Jim's birthday

30 July 2010
Friday

Happy 65th to Jim!

Retracing the first ten miles, we began to see evidence of the Dunes area. Just before Florence, OR, we took a scenic drive along Rhododendron Drive to be closer to the beach. We ended up being closer to civilization instead. Finally we entered the Oregon Dunes National Recreation Area. Talk about a LOT of very large sand piles!

In Reedsport we visit a Visitor Center with a very UNinformed ranger: he couldn't tell us about the large abandoned fenced-in area to the north of town nor give us any information concerning the myrtle tree. We did see a brochure about a local museum so decided to check it out.

The Umpqua Discovery Center was great. An indoor hike depicts the unique natural history of this area of Oregon. It even had a "bear slide" which we took advantage of: there were no other people in the museum. In a second area, the Tidewaters and Time exhibit explored the history of the Reedsport area. We discovered that one of the reasons there is no self-serve gas in this state is to allow for jobs for the people. Apparently this state has one of the highest unemployment rates due to a decline in the fishing industry [overfished = none left] and the lumber industry [cannot cut trees where the spotted owl lives]. Afterward we walked along the waterfront [low tide] and learned more about tides, tidepools and the animals that live there.

In Coos Bay we scoured the streets looking for oysters for the birthday boy. At a tiny floating shop along the city's boardwalk we found a few. Jim got some oysters and I got some shrimp cocktail.

On to Bandon, OR, still in search of oysters. First stop: only whole ones and we don't have the right knife. Next stop: Tom's Crab Hut: Jim had a half-dozen on the half-shell [insert moaning sounds here] and I had a crabcake. Next to the bait shop where Jim bought a circle hook.

We took the scenic route out of town as the sun tried to burn through the fog. Stopping by the south jetty we watched the waves crashing into the harbor area.

As Bandon is the cranberry capital of Oregon we saw a lot of bogs along the highway but they all seemed dry and brown and empty.  Probably the wrong season.

Going inland a bit the sky began to clear and it warmed up to 72. Back on the "wild beaches" area we stopped at Arizona Beach for a a walk at nearly high tide. The wind is fierce and the waves are crashing. Jim found a crab pot buoy that had washed up on shore.

At 5:30 [and 59 degrees] we found a campsite at the Harris Beach State Recreation Area near Brookings: the last one.

Happy birthday, Jim!