Notes from the Summer Road 2007
Dear Friends & Family,
We left Grass Valley, in the first week of July headed again, as in previous years, for the Oregon Coast. When we left home it was very warm, in contrast to the cool and moist coast of Oregon. The mornings were overcast and wet but each day there offered some afternoon sun allowing for outings and photography.
We paused overnight in Coos Bay, before moving on to Florence, for a weeklong stay at the South Jetty RV Park, right next to the famous Oregon Dunes. Yeah, Ron finally got his chance to take the Jeep through some really soft sand in getting out to the beach. Judy was quite sure we would get stuck but we just mushed on through. Afterwards she said she’d have no more qualms about driving on the beaches here on the North Coast.
We had a tailgate picnic in the cool ocean breeze. In the surf was the carcass of a whale that had washed ashore. It appeared to be quite a recent event as it was completely intact. We later heard on the television news that a much larger than normal number of marine animals were washing up on the beach due to the return of what they called the “dead zone” offshore. I presume that it must be something like a red tide. Either way, Kevin reported the following week that there was a large sea lion on the beach just north of the whale carcass.
Kevin and his family joined all of Dodie’s extended family for a week of fun on the dunes with their ATV. Unfortunately our schedules didn’t mesh and we departed some hours before they arrived.
We continued north about 50 miles to Newport for more of the same weather and even a little rain. Actually there was so much rain that the weather guys in Portland announced a new record of 7 consecutive days of measurable rain in July.
Depoe Bay, a summer tourist hotspot, was our next stop. Near Depoe Bay we stayed in a lovely RV Park/Fish Camp along the Siletz River. Waking at sunrise one morning Ron grabbed his camera and got this shot of a foggy sunrise in the river canyon. Record Salmon are caught here on the river in spring and fall. The RV Park offers guided fishing trips on
the river in their boats or your boat. Those who bring their own boat leave them in a parking area and the park launches them whenever you are ready. We only stayed in this area for about 5 days but had some good food, bought some gifts for the boys, and enjoyed the peace and quiet.
Rockaway Beach appears to be a favorite spot for those who enjoy renting beach cottages, as there are hundreds of them available. They run the gamut from old and funky to modern hi-tech. There isn’t much to do besides beach coming in Rockaway Beach but it’s a great place for that. The beach is beautiful and the rocks offshore are very interesting. The photo below shows “Twin Rocks”.
Several local kite clubs were on the beach the day we arrived and their kites were the most spectacular we’ve ever seen. Some of them were easily 50 or 60 feet long. Numerous international kite-flying meets occur in this area every summer and are so popular that one should make RV Park or Hotel reservations as much as a full year in advance.
While staying in Rockaway Beach we visited the Tillamook Cheese Factory where we took the self-guided tour and ate lunch (definitely not recommended), the lunch that is. We did top off a remarkably mediocre lunch with an ice cream cone, however.
After Rockaway we continued north to our favorite spot on the coast, Seaside. We spent a lovely week here reacquainting ourselves with the area. Nearby Cannon Beach offered a marvelous lunch and, of course, Haystack Rock, the most famous and photographed rock on the Oregon coast.
We drove out to the point at Ecola State Park where there are views of both Cannon Beach and the Tillamook Head Lighthouse, weather permitting. On the morning we drove out there it was beautiful and sunny but a fogbank just offshore hid the lighthouse. We returned near sunset and got the view you see below. 
The setting sun provided beautiful color as it silhouetted the lighthouse. Tillamook Head Light is no longer in use. Its remains sit on a huge rock located 2 miles offshore and was known during the years it was operated as Wild Tilly. We can only imagine how difficult and lonely life had to be for the light keepers out there.
Looking in exactly the opposite direction we could see Cannon Beach and, in the distance, Haystack Rock.
The rough and rocky coasts provides so many opportunities when the weather cooperates and the colors near sunset are wonderful. The beach below took on a warm glow that was so beautiful Ron couldn’t resist this shot.
Seaside marked the end of our first coastal visit this summer. We’re off for two weeks of RV rallies (conventions). The first will be in Salem, OR and is hosted by Monaco Internation (Monaco Coach Owner’s Club) and the second will be in Redmond, OR, hosted by the Family Motor Coach Association (FMCA). The first will see 200 or 300 Monaco coaches attending while the FMCA affair will see thousands of motorhomes of all makes in attendance. Big name entertainment will be featured each night as well as several thousand new motorhomes to look at and drool and vendors selling everything you could ever need to make life pleasant and trouble free while living the mobile life.
More importantly, we’ll meet some new folks, some of whom may become friends we’ll see along the way for years to come.
We’re having a wonderful time this summer and look forward to what’s left of it here in Oregon. After the rallies we’ll return to the coast of Southwest Washington before turning south and heading for home the beginning of September.
