Diary/Photo Journal
Week of July 20, 2003
After our few days of visiting volcanic wonders, we headed somewhat West until the road ended at the Oregon coast. We had first thought to stay in Coos Bay, but northern wandering landed us in this wonderful little spot called Winchester Bay. The town is built around the harbor where the dory fishermen and other persons that make their living on the ocean come and go everyday.
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Fishing boat returning to the harbor |
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Winchester Bay harbor |
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Winchester Bay sunset |
We lucked into a waterfront campground by slipping into a cancellation and the only open spot. When we were checking in, we struck up a conversation with two gentlemen that were also staying in the campground. Come to find out that Hank and Conrad own a restaurant in Puerto Vallarta and gave us the location and name so we can stop by on our way down south. Coincidence!
Once settled, we quickly unlocked, unlashed and unloaded the bikes and we were off to town for a seafood dinner (gee, I wonder what made us yearn for seafood). We had our choice and found a rather unattractive little place called Griffs and found the food to be anything but unattractive. But, isn't that the norm? The most unassuming place can be where the best food is served. Don't judge a book by its cover...
We decided to ride off dinner and made our way uphill (Gerson has this thing about riding uphill wherein he laughs when I have to disembark and walk my bike) to a famed lighthouse. There are several lighthouses remaining in Oregon and all very different and equally magnificent. Unfortunately, technical difficulties prevented a photo being taken, but trust me, the lighthouse was beautiful.
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Louise overlooking Winchester Bay |
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Gerson at the Lighthouse overlooking the sand dunes |
The next day, we took a short drive and decided to stay in Pacific City. We found a place across from the main beach that was bordered by an enormous sand dune and fantastic rock formations. We climbed up the sand dune to find an enticing rock formation that jutted out into the ocean, allowing the waves to come crashing up to the rock and create a sea-spray fountain. Of course, as soon as we saw the fountain, we got the camera out and waited for the next surge, and waited, and waited ...and the uncooperative ocean refused to give us another photo opportunity.
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Gerson and Cindy at Pacific City Beach |
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Gerson overlooking Pacific City and the rock formations |
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We were surprised to find that Pacific City is a mecca for the local surfers. We felt like we were at home, well except for the vehicles lined up on the beach within feet of the water and the fishing boats that drove right up onto the sand. Watching the fishing boats rev up just before breaching the sand and then gliding 20' - 30' to meet up with their trailer was fascinating. We had never seen boats loaded like this before. The boats get as far up on the sand as possible, the truck backs down the trailer, and the trailer has wheels that roll the boat right off the sand and onto the trailer. Then off they go across the sand and out onto the street. We must have seen 50 boats perform this feat.
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Gerson on top of a large dune near Pacific City |
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Surfers all lined up at Pacific City |
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Boats drive right up onto the sand |
Whilst hiking around the sand dunes and the rock formations, we kind of, sort of, well maybe, noticed some signs that said something about "danger" or something close to that. I think I remember a sign (or two) stating to "not go" beyond some point or whatever. But, in keeping with our motto to take the path less traveled, we went anyway. Ok, so if the tide had been up or the ocean cooperating with a nice wave surge, we could have been in a predicament, but hey, someone had to check out the area to find it unsafe (at times) so that must mean it is safe at other times, right?
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Mineral deposits create colorful displays |
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The path less traveled... and of course we went anyway |