The campground (CG) in Redding (CA) was very close to I5 and had loud truck noises, almost continuously. So, we left a day early and drove to Emigrant Lake, a county campground, very beautiful and quiet, just across the OR/CA border, near Ashland, OR. On the way we stopped at a roadside rest area for a good view of Mt Shasta.
We continued northwest to The Valley of the Rogue campground (VRCG), between Medford and Grants Pass, OR. Our campsite was only 50 yards from the Rogue River. From VRCG we went to Crater Lake NP. Inside the crater was a beautiful blue lake. Where the rim faced north, there were piles of snow. Because all the snow had not melted all around the rim, the road was not open for the entire crater perimeter.

Continuing west to Brookings, OR, the road made a dip back into CA at the coast and, in about 20 miles, we were back in Oregon, on the Oregon coast. Our next CG was Harris Beach SRA. We finally made it to the Oregon coast! Based at Harris Beach, we went to Jedediah Smith SP, the northernmost part of the Redwood NP (CA). The giant redwood trees were think, tall and dwarfed the humans walking among their silence. On the way back to the CG, we stopped in Brookings and had our first Dungeness Crab. The road (Highway 101) north of Brookings is called the S H Boardman Scenic Corridor. There are many pullouts along this road, each with a view of sea stacks, cliffs and pocket beaches. It is breath taking, each stop the view was similar but different. Lighthouses visited from this stop were: Battery Point, Crescent City, CA; Pelican Bay, a private lighthouse in Brookings and Cape Blanco, near Port Orfotd.

Moving north along the coast, our next campground was Sunset Bay SP, near Coos Bay. This is a beautiful campground. The sites are nicely spaced, and separated by a tree/bushe barrier, easy to get into and is just a short distance from the beach in a small secluded cove. At this CG we purchased our first live Dungeness Crab and cooked it over the campfire. An Oregon white complimented it nicely. A nice walk to the beach to watch the sunset ended a lovely day. Nearby is Shore Acres SP, a beautiful botanical garden situated on a bluff overlooking the ocean. Lighthouses visited from this stop were: Cape Arago near Coos Bay and Umpqua River, near Reedsport.

The third, and last coastal Oregon CG, was private, Netarts Bay Garden CG near Tillamook. On the way we stopped at a farmer’s market in a village and purchased some very fresh, organic vegetables. We arrived at the CG in time for the owner’s annual 4th of July pig roast. The CG was clean, well maintained and the owners were friendly. The sites were paved and close together. Nearby is the village of Oceanside, with homes fronting on the beach and the adjoining hillside. Lighthouses visited from this stop were: Cape Meares (and the nearly 300 year old Sitka Spruce, the “Octopus Tree”), and Tillamook Rock.

We left Netarts Bay traveling north on Route 101 heading for Washington. In Astoria we stopped at the Lewis and Clark NHP (Fort Clapsop). This is where Lewis and Clark, and the rest of the Corps of Discovery, spent the winter of 1805/1806.

The Oregon coast was spectacular. Now it's on to Washington on the other side of the Columbia River, via the Astoria-Megler Bridge. As we approached the bridge, a sign read, Astoria-Megler Bridge, 4.3 miles long. Gulp!