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Borrego Springs, CA

Sunday, May 10, 2015

Yahoo! I made it to the Oregon coast!

Headed out from my spot at Valley of the Rogue State Park this morning shortly after nine.  My plan was to make it to Bandon, OR, by early afternoon.  Yesterday I had scoped out a place that I could easily get the rig in and out of a gas station.  I had thought of going to the Seven Feathers Casino in Canyonville to fill up, but found a much easier small station about 10 miles before there.  I had filled the car up there yesterday, and told the owner I’d be back today to fill up the rig.

It’s kind of interesting to me that getting gas in Oregon is like the old days.  An attendant fills the tank for you, and asks if you’d like your windshield cleaned.  I smiled and said sure to the windshield cleaning.  The owner got out a step stool, and cleaned all the bugs off from the last 800 miles of travel.  Cool beans!

I took Highway 42 off of I-5 to get over to the coast.  It’s a good two lane road, but very twisty and up and down.  I seldom got to drive the 55 mph limit.  Remember the beautifully clean windshield?  Well, as I approached Coquille, I saw a dense black cloud moving across the highway.  I tried to slow down going down a steep hill, but I couldn’t avoid that black cloud.  It turned out to be a mass of bugs which just plastered the front of my rig with a very loud splat!  It was loud enough to make me jump in my seat.  Holy Moses!  What a mess.  I’d guess several hundred bugs were instantly sent to another world.  I’ve never had something like that happen before.  It was much worse than the love bugs in Texas in May.

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Along about 1:30 I arrived at Bandon Marsh National Wildlife Refuge.  I’ll be staying here for four nights as I do some training for my time at Harris Beach.  All I have is an electric hookup, and I squeezed in between the two volunteer sites here.  My friends, Linda and Jay, are volunteering here this summer, and that’s their rig on the left.

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Found some foxglove blooming outside the rig after I got set up.  I surprised myself by knowing the name of this flower.  The skies were sunny when I arrived, but it wasn’t long before the coastal fog rolled in and a light mist began.

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I needed some milk and bread, so Linda volunteered to take me to the local grocery store.  She also gave me a little tour of the Bandon area.  I finally got to see the Pacific Ocean.  As we stopped at one of the lookout places across from the lighthouse, I even got to see some whales spouting and moving around the bay.  That was exciting for me.

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This is where Linda and Jay will be stationed this summer to educate visitors on the nesting sea birds.  What a difference in just a couple of weeks from the desert terrain I was living in.  I’m getting pumped about my assignment on the Oregon coast.

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It didn’t really matter to me that it was foggy and overcast.  I was just happy to finally make it here.  Readers will have to get prepared for lots of ocean pics for the next couple of months.  I’m hoping tomorrow will have some sun as I get one day to explore this area before the training begins on Tuesday.

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When we returned back to the rigs, a white-crowned sparrow was singing his heart out as Emma and I sat outside.  While Linda and I were wandering around, Chef Jay was preparing pulled pork, and they shared a delicious plate with me.  What a wonderful welcome to the Oregon coast today has been!

Thanks for stopping by… talk to you later,  Judy

43 comments:

  1. Seems that you are having a good trip. Photos of the flower is very beautiful. Thee way you have took them looks beautiful. Nice to hear you are enjoying in Pacific Ocean. Have a nice day!

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  2. I'm so happy you received such a warm welcome. My daughter in law lives in Bandon. We will be sure to come visit you before you leave this area for your next assignment an hope you love it here so much you will come back again.

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  3. We have been to the coast so many times and will never tire of seeing all your photos over the summer!!

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  4. You will absolutely love the Oregon Coast - Take lots of photos and please share them -- Hoping you have the time of your life!!

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  5. One of my favorite places, Bandon. We've rented a beach house there a couple of times for family gatherings.

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  6. We lived a couple hundred miles north of you for a while near Rockaway Beach... so all you beach/sea photos will be eagerly awaited. Hope you love it as much as we did.

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  7. I don't remember the last time I even saw a gas station attendant, let alone have my window washed.

    Glad to see you made it to Oregon. It looks like a good start for your summer.

    You know I will never get tired of ocean pictures!

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  8. Have a great time; we were going to head your way, but decided on Colorado/New Mexico instead.

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  9. The Oregon coast is a spectacular place and you will not want to leave.....

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    1. We spent several days in Crescent City, just below where you are, and loved every minute...

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  10. I hope you love your assignment on the Oregon Coast and want to return there for many years. It really is gorgeous, and I've seen only a small part of it. Hope to get up to see you during your stay.

