Monday, June 11 - TT Whalers Rest, South Beach, OR 97366

Yay, wake to sunshine today! This is more like it and it should get to a high of 18C.

We are ready at 10am when we are collected at our door and taken on another day out.  First stop is the Yaquina Bay Lighthouse - the earliest aid to navigation and the site of the first recorded landfall by Captain James Cook on March 7, 1778.  Unfortunately the lighthouse doesn’t open until noon so we make do with photos of the outside.  It is also a nice spot to get good photos of the Yaquina Bridge, the link from Newport south.

Yaquina Bridge

Yaquina Bay Lighthouse

The Oregon Oyster Farm is also on the list of sight seeing ventures we are enjoying today.  Kim does the tasting for us, and he gets to try four types, from huge Pacific Oysters, smaller ones, then the Kumomoto’s (all from the river) and then the tiny 4 year old natural (unfarmed) ones from the sea.  I think I have that all in the right order.  However, the connoisseur still proclaims Bluff as the best in the world, could he be a tad biased perhaps?

Go on, slip it down!!

Then we get a carpark right in the middle of the old Port town which we drove thru yesterday but today we get a chance to walk around the little village.  Kim is drawn in to the 2 Kids Candy Store where he buys a pound of assorted saltwater taffy, just to try it you know, but I am agog at the 2lb Giant Gummy Bears, how would one go about eating one of those?

2lb Gummy Bears for $29.95 in any flavour you like! That would stick your teeth together!

Near the Under Sea Gardens, male California Sea Lions have commandeered the docks to soak up the rays (sun not sting), others are swimming around in the calm sea.  They were easy to find, just follow the barking!  The sheila Sea Lions wisely stay south in California year round where it is warmer and the shopping is better. The males visit them during the summer months, who knows for what purpose!!

A fishing boat has come in to the pier and they are filleting the fresh fish ready for the buyers who are patiently queuing.  It's impressive, I wish my filleting knife was as sharp as that - they whisk those fillets off the bone like butter and the skin departs just as fast.

After another lovely day out seeing the sights and this time in the sun which makes it even more of a day to be treasured, we are dropped off at home with a plan to meet up back at L&L for HH and dinner.  So in the meantime we wander down to see what the beach looks like up close and personal.  It is expansive, goes for miles and miles and in the distance the wind is whipping up the sea spray, misting the horizon.  There is a couple of hardy souls who have barricaded themselves behind  a temporary driftwood shelter sunbathing, but man that wind is cold, it feels like it is coming straight from the North Pole.

This would be a perfect BloKarting beach!  Note the blue sky : )

It’s my birthday in NZ today even though I have to wait until tomorrow here, but that is no reason we can’t celebrate now.  Lois has made us her famous hamburger soup, she made it for us last year too and it is every bit as good as we remember.  Thank you, you guys are a delight!

Sunday, June 10 - TT Whalers Rest, South Beach, OR 97366

Some heavy rain showers overnight but between them we could hear the surf crashing on the beach.

A bit of a dismal, grey start to the day but L&L are picking us up at 10am to take us sightseeing – bless them!  First we check out the South Beach State Park where we are booked in to stay for 3 nights later in June, we find our site and deem it probably the best in the park!  Then we drive  on to Newport, less than 10 minutes away to check out the Port of Newport Marina & RV Park where L&L might stay next time.  We would stay here too, its not expensive with GS discount, has views of the marina, the big bridge and the sea and the Rogue Ales Brewery and Restaurant is right there on the premises, well within easy walking distance.

Close by is the old Port area, predominantly quaint/rustic seafood restaurants and a lot of the walls are painted with seafaring murals, whaling boats, whales, the sea etc.  We spy a Dollar Tree, rock in there and buy 22 items for $22 and there’s no sales tax – I love Dollar Tree!  Wish we had it home.  Then a quick stop at Rite Aid - a pharmacy/department store which also sells beer and wine.  Now that’s a pharmacy - I wonder if their alcohol is just for medicinal purposes?

