RV Trip 2017 - CA & OR - Part 3

Welcome to Part Three of the travelogue from our RV trip to northern California and coastal Oregon in the fall of 2017.

Friday, Sept 22, 2017 (Oregon) Cape Blanco State Park to North Bend (The Mill Casino)

Before hitting the road today, we called the West Coast Game Park Safari adventure to find out if we would be able to pet a baby tiger today and they said YES. Woohoo! We had an opportunity many years ago to pet an adult tiger (Kirby, may he rest in peace) at the Shambala Preserve in Antelope Valley, but we’ve always wanted to get up close and personal with a tiger cub. What we really wanted was one that was small enough to cuddle, but petting 3-month-old Katara was still fun. As with the adult tiger, the petting occurs while the trainer is feeding them. When we had our encounter with Kirby many years prior, he had been on a heavy chain leash, and the trainer was feeding him a large steak in between every petting/photo-op customer, whereas Katara was on a more typical leash and the trainer was feeding her from a bottle. We also got to sit with and pet a young Bobcat. ‘Ruckus,’ was 18 mos. old, fully grown, and weighed about 25 pounds. He was quite a ham! On a long soft leash, the trainer would encourage him to play while the next customer came in for their turn, and almost every time, without her assistance, he would jump up on the bench and step onto the person’s lap with his front legs, look at the person holding the camera, and paws ;-) for a picture. Absolutely adorable!

Map of Part 3 route
Friday, Sept 22, 2017 (Oregon) Cape Blanco State Park to North Bend (The Mill Casino) Before hitting the road today, we called the West Coast Game Park Safari adventure to find out if we would be able to pet a baby tiger today and they said YES. Woohoo! We had an opportunity many years ago to pet an adult tiger (Kirby, may he rest in peace) at the Shambala Preserve in Antelope Valley, but we’ve always wanted to get up close and personal with a tiger cub. What we really wanted was one that was small enough to cuddle, but petting 3-month-old Katara was still fun. As with the adult tiger, the petting occurs while the trainer is feeding them. When we had our encounter with Kirby many years prior, he had been on a heavy chain leash, and the trainer was feeding him a large steak in between every petting/photo-op customer, whereas Katara was on a more typical leash and the trainer was feeding her from a bottle. We also got to sit with and pet a young Bobcat. ‘Ruckus,’ was 18 mos. old, fully grown, and weighed about 25 pounds. He was quite a ham! On a long soft leash, the trainer would encourage him to play while the next customer came in for their turn, and almost every time, without her assistance, he would jump up on the bench and step onto the person’s lap with his front legs, look at the person holding the camera, and paws ;-) for a picture. Absolutely adorable!
The 3-month-old tiger cub Katara
The 3-month-old tiger cub Katara
'Ruckus' the Bobcat
'Ruckus' the Bobcat

Our next stop was the town of Bandon. We first checked out the view of Face Rock at the beach, then walked around downtown. We bought fish-and-chips for lunch at a fish shack by the marina, and took it to the pub across the street where we could enjoy a draft beer with it. After lunch we carried on northward looking for an RV park for the night where we could do some laundry, and that ended up being overflow parking at ‘The Mill’ casino in North Bend.

Our next stop was the town of Bandon. We first checked out the view of Face Rock at the beach, then walked around downtown. We bought fish-and-chips for lunch at a fish shack by the marina, and took it to the pub across the street where we could enjoy a draft beer with it. After lunch we carried on northward looking for an RV park for the night where we could do some laundry, and that ended up being overflow parking at ‘The Mill’ casino in North Bend. The town of North Bend had a good view of the Coos Bay Bridge, and the colorful flower pots hanging from gracefully curved arms on the street lamp posts were delightful.
Looking north from Face Rock Viewpoint
The Coquille River Lighthouse at Bandon, OR
Pausing for a rest while walking around Bandon, OR

The town of North Bend had a good view of the Coos Bay Bridge, and the colorful flower pots hanging from gracefully curved arms on the street lamp posts were delightful.

Coos Bay near North Bend, OR
Coos Bay Bridge, near North Bend, OR
Coos Bay Bridge, near North Bend, OR


Saturday, Sept 23, 2017 (Oregon) North Bend to Siuslaw National Forest (Carl G. Washburne Memorial State Park)

We stopped at the Umpqua River Lighthouse near Reedsport. The overlook had several educational signs and a jawbone from a Humpback Whale on display, which provided a good sense of scale for these majestic animals.

Saturday, Sept 23, 2017 (Oregon) North Bend to Siuslaw National Forest (Carl G. Washburne Memorial State Park) We stopped at the Umpqua River Lighthouse near Reedsport. The overlook had several educational signs and a jawbone from a Humpback Whale on display, which provided a good sense of scale for these majestic animals.
A jawbone from a Humpback Whale
Siuslaw River Bridge in Florence, OR

Continuing north, we passed two points-of-interest that were on our list (the Sea Lion Caves and the Heceta Head Lighthouse), but we continued onward to our planned campground because it did not accept reservations, and we wanted the best odds of getting a spot, knowing we could backtrack a few miles the next day to visit those POIs. Arriving at the Carl G. Washburne Memorial State Park in the Siuslaw National Forest, we found that once again the drought had dried up the creek that ran through the campground. But our campsite was surrounded by lush greenery and we simply had another relaxing day, and took advantage of the campground’s showers.

