Another Happy Day in Oregon

Our first stop after leaving Yachats was Seal Rocks. It was still cold and windy, but not really rainy, yet. There were no seals.

Surf, but no seals.

This happy hairdo is from the wind, not that I did not comb his hair

Newport

Lon finds the resident sea lions

I think these are the same sea lions that were here 4 years ago, in the same positions!

Newport Bay Bridge

Another day, another lighthouse! Yaquina Bay Light. Tours didn't start till noon, so we will come back another trip!

A cold and windy hello from Yaquina Head Light House. Yes, there are two, Yaquina Bay and Yaquina Head. Last time we went to down the coast we did not pay the entry fee to get into Yaquina Head. This time we did!

The rocks down on the beach at Yaquina Head, they were volcanic or so the sign said. They also made a really cool sound when we walked on them. In the hail.

Walking back up to the light.

Reading about what we just saw.

Yaquina Head Light.

Can we go inside NOW, please

Inside the visitors center. It was warmer and we got another Lighthouse stamp for Lon's lighthouse passport.

Yes, Daddy did put the ball in the cup. On the first try, then after that it was a different story!

The visitor's center is very nice.

Devil's Punchbowl. Yes, it is what it looks like. SNOW is falling. Yes, it was the last week of March. Lon and Daddy stayed in the car.

Headed North

Cape Foulweather. It lived up to its name.

The bridge at Depot Bay

It is nice and warm in the car!

The weather is getting better on the way to Tillamook.

MMM, apple juice! With a straw no less.

Playing with Daddy while waiting for our yummy lunch. Then we had ice cream, of course.

Watching the cheese being packaged! The Tillamook Creamery was packed, I realized that it was Oregon spring break. Ooops!

We made it up to Astoria in the afternoon. I had this on my short list of things I HAD to accomplish this trip. I brought the baby bunny coat with us all the way to California. We found the wreck of the Peter Iredale at the end of Peter Iredale road.Who'd a thunk it? When I was 2, my father took my photo in front of the wreck in the baby bunny coat. Lon has almost outgrown the baby bunny coat. I am glad we got several photos of him. All that family tradition stuff... and the weather cooperated for a brief and shinning moment.

We re-wrapped the baby bunny coat, and Lon played on the sand. Thanks Mom and Dad.

The day was still nice so we found Fort Clatsop National Park, we got a stamp for Lon's National Park Passport. Which is another cool program.

A quick trip up the the Astoria Column. Pretty, and we noticed some snow on the ground. Snow... Hmmm.... Not really a good sign.

After our sightseeing, we went to Fred Meyer got some groceries. We took them to Grandpa Bills and made a nice dinner, played with the dogs, and went to bed early. It was a very long long day!

Highway 101 - Gold Beach to Yachats

I have no idea how to pronounce Yachats. I think it is Ya-ats. The entire middle of the word is silent.

Yep, this is leaving Gold Beach. The weather was cold, windy and rainy and ever changing.

One of our first stops was at Horsfall beach, the Oregon Dunes.

The Oregon Dunes National Recreation Area. It is a pretty place. The ATVs have a grand time out here. The few brave ones out there zooming when we drove around, but for the most part it was too cold, windy and rainy.

mmmm, ice cream. We stopped at a Myrtle Wood Factory, got some nice spoons, and the ice cream for Lon.

Umpqua River Light. Yes, I made us stop at every single lighthouse we could going up the coast. I like Lighthouses.

The view from the light.

The Umpqua Light Museum. Lon loved all the fake food stuffs. He counted all the apples, all the pears and wanted to pour out the coffee beans and count them, but I told him that would not be a good idea.

Going into the light for a tour

The stairs up to the light. Yes, we walked them all. Lon walked down but we carried him up.

Inside the actual light

Lon inside the light.

The weather changed, again.

We stopped for lunch at an A&W drive in. I vaguely remember these from my early childhood. I certainly know we have a plethora of A&W rootbeer mugs. My mother used the tiny ones to hold angel food cakes upside down as they cooled. Didn't A&W have a theme song for the rootbear? It was a tuba type thing... I have to go look that up.

The Sea Lion Caves. Again, it was cold, windy and rainy.

Hecta Head Light as seen from the Sea Lion Caves.

Once you pay the fee, you walk down the ramp, past the scenic view for Hecta Head, get into an elevator. It goes down 200 feet and this is the cave! Very nice, lots and lots of sea lions. What the brochures and everything else doesn't mention is that sea lions are stinky. Lots of them in one place are very stinky, and loud. They are very cool to watch barking and swimming.

Another beauty shot of the light.

This is the actual view to the sea lion cave. I took the earlier pictures up close and through on the holes in the mesh.

March is just a lion all month long. There was no lamb in this March.

Surf!

The beach in front of the hotel in Yachats. Lots of pea gravel, no sand at this beach! Very nice little rocks.

Sunset from our hotel balcony. This hotel was just a nice plain hotel. No hot tub. Lon kept saying as he fell asleep, let's go back to the brown hotel and the hot tub.

We were having a wonderful time on the coast. I am so glad we FINALLY got around to doing this!

Going North

We left a little late on Easter Monday, which was a really good thing. It gave Mom and Andy a chance to use the gift for the Napa Balloon flight! They had a great time.

Lon, Mark and I got on the road at 11:53. Mark wanted to leave before noon, and we did!

We went up through Napa Valley, in search of a tiny winery called Dutch Henry's. On our first trip to Napa, a very long time ago, Mark and I stumbled on this winery. Two guys who retired from something, opened this place and named it after the dog. I like that. It is good to name important things after the dog. We did find it. It is still small, but they now also grow olives, and it is certified Organic. We bought a new t-shirt and some olive oil. Then we continued north to the coast.

A nice photo somewhere in Napa.

On the road. We spent the night in Eureka and then headed north again. Through the redwoods and into Oregon.

Avenue of the Giants. Seriously big trees

Moonstone Beach

My *new* camera died after this picture. I learned that I really need to charge it every single night on vacation! I was able to use the older camera, the one that Mark used before he got the video camera. I LOVE having a backup camera!

Mark and Lon at Moonstone Beach, California.

The largest heard of Roosevelt Elk. At least that is what the roadside sign told us.

The Lady Bird Johnson Redwood Grove. This is the bridge to it from the parking lot. This time of year the road was NOT busy, but I am sure that during the summer months it would be much busier.

Wow, Dad that is one big tree.

We look like Lilliputians.

Just pretty.

A nice little bench was provided for Lon!

We take Great pictures, huh Dad!

Deer next to the wild elk warning sign.

Whew! Now I can take my shoes off!

Beauty shot of Oregon.

Now I am taking your picture Mommy!

It was very windy, very cold. Lon and Daddy stayed in the car while I walked to the arches and caves picture point. I was sort of upset with myself that I packed warm clothes for me and Lon when it was so warm in California. I bought him shorts to wear on Easter, it was too warm to stay in his sweater vest. Now, I was very pleased that he had his coat, long pants and long sleeved shirts!

We stopped for the night at Gold Beach, Oregon. We stayed at the Gold Beach Resort. This is now known as the brown hotel. Lon wants to go back to the brown hotel. He played on the beach, we had a large room on the beach, we also had a hot tub jacuzzi in the room. This is living!

Sand and rocks. Cool.

Let's not leave the beach, ever!

Ringing the bell at the Rogue River Museum.

The 1933 WPA bridge over the Rogue River. We spent a nice night at the Gold Beach Resort. The next morning, we were on our way north once more!