We are now getting a bit peckish ‘cos Larry keeps talking about the famous clam chowder served at the ‘Chowder Bowl’ at Nye Beach.  Have to say he is right, it’s the best clam chowder I have ever tasted but I was a tad over ambitious ordering a bowl - a cup would have fit my tummy better!

Ready to go check out the chowder!

Look at those bowls brimming with the yummiiest clam chowder!

 A quick stop at Walmart to pick up a few supplies and we are delivered safely back home.  We have time for a nannie nap before we need to get ready for HH and dinner in a couple of hours.

The rain doesn’t let up, its quite nice at night time when you are tucked up cosy inside listening to the raindrops on the roof.  The Newport area has not had rain since April so it is very welcome for the locals to fill their tanks.

Saturday, June 9 - to TT Whalers Rest, South Beach, OR 97366

The sun is shining as we prepare to leave Richardson Park but the forecast says snow at Willamette Pass today!  Just as well we don’t need to go that way - we are heading west to the ocean.

Leaving the wider Eugene area we drive by lots of vineyards, Christmas trees and all sorts of agriculture, even some sheep, gently rolling hills and it's very green.

The highways aren’t wide, just two opposing lanes and not much of a shoulder, wish the oncoming traffic would pay as much attention as us, especially you 'Mr Big Dirt Moving Truck' on highway 200.  Once we join Hwy 20 at Corvallis (a pretty town and we drive over both the bridges to get onto the westbound 20) the road curls and climbs gently, we don’t get above 400 feet at each of the four I think summits - these are snow zones shrouded in wet cloud at the moment.

Heading west on Hwy 20 towards those hills in the distance

We are only on the road a couple of hours and we see our first glimpse of the Pacific Ocean.

Yep, that's the Pacific on the horizon, driving into the lovely little town of Newport

An even bigger glimpse of our ocean as we drive south along the Oregon Coast Highway!

We decided to go straight toThousand Trails Whalers Rest as Larry & Lois have already arrived there and say the park is pretty full.  By the time we arrive there are only a couple of sites free so we choose 37 which is the exact opposite corner of where L&L are, looks like we will get some exercise visiting.

There are 174 sites here, in two halves separated by a road and we are only 150 yards from the ocean although that too is over the main road.  Doesn’t matter - we can hear the waves crashing. Its raining on and off so don’t get to explore much, just a walk to the office to tell them which site we are in and to check out the cable TV which is a pay for option, but just $3 a day.  However we can’t get it at our site but I'm sure I can find something else to do with the $12 we’ve saved!  And we also save the beach combing expedition for tomorrow, as long as the weather clears.  I’m going to watch for whales and I expect to see some too!

We have FHU, the site is level and we are treed in on three sides.  Not much outside room but so far we haven’t had an opportunity to be outside.  The ocean is behind us.

Photo obviously taken between the rain showers!

LL drive over for HH, it’s so nice to have fun company for HH again!  Not that we need any encouraging : )

Friday, 8 June - Richardson Park on Fern Ridge Reservoir, OR 97448

Looks like we have sunshine again this morning but it’s not on our site yet so I take myself off for a walk to the Marina, finding a shortcut, we didn’t need to bike so far the other day.  I walk all the way to the dam and back taking photos along the way - so I get to close some circles on my new apple watch! The water in the reservoir is glassy smooth this morning. Takes me back to our water-skiing days, this is the perfect water, no wind and nobody around making wakes!  And it’s luke warm.

Glossy smooth water in the marina today!

The marina is quite new, just constructed in 2012 and provides 212 berths on five fingers.  There is an on-site marina host to assist with moorings etc.  For a 34’ berth (maximum size) for the whole season $592 seems pretty cheap - no wonder it looks pretty full up. You can stay overnight for $17, for a week for $52 and a month is $172 but if you just have a 10’ runabout, its just $11 a night. Take note Seaview Marina.

