White Shepherd Stories

Traveling the Oregon Coast

After an amazing 100th Birthday Party for my Aunt Zelma, we headed home via the coastal route.   Laura and Kevin were towing their Airstream.  I was driving our RV.  We caravanned to our first stop, ten miles north of Florence, Oregon:

 

We walked about 100 feet down a path to the elevator, which took us down another 200 feet into the caves.  It is beautiful and interesting to hear the sea lions arguing over their favorite spot on the rocks.  It is not very crowded with sea lions in the summer, but in the winter months you can hardly hear each other talking, they are so noisy.  

The opening in the cave wall below makes a nice frame for a distant view of the Heceta Head lighthouse, to the north. 

Back on top of the cliff is a beautiful bronze statue of the sea lions.

 

We decided to stop in Newport, Oregon, for fish and chips.  We sat outside at a picnic table and ate our lunch.  The atmosphere was great, with a big crab pot steaming near us.  The food was wonderful.  

Laura and Kevin turned east and headed for home.  The dogs and I stayed on our course up the coast.  It was such a gorgeous day - so many inviting places to stop, but I had a spot in mind, to spend the night.

The Coast Highway 101 has a lot of traffic in the summer.  I think the most interesting are the cyclists and the hikers.  I never tire of studying their gear.  Since I sort of travel with my home in back like a turtle, with everything "including the kitchen sink", I find it fascinating to contemplate taking only what I could carry in a back pack or on a bicycle. That would definitely not work for me at this time of my life, but there was a time ... and I think it would have been fun.  I would miss my travel companions though and the comfort of a hot shower and a soft bed, even though I have to share it sometimes, with several White Shepherds.

Camper Cove RV Park and Campground, Cloverdale, OR. 

Our camp spot.

I love this little campground.  It is right above Pacific City and south of Tillamook.  The properties in this area consist mostly of small dairy farms and it is just beautiful, so green, with lovely little streams, trees and flowers.  We have stayed at this campground before and the people are so friendly and pleasant. The trails are inviting and we always enjoy our stay.  It was early and a nice time to take a little hike.   After feeding the dogs, I sat outside at the picnic table and enjoyed a mojito with fresh mint I found on our hike.

Journey at the trail head of one of our hikes.

Quest near the office of the campground.

Pirate on our hike.

One of the cute little victorian cottages in the campground.

Two more little cottages that can be rented.

That is our RV on the left side of the road, in the middle of the picture.

Walks done, now for happy hour and dinner.  

Pirate left rear, Journey in the middle, Quest right front.

I slept so good.  It is so quiet in this campground - only the sounds of the gurgling little creek.  In the morning I slip out of bed and start the coffee - back to bed to read while I wait for coffee.  The dogs each enjoy a bowl of kibble mixed with chicken livers and hearts with a scoop of live culture yogurt.

I poached an egg and placed it on a piece of Dave's Killer Bread, with melon on the side.  It is hard to leave our pretty camping spot, but we have miles to go and places to visit.  

Next stop: Bear Creek Artichokes. Located 11 miles south of Tillamook - Highway 101, Oregon.

Heirloom tomatos

Homemade goodies:  Still warm, blueberry scones with lemon glaze; a  strawberry/lemon scone; two apple dumplings with brandy sauce;  a jar of Raspberry jam;  Artichoke dip and bean garlic dip with flat bread; Mint/fudge; Pinenut & Basil Pesto. 

Closeup of bakery items.

The Green House at the Bear Creek Artichokes

Joourney & Pirate, ready to go.

We stopped at a park in Astoria and I was able to get a better picture of a Columbia River Pilot Boat.  I am fascinated by the pilots.  All vessels engaged in foreign trade are required to employ a Columbia River Bar Pilot licensed by the State of Oregon when crossing the Columbia River Bar.  They are highly trained people that board ships before they enter a harbor or a river.  I believe they sail the ship to its docking spot and then again out to the mouth of the river where the ship's captain once more takes control of the ship and continues to their next destination.  It is a most interesting profession.  In any weather, the pilot boat speeds to the incoming vessel and climbs a rope ladder up the tall sides of the ships to take control of them.  More often these days, a helicopter delivers the pilot to the deck of the ship. 

Columbia River Bar Pilots  http://www.columbiariverbarpilots.com/

Quest always enjoys a picnic

We made it home by 3:00 in the afternoon, which gave me time to cut up the treats for Journey's agility class and get us there on time.  We were a little travel worn, but still managed to have a good class.  Good to be home after a fun trip.  

Decisions, Decisions....

My daughter and her husband are going to Colorado, and Laura requested suggestions for places to go and things to see. I once went to Denver and I remember touring the Denver Mint, and one memory particularly sticks in my mind from that visit. As we listened to instructions about the rules inside the Mint, one of the guards told us that if we should drop anything "DO NOT BEND OVER TO PICK IT UP".  He stated, (in a very serious, and gruff manner) that if we did he would probably need to shoot us, as he would think we were stealing money that might be on the floor.

This comment made a strong impression on me, as you can tell, since I can not remember much else about the tour. I do remember it was interesting, but I am afraid it was completely overshadowed by the fear that I might drop something important to me -- maybe even something that would cause embarrassment if I should have to call the guard to pick it up for me. I was unable to think of what that thing would or could be but that did not stop me from thinking about it for the entire tour, and I guess even forty-some odd years since.  

It brought to mind another, seemingly unrelated decision I had to make a few years earlier.  My husband and I were on our honeymoon after our wedding in Hawaii.  We were at the Outrigger Canoe Club.

