April 15  More Oregon Coast

Another sunny day, although we had to close the windows last night as the temperatures fell to the 30’s.  We have a heater in the Trek, two actually, but rarely use them.  One uses propane and the other is electric.  The only time it bothers me is getting out of the warm bed in the morning (ask Greg J).

We take Beach Loop Road towards Bandon. Beautiful!

Quite a few cranberry bogs along this road, some of which are being irrigated. Somewhere I read that the area is so wet and boggy that cranberries are about all that will grow.

 

Next stop is Shore Acres State Park which has a very nice botanical garden established by Louis J Simpson and his wife.  They owned quite a lot of property in the area and had a mansion in this spot in the early 1900’s.  The rhododendrons are gorgeous (I’ve seen them in people’s yards), as are the calla lilies (ditto) and many flowering shrubs and trees. Quite different from Houston - azaleas and tulips are about all I recognize.

Calla Lillies are in many yards, like day lillies other places.

Note the small bird

The facility is being maintained today by a crew of inmates, on lunch break here – what a great job assignment this must be!  Many birds enjoying the flowers as well.

A mile or so further down the road we reach an overlook of Simpson’s Reef, a rocky offshore reef.  This brings many sea lions and seals and there are a few hundred scattered on the rocks below.   They are sleeping,  barking, swimming, fighting, and generally making a lot of noise.  Supposedly you can often spot gray whales from here and other spots along the coast, though we are near the end of their Spring migration and haven’t seen any.

We catch a glimpse of yet another lighthouse at Cape Arago.  Many lovely homes in this area with spectacular views. 

Heading back to 101 we see several mountains of oyster shells.  There are two men working there, bagging shells in bags made of netting.  When I ask what they are going to do with them, I am told they will be “seeded” and grow new oysters.  This was Qualman Oyster Farm and we pass several others in the area.

We find the BLM District Office in Coos Bay and get several maps and information from a friendly girl named Mikki, who also tells us where we can stop for State Forest information on dispersed camping.

Past the Umpqua River Lighthouse, we talk with Christy at the State Forest Office who is about the least friendly person we’ve met thusfar.  The system for figuring out where you can camp is complicated, with a thick packet of maps with zones and ranges, etc.  and  indications of where camping is permitted. She seems bothered with trying to explain things.

We pass several miles of sand dunes.

 We stop next at Neptune Beach for a low tide stroll to check out tidal pools.  A little cold and windy, but we wander the rocky beach and find a huge star fish, zillions of mussels and barnacles and some very lovely sea urchins. 

We backtrack a bit to Alder Dune National Campground and find a nice spot.  We are the only campers other than the park host!  There is a small lake/large pond where a couple and their young son are fishing.  Greg chats with them a bit.  Later while Greg is building a nice campfire, the lady (Barbara) comes over with a stringer of trout and asks if we’d like some!  We take two and Beth beheads and cleans them and tosses them on the fire with some olive oil, garlic and cumin.   A little bony, but tastey!  Talk about fresh!

 The air is fresh and brisk and piney.  Surrounded by tall evergreens, we see only a small patch of the night sky with brilliant stars.