Exploring Newport and a Bit of the Surrounding Area

 April 15, 16, 17 - Our days off are Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday, so I arrived just in time to do nothing, which was nice in a catch-up-on-sleep-and-recover kind of way. 

Tuesday we did some grocery shopping then I hung out for most of the day before hiking up Communication Hill. It was a moderately steep climb - a challenge for out of shape me - but it had some beautiful views.

Horsetail plant in early stage

Looking north towards Moolack Beach

Much of the trail is heavily forested

The communication equipment dominates the clearing at the top of the hill

But this is the view looking out over Agate Beach

On the descent I was looking down on our campsite

Wednesday I spent some time going through cabinets and figuring out what we had and organizing things before we headed off to explore the Newport's historic Bayfront.

 

These are all males as the females stay in California. It was amusing to watch them jostle for position - as Matthew said, so much like our kids on the couch anytime we are all together  

The Bayfront is an interesting combo of working fishing industry and beachy tourist spots

This is part of a dock from Misawa, Japan that broke free in the 2011 tsunami and floated here

Thursday, after more organizing and rearranging, trying to fit everything we have in a way that makes sense, we headed to Depoe Bay, the "Whale Watching Capital of Oregon". We did not see any but enjoyed chatting with the volunteers in the state whale watch sight.

Entrance to the "worlds smallest harbor"

It's a narrow approach for boats

Water shoots out of a lava tube after a wave has crashed

We drove the picturesque Otter Crest Loop on the way back - "our" lighthouse can be seen on the point

View from Otter Crest overlook

The Devil's Punchbowl at Otter Rock

Surfers off the beach from Otters Rock

Arrival at Yaquina Head Outstanding Natural Area

 4/13 & 14/2025 Left Nate and Rux's after showering and havinga cup of tea. Drove winding back roads out to the coast. Matthew had told the ranger at the entrance, Sabrina, what I was driving so she greeted me as I drove up, totally throwing me off. It was wonderful to see Matthew and have some time before he started his shift. I went with him down to the Interpretive Center (IC). They were havinga volunteer appreciation things with pizza and kit displays, only they could't get anyone to deliver pizza so it ended up being some meat folks had brought in, and a bunch of random sides. There was a wonderful salad that was so good after too many days without vegetables. It was overwhelming to meet everyone but they were all so nice. I followed Matthew down to the lighthouse area where he was stationed and listended to Andrew interact with visitors and set up the scope to watch the Common Murres on Colony Rock. I took Berta's tour of the lighthouse and then hung out in the IC, reading the exhibits and watching the films. It was an exhausting day, but the views were incredible.

Eagle flying over the IC parking lot

Quarry Cove and looking out at Agate Beach and Newport

The steps to CObble Beach and the tidepools

Yaquina Head Lighthouse

Staircase in the lighthouse

Summer 2025 - Driving to Oregon

 April 10 - 13, 2025

Matthew had already driven to Oregon in the RV with David Robinson as his travel companion. He has already been working as a volunteer at Yaquina Head Outstanding Natural Area. I got on the road by 9:30 and headed north. 

The winds were incredibly strong, and the kayaks were buffeting around on the roof, so I stopped in St Joe and got some shelf liner to try to keep the foam blocks from moving and tighten things down more. Saw tons of sandhill cranes in a cornfield outside Kearney Nebraska but was unable to stop to take a picture. Here is one from the internet that shows some of what I saw, although there were no less than 60 in the field I saw.

Winds continued to be difficult throughout the drive across Nebraska, finally abating a bit as I pulled into Ogallala for the night. Spent the night at Travelodge - what a seedy place. The room was dirty, with a sticky drink ring on the bedside table and a brown ring in the toilet. The advertised breakfast was non-existent and there was no staff in the morning to be found. Grabbed an egg mcmuffin at McDonalds and headed off. 

Friday's drive was not any easier. At some point in Wyoming the car began to shake at high speeds and it steadily got worse. Thinking I had a tire out of balance, I pulled into a truck tire place outside of Rawlins. They didn't have the equipment to balance and referred me to places in Rawlins, but none could fit me in in a timely manner, so I drove another 100+ miles to Rock Springs where the mechanic at Les Schwab told me that the rear driver tire's tread was separating and needed to be replaced. A new tire and all 4 balanced and I was back on the road. Next gas stop I realized it had been a while since I checked my oil, and sure enough I was down. Added a quart and headed off again. No sooner had I exited the on ramp and reached highway speed than the car started to chime and the temp gauge was edging near the red. I quickly pulled over and waited a bit. Seeing no steam I limped to a truck rest stop and let the engine cool. Fortunately the air was also cooling and I was soon able to drive on to the next service area, which was a stressful 27 miles away. A gallon of coolant later, I was back on the road. Wyoming is gorgeous!

Unfortunately these car challenges slowed me down so the drive through the beautiful canyons to Ogden were traversed in the dark. Had a lovely room at the SleepInn in Ogden. 

After a good hot breakfast at the hotel I got an early start back in the road. 

View from the hotel in Ogden

Winds picked up again on the way to Boise but tightening the kayaks down again helped keep everything stable. 

The harvested fields were so bright against the darker backdrop, it almost hurt to look at it

The western part of Oregon is not like anything when imaging the NW. It was a desolate drive through high desert.

and then you get to the the Bend/Sisters area and things change into alpine loveliness

Mt Washington - on the opposite side of the continent from the Mt Washington I know in New Hampshire

McKenzie Highway

At Matthew's urging I imposed on Nate and Rux and spent the night at their place in Springfield rather than tackle the twisty roads over the hills to the coast. It wasn't much of a visit because I was rather ffried at that point, but it was lovely to see them nonetheless.