Posts Tagged With: Pacific Ocean

Up The Oregon Coast – A Look Back

We weren’t sure a travel trailer was the life for us, but after five years and well over 20,000 miles, it’s safe to say we’ve found our second home. The trailer has been particularly nice this year…pulling our home behinds us feels pretty safe.

Compared to most trailers on the road, ours might be described as cozy.

The decision to travel this summer was not one we made lightly. Our most recent Oregon coast trip is only our second trip of the year since March…we’ve cancelled more reservations than we’ve kept. These two weeks spent along the Pacific Coast have been relaxing and rejuvenating and filled with gorgeous scenery.

Looking north from the Otter Point State Recreation site, just north of Gold Beach, Oregon.

Even this late in the summer there is still much color to be found. Hike any trail into the forest and you’ll find yourself surrounded by green.

Coastal fog rolls in and out anytime of year, lending a mystical feeling to distant views. It often clears up in the blink of an eye.

Harris Beach State Park outside of Brookings, Oregon is popular with campers and a perfect spot to watch a summer sunset.

We’ve enjoyed many trips to the Oregon Coast and we’ve never failed to discover someplace new. From hidden trails to surprise picnic spots to a previously overlooked viewpoint, the coast never disappoints…but for now, it’s time to return home.

Until next time…
Categories: Oregon, Oregon Coast | Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

Discover Pismo Preserve

1444DAAF-5995-4921-983A-B9C182870A7C
Rising above Pismo Beach on California’s Central Coast, Pismo Preserve offers 880 acres of unspoiled beauty.  Opened to the public just last week, we were excited to be among the first to explore the 11 miles of hiking trails that weave up and down the hillside.

 

A6907823-3F24-4703-8096-39EB8743729B
We chose the Discovery Trail, a 5.2 mile path that led us up the grassy slopes and through groves of twisted oaks.  The views were stunning…we couldn’t have asked for a more perfect day.

We traveled the perimeter of the preserve, eventually arriving at Lover’s Point, 780 feet above the Pacific Ocean.  As luck would have it, there was a bench and it was lunchtime.

FC535CFA-35DE-4F70-B1F0-D7AA92129BD4

D15EC333-DADF-4378-8F74-654C520286C822626EEC-5005-4D4E-A28E-06D31907EAE4

The trail system is open to the public daily from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. with hours extended to 9:30 p.m. from March through October.  Best of all, it’s free!  Parking is competitive…the lot is on the small side, but you might get lucky.  We had to park about a quarter mile away and walk in.  There are restrooms and drinking water available at the parking lot.

Pismo Preserve is located at 80 Mattie Road, just off Highway 101 in Pismo Beach, California.

Categories: California | Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , | 8 Comments

Battery Point Lighthouse

We took advantage of what was, without a doubt, the most beautiful day we’ve ever experienced in Crescent City to explore the Battery Point Lighthouse. Built in 1856, it was the 10th lighthouse built on the west coast and one of 16 Cape Cod style lighthouses built in the 1800s.

Perched on a rocky island point, it’s accessible only at low tide. We scrambled across the rocks without getting our feet the least bit wet, and made the short climb to the top. Too early for a tour, we poked around the outside and tried to imagine what life must have been like for 19th century lighthouse keepers.

Some say this historic building is haunted. Surely it has stories to tell. If it looks familiar, perhaps you’re a Tim McGraw fan. According to Wikipedia:

…the music video for the Tim McGraw song “Not a Moment Too Soon” has scenes of Tim next to the light on the lighthouse’s top balcony and scenes of the Battery Point Light from a distance.

If you listen carefully, perhaps you’ll hear the music!

Categories: Road Trips | Tags: , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Packing up the Trailer

We recently spent 3 days camping with friends at Oregon’s Humbug Mountain State Park. In addition to the laughter and incredible meals, Reg and I took the opportunity to get a little uphill practice with our backpacks. We will soon be lacing up our boots for another trekking adventure, and Humbug Mountain is uphill all the way…a good check to see if we’ve still got what it takes! We were rewarded with a surprise view at the top where recently removed trees and brush had previously hidden the coastline.

We continued south, stopping to stretch our legs at the Gold Beach Harbor where Reg proved you’re never too old to enjoy a jet boat ride. I also snapped a photo of what’s left of the historic Mary D. Hume. She was built in 1881, working the Pacific for 97 years before eventually returning to live her life out not far from where she was originally built.

Harris Beach State Park has been our home for the last 3 days. Always a favorite, this time it was a real test for Reg as he expertly backed into what must be the most narrow site in the entire park. We’ll soon head home, packing up the trailer for the last time this summer. It’s always a little sad, but more adventure awaits!

Categories: Oregon Coast | Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Driving the PCH

We chose the long way home after a visit with my Dad (for his 93rd birthday). Highway 1, California’s Pacific Coast Highway, stretches the length of the state and offers some of the most stunning coastal views you’ll find anywhere.  We drove the section from San Luis Obispo to Monterey, taking advantage of a few of the roadside stops along the way.

d55e75f8-b7e5-43a7-a1ea-543d48710d52

Even our liquor store deli sandwiches tasted gourmet with a view like this.

24dddae7-baa3-4d80-aa1c-734b566e6eae

Spectacular views come into focus around every bend of the Pacific Coast Highway.

9db06038-47a8-4511-b138-8dbe4c8da67d

When the views open up to the east, they are every bit as beautiful as the scenes across the Pacific.

5051AA85-8D5C-4778-BE50-1C7786AD3050.jpeg

It’s not easy to keep cars moving along this highway.  Roadwork continues along parts of the road.

fae59d55-6fce-4de1-8d68-f8611010aaeb

A trip to California is not complete without a drive up the iconic Pacific Coast Highway.

Categories: Road Trips, Uncategorized | Tags: , , , , , , , , , | 8 Comments

#9 – Favorite Photo Countdown 2018

A morning walk in Bandon, Oregon led us to the Coquille River Lighthouse just as the fog was beginning to clear.

Runner-up

Bright sun and high clouds created an almost magical scene on the Bandon, Oregon beach.
Categories: Inspiration | Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Bandon by the Sea

Remains of an old wharf stand tall as the tide recedes along the coast of Oregon.

Categories: Road Trips | Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

Blog at WordPress.com.

%d bloggers like this: