Wednesday, October 30, 2019

Harbor Vista Campground (OR)

After our day exploring Oregon Dunes National Recreation Area and errands in Florence (OR), we needed a campground. Stat! I don't recall how we decided on trying Harbor Vista Campground; but it all worked out great, and we ended up staying for two nights. We arrived on 11 Sep 2019 at about 7:00 p.m. and after driving around the campground we both liked campsite #28. The fee at the time was $25/night. There are 45 RV sites with electricity and water hook-ups, as well as tent camping sites. There is also an RV dump station on site. The campground has bathrooms with flush toilets and showers. There is a playground area, picnic tables, and public access to the Siuslaw River and North Jetty Beach on the Pacific Ocean. 

We had a one-bar LTE signal with T-Mobile, which was enough to have access to the outside world. Score!

The first night's sunset was captured by Margaret with her iPhone!

Harbor Vista Campground information sign.
Photo by Virginia.

Informational sign about the Siuslaw River.
Photo by Virginia.

We saw lots of harbor seals in the Siuslaw River!
Photo by Virginia
.


After walking around the campground the following day and taking in the views of the Siuslaw River and the Pacific Ocean, we settled in for popcorn and a movie—Red

The Siuslaw River meets the Pacific Ocean.
Photo by Virginia.

There's something calming and invigorating about being near such grand bodies of water.

The Roadtrek in campsite #28. Photo by Virginia.

Very early in the morning of the 12th, I looked out the back window and saw a black bear walking through the hedge directly behind the Roadtrek. Wow! That was unexpected, as we were in a well-populated campground!

[Comment from Margaret: It concerns me that a wild bear would be hanging around a crowded campground because it probably means that the bear has lost its fear of humans. If so, it is potentially dangerous for humans and their possessions. It likely means that the bear has found food at that campground or others, or worse, has been purposely fed by humans. Dangerous confrontations mean the bear either has to be relocated, if possible, and sometimes euthanized. This situation is totally preventable by using bear boxes, when available, to store any food or other methods of securing food; and for goodness sake, never feed them! Bears have frequently even broken into vehicles and homes to get at the food in there, causing much damage. So we keep all our opened food in the Roadtrek either in the small refrigerator or in a couple of large, sealed plastic bins with lids and gaskets. This method works well to keep the smaller critters out of our food, too. We learned that the hard way the first time it happened with some prowling wild mice. Since then, we've never had that problem again. Basically, don't feed any wild animals. It can negatively affect their digestive systems, behavior, and their ecological systems.]

Campsite #22 directly across from our site.
Photo by Virginia.

The viewing platform area was situated perfectly.
Photo by Virginia
.

The swing set in the playground area.
Photo by Virginia.

The sunset on our second night was equally stupendous!
Photo by Virginia.

We said good-bye to Harbor Vista Campground the morning of the 13th and headed to the public library in Florence where we were able to utilize their public Wi-Fi to update iOS apps, do our iCloud back-ups, and download some movies and library books. Then we were southbound to the next campground on our southern route down the beautiful Oregon Coast. 

Friday, October 25, 2019

Oregon Dunes National Recreation Area

Following our fabulous two hour visit at Heceta Head Lighthouse State Scenic Viewpoint we continued south on U.S. Highway 101. We stopped at several turnouts to take in the stunning views of the Oregon Coast.

Siuslaw National Forest, Florence, Oregon. Photo by Margaret.

Siuslaw National Forest, Florence, Oregon. Photo by Margaret.

We ended up camping for two nights (9th & 10th of Sep 2019) at Alder Dune Campground in Florence. It was very lush, green, and heavily forested. There were 39 campsites separated by natural shrubs, potable water to refill from, and vault toilets. We stayed in campsite #12, which was fairly level and had a picnic table convenient enough to set stuff on.

The following day we drove into the city of Florence, where I spent five hours at the Siuslaw Public Library. Earlier that morning I had irritated my messed up back, and sitting in the uncomfortable chair at the library was excruciatingly painful! While there, I was able to publish a post here to our blog and upload photos to Flickr while in the library. Margaret was waiting out in the Roadtrek with Peaches. We stayed an additional two hours parked outside, where the Wi-Fi signal reached enough to back up our phones and download additional books and movies. Conveniently located around the corner from the library was the post office. Yippee! I was able to mail postcards to my daughter and best friend without driving around looking for a mailbox! We gassed up the Roadtrek and arrived back at camp at 8:00 p.m. Dinner and reclining was all I could think about!

Peaches on a Bridge at Alder Dune Campground. Photo by Margaret.

On the morning of 11 September we left camp and once again headed back into the city of Florence where we hit up the laundromat. With our clean laundry put away, we drove further south to Oregon Dunes National Recreation Area and entered at the South Jetty entrance.

Oregon Dunes National Recreation Area sign. Photo by Virginia.

We spent time exploring the pristine ocean dunes, where it was quite the walk from the parking area to the shore. The sand was extremely rough and deep, but it was worth the hike to experience this unique area (considered "one of the largest expanses of temperate coastal sand dunes in the world"). The temperature was in the high 50s, and the winds picked up to be rather gusty at times; but what a lovely time to take in this gorgeous location. (You can come along for part of the walk and listen to the wind and waves in the short movie below.) It was made even sweeter as we were the only ones there on the beach!

Oregon Dunes National Recreation Area. Photo by Virginia.

Oregon Dunes National Recreation Area. Photo by Margaret.

The Siuslaw River enters the Pacific Ocean just north of where we walked on to the beach; and as is always the case of where rivers flow into the Pacific, it was a powerful image.

Oregon Dunes National Recreation Area. Photo by Margaret.

Oregon Dunes National Recreation Area. Photo by Margaret. 

Siuslaw River, Florence, Oregon. Photo by Virginia.

Oregon Dunes National Recreation Area. Photo by Virginia.

Oregon Dunes National Recreation Area. Photo by Virginia.

Oregon Dunes National Recreation Area. Photo by Margaret.

Oregon Dunes National Recreation Area. Photo by Margaret.

Jessie M. Honeyman Memorial State Park Beach. Photo by Margaret.


[If you have trouble viewing this embedded movie, you may view it here: https://youtu.be/9kDK4WJmjP8]
 
  
Once we returned (a wee bit sandy) to the Roadtrek, we headed back into Florence (apparently we loved going into this city!) where we did some grocery shopping at Safeway. I can't recall how we found out about our next campground, but it turned out to be a short but truly lovely stay. 

Sunday, October 20, 2019

Heceta Head Lighthouse State Scenic Viewpoint (OR)

After leaving Carl G. Washburne Memorial State Park Campground at noon on 09 Sep 2019, we continued south. In what seemed like only a few minutes, I noticed a sign on the highway for Heceta Head Lighthouse. After pointing it out to Margaret, we both excitedly exclaimed, "Ooh, we have to stop here!"

A view of the beach and Light Keeper's house. Photo by Margaret.  

Located between Cape Perpetua and Sea Lion Caves on U.S. Highway 101, this stunning beauty is generally considered the most photographed lighthouse in the United States. Heceta Lighthouse (the primary pronunciation being “heh–SEE–tuh" but also labeled "acceptable" as “HECK–eh–tuh”) is perched 205 feet above the Pacific Ocean and is the brightest light on the Oregon Coast. (Its Fresnel lens' beam can be seen 21 miles out to sea!)

Heceta Head Lighthouse State Scenic Viewpoint. Photo by Virginia.

Heceta Head Lighthouse State Scenic Viewpoint. Photo by Margaret.

Heceta Head Lighthouse State Scenic Viewpoint. Photo by Margaret.

Heceta Head Lighthouse information signage. Photo by Virginia.

Heceta Head Lighthouse from the trail looking up. Photo by Virginia.

Cape Creek Bridge from the trail to the Lighthouse. Photo by Margaret.

In addition to the lighthouse, there is another building on the 19-acre site that is also on the National Register of Historic Places. It is the Light Keeper's house, from which the Heceta Lighthouse Bed & Breakfast operates. Construction began on both in 1892; and on 30 March 1894, that "brightest light" was lit for the very first time. It has been an active beacon ever since.


The Heceta Lighthouse Bed & Breakfast. Photo by Virginia.

We took an informative tour of the main floor of the Heceta Lighthouse Bed & Breakfast (the Light Keeper's house). The docent offered us fascinating facts about the history of the house and lighthouse. In 1963 the lighthouse was computer automated, and Oswald Allick was the last lightkeeper occupant of the house before it was turned over to the U.S. Forest Service.


Heceta Head Lighthouse State Scenic Viewpoint. Photo by Virginia.




The Heceta Head Lighthouse from the Light Keeper's house front yard. Photo by Virginia.