View from dining room window
Our campsite #8 at Carl G. Washburne Memorial State Park
Carl G. Washburne Memorial State Park
Continuing north, we passed two points-of-interest that were on our list (the Sea Lion Caves and the Heceta Head Lighthouse), but we continued onward to our planned campground because it did not accept reservations, and we wanted the best odds of getting a spot, knowing we could backtrack a few miles the next day to visit those POIs. Arriving at the Carl G. Washburne Memorial State Park in the Siuslaw National Forest, we found that once again the drought had dried up the creek that ran through the campground. But our campsite was surrounded by lush greenery and we simply had another relaxing day, and took advantage of the campground’s showers.


Sunday, Sept 24, 2017 (Oregon) Siuslaw National Forest to Cape Perpetua Scenic Area

We retraced our path southward a few miles to visit the Heceta Head Lighthouse. Built in 1894 on a 200-foot-high bluff, the 56-foot-tall lighthouse shines a beam visible for 21 nautical miles, making it the strongest light on the Oregon Coast. We hiked the 1-mile trail from the beach to the lighthouse, and farther up the hill to get level with the top of the lighthouse. Although it wasn’t as exciting as Cape Blanco where we stood inches away from the lens, it was still a great vantage point for an eye-level view of the lens. It took a few tries, but Chris managed to get a picture of me with the light in the background, just as it swept past on its non-stop circular journey. And as we headed out, we stopped in the gift shop (near the Lightkeeper’s House) where we bought our second Christmas tree ornament of the trip (a cute pair of sea lions, just in case they didn’t have one I liked at the Sea Lion Caves, and it was a good call). We stopped to get some photos of reflections in the sand where the shallow beach exposed a nice stretch of wet sand while the tide was out. And we stopped again to admire the Cape Creek Bridge designed by noted bridge engineer Conde McCullough, who designed most of the interesting bridges along the Oregon coast, many with architectural details such as Gothic spires, art deco obelisks, and Romanesque arches. This bridge was patterned after a Roman aqueduct, with two lower viaduct sections supporting a taller open-spandrel arch. Then it was back to the coach for a quick lunch before heading on to our next adventure nearby.

Sunday, Sept 24, 2017 (Oregon) Siuslaw National Forest to Cape Perpetua Scenic Area We retraced our path southward a few miles to visit the Heceta Head Lighthouse. Built in 1894 on a 200-foot-high bluff, the 56-foot-tall lighthouse shines a beam visible for 21 nautical miles, making it the strongest light on the Oregon Coast. We hiked the 1-mile trail from the beach to the lighthouse, and farther up the hill to get level with the top of the lighthouse. Although it wasn’t as exciting as Cape Blanco where we stood inches away from the lens, it was still a great vantage point for an eye-level view of the lens. It took a few tries, but Chris managed to get a picture of me with the light in the background, just as it swept past on its non-stop circular journey. And as we headed out, we stopped in the gift shop (near the Lightkeeper’s House) where we bought our second Christmas tree ornament of the trip (a cute pair of sea lions, just in case they didn’t have one I liked at the Sea Lion Caves, and it was a good call). We stopped to get some photos of reflections in the sand where the shallow beach exposed a nice stretch of wet sand while the tide was out. And we stopped again to admire the Cape Creek Bridge designed by noted bridge engineer Conde McCullough, who designed most of the interesting bridges along the Oregon coast, many with architectural details such as Gothic spires, art deco obelisks, and Romanesque arches. This bridge was patterned after a Roman aqueduct, with two lower viaduct sections supporting a taller open-spandrel arch. Then it was back to the coach for a quick lunch before heading on to our next adventure nearby.
Someone did a marvelous job of stacking these rocks
From the trail leading up to the lighthouse
From the trail leading up to the lighthouse
View of the Cape Creek Bridge from the beach
Chris timed this just right to capture the flash of light on its journey
Heceta Head Lighthouse

It was only two miles further south to visit the Sea Lion Caves. When we bought our tickets, they were up-front (well, after we asked anyway) with the warning that the sea lions hadn’t been in the cave this morning, and they were undoubtedly out in the ocean feeding, but we decided to take the elevator 200 feet down and check out the cave anyway. Sure enough, there was not a sea lion to be seen, but the cave itself was still interesting (America’s largest sea cave), and included several educational displays about sea lions, including two skeletons (one left undisturbed, and one reassembled).

It was only two miles further south to visit the Sea Lion Caves. When we bought our tickets, they were up-front (well, after we asked anyway) with the warning that the sea lions hadn’t been in the cave this morning, and they were undoubtedly out in the ocean feeding, but we decided to take the elevator 200 feet down and check out the cave anyway. Sure enough, there was not a sea lion to be seen, but the cave itself was still interesting (America’s largest sea cave), and included several educational displays about sea lions, including two skeletons (one left undisturbed, and one reassembled).
In the cave after taking an elevator down 200 feet.