After breakfast and coffee Kim decides he wants to go for a walk too so we stroll off to see if we can find the home of the match sailing yachts lined up in the distance which we can see from our marina. 

Match Racers at the Eugene Yacht Club

A few minutes later we come across the Eugene Yacht Club (200 active members) where we are greeted at the gate and shown around the facilities.  The Club is hosting a regatta this weekend so there are people around and is probably why our RV Park is so busy tomorrow.  A big motorhome towing a trailer with two sail boats pulls in as we watch - maybe we can do that?

Their stable of yachts is different to what we are familiar with - Thistles, Santana 20’s and Lido 14’s.  They are happy to sail in 4-6 knots although we are assured it does get windier, as long as the wind comes from the west.  The lake depth is only around 20’ so you have to know where you can go.  The rule of thumb is ‘if you can see weed above the water level it’s a good choice to not go there’. 

Although predominantly a sailing club, many members have sailboards, canoes, kayaks, rowing skulls, power boats and pontoon boats.  There is also a mini campground for life members (or those who have been members a long time) to park their RV here over the summer season.

One of two cranes to get the boats into the water

Like our club/marina, not all the boats are in superb seaworthy ship-shape condition, I think you could buy a cheap Wind Rider Trimaran if you had a mind to.

Make an offer!

Also parked in the compound is a floating dunny – the Leakin-Leena.  I assume this is necessary for partaking party-goers who don’t have a black tank on board, but I suspect most of them do as there is a pump out facility on the dock at the marina.

The Leakin-Leena

Around 3pm it starts to drizzle gently as forecast, so we are now inside and I am watching back to back CSI programmes while Kim finishes his David Baldacci book (new fave).

Thursday, 7 June - Richardson Park on Fern Ridge Reservoir, OR 97448

My gosh it was dark last night, the mega tall trees do a great job of masking the stars and moon and we can’t see the bathroom blocks from here so there is no overflowing light.

Woke to slightly overcast morning but it promises to get better.  It’s pretty quiet, the only activity this morning is the Monaco Ambassador Coach over the way has packed up and left. Took them a while to load up, hook up the tow car and move out.

Richardson Park, one of the Lane County Parks, has a total of 88 campsites, a mix of 50 and 30amp.  The level, blacktop sites are interwoven amongst the trees and are of a good size, ours is huge! There is amphitheatre where they show movies on Friday nights, might go check it out as we will still be here tomorrow.

And we've only got neighbours on one side!

It’s 12.20 and as promised the sun is peeking through the remaining clouds.  Got a coffee on, it must be time to go sit outside.

It is very pleasant, no wind, about 22C and the sun stays out all afternoon.  We get a lot of reading done today.

We are not hooked up to sewer here so to save filling out tanks go check out the showers – I pick a good one, the needle point shower just about shot me out the door!

I’ve got the slow cooker on again today so Kim will be happy with his meat, potato, veg and gravy.

Wednesday, 6 June - Richardson Park on Fern Ridge Lake, Junction City OR 97448

We spend the first hour or so talking with the supplier about delivery of our new Humminbird 10“ depth sounder /chart plotter which Kim ordered on line yesterday.  However before they can deliver they need to verify some details.  To give you the short version, because the value was over $1,000 they need to verify the billing address versus the delivery address and after many frustrating minutes on the phone and on hold it didn’t happen so we cancel the order and hope the credit comes as promptly as the payment was taken!  Maybe it was not meant to be this time round!

We are back on the road again today, it feels good to be riding high, looking over all the other traffic.  I need a haircut so we take the Beltline south to Walmart where Kim gets to spend some time browsing the RV and Automotive section while waiting for me.  We get back in the coach to travel another 8 or so miles to Richardson Park – not using much diesel today.  Site #36 which we were allocated when we made the booking is lovely, large with many tall trees but unfortunately not possible for us to get into, due to the overhanging limbs.  We scout around and find another more suitable site but on checking back at the office find it is not available for the 3 nights we have booked.  We walk around the park, both A section and B section and don’t find any sites that are free for the three days – the weekend is booked out.  So the camp host staff obligingly organise a couple of golf carts, a couple of guys and a lopper and they go about making the site fit our needs.  That’s great service but shhhh we can’t let the ranger know!  Plus the lovely ladies at the office offered us samples of fresh locally grown strawberries too.

