Oregon Beach Road Trip

Before you start reading this post, you should open another browser tab and go to youtube and find Hey Marseilles' Rio. Listen to it as the soundtrack for my Oregon Beach Road Trip!

After having a great morning with Nina & family, Luke and I went further south down the Oregon Coast. We camped a few nights near Lincoln City. I tried to find some waterfall hikes, but the one I really wanted to see was closed until Aug 1st. Sigh.

But, even with less hiking than I expected, there were good times of sitting on the beach, watching waves and/or listening to my Nano (mostly music or This American Life). The first night, I felt a little lonely camping out, but I made some friends with fellow campers (ok, most of them were under age 10!).

Each morning I tried to find a new local coffee place. The Pirate Coffee Company was a good find. It has a fine latte, and pirates are just cool!

I stopped at a few coves that were really popular with surfers. Devil's Punchbowl was a cool spot where you had to walk down steep steps (thanks bootcamp!) to the shore.

Another stop was a fun beach where Luke found some teens with whom to play fetch! They were surprised that Luke could just play and play without stopping.

One afternoon, I stopped at a favorite lunch spot I had found when I lived in Eugene. This roadside Crab Cooker stand sells fresh crab, fish and chips, and other fresh catches. I had a child's portion of fish and chips, and steamed fresh crab! The place has grown a bit from the very small shack I knew eight years ago, but it is still friendly and delicious!

I think the best story of the trip is when I may have been mistaken for a homeless woman! I was at another favorite beach, Ocean Shores, and it was a little soggy. So, I put a few essentials in a plastic bag and I walked out to watch the waves. Luke was sitting beside me. I must have been there for a few hours because a woman walked up to me and gave me two treats--a bag of goodies for Luke and a Cadbury bar for me! She told me I was doing a great job with my dog, and it looked like we could both use some treats! A bit stunned, and thankful for her kindness, I accepted. Here is a photo of me looking "lost" and a sign that should be a metaphor (wayfinding):