Dear Friends & Family,
We left Grass Valley, in the first week of July headed again, as in previous years, for the Oregon Coast. When we left home it was very warm, in contrast to the cool and moist coast of Oregon. The mornings were overcast and wet but each day there offered some afternoon sun allowing for outings and photography.
We paused overnight in Coos Bay, before moving on to Florence, for a weeklong stay at the South Jetty RV Park, right next to the famous Oregon Dunes. Yeah, Ron finally got his chance to take the Jeep through some really soft sand in getting out to the beach. Judy was quite sure we would get stuck but we just mushed on through. Afterwards she said she’d have no more qualms about driving on the beaches here on the North Coast.We had a tailgate picnic in the cool ocean breeze. In the surf was the carcass of a whale that had washed ashore. It appeared to be quite a recent event as it was completely intact. We later heard on the television news that a much larger than normal number of marine animals were washing up on the beach due to the return of what they called the “dead zone” offshore. I presume that it must be something like a red tide. Either way, Kevin reported the following week that there was a large sea lion on the beach just north of the whale carcass.
Kevin and his family joined all of Dodie’s extended family for a week of fun on the dunes with their ATV. Unfortunately our schedules didn’t mesh and we departed some hours before they arrived.
We continued north about 50 miles to Newport for more of the same weather and even a little rain. Actually there was so much rain that the weather guys in Portland announced a new record of 7 consecutive days of measurable rain in July.
Depoe Bay, a summer tourist hotspot, was our next stop. Near Depoe Bay we stayed in a lovely RV Park/Fish Camp along the Siletz River. Waking at sunrise one morning Ron grabbed his camera and got this shot of a foggy sunrise in the river canyon. Record Salmon are caught here on the river in spring and fall. The RV Park offers guided fishing trips on
the river in their boats or your boat. Those who bring their own boat leave them in a parking area and the park launches them whenever you are ready. We only stayed in this area for about 5 days but had some good food, bought some gifts for the boys, and enjoyed the peace and quiet.Rockaway Beach appears to be a favorite spot for those who enjoy renting beach cottages, as there are hundreds of them available. They run the gamut from old and funky to modern hi-tech. There isn’t much to do besides beach coming in Rockaway Beach but it’s a great place for that. The beach is beautiful and the rocks offshore are very interesting. The photo below shows “Twin Rocks”.
Several local kite clubs were on the beach the day we arrived and their kites were the most spectacular we’ve ever seen. Some of them were easily 50 or 60 feet long. Numerous international kite-flying meets occur in this area every summer and are so popular that one should make RV Park or Hotel reservations as much as a full year in advance.While staying in Rockaway Beach we visited the Tillamook Cheese Factory where we took the self-guided tour and ate lunch (definitely not recommended), the lunch that is. We did top off a remarkably mediocre lunch with an ice cream cone, however.
After Rockaway we continued north to our favorite spot on the coast, Seaside. We spent a lovely week here reacquainting ourselves with the area. Nearby Cannon Beach offered a marvelous lunch and, of course, Haystack Rock, the most famous and photographed rock on the Oregon coast.
We drove out to the point at Ecola State Park where there are views of both Cannon Beach and the Tillamook Head Lighthouse, weather permitting. On the morning we drove out there it was beautiful and sunny but a fogbank just offshore hid the lighthouse. We returned near sunset and got the view you see below. The setting sun provided beautiful color as it silhouetted the lighthouse. Tillamook Head Light is no longer in use. Its remains sit on a huge rock located 2 miles offshore and was known during the years it was operated as Wild Tilly. We can only imagine how difficult and lonely life had to be for the light keepers out there.Looking in exactly the opposite direction we could see Cannon Beach and, in the distance, Haystack Rock.
The rough and rocky coasts provides so many opportunities when the weather cooperates and the colors near sunset are wonderful. The beach below took on a warm glow that was so beautiful Ron couldn’t resist this shot.
Seaside marked the end of our first coastal visit this summer. We’re off for two weeks of RV rallies (conventions). The first will be in Salem, OR and is hosted by Monaco Internation (Monaco Coach Owner’s Club) and the second will be in Redmond, OR, hosted by the Family Motor Coach Association (FMCA). The first will see 200 or 300 Monaco coaches attending while the FMCA affair will see thousands of motorhomes of all makes in attendance. Big name entertainment will be featured each night as well as several thousand new motorhomes to look at and drool and vendors selling everything you could ever need to make life pleasant and trouble free while living the mobile life.
More importantly, we’ll meet some new folks, some of whom may become friends we’ll see along the way for years to come.
We’re having a wonderful time this summer and look forward to what’s left of it here in Oregon. After the rallies we’ll return to the coast of Southwest Washington before turning south and heading for home the beginning of September.
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