J and K Adventures: April 19

Well OK, every day is pretty special but this past weekend was over the top.

On Monday, Kathy told me that she was off on Friday and wanted to load up the camper and head to the coast. Great idea but the forecast called for rain, rain and a bit more rain. Reality trumps desire so we go to plan B. I called the Mill Casino in Coos Bay and with my perks, they have a room for $59.00 a night - deal - put me down for one of your finest.

Thursday, 4/19 - Kathy survived the week at school and made it home by 5:00. Me, Mr. Detail Man - had lots of stuff that needed to be wrapped up. I got to Kat's around 5:15 and we decided to take advantage of a break in the weather and take Fred for a walk. The air was fresh, the birds were on the wing, the frogs were in tune and all was right in the world. We covered a mile with ease and felt a calmness settle in our souls. A quiet evening ensued with Max and the critters.

Friday, 4/20
J woke up early and kindly let me sleep in, but by 10 am we are on the road. We stop at a hole-in-the-wall restaurant with a view of the Umpqua river and fill up on eggs and such and continue the ride to Coos Bay. On the way we went through our mental checklists and come up with a few items we forgot, so we spent a little time in Coos Bay shopping, including stocking up on lunch supplies. We headed for one of our favorite spots on the coast--Shore Acres.

The weather was clearing except for a persistent fog bank just offshore, but we put on coats, packed the lunch in the backpack and headed for the beach. A short walk and we were on the sand and soon found a log for our bottoms. We enjoyed our picnic with the sun shining through the fog. As we were finishing lunch, the sun came out in force and off came our coats. The path to the beach continued up past a creek and we decided to follow it and see where it lead. Up over and around the point south toward Cape Arago the trail led. We enjoyed the cliff side views. Then, getting tired, we reversed. Back around again to the beach and up to the park. We enjoyed more views of the sea before getting in our car and heading back to Coos Bay. We stopped for a sumptuous dinner in downtown Coos Bay where the native Italian cook/owner came out to ask us if we had enjoyed the fare. Our raves were purely genuine. Finally we arrived at the casino and our room. And then I proceeded to contribute to the Native American economy via the Blackjack table, while Jeff won all that I had lost and more.

Saturday, 4/21:
Our day's plan was to drive south and explore campgrounds on the way to Gold Beach. It was a stunning day with blue skies, little wind, and just a little left-over fog that came and went. We drove south past the Coquille river, and Port Orford to Humbug State Park. I had seen it on the map, but it was so much more impressive in person. We saw that it was in a protected valley with a little stream and beach access via a trail under the Highway 101 bridge. Note to selves: this may be a good place to stay on a windy day. We made it to Gold Beach and enjoyed lunch by the sea, although the fog was pretty thick there. Then we headed north again and stopped just south of Coos Bay at Cape Blanco State Park. This is located at the most western point in Oregon. There is a authentically preserved early 1900's house left from a dairy farming family, a nice campground, beautiful beach and the oldest surviving lighthouse in Oregon. A lone man with a remote control glider imitated the seagulls. His skills in the stiff wind awed us. Amazed that neither of us had ever stopped there before, we vowed to stay there soon. Reluctantly, we drove north to Bandon and found a restaurant on the Coquille river with a view of the lighthouse. The seafood was delicious, and so was the view. Then back to the Casino for more fun and a late night.

Sunday, 4/22:
Jeff wanted to try a hike that was recommended by a friend of his, so on the way home we decided to give it a go. It was located on Sweet Creek Road which is off Hiway 126 near Mapleton. We turned onto the road and followed the Siuslaw River, and then Sweet Creek for 11 miles into the dense coastal forest. A full parking lot showed that this was a popular destination. The trail followed Sweet Creek past some landslides and lovely peek-a-boo views of the water and there were lots of wildflowers along the way. In about a mile we came to the waterfall. All the recent rains had made for a thundering torrent. We stayed for a few minutes, but there was a crowd. Seeking solitude we kept following the trail, up and up until we came to an upper falls and another viewpoint. This one was unoccupied, so we sat down and unpacked our sandwiches. What a delightful lunch spot. We listened to the waterfall, watched the mist float through the sun's rays and enjoyed the peace and joy of nature. It sure was hard to leave that primordial beauty and go back to the chores of home and work on Monday. But we were refreshed and renewed. Here are a few pictures from the weekend.