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  11. You are certainly living the good life. Looking back over the last few month, you have had great diversity in your living and work situations...they mz
    ay not always be perfect but the variety is always stimulating and makes for interesting travel.

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  12. You are certainly living the good life. Looking back over the last few month, you have had great diversity in your living and work situations...they mz
    ay not always be perfect but the variety is always stimulating and makes for interesting travel.

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  13. The Foxglove is beautiful! I hope you get a great view at Harris State Park when you get there! Have a good week training! Hope you avoid the skeeters:)

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  14. Hallelujah!!! Here's hoping you have a spectacular summer!!

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  15. I am so excited! Bring on all the beach/ocean photos, bird photos, and anything else from that beautiful part of our country! I am praying Joe gets a good report in July and November. The Taylor's will definitely be heading that way!
    Have fun at training!

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  16. what a wonderful welcome to such a great place I can't wait to read your future blogs

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  17. I think you are really going to enjoy your summer and your new enviroment! Looking forward to seeing all the wonderful pictures and hearing your stories.

    www.travelwithkevinandruth.com

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  18. Welcome to the coast Judy! Hope you enjoy your time here.....

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  19. You are going to have SO MUCH FUN! What a perfect assignment and I too would snatch up that opportunity. The OR coast is one of my favorite places!

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  20. You're iN our absolute fav coastal town. We've spent many years volunteering between the lighthouse at Bandon and the on in Cape Blanco. This will be the first year we're not going so seeing your pics is tugging at my heartstrings. It's a gorgeous place!
    Nina

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  21. Glad to hear your trip went well, despite the buggy clouds. We love-love-love Oregon, we visited it often when our son was stationed in Astoria from 2008-2012. Mostly we flew there from VA, but did two MH trips, too. In fact that was the first place we headed when we hit the road FT. We can't get enough ocean pictures! :c)

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  22. Ooooooo - so jealous! I just love the Oregon coast - dream of returning. Someday . . .

    Virtual hugs,

    Judie

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  23. We also have been Cape Blanco volunteers. We miss it. Your pictures are beautiful. Can't wait to see all your ocean shots.

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  24. Glad you got to Oregon safe and sound.... hope to catch up with you in a few weeks!!! Have a great time!

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  25. I had to wait for a gas station to open in Oregon. So be careful and be sure you have gas before the local stations close up. I head they have a bill to change all that i this session. And let me know if any of these places have housing. I'm dying to work on the northern Pacific coast. I'll be looking forward to your blogs.

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  26. Gorgeous header photo.

    Paul and I were taken back when Paul went to pump his own gas in Oregon and the attendant came running out saying...No, No, No. What a hoot.

    Love the Pacific coast. Totally different from the Pacific.

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  27. Even cloudy and foggy the coastline is amazing, can't wait for more photos.

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  28. I'm feeling a bit jealous...but am so glad that you made it safely!

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  29. Whoa, Nellie! Seeing spouting whales is always exciting! And seeing all other marine life will be a joy! ENJOY!

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  30. Glad you had a safe journey. Nothing can be worse than love bugs. Looking forward to all your posts from one of our favorite places.

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  31. Oh how sad......lots of ocean pics for the next several months and spouting whales. Breaking my heart!! You are in a place I have wanted to bring Winnona for the past 5 years and it looks GREAT!

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  32. White crowned sparrow. That is a new one for me. We really loved the Oregon coast and hope to return this summer. But.....only the doctor knows when we get to leave.

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  33. You are making me want to come to Oregon this summer. Planning on Wyoming for a while. May have to make a detour.

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  34. The one time I stopped for gas in Oregon I was digging in my purse for my credit card and when I looked up a guy was standing at my window. Scared the you know what out of me. I didn't know you couldn't pump your own gas.

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  35. You are in my 2nd heaven... Washington's 1st. I'm prepared!

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  36. Oh my gosh! I do love that Oregon Coast..I have a feeling you will love your new gig...That flower was amazing...can't wait to hear more from you..We had our first Hummer here in N. IL..YAY!!

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  37. Oregon Coast, one of my favorite places to be.

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  38. Beautiful coast. You need that windshield cleaning guy again!

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  39. Oh how I wish we could make it to the Oregon coast sometime. Have not seen the Pacific Ocean since the early 70's. Quite a contrast going from the arid desert region of southern Arizona to the rugged shores of the mighty Pacific Ocean.

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  40. Wow the Oregon coast. Doesn't get much better. Some of the prettiest area in the U.S. Wish I was with you.

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  41. Cloudy and foggy here too but I enjoy that sometimes. I mentioned you today so I figured I better get caught up and see where you are. Oregon is at the top of my wish list but not likely I'll be there for a few years. Can't wait to see how you like it!

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