Heading north once again, we stopped to camp for the night at Cape Perpetua Scenic Area. Finally, we found a creek with enough water to hear from our campsite!

Heading north once again, we stopped to camp for the night at Cape Perpetua Scenic Area. Finally, we found a creek with enough water to hear from our campsite!
Dining room view
Our campsite at Cape Perpetua Campground in the Siuslaw National Forest

Monday, Sept 25, 2017 Cape Perpetua Campground

Our campsite at Cape Perpetua Campground was so nice we decided to stay a second night. The campground consists of one long string of campsites adjacent to the creek, so the road rises steadily uphill alongside the creek. We rode our bikes up and down the hill a few times to get some exercise, and then hiked the trail to the 600-year-old, 185-feet-tall Giant Spruce. Too tall to get it all in a good photo! Then we spent the afternoon sitting beside the creek, enjoying the sound of the water and reading.

View from our campsite sitting area
The start of the trail to the Giant Spruce Tree
Monday, Sept 25, 2017 Cape Perpetua Campground Our campsite at Cape Perpetua Campground was so nice we decided to stay a second night. The campground consists of one long string of campsites adjacent to the creek, so the road rises steadily uphill alongside the creek. We rode our bikes up and down the hill a few times to get some exercise, and then hiked the trail to the 600-year-old, 185-feet-tall Giant Spruce. Too tall to get it all in a good photo! Then we spent the afternoon sitting beside the creek, enjoying the sound of the water and reading.

Tuesday, Sept 26, 2017 (Oregon) Cape Perpetua to Cannon Beach (Cannon Beach RV Resort)

Just north of Cape Perpetua is the Devil’s Churn, a narrow gorge in the rocky shoreline. When ocean waves come rolling in, they hit the end of the gorge, then head back out where they collide with the next incoming wave, creating huge splashes. Alas, the sea was calm while we were there, no churning, but we have seen great videos of it and were glad for that.

We stopped at the Rogue Brewery in Newport for lunch. Our table had a beautiful view of the Newport Marina and the Yaquina Bay Bridge.

Tuesday, Sept 26, 2017 (Oregon) Cape Perpetua to Cannon Beach (Cannon Beach RV Resort) Just north of Cape Perpetua is the Devil’s Churn, a narrow gorge in the rocky shoreline. When ocean waves come rolling in, they hit the end of the gorge, then head back out where they collide with the next incoming wave, creating huge splashes. Alas, the sea was calm while we were there, no churning, but we have seen spectacular videos of it and were glad for that.
Alsea Bay Bridge at Waldport, OR
We stopped at the Rogue Brewery in Newport for lunch. Our table had a beautiful view of the Newport Marina and the Yaquina Bay Bridge.
Heading inside Rogue Ales Brewery for lunch
View of the Newport Marina and Yaquina Bay Bridge from our table during lunch

After crossing the bridge, we stopped to see the Yaquina Bay Lighthouse, the only wooden lighthouse in Oregon. The Silver Point Interpretive Overlook offered a nice view of the coastline just south of Cannon Beach, from where we could see Haystack Rock near the beach, and the Tillamook Rock Lighthouse (unfortunately not open to the public) far offshore. From there we headed toward town and our stop for the night, the Cannon Beach RV Resort. Our site had a wonderful view of the red leaves of a changing tree with the sun shining through them in the late afternoon.

After crossing the bridge, we stopped to see the Yaquina Bay Lighthouse, the only wooden lighthouse in Oregon.
View of the Yaquina Bay Bridge from the Yaquina Bay Lighthouse
The Silver Point Interpretive Overlook offered a nice view of the coastline just south of Cannon Beach, from where we could see Haystack Rock near the beach, and the Tillamook Rock Lighthouse (unfortunately not open to the public) far offshore.
From there we headed toward town and our stop for the night, the Cannon Beach RV Resort. Our site had a wonderful view of the red leaves of a changing tree with the sun shining through them in the late afternoon.
Our campsite #13 at Cannon Beach RV Resort
This was beautiful with the sun shining through it, though you can't tell here (tree at the back of our campsite)
The other side of the beautiful tree at the back of our campsite

Wednesday, Sept 27, 2017 (Oregon) Cannon Beach (Cannon Beach RV Resort) [Photos 54 – 65]

After a relaxing morning, we rode our bikes into town for some sightseeing. Our first stop was at Pelican Brewing for some beer-tasting, then on to the beach for a walk on the sand. The sand was so fine that it squeaked with each step we took. We had timed our walk to be at low tide, so that we could walk out to Haystack Rock. While walking in the inches-deep water, we were mesmerized by the different patterns of sand ripples and light reflections. And Chris managed to pick up a large crab (in a few inches of water) that didn’t seem to be the least bit concerned. After the beach we did a little window-shopping in the charming downtown area (with colorful hanging flower baskets, much like North Bend), found another Christmas ornament (Haystack Rock) and then rode our bikes back to the coach.


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