Tokeland, WA
Friday, August 10, 2007
We left Warrenton about 9:00 this morning and drove to the Bayshore RV park at Tokeland, WA. We are in a good sized corner space. We set up and took the girls to the beach, the girls noses couldn’t stop twitching for all the new smells. Later in the day Roadie and I walked across the street to the golf course and wandered around, sorry I didn’t bring my clubs.
Saturday. August 11, 2007
This morning we went down to the Tokeland Marina, we saw hundreds of Marbled Godwits on the shore, with Black Turnstones and Wiillets were mixed in. We saw a harbor seal swimming just outside of the dock. We saw lots of people heading out to sea for a day of fishing.
Next we traveled up Hwy 105 stopping several times along the beach looking for birds. Today’s highlight was seeing a Bald Eagle standing in the surf. We drove as far north as Westport, walked the jetty and saw lots of gulls, pelicans and cormorants on the jetty. Westport has grown since the last time we were there.
Sunday, August 12, 2007
We stayed at the RV park today, just walked the beach and golf course. It rained last night and everything is damp today.
Monday, August 13, 2007
We went looking for birds again this morning, didn’t see very many. We drove up to Westport and got the propane tank filled. We didn’t see very many birds on the way home either, the birds must have been out looking for lunch. It is beautiful today, the sun is out and the temps are in the 70’s.
Tuesday, August 14, 2007
We went out looking for birds again this morning, there were more around today than yesterday. We stopped at some of the beaches and just watched the hundreds of birds on the shores. Today was beautiful, the sun was out all day with a light breeze and the temps in the mid 70’s.
Thanks to Burt and Priscilla for introducing us to this place, it is beautiful, peaceful and relaxing.
Fort Stevens State Park
Thursday, August 09, 2007
We spent the day at Fort Stevens State Park, what a great day. Fort Stevens was originally commissioned as a Civil War fortification in 1863 and has a fascinating military history. During the Civil War the Union soldiers used it as a fort the only one on the West Coast. From the Civil War to the end of WWII the fort stood guard over the mouth of the Columbia River. During WWII on June 21, 1942 an offshore Japanese submarine fired 17 shells at the fort, no damages or injuries occurred.
We first stopped to check out the Peter Iredale shipwreck, a 278 foot British vessel that ran aground in 1906. All that is left is a few rusty and barnacled ribs.
We spent a few hours at the south jetty looking for sea and shore birds. Saw a two new life birds, the Red-throated Loon and Marbled Murrelette. Laying on the Beach below us was a dead seal, at first it looked like a rock, I hiked over to the beach to verify if it was just sleeping or if it had died.
We went to Kim’s here in Warrenton for dinner tonight, Jim had calamari and I had halibut, both servered with chips and asparagus, the food was excellent.
Astoria, OR
Wednesday, August 08, 2007
The first thing this morning we headed to Astoria Twilight Creek Eagle Sanctuary looking for eagles. We saw cormorants, gulls, ducks, geese and no eagles, I was disappointed. We returned to Astoria and went to the Columbia River Maritime Museum. The museum is filled with Coast Guard history, nautical artifacts and many stories of the hazards ships encountered during stormy and dangerous weather along the coast between Washington and Oregon. We also visited the Columbia, a lightship that once guided ships to safety at the mouth of the Columbia River.
We rode the Astoria Riverfront Trolley, the Old 300, it is a 1913 refurbished streetcar that travels along the waterfront. After the waterfront tour we went to the Astoria Column, climbed the 164 steps and took a few pictures of the area.
Cannon Beach, OR
Monday, August 06, 2007
We left Tillamook this morning and headed north to Warrenton, OR, we have reservations at the Kampers West Kampground for several days. We got set up and walked the girls and sat down and figured out the next couple of days itinerary. We only have three days in this area and want to take full advantage of the time we have here.
Tuesday, August 07, 2007
When we got up this morning it was very misty and overcast. We waited a few hours then headed south to Cannon Beach and Haystack Rock. Got a couple of pictures, we couldn’t get very close, had to observe the rock from the beach. If you look real close about 2/3 up the biggest rock and a little to the right you can see half-dozen Tufted Puffins. We also saw a few flying around with all the gulls. August is the very end of the nesting season for Puffins; most of them have already left the rock and flown out to the open ocean till next breading season which starts in April. We could also see Tillamook Rock Lighthouse from the beach, got a couple of pictures, but it was so far away it looked like a tiny bump in the distance. On our way back to Warrenton, we were going to stop at Gearhart Estuary, but couldn’t find any signs directing us. It misted most of the day, by late morning is was lighter and the sun never did show itself.
Tillamook, OR
Friday, August 03, 2007
Today was moving day, we are leaving the Logan Road RV Park and heading north, our next stop will be Tillamook, we are staying at the Tillamook Bay City RV Park. It’s a nice park, more homey than some of the other parks we have stayed. The lady at the park was telling us about the Salmon fishing in the area. After we got set up the girls got their first sniff at the area.
