Oregon - Aug. 4. 2011 until Aug. 13. 2011:

From the border to California you pass Brookings (good for shopping), Gold Beach, Port Orford and than Bandon. Many viewpoints to the beautiful coast - see some pictures:

We camped in the „Bullards State Park“. With the bicycle we rode to Bandon (30 min.) and enjoyed the picturesque old town and we also visited the „Coquille River Lighthouse“. Bandon has good restaurants (fresh fish) und Cafes. And an active fishing harbour.

At the State Park we met Kim and Else Ireland and we spent some very nice hours together. Thank you both for the interesting discussions.

Next day we cycled along the Coquille River to the town of „Coquille“ - 70km the two ways.

We used the small „North Bank Rd.“ which follows all the way the river bank with beautiful views and passing many farms.

Return we used Hwy 42S (the other side of the river). 

Coquille has also a nice little „Old Town Area“.

From Bandon we took the small „Seven Devils Rd.“ along the coast. A very nice road (no traffic) but only halfway asphalt - but no difficulties.

We saw the „Whiskey Run“ and „Seven Devils State Park“ and in Charleston we took the „Cape Arago Hwy“ to see „Sunset State Park“ and „Simpson Reef“. Especially the botanical gardens near Simpson Reef is worth visiting.

The route to Winchester Bay travels along the „Oregon Dunes National Recreation Area“. 

With sand buggies you can ride over the dunes. We stood overnight in Winchester Bay.

Next day we continued to Florence and short before we turned to the „South Jetty Rd.“ We decided to stay overnight in the Dunes. There is a simple campground middle in the dunes - reachable only over a sand trail. After 200 m our tour was finished. Dispite using 4 wheel drive and all differential locks we sank into the powder sand up to the axes. The only way out was with shovel and sand plates. After 2 hours hard work we made it. Wet from hard work but happy we drove to Florence and stayed overnight at the harbour RV park.

Here we met our good friends Phyl and Terry from Bend. After 7 months we saw them again. They came all the way (5 hours) from Bend. Together with their friends Maxine and Brad we visited Gardiner, Winchester Bay - had an excellent lunch their and saw a fantastic sunset at the Heceta Beach Resort. Thanks Phyl, Terry, Maxine and Brad for this lovely two days.

Also the old town of Florence is recommendable to visit.

Short after Florence we visited the „Sealion - Cave“. The largest sea cave in USA. Hundreds of sea lions stay here over the winter season. In summer the live just outside the cave. You smell and here them already miles away.

Than we visited Newport - see below. From here the coast becomes more commercial and more populated. More flat and more beaches. We didn´t like it compared to the south part.

We stood overnight at the fairground in Tillamook and visited the yearly „country fair“. We saw the (only here shown) „pig n ford“ race. Very old, self built racing cars and the driver has to race several loops holding a baby pig in this arm. And after each loop he has to stop the engine, change the pig and to manually (with a lever) restart the engine by holding the pig in his arm. A lot of fun for the spectators.

Furthermore Tillamok is one of US cheese capital. Excellent cheddar cheese directly from the factory to good prices.

From here we drove directly to Astoria (Columbia River) - see below.

This nice and charming fisher town lays at the end of a large bay of the Yaquina River.

A long and high but very elegant bridge spans the huge bay.
Newport has a remodelled old harbour with a lot of restaurants and shops, galaries and an intact fish company. We tried the famous „The Local Seafood Restaurant“ which is managed by womens of fishermen. And we can only recommend it - not cheap but just delicious and very good wines.

We walked back to the campground (on the other side of the bay) we had to cross the bridge - very high up and breath taking. And the sunset - unbelieveable beautiful.

At the end of the bridge we found the brewery „Rogue“ and had some very good pints in their pub - a good day.

The settlement was founded 1811 by Johann Astor from Walldorf in Germany and lies at the mouth of the mighty Columbia River. Johann Astor has in New York established a huge trading empire and the settlement Astoria was his first subsidiary on the West Coast for his fur trading business - in fact it was the first settlement west of the Mississippi.

The wealth of Johan Astor was estimated to 26 mill. US$ and he was in those times the richest man of USA. His family started also a hotel business and the world famous „Walldorf Astoria“ in New York belonged to them.

Today Astoria has 10.000 people and is an important fishing harbour. And key to guide the big ocean steamers safely up and down the Columbia River. In former times thousand of ships stranded in the dangerous mouth. And even today this is still considered the most dangerous shipping passage in the world. 

We found a nice place to stay overnight - behind the old railway station. Quite, free of cost and a fantastic view on the river and the mighty bridge.

Continuation:

Please continue reading under heading:  USA part 3  /  Washington