By the time we are set up it’s about 2.30ish and we finish getting sorted, have a bite of lunch and then take the bikes on an investigatory hike to find the marina etc. 

Now this vista makes us feel at home!

There is a swim beach and some are swimming but at 24C is it definitely not necessary for us to get in the water just yet.  The day use/beach area is well supported today, young people everywhere in all their teenage glory with not a lot of clothes on.  As we bike past we get to sample each groups music of choice, each picnic table has its own but it is not overly loud and contained pretty much to each site.  However the launch tied to the jetty is trying to attract everyone and God’s attention by blaring their crap music out to the world.  Why do they think that is cool?

Life Jacket Loan - a great idea and we see it a lot of places by the water

We find a short cut back to camp and as we arrive back at #36 Camp Leader drives past on her golf cart towing a trailer of firewood, so we shell out the $5 to grab and bundle.

That;s how you make money by firewood sales - deliver!

So we are cooking outside on the fire tonight.  We start the fire early which doubles as a mosquito repellent and eventually sit down to steak, mushrooms and asparagus.

The WIFI here is very hit and miss, I only have one bar of cell coverage and Kim has none to some, so you might not get this post until we leave here.  Trying anyway!

Tuesday, 5 June, Armitage Park, Coburg OR 97408

Awake early - it’s light well before 5am, the bright ¾ moon wanders across the sky.  Snooze for half an hour more but then figure might as well start the day.  The heat pump takes the chill off.  WOW - three big deer just wander past in front of the motorhome, glad I am up early enough to see them!  I wondered if there were any deer here as this is the first time I’ve seen them.  My phone is right here but I can’t get it turned on and turned to camera in time to get a photo!

L&L will be leaving us early today, they are getting some work done on their coach just a few miles up the road and they need to be there by 9am.  But, they are coming by at 11am to pick us up to take us to lunch at Guaranty RV, who host a weekly complimentary lunch every Tuesday for any of their past, current and potential customers – we must fit into one of those categories I'm sure. We enjoyed lovely pulled pork on fresh buns, baked beans (but not as we know them) potato salad and watermelon, followed by a specialty icecream – it was real nice but dang it, I can’t remember the brand!

Lunch was great, the few speeches were brief.  Our table was super lucky - Larry won a prize in one of the trivia quizzes and the raffle was won by Judy!  Plus we got to wander around their sales lot without any interference from over-zealous sales people (Chad, our new BFF excepted) and the sun is shining!  We didn’t see any coaches we would have rather than ours, but there were some really nice features on some of them.

We stop off first at Safeway, we need milk and then at a produce market on the way home.  The asparagus looked really fresh and we also picked up some other fruit and veg too.

Back to ours for an early HH then L&L head back home to check how the repairs etc. are going!

Tomorrow we will be moving on to Richardson Park, another Lane County park on a lake only about 15 miles away but we hear there may be no WIFI and cell coverage may be suspect so don’t worry if there are no daily blogs for the next three days.  Catchya!

Monday, 4 June, Armitage Park, Coburg, OR 97408

Happy Queens Birthday everyone at home – hope you are making the most of the long weekend!

Today we have plans to go to North West RV Supply, Larry needs to pick up the hinges he ordered and we want to get a couple of replacement fridge door shelves which Kim saw there the other day, plus some rubber tubing to put around the slide out generator door and a new drink holder to replace the old black one which is a little wonky.  Good shopping!  We also pop into Lowes for more screws and to say Hi to Kathy, T&J’s daughter.  We are back in time for lunch - although I am still full from last night!!  The sun is out and it's warm (20C) so enjoy a little relax in our recliners reading, at least while the eyes are open.  Kim fits all of his new stuff.