Saturday, August 04, 2007
Today we drove the Three Capes Loop, we stopped at Cape Meares State Park and Lighthouse. Got a couple of pictures of the lighthouse, the view of the lighthouse was somewhat hampered by foliage. A beautiful day, the sun was out and the temps were in the 70’s.
The Cape Meares Light is an inactive lighthouse located on Cape Meares just south of Tillamook Bay. The lighthouse was first lit in 1890 and was deactivated in 1963. The light was replaced by a newer tower in 1963. It was listed in the National Register of Historic Places in 1993 and is open to the public.
A peregrine falcon circled over a several times and we watched common murres nesting on the rocks. Other birds were turkey vultures, gulls, cormorants and black ostercatchers.
Our next stop was Oceanside State Park, we didn’t stay long, there were lots of people and was not the area we expected it to be. We stopped at a couple of state parks down the road, but they weren’t what we were looking for either.
Once we got back on Highway 101 we drove up to Munson Creek Falls. Munson Creek drops down one of the most impressive waterfalls in Oregon’s Coast Range. The falls were for the longest time cited as dropping 266 feet in three tiers. Oregon State Parks, however, has cited the falls as 319 feet tall. Munson Creek Falls is presumably the tallest waterfall west of the Willamette Rivera and is encompassed in Munson Creek Falls State Park. The falls were named for Goran Munson, a settler from Michigan who homesteaded in 1889 near the falls. The trail into the falls was surrounded by lush ferns, bushes and trees, it is an easy walk and well worth the view.
On our way back to the RV park, in a pasture along side 101 we saw dozens of elk settling down for the night, mostly cows with a few bulls. Across the road in another pasture were more elk, they were farther from the road and were not as visible.
Sunday, August 05, 2007
We went to the Blue Heron French Cheese and Wine Co and Tillamook Cheese Factory today. We sampled and purchased cheese, wine and goodies at Blue Heron, everything we tried there was excellent. The Tillamook Factory was crowded with long lines for samples, food and goodies so we did not stay. We were at the TCF years ago when the crowds were smaller and lines shorter.
Glad we drove the Three Cape Loop yesterday, today it is overcast a little windy, and the temps are around 70.
Lincoln City, OR
Sunday, July 29, 2007
We left Arcata, CA at 7:15 this morning, as we headed north we saw 2 sets of 5 bull elk and 1 cow along the road. The traffic was light for the first couple of hours, until we got into southern Oregon, the traffic started to pick up and the road had less and less passing lanes. We got into Lincoln City about 3:00, and got settled.
It is windy this late afternoon and evening. We are planning on staying about 3 to 5 days before moving on. This evening we worked out a calendar of our travels from now till Brett and Anne’s wedding in Western WA on 9/18.
Monday, July 30, 2007
Today was a day of rest, the drive yesterday was curvy, up and down and slow in places. We were glad when we got to the RV spot. We had reserved a spot at the Logan Road RV Park, it is a clean, neat and quiet, most of the people here are spending their time at the nearby casino. There is a nice green area for the girls, they have always liked being on grass.
Tuesday, July 31, 2007
We are looking for birds today, we visited several of the birding areas on the coast and we saw very few birds, we must be in the wrong season. Jim and I went down to one of the beaches and walked, there were lots of people doing all sorts of beach activities, kiting seemed to be the most popular, there is always a strong wind on the Oregon coast.
Wednesday, August 1, 2007
We didn’t do much today, today’s project was taking the girls to the beach. This was one of the first trips to the water for Roadie, she loved it. When the waves came in she tried jumping over them or hiding behind Jim so they couldn’t get to her, as soon as they passed she would jump and play in the water. The water was cold, we couldn’t stay in very long, so we made several trips, getting out just to warm our feet. There was some guys wind surfing and one of them was coming in for a landing, the sail came over Roadie and she started barking at it and continued till the guy got it collapsed. Maggie just wanted to chase a seagull shadow on the beach, she acted like she was young again.
Thursday, August 2, 2007
Today we went to Depoe Bay and the Whaling Center, we were looking for and finally spotted a whale out by the rocks, as it rolled we could see it’s fins and back. We watched was quite a while and finally went over to the Center, it was closer to where the whales where. Several times when the whale rolled we could see the flukes, just before we left we saw that there were two whales that came up at the same time and showed their fins.
We stopped at several of the Bays along the coast, but didn’t see anymore whales. Our next stop was at the Yaquina Head Lighthouse. I went to the top, Jim stayed down taking bird picture of the thousands of Murrs on the rocks off the shore. What a wonderful 135 year old light house, the lens was orginal that had come from France.
Our next stop was at the Oregon Coastal Aquarium, we saw lots of fish, crabs and other water creatures. There we say the Tufted Puffin, Jim had not seen one before, the Puffin was a captured bird, we are going to look for one in the wild. We had a nice day and celebrated the evening by having dinner at the Chinook Winds Casino.
Eureka, CA
Wednesday, July 25, 2007
Today we drove to the Redwood National Park, we went up to the Lady Bird Johnson grove, walked around the grove trail, a beautiful forest of redwoods and alders. We took the scenic drives stopping occasionally admiring the wonderful views. One stop was at the “tall tree”, it is estimated to be 1,500 years old and 380 feet tall.