After the house tour, we walked up to the lighthouse, passing by the gift shop, which is housed in what used to be a barn.


The Heceta Lighthouse gift shop. Photo by Virginia.

We stopped in the charming gift shop after the attendant returned from lunch and browsed the inventory. Margaret treated us to a few pieces of Red Vines licorice, and I bought a couple postcards for my daughter.


The Heceta Head Lighthouse. Photo by Margaret.

The 56-foot tall lighthouse was closed for extensive repairs and restoration from August 2011 to June 2013. The lighthouse was closed up and unattended while we were there, but I read elsewhere that tours were possible.


Heceta Head Lighthouse State Scenic Viewpoint. Photo by Margaret.

Heceta Head Lighthouse State Scenic Viewpoint. Photo by Margaret.

Heceta Head Lighthouse highway sign. Photo by Margaret.

Heceta Head Lighthouse State Scenic Viewpoint. Photo by Virginia.

We spent two cool hours on the grounds; but during that short time, we were imbued with awe over the beauty and history of the lighthouse, light keeper's house, and the breathtaking views. What a grand experience! 

Next we'll spend time in and around a town with so much to offer that we stayed several nights!


Tuesday, October 15, 2019

Carl G. Washburne Memorial State Park (OR)

Heading back to the Oregon Coast after visiting Silver Falls State Park, we stopped at Trader Joe's and gassed up the Roadtrek in Salem, OR, where on 06 Sep 2019, regular unleaded gas was the lowest price of our trip to date at $2.73.9/gallon! From Salem, we headed to Newport, OR, where we planned to visit the Oregon Coast Aquarium. Whereas, I had visited the aquarium once in 1997, Margaret was very much looking forward to her first visit.

Using a combination of sources (Google, Campendium, FreeCampsites.net, etc.), we drove south for a few miles on U.S. Route 101; and all we saw were sign after sign stating, "CAMPGROUND FULL." After striking out with campgrounds, we tried RV parks. After stopping at a couple of those that were also full, we parked and called several more—all of which were full! We briefly considered parking overnight at a casino south of Newport but decided against that because it was much too far away. So after trying for several hours, we decided to give up on visiting the aquarium. (I think I was more disappointed for Margaret than she was for herself.) We decided, instead, to concentrate on finding a place to camp farther down the highway. It was getting late; and after a long day on the road, we were pooped!

Cape Perpetua, Yachats, OR. Photo by Margaret.

While driving south on U.S. Route 101, I noticed something and mentioned it to Margaret. While every single campground was full, every single one of the countless motels and hotels had "VACANCY" signs posted. The times they are a-changin', and we think the signs are all pointing to the fact that more people are RVing than "motel-ing" these days. I'd love to know if you've noticed this trend, as well.

[From Margaret: Hi. I wanted to pop in here briefly to add my thoughts on the situation Virginia described in the previous paragraph. It seems to me that since there are often not enough camping or legal overnight parking places—especially in popular locations and seasons—the local government people and businesses involved should come up with some creative ideas. For example, if there are no places available to camp or legally park overnight, and it's past a certain time late in the afternoon or early evening, then why not loosen the often strict local regulations to allow motels to rent a parking space or two for the night to RVers in need? Both parties would benefit. My small Roadtrek would only need one parking space, and a longer one might need to pay for two. There is a serious lack of state rest areas along the coastline. So what is a tired driver supposed to do, other than risk getting a ticket for illegally parking and be rousted out at 2 in the morning with still nowhere to legally park? I don't need or want to pay to stay in a hotel room when I already have the comfort and convenience of my own "home on wheels" where I have food to eat and can sleep in my comfy bed with my little dog, Peaches. I think this would be a boon to RVers and hotel owners, alike. Even towns and cities could benefit—from tourist dollars otherwise missed—instead of leaving empty parking spots vacant that could be used. Please feel free to share your thoughts about my idea as a possible solution to a common problem for RVers!]

Cape Perpetua, Yachats, OR. Photo by Virginia.

While we were anxious to find a place to camp, we could not help but be gobsmacked by the scenery of the Oregon Coast. Margaret pulled over at several overlooks; and on one of those unmarked turnouts, the above indescribably stunning view took our collective breaths away!

 
Neptune State Scenic Viewpoint. Photo by Margaret.