 Armitage Park is very green!

HH is at ours tonight and T&J drive over to join us.  We were supposed to be at the neighbours, who L&L know but they only arrive back at their motorhome after a day out, just as we are finishing up.  Next time maybe.

Sunday, 3 June, Armitage Park, Coburg, OR 97408

It’s Lois’ birthday today, we start the day’s celebrations with cake and coffee to celebrate.

Happy Birthday Lois xx

We potter around during the day, Kim plays with the furnace etc. and I get online (very good WIFI here) to book the final accommodations we need in Oregon and then some in Washington State, allowing for a visit to Speedco for a service, before moving on to Washington State.

 

Mid afternoon we meet for a very early HH prior to meeting with Judy and Tom and their family for a celebration dinner – Lois birthday, J&T’s grand daughter Jess’ 14^th birthday and J&T’s wedding anniversary tomorrow.  We go to the Olive Garden, an Italian restaurant I’ve been wanting to try for a while. The food is excellent!  However - shouldn’t have eaten the delicious bread first, but it smelled so good and shouldn’t have eaten almost all of my shrimp and scallop alfredo but it tasted so good and definitely should not have eaten such a huge helping of Jess’ Baskin Robbins Icecream cake – it was also very good! 

Big group at Olive Garden

Thank you everyone for including us in your special celebrations!

Saturday, 2 June, Armitage Park, Coburg, OR 97408

Another clear cloudless day, we meet with L&L at 9am and are joined by T&J  to go into Eugene to the Farmers Market.  It was huge - split between general craft on one side and produce the other with food trucks in the centre.  We saw lots of tie died clothing, jewellery, soaps, pottery and all the stalls seemed to be run by aging hippies!  It was an eye opener for sure!

A brief stop at Albertsons for a couple of items (please forgive our lapse of loyalty Walmart - you don’t have a store here) and then back to the coach and it’s still morning.  A load of laundry, start preparations for dinner (L&L are joining us tonight) and Kim works down the back on his modifications to the hatch cover.  Needs some longer screws, the ones we bought with the wood are too short, so put the project on the back burner for now.

It’s 23C with a very light breeze, almost too hot to sit outside but luvin it!

We are invited over to Judy and Toms for HH today, their RV Park is about 10 minutes away and it's a nice opportunity for us to see another park.  It’s large, well laid out and pretty full.  The weather holds so we sit outside and enjoy the ambience.

HH at Judy & Tom's

The slow cooker performed well while we were out and the meat is nicely cooked, just need to pop on the Parmesan Roast Potatoes add some greens and dinner is done!

Friday, 1 June, Armitage Park, Coburg, OR 97408

White Rabbits!

I woke early and watched the sky lighten, the moon fade and the sun rays start to turn the sky pink.  So I am awake and think I will get up and check out the user guide for my new Watch while it is quiet and everyone else is sleeping.

We are meeting next door at 10am, L&L are taking us shopping again today : )  First stop is Camping World a couple of mile north.  Then we head towards the Valley River Centre Mall and see an AT&T right across the road.  We pull in there to get a US sim card for my new phone, the old series 5 does not talk to the new watch.  It works straight away and a good $5 spent. My phone number stays the same (832) 980 0049.

Then we drive into the Valley River Centre Mall, where we start in Penney’s , then coffee at Cinnabon (nothing to eat this time) then check out Macy’s and the rest of the mall etc.

It’s about time for lunch and we are pretty much finished at the mall so drive to find a lunch spot.  We introduce Kim to the delights of Taco Bell - some of what I ordered for us passed muster so now he knows what he likes there he will be good for the next visit!

Walmart SuperCentre comes next for more supplies including a compact folding 8’ step ladder to make it easier to reach up to wash the windshield etc. At this Walmart they don’t pack into plastic bags - you can buy a large strong paper sack for $0.05 each though.

