South Beach State Park – Newport, Oregon
We rode Highway 101, leaving Washington to arrive at Oregon. I can only say WOW! I enjoyed it more than Mitch as this two-lane road runs along the Pacific Coast. As a passenger overlooking the cliffs, I could see the beautiful blue sea with the waves crashing along the shore. The sea stacks (saying this three times fast is a tongue twister) prominently project from the sea. These are the remnants of volcanos eroded over millions of years. The downside to owning a big 5th wheel is the inability to pull over, as most viewpoints couldn’t accommodate our size.
On our first exploring day, we went to Newport’s Bayfront. People were bustling along the sidewalks visiting shops and eating in the many restaurants. The smell from the fish market wasn’t appealing, but it reminded me of South Street Fish Market in Manhattan. Sea lions lounged along the docks lazily, soaking up the sun barking at each other for no apparent reason.
We went up the coast to Yaquina Bay Recreation Site, where there proudly stands a lighthouse from 1872. Down at the shoreline, there is an array of sea life. Starfish, sea anemones, mussels, and crabs kept both children and adults entertained. It amazed us how quickly the fog crept in as we explored the coastline. The denser it became, the more the lighthouse view faded until it became a mere outline of where it stood. In a matter of an hour, the climate changed as the waves became more frantic, winds kicking up, and the temperature dropped—time to move on up the coast.
Interestingly, one cannot pump your gas in Oregon. It feels awkward to wait while someone fills the tank when you could be doing it yourself. One added bonus is there is no sales tax. It is strange to see a receipt with the exact amount for an item. A visit to Depoe Bay was next. It had a quaint seaside town that offered taffy, caramel corn, and whale sighting trips. We settled for kettle corn as we window shopped. From the shore, we spotted several water spouts and the hump of a whale—a pretty exciting end to our day.
Remember the saying, “Be careful what you wish for?” The northwest has been experiencing a heatwave. Throughout Montana and Washington, the temperatures touched into the 100s, and Mitch kept saying, “Where are the 70s?” Since visiting the Oregon coast, temperatures skipped the 70s and went straight to the 60s and 50s. Time for a wardrobe change. We kayaked Beaver Creek in long pants, sweaters, and jackets. I had my hoodie protecting my head from the wind most of the time, but it was worth it. The scenery was amazing.