We drove as far north as Klamath and on the way back we took the coastal scenic route, we stopped several time to look for birds and at the scenery. Just before the highway we spotted some elk along the road, we stayed and watched, Jim got some pictures.
This evening we went over to some friends of Mary and Ivan Lines, Steve and Charlotte Hawke’s house for dinner, nice people and a very good meal. They are both retired from BLM.
The Redwood National and State Parks (are located along the Pacific Ocean on the coast of northern California. With an area of 112,512 acres, the parks protect 45% of the remaining groves of coastal redwood trees, the tallest and one of the most massive tree species on Earth.
Thursday, July 26, 2007
This morning we drove up to the Avenue of the Giants, 25 miles of tall beautiful redwoods. The Avenue of the Giants contains 51,222 acres of redwood groves. It is the most outstanding display of these giant trees in the entire 500 miles of redwood belt along the CA coast. The Avenue of the Giants is surrounded by Humboldt Redwoods State Park which has the largest remaining stand of virgin redwoods in the world.
We left the Redwoods and went on to Humboldt Bay National Wildlife Refuge, there we saw two new life birds, the Black Turnstone and Heermann’s Gull. We drove around the south spit, I got a few picture of the Pacific Ocean and on our way back we saw some Parasailers jumping off the cliffs and swinging in the breeze. We drove on to Samoa and had dinner at the Samoa Cookhouse, where lumber camp style meals are served daily. The pictures on the walls were of early logging times.
Friday, July 27, 2007
Today was Jim’s 62nd birthday.
Saturday, July 28, 2007
This morning we went to the Arcata Marsh and Wildlife Sanctuary and walked around the settling ponds. We saw lots of birds and waterfowl, a new bird for me was the Winter Wren. Lots of people out today, walking, birding watching and walking their dogs. We will be leaving Arcata in the morning heading for Oregon.
Monday, July 23, 2007
From Redding to Eureka we took Highway 299 through the mountains, 100 miles of curves, no straight stretchs. Jim said that I’d better enjoy the scenery because this was going to be the only time I’d be able to see it, he wouldn’t be taking that highway again, at least not while he was pulling the trailer. It was a beautiful route, we were both glad when we finally got to Highway 101.
Tuesday, July 24, 2007
We spent the previous night at the KOA the next morning we decided to move to Mad River RV Park. We got set up, walked the girls, vegged and ate leftovers for dinner.
Reno Family
Friday, July 20, 2007
When we woke up this morning the temperature was below 70 degrees, it's been months since we have temps that low, what a beautiful cool morning.
This evening we went over to Joe and Jan’s for a bbq, Sherri and Jodie joined us, we had a good evening.
Saturday, July 21, 2007
This morning we stayed at the trailer, relaxed, and walked the girls. We left for Joe and Jan’s shortly afternoon, we went to the Patagonia outlet store and looked around. We then drove to a couple of spots along the Truckee River. On the Truckee River “Oxbow” we stopped and walked the trails, Jan and I played in the water looking for fish and frogs then walked the banks and water.
Jack, Mercedes, Christina and Sherri joined the four of us for dinner. We had a nice evening, it was good being with family.
Sunday, July 22, 2007
We got to Joe’s just before 9:00 PM, from there we drove up to Tahoe, we stopped for brunch at one of the lake side restaurants. After, Jan and I walked the dock, took several pictures of the area, and sat on the rocks while the water washed up against us. The lake was cool and clear.
We had dinner again with Joe, Jan Jodee and Sherri, Jim fixed stir fry, it was a nice evening.
Vail to Reno, NV
Wednesday, July 18, 2007
We left Vail at 6:15 PM, our goal was to get through Phoenix in the evening when there was not much traffic. We whizzed through Tucson without trouble, just before we got to Casa Grande we could see a dark cloud off in the distance. A couple of days earlier we had heard that Phoenix was experiencing a large dust cloud making it almost impossible to see. We drove into the edge of the dust cloud, the visibility wasn’t great, but was not so bad that we had to stop. When we stopped at the rest stop and got out of the car it was so hot, I though someone has put a hot iron on the seat of my pants.
We passed though Phoenix without a problem, it was hot, 111 at 9:30. We drove on to Wickenburg and spent the night in a local RV park, the first thing we did once we got into our spot was turn on the AC and cool the trailer, dogs and us down.
Thursday, July 19, 2007
Today was a travel day, we left Wickenburg about 6:15 AM and drove toward Reno. We had planned on stopping in Tonapah for the night, but decided it was too early to stop and continued on, next we planned to stop in Hawthorne, but we quickly changed our minds again and decided to continue on to Reno. We got into Reno about 8:30, got set up, dogs walked and in bed by 10:00, it was a long day. The traffic was light most of the trip, even Las Vegas traffic wasn’t bad. We didn’t see any wildlife along the way, just a few birds and it was easy to see why, not much could exist in these conditions, it was hot, lacked water and didn’t look very inviting.