Our First Encounter with Lewis and Clark

William Clark thought he had reached the Pacific Ocean when he actually was at this estuary on the Columbia River on November 7, 1805. This is Lewis and Clark's National Park in Astoria, Oregon.

The Indians taught Lewis and Clark and their men to build canoes.

Some examples of the tools used during this time.

We walked down to Fort Clatsop. This was the winter encampment for the Corps of Discovery from December 1805 to March 1806.

Inside of Fort.

Bedroom.

Dining area.

Supply room.

Statue of Sacagawea.

Oregon Coast Aquarium

We visited the Oregon Coast Aquarium and started with the Sea Otters.  This is the largest population of sea otters in the state of Oregon. This species was hunted to extinction the Oregon wild over a century ago, with the last known individual being killed just off the Newport Beach in 1907.

The Sea Otters that are at this aquarium are composed of two species, the Northern Sea Otter and the Southern Sea Otter.  The only otters in Oregon today are river otters.

Our next habitat was the Sea Bird Aviary.  This is my favorite bird a Puffin.  My mother taught we a poem about Puffins, so they have always been my favorite.  "There once was a puffin who looked like a muffin, who lived on an island in the dark blue sea."

Does this look like an island?

In the Passage of the Deep, you walk through a tunnel that has water on three side of you.

We also visited the Hatfield Marine Center, which was a hands on center, that was operated by the University of Oregon.  Very interesting.

A Small Garden: Connie Hansen Garden

In Lincoln City, Oregon we accidentally came across this beautiful little garden.

Constance Hansen, widowed at the time, bought a portion of this Garden in the early 1970's and immediately began gardening.  

She had been looking for a sheltered, damp location where she could grow her favorite plant, the iris.

Connie next developed an ongoing interest in rhododendrons.

Pralines enjoyed the park.

Isn't Pralines the best!

The rest are pictures, enjoy! We sure did.

A Boat Trip and Dinner*

Newport, Oregon is a fishing village.

Crab nets.

Bay front.

We took a boat trip.  Hoping to see whales.  We were told it was one of 10 perfect weather days on the Oregon Coast and it was!

We headed out to the ocean.

The crew was great with the children.  The young girl on the left is a cancer survivor and this trip was a Make a Wish trip for her.

This is an ocean view of the Yaquina Head Lighthouse.

It was a bit windy and rocky, but after all the rain, we were enjoying the sun.

The little girl, who was the cancer survivor, got to drive our boat.

During the trip, the crew had a drag net out and when they pulled it in, this is what they had.  Crab!

We headed back to our dock.

We headed to dinner at a place recommended by Clay, Local Ocean Seafoods.

tI was so crowded we sat at the counter, watching the cooks.  You all know I am not a chef, but it was sure fun to watch.  Our dinner was incredible.  Another great recommendation of Clay's.

Had to add a picture of my dinner. It was yummy!

* I am trying to catch up on entries from summer.  So this entry was done in late October 2011.

Newport, Oregon Yaquina Bay Bridge and Two Lighthouses *

We left Coos Bay, OR. and traveled up the coast to Newport, Or.  When Bob pulled up to the Office and started to get out to register, we met Clay.  He was the host and saw us turn in and came to welcome us.  Clay was the best park host we ever had.  After we got set up, he came over with a handful of brochures  about what to do in the area.  He also recommended restaurants.  He gave us a DVD about the Oregon coast to watch later and said he would be check on us to see if we needed anything else.  This park was at the Marina. Near Rogue Brewery.  Which Clay recommended as a tour or a lunch spot or dinner.  We never made it there but we saw many of the places Clay recommended and ate everyday where he suggested.  All his information was current and excellent.

The Yaquina Bay Bridge is an arch bridge that spans Yaquina Bay south of Newport, Oregon.  It is one of the most recognizable of the U.S. Route 101 bridges designed by Conde McCullough. Our RV park was under this bridge.

The Yaquina Bay Lighthouse was built in 1871.  It was active for only three years due to the establishment of the Yaquina Head Lighthouse in 1873, located three miles north of Yaquina Bay. 

It is the only existing Oregon lighthouse with the living quarters attached, and the only historic wooden Oregon lighthouse still standing.

It is believed to be the oldest structure in Oregon.

The Yaquina Head Lighthouse also known early in its existence as the Cape Foulweather Lighthouse, is located near the mouth of the Yaquina River.  The tower stands 93 feet tall, and is the tallest lighthouse in Oregon.

Today, the fully automated first order Fresnel lens runs on commercial power and flashes its unique pattern of 2 seconds off, 2 seconds on, 14 seconds off, 24 hours a day.  The original oil burning wicks have been replaced with a 1000 watt globe.

View from the top.

*  I am trying to catch up my entries from summer.  So this entry was done in late October 2011. 

New Tires, An Alignment and Rain, Rain, Rain

I can't say that Coos Bay has been my favorite city.  The Mill Casino was a nice enough RV Park.  We ate several times at The Mill. The Plankhouse had a great menu, an Early Bird Special, but even better a more reasonable still Senior's Menu.  The view was also great from the restaurant. The casino has a smoke free slot machine room, but even with that and penny slots, Bob and I weren't tempted.

The whole week we were here it rained daily.  The gray skies were beginning to get to me.  I decided the sun had moved permanently to Tucson.  The flowers and greenery are beautiful and I know rain is necessary for all this beauty but it makes me want to crawl in bed and pull up the covers.

On Tuesday, May 31st, Bob had made arrangements to get two new front tires.  The motorhome had been shaking when you drove over 50 mph, and that's not good.  Tires of course had to be ordered but Tuesday was the delivery day. Les Swabb, in every city in Oregon, ordered the tires and put them on in less then an hour.  Great start.  I hate any repairs that have to be done to the motorhome.  Next it had to be aligned and Les doesn't do motorhomes, so we had to go to a truck place.  When your home is in the shop, you can't really stay in it, and of course it was raining.  We spent the day grocery shopping, eating lunch, checking out the lumber mill and the walkway along the river.  No pictures because of course it was raining.

When we got back to the motorhome, the news no motorhomer wants to hear, it would take another day.  Evidently something under the back of the motorhome was loose.  It would need welding and the owner did that and he was not in till tomorrow.  Now I thought ok, we'll go to a nice motel, The Red Lion was down the street and I knew all Red Lions like La Quintas welcomed dogs.  However, Bob had other ideas.  He thought we should spend the night in the motorhome at the shop.  He thought it was sooo nice that they hooked us up with water and electricity and since we were spending an inordinate amount of money at this shop.  It only made sense to spend the night.  I went to bed early, in the motorhome, mad.  (As my granddaughter would say, "I am mad!")

The night actually was ok and no one woke us up at 6:00 am to work on the motorhome, which was one of my main fears.  We left for breakfast about 9:00 am and Pralines had a hair appointment at 1:00 at Happy Tails. (Pralines wants you to know that he thought Happy Tails did a great job.)  By about 4:00 pm, we were on the road again, returning to our RV Park at The Mill.  We had a great dinner at the Plankhouse.  I think Bob was trying to make up for not going to the motel. What ever the reason, dinner was great and we had a last evening in Coos Bay.  Tomorrow we head to Newport, Oregon.  I am in hopes the sun might be there.