Home Depot is next for some 1”x2” wood to frame up the engine bay ceiling so the silver paper stays attached to where it oughta!  Wasn’t a good look yesterday when K found part of the silver lining stuck in the alternator when he was hosing - there were some sparks flying!!

Then Costco, a member only wholesale supermarket, which L&L belong to.  We bought a slab of AAA/AA batteries here last year and do the same again now – we split the bulk purchase with Larry.  The meat, general food and hardware is pretty amazing here - imagine a huger version of Moore Wilson, grocery and general.

It’s been a great day out, we don’t get back to camp until nearly 4pm and HH is at ours this afternoon.  The sun has stayed out all day and the wind has died so it’s warm enough to sit outside and make the most of the afternoon heat.  It does get quite hot so the shade of the motorhome offers a cooler alternative.

What a wonderful day out, thanks again L&L : )

Thursday, 31 May – at Armitage Park, Coburg OR 97408

What! Are those clouds in the sky?  Yep, what the heck!  Not an early start, it’s not so cold but cold enough that we need the furnace on first thing before we rise to start out day.

Pretty early on Kim is out and at it, cleaning the windshield, windows etc. using Larry’s little ladder which is perfect for reaching those high spots.  After my late start I have some bookings to amend and some new ones to make some for our new accommodation requirements and a new watch to practice with.

Then it’s cleaning inside, coffee, lunch and and a walk in between the light rain showers.  It’s not blackberry season yet, the blossoms are just starting. The river is surging!

When I get back to the coach I see water p*ssing out the back engine bay and rush inside to find  Kim with his head down the engine bay from the bedroom hosing the engine clean.  Phew - so pleased there's nothing wrong!

Before we know it, it’s time for an early HH with L&L and their friends Judy and Tom (ex CHPS - California Highway Patrol) who have come over from their campground on the other side of town to have a drink with us.  We make plans together to check out the Farmers Market on Saturday.

Kim chats with some neighbours who have been teasing us by driving by in their MX5 (not a Miata) for a couple of days.  They are from BC and talk his language – Celsius and  Km’s not miles!  They have a nice dark red MX5 and tow it on a trailer, taking it out for outings as the weather permits.

Wednesday, 30 May – at Armitage Park, Coburg OR 97408

After a semi cloudy night with a full moon the morning dawned fine although there is a cool wind.  We sleep in, snuggling under the duvet while the furnace warms up the living quarters.  Kim gets a much needed haircut and then we are ready as planned by 10am for L&L to take us shopping - yay!  Kim wants to go to Cabelas to check out the Humminbird Chart Plotters etc. and the girls go girl shopping.  I want to pick some warmer clothes, it hasn't always been t-shirt weather since we've this far north in Oregon so a couple of sweaters need to come home with me : )  The boys head off to North Western RV for an hour or so browsing before coming back to pick us up.  IHop is on the menu for lunch (Kim's choice) and I have to say the food is epic – if not very healthy!!

Kim's choice for lunch - he said it was 'cos he has a sore gum and can't chew!

Next stop Best Buys, the best buy for a new Apple watch for me - my analogue watched died a couple of weeks back (heh heh) even though I had a new battery installed prior to coming away. It’s been a pain having to use my phone to tell the hour of the day each time I want to check it.   Anyway I choose the rose gold one which they have in stock (at a very good price, on sale with a $50 discount and no sales tax) and we take it home charge it up and see if we can make it work.  Yes we can!!

We are also hosting dinner tonight for L&L, it is way past our turn as they have had us over to theirs for dinner twice already.  So the watch takes the back seat while HH commences and  food is prepared, cooked and enjoyed!  Mustard Pork Stroganoff with buttered noodles is a “will def do again” meal, thanks Jo Seager!

After cleaning up I get to play some more with my watch, I will never figure out what all these apps do but so far I can say I like it!  Thanks for taking us shopping L&L : )

Aren't I lucky!!