September 20, 2000
A great day. We broke camp early and were on the road in a flash as we had no food to prepare (or eat). Both of us felt beat for the first several miles. Because of the terrain and fog, we didn't realize right away that we were climbing. We got to a viewpoint 1/4 mi from the sea lion caves and got totally socked in with fog. We took the opportunity to eat the last of the granola w/ powdered milk and a couple of soggy marshmallows. So fueled, we motored on when the fog lifted a little. We ate a delicious breakfast at a tiny restaurant in Florence.
A great day. We broke camp early and were on the road in a flash as we had no food to prepare (or eat). Both of us felt beat for the first several miles. Because of the terrain and fog, we didn't realize right away that we were climbing. We got to a viewpoint 1/4 mi from the sea lion caves and got totally socked in with fog. We took the opportunity to eat the last of the granola w/ powdered milk and a couple of soggy marshmallows. So fueled, we motored on when the fog lifted a little. We ate a delicious breakfast at a tiny restaurant in Florence.
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| Jess gobbles a crazy breakfast while we are waiting for the fog to lift; Internet photo of the sea lion caves they were fogged in when we passed but we could hear them |
Just before Jesse M. Honeyman SP we came to the famous Oregon dunes area. Really amazing. Decided to take an hour-long dune buggy ride. What a blast! The dunes are 500 feet tall in places, and our driver would charge up one side, take us to the very edge and then charge down the other. It was like being on a roller coaster for an hour. Those of you who know my fear of heights will realize that my eyes were closed on occasion. Mouth, too 'cause when I opened it to gasp, I'd get a mouthful of sand.
There are miles & miles of golden sand dunes. In one place there were several tree islands. Our driver showed us bear tracks between them. Also went treasure hunting in a spot used for gun practice during WWII. He said he had found two 50mm shells the day before. The sand blows & shifts & reconfigures each day. He found a gizmo from a machine gun and (ironically) gave it to the German couple who shared our ride. (There is room for four passengers and the driver in the outsized dune buggy).
The ride ended with a ride along the beach where the driver's eagle eye spotted pieces of agate for Jess and me. Even tho we wore long pants, jackets, and ski goggles, we were covered with sand after our ride. I had sand in my ears, mouth, shoes, between my teeth, in my hair. I left a pile of it on the shower floor that evening.
Big grocery stop in Reedsport. Dinner tonight: wine and honey-mustard pretzels, macaroni & cheese w/ tuna (tuna-mac as Jess calls it), fresh asparagus, coffee, fig newtons.
We're at W.M Tugman SP in the hiker/biker section. Two of the small axis deer wandered right into our camp after dinner. As did a German "cowboy" with a walking stick who had to be told that this was not a hiking trail. Jess told me that he walked right into the women's shower as she was getting dressed and had to be told to vamoose. Think this guy is a voyeur and smarter than he lets on.
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| Top: Oregon sand dune buggy ride--Susan in back in red Jess in yellow in middle; bottom: our driver scanning the beach in search of agate |
Route: C.G. Washburne State Park to W.M. Tugman State Park; 50.9 miles on Hwy 101 which is two lane with (usually) good shoulders except where it passes through towns and becomes 4-lane.
Weather: Mild, pleasant day. Temps in the 70s.
General: Passed through some beautiful pieces of shoreline and along pretty rivers and lakes. Two long sweaty climbs, but in the afternoon a good tailwind blew us into camp. Once again we are the only people in the hiker-biker camp
General: Passed through some beautiful pieces of shoreline and along pretty rivers and lakes. Two long sweaty climbs, but in the afternoon a good tailwind blew us into camp. Once again we are the only people in the hiker-biker camp
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