Oregon Coast Camping

During her last visit (see previous posting), Vicki and I headed out for a weekend trip camping on the coast. She had seen the coast on other trips before but always the northern sections more accessible from Portland. Now we had time to see points further south.




We drove from Hillsboro to Lincoln City and Newport. From there she was in fresh territory.

Tide Out at Siletz Bay

The day was clear but cold and windy. We stopped to see the estuary of the Siletz river at Lincoln City. The tide was out and on the distant sand bar seals were sunning themselves.


This is called Whale cove. This is where the sandstone bluffs and basalt meet for some interesting color contrasts.


Seals Lazing in the Sun


Sea stars and mussels


At the Driftwood house you learn how to dream...



Beach

We stopped at the Siltcoos river which is one of my favorite places. It is a short river that runs through the dunes from Siltcoos lake before breaking out to the ocean. On past trips I have seen salmon in this river and have fished for sea-run cutthroat trout. Today there were seals fishing at the mouth what was probably a salmon run and we managed to see one catch and eat a fish.


Vicki at the Siltcoos River

We ended up camping near Coos Bay at Sunset bay state park. We cooked up some shrimp and steaks over a fire and waited for dinner drinking G&Ts.


Gin and Tonic, Steak, Shrimp, and good company around the fire.



The next day was clear and warm and we explored Sunset bay at low tide. There were lots of rocky tide pools to see. There was also some intricate patterning in the sandstone that was exposed by the waves.


Sandstone Patterns



Lone Seagull at Sunset bay

We then drove down towards Cape Arago.


Waves at Cape Arago


We stopped at one lookout and then at Cape Arago there was a huge colony of seals and sea lions basking and swimming. There were also herons out there as well.


Sea Lions and Seals


The fog descends over the cape. Consistent with the weather that weekend the fog came down again and gave the sense of great isolation.


On the way back home we drove towards Roseburg and stopped at a covered bridge. Covered bridges were invented because the roadbed and trusses were made of wood and a roof was needed to keep them dry and rot-free. Later creosote and eventually steel eliminated the need for covering of bridges.