After driving about 35 miles farther, we couldn't believe our eyes when we finally spied an "AVAILABLE" sign on a highway campground sign. It was 7:30 p.m., and the sun would be setting in a few minutes. Although we have paper atlases that include resources for RVers, we had no cell signal for most of the way and were unable to verify campsite availability in that manner.


Washburne State Park highway sign. Photo by Virginia.

We drove through Carl G. Washburne Memorial State Park Campground* and specifically looked for a campsite with just water and electricity, as we didn't need a sewer hook-up. We decided on the lovely campsite #48. Margaret filled out the registration form and took Peaches with her to pay for two nights, while I transformed the Roadtrek from travel into camping mode.


Carl G. Washburne State Memorial Park. Photo by Margaret.

This campground was pristine! It had varying types of campsites (see the photo directly below), clean restrooms with flush toilets and showers, trash, and recycling.


Carl G. Washburne Memorial State Park. Photo by Virginia.

The other campers near us were all quiet. Many sedately walked their dogs and or/children around the campground several times per day. I sat outside reading when weather permitted. Daytime temperatures were in the 60s and evening lows were in the 50s. It rained most of the time we were there, so it was cool but humid.

The Roadtrek at Carl G. Washburne Memorial SP. Photo by Margaret.

Margaret made her Teriyaki Tofu Bites the next morning; then she, Peaches, and I set off to walk around the entire campground. We made it back to the Roadtrek before the misting turned to rain. I made us soft tacos for dinner. So between those leftovers and the tofu bites, we had easy, yummy dinners for several nights.

Vegan Soft Tacos. Prepared & photographed by Virginia.

On our second full day (Sunday), the light rain continued. I finished one library book (Under Currents by Nora Roberts) and began another (City of Girls by Elizabeth Gilbert). Several surrounding campers checked out, which made the already peaceful campground even quieter.


Restrooms at Carl G. Washburne Memorial SP. Photo by Virginia.

At some point later that drizzly morning, Margaret decided to stay for another night (because she really loved that campground!). So off she and Peaches went to pay for Sunday night. During the morning, I took a nice warm shower for no added cost. The rain started coming down a little harder, which necessitated covering the roof air conditioner vents on the Roadtrek to prevent leaks. The first time we covered the roof was while we were staying in the Hoh Rainforest in Forks, WA*. The Roadtrek had never leaked prior to Margaret's having Rhino Eco-Coating applied to the roof the previous spring. [Afer we got back to home base, she had a friend locate the leak and seal it. Yay!] While we were trying to secure the space blanket (acting as a tarp), the soft rain began to pour; and we both got soaking wet! Fortunately, we had shore power because that allowed us to plug in Margaret's small electric heater to help dry our wrung-out soggy dresses.

A campsite at Carl G. Washburne Memorial State Park. Photo by Virginia.

A yurt at Carl G. Washburne Memorial State Park. Photo by Virginia.

Margaret and I discussed how even though it had rained almost constantly during our stay, it had remained nice and cool, and how if we had a cell phone signal, it would be a great campground for an extended stay. The campground and surrounding area was beautiful, the amenities were top-notch, and we weren't more than 35 miles from supermarkets. We had both noticed many of the other RV campers had satellite receivers. (It seemed to me that most of them did.) So, besides satellite TV, they could possibly have had satellite Internet, too. Hmm, not too shabby.

A road through Carl G. Washburne Memorial State Park. Photo by Virginia.

Carl G. Washburne Memorial State Park host. Photo by Virginia.

While sitting or walking outside, I saw Stellar's Jays, robins, chipmunks, and red squirrels. I could also hear a lot of birdsong from smaller birds that I didn't see up close.

  A twisty tree at Carl G. Washburne Memorial State Park. Photo by Margaret.

After another night of listening to, and looking at, the rain through the windows adjacent to our beds, it was Monday morning and time to go explore more of the Oregon Coast. After we took the roof "tarp" off, swept off the soggy and splattered camp chairs and footstools, shifted our stuff from camping mode to driving mode, and stowed the leveling ramps, we continued south on U.S. Route 101 with no specific stop in mind. In no time at all, though, we spied a sign alerting us to a landmark with a name very familiar to me, although the pronunciation I was given decades ago turned out to have been incorrect. We both pretty much exclaimed, "Oh, we have to stop here!" And we did! (Ooh, cliffhanger!)

[*NOTE: During the COVID-19 pandemic and the changing situations that arise from it, please save yourself any inconvenience by checking park websites for their COVID-19 alerts and updates before visiting a park.]