"The Outrigger Canoe Club is located on the beautiful Pacific Ocean below the slopes of Diamond Head, near Waikiki Beach. This is truly a special place! The Club has provided a haven for the sports of old Hawai'i and today nurtures modern athletic ventures as well."

My husband and a friend were surfing and I was attempting to do the same, without much luck. My first problem was the coral that was growing about four or four and a half feet beneath the surface. It prevented me from treading water, as I had to stay in a prone position. My second problem was the board, which I had no skills at handling. I had been severly warned to never let it go, as it might hit someone. One of the few times I did make it up on top of the board, I had to abandon it because the top of my bikini came unhitched. I was faced with a dilema not unlike that I might have faced at the Denver Mint. Do I make a desparate swim for my bikini top, which was rapidly floating away or do I cling to the board and save someone from getting konked by it?

It was not exactly a case of my life floating before my eyes, but I did visualize two scenarios:  1) was of my board, shamefully beaching itself without me, or 2) me, trying to get from the water across the beach, past all the people at the little tables overlooking the beach, and down to the dressing rooms, minus the top of my bathing suit.  

The board and I parted company and with a few fast strokes, I barely managed to nab the other half of my teeny bikini as it drifted away. I then found myself with a whole new set of problems. I am a good swimmer, but have never attempted treading water in a prone position, in the surf, while tieing the strings of a bikini top. I could not lay on my back, which left me face down attempting the two ties necessary to secure the suit and assure that I did not have to walk across the beach topless.   

Fortunately there were no swimmers or other people in the water and my board made it safely ashore. I also made it safely ashore, and with both parts of my bikini. In the shower room I met a surfer girl. She said she did competition surfing. I asked her if she surfed off of the beach at this club. She told me she did not, as it was far too difficult for anyone but experts.  

I could not help but wonder if my new husband had decided he no longer liked married life, after only a few days...  I decided I would need to look out for myself a little better in the future.  

p.s. I do remember some other interesting things about Denver:  all the pretty brick houses and the interesting architecture; a waiter who hypnotized a lobster before putting it in the pot; the first time I tasted escargot; and, not necessarily in this order, that we stayed in the same hotel as Paul Revere and the Raiders.  

Puget Island Farmer's Market

Even the parking lot is pretty.

I met my daughter and her husband at the Puget Island Farmer's Market on a Friday. The market opened at 3:00 pm.  I got there at 3:20 and missed out on some good things.  Next time I will get there earlier.  It was Journey's turn for an outing, so he got to come to the market  and walk around with us.  He met a very sweet Border Collie with a frisbee.  He spent most of his time looking over his shoulder or trying to find where she went. 

I spent my time enjoying looking at all the items for sale.  

Puget Island sits in the middle of the Columbia River next to Cathlamet, a small town on the mainland banks of the river.  The land area of Puget Island is 8.13 square miles and the population density is 102 per square mile.  Cathlamet and Puget Island are located in Wahkiakum County, WA which has a population of 3991.

More info here on Wikipedia about Puget Island

Basil plants

Produce that could not be any fresher.

This Focaccia "Mule Kicker" bread was the best!

I bought two little single serving pies: one Marionberry and one Huckleberry.  The Marionberry was my favorite.  We found a cookie jar full of large, home made dog biscuits (organic).  Journey got to take one with us.  He ate it in the car on the way home.  I bought some carrots and some scallions.  Then as we were checking out I could not resist a Mason jar full of fresh flowers - mostly Sweet Peas.  Oh my gosh what a wonderful scent they have.  

Next we drove around the island for a while.  When I was looking for a home in the northwest, the first one I entertained buying was a beautiful little Victorian on the west end of Puget Island.  It had 190 feet of beach and sat on five acres.  I got as far as making an offer and placing a deposit.  It was fenced, with two bedrooms and two baths if I remember right.  It had a beautiful walk-around porch on three sides of the house and a huge barn/shop that could have held a small agility course and my RV.  It also had a nice little guest apartment over the garages.  Well, it did not work out.  It had some electrical problems and some windows that would not shut, in the attic.  The owners would not budge on the asking price, nor would they repair the problems.  I had flown up from California to see it and I had fallen in love with it.  There were a few things that made me decide to let it go though.... the bedrooms were both on the second floor, with a fairly steep stairway.  I was concerned about my older dog Spirit, possibly not being able to navigate the stairs as he aged. There was no local veterinarian close either.  I would have had to drive to Longview, about 36 miles, for a vet or a doctor.  I have since thought of other reasons that it was good that I did not buy the house.  It sure was nice though.  I took a couple pictures but the owner had a trailer parked in front of the house and the trees are thick.  You can see a little of it through the trees.  

That is the river behind the house, and the huge ships pass by every day.  

To the right of the house you can see the apex of the little guest house over the garages.

Some of the boats in the little channels of water that are common around the island.


River view near the little Victorian house. 

One of the many farms on the island.

A typical little island farm house.

There are deer on the island and a deer sanctuary for them, on the south side of the island, near the little ferry that will take you and your vehicle to the Oregon mainland.  It runs several times a day.  

As we finished touring the island, we drove back across the bridge to the Washington mainland, on the north side of the island.  We went through Cathlamet and my daughter managed to get a picture of one of the things I love so much about this little town....

Little Free Library   -    photo by Laura Domela

Downtown Cathlamet, WA  

"You wouldn't happen to have another one of those homemade organic biscuits would you?"

Such a nice afternoon.  I want to go back soon.