the bar and Mike sampled four of their dark beers.  On a previous trip to Joseph, OR we met the brew master who was camped next to us.
There are many municipal parks, campgrounds, trails, and they have tide pools to go to and an interpretive center to explore. 

As we were leaving the campground Judy thought she saw something ‘blond’ go into some bushes, thinking it was a dog.  When Mike drove just a little further we saw three deer, two cleaning each other (probably the Mama and baby) and the other was eating from the bushes.  






Ilwaco, WA

On the way to Ilwaco , we stopped in Tillamook, Oregon at the cheese factory.   The tour is self-guided and there were many people checking it out, observing the entire line from large bricks of cheese, to the cutting, trimming to size, packaging, etc.  They had about six different types of cheeses to sample, and if you didn’t see what you wanted to sample, all you had to do was ask.  They were quite generous.












The roads we were on today were extremely windy with gentle hills.  It, again, was very green by the sides of Highway 101 and again, we went through many very small towns.


Forks, WA

In Forks we are on the West side of the Olympic Peninsula which is the Northwest corner of the Pacific Northwest.  It is bordered on the north and west by over 100 miles of saltwater shores, and to the south and east by alpine meadows and rainforests.  Over 200 miles of wild rivers furrow the region with healthy runs of native salmon and steelheads.  Forks  where we are staying for four days, is the primary population and commercial hub for the area.  It is the home of Stephanie Meyer's Twilight book series.Year round temperatures range from the mid-40s to the upper 60s and snowfalls are infrequent.  When leaving the campground this morning it was in the mid-50s and now, at 5:00 p.m. it is in the low 70s (which the gal in the office said was warm!)  We are staying here for four days to explore new sites in Olympic National Park that we missed on a previous visit.  It was created in 1938. Today the park is recognized as a World Heritage Site.

Waterfalls  

Today we had a leisurely breakfast and then headed out to see some waterfalls.  The temperature was 68º when we left. 

Sol Duc Falls

Our first hike of the day was .8 mile to Sol Duc Falls which is close to Sol Duc Hot Springs.  The hike was the most difficult at the beginning, and had many ups and downs, rocks to watch and tree roots to step over.  The elevation gain is 200 feet. The fall is viewed from above stream level, which is unusual here.  We took many pictures of the falls and an hour after beginning the hike we started to head back.  Many people come to this area for the hot springs.  Coho and Chinook salmon ascend the Sol Duc River in late summer and spawn in late fall, while cutthroat trout and steelhead run in the fall and winter and spawn into the spring.  Our next stop was Marymere Falls by the Storm King Visitor Center.  Judy had enough hiking for the moment and this one was another .8 miles, so she told Mike that he could go and she would read in the truck.  About 70 minutes later the hiker returned and said the first 2/3 of the hike were very easy, but the last 1/3 was VERY steep and strenuous.  The waterfall was nice but nothing extraordinary.  It is described as dropping nearly 90’ from a cliff into a small plunge pool near the trail below.  Judy knows how to pick them.  We drove to what was supposed to be our next waterfall viewing, Madison Creek Falls.  Unfortunately when we got to the parking lot it was closed!!!  What a bummer.




 

Sol Duc Falls

 

Marymeade Falls




Reservations not required at the Tailgate Diner

Beaches

Leaving the trailer late morning we headed to the beaches.  Our first stop was Ruby Beach which has a meandering creek; dramatic sea stacks, and drift logs.  It is named for its sometimes garnet-colored sand (which we didn’t see!) 

Ruby Beach Starfish

The Water is Cold

We put on our ‘water shoes’ and rolled up our jeans and headed for the water, walking across many rounded stones.  The tide was just beginning to come back in which proved to be a challenge in taking pictures of the creatures on the rocks.  We did see many starfish of different colors, sea cucumbers, and other sea life that live on those rocks which are in the water at times, and out of the water at times, depending on the tide.  We then headed to Beach 4 which was recommended by a friend, but he is younger than we are and more agile!  The walk to the beach was very nice, but the rocks to climb down to the beach looked too treacherous for us old folk to traverse.  In the parking lot we enjoyed our tail gate lunch and then headed back to the trailer. 










Ruby Beach



Ruby Beach

Beach #4

The next morning after enjoying an omelet breakfast we took off for Rialto Beach.  When we were here a few years ago it was very windy and cold, this time it was raining and the wind was blowing gently.  It was still pretty withthe huge driftwood (some entire trees and smaller limbs) and smooth round rocks.  The waves were pretty big and not surprisingly, no one was in the water. We walked a little bit with our rain jackets on over denim or fleece, but nothing protected our faces and eyeglasses.




Rialto Beach




Rialto Beach