PACIFIC NORTHWEST ROAD TRIP
SEPTEMBER 12-21, 2021
SEPTEMBER 12, 2021 SUNDAY
We picked up a rental car at the Portland Airport and were off for the next phase or our excellent adventure. We immediately headed to our motel for a two nights stay in Portland. The Park Lane motel was a bit disappointing after our luxury river cruise but well situated for the next day's events.
SEPTEMBER 13, 2021 MONDAY
In the morning we connected with Anita and Dale and were off to visit the Portland Japanese Gardens. These gardens claim to be the best Japanese gardens in the world outside of Japan, of course. We learned that there are three essential features for any authentic Japanese garden; water, plants and stones and we enjoyed a lovely and peaceful visit. The Portland Rose Testing Garden is next door so we also walked among the many types of roses growing there.
The day ended with a sushi dinner with our pals.
SEPTEMBER 14, 2021 TUESDAY
Following morning coffee with Anita and Dale we were off to the Oregon coast and by 1400 had checked into our motel at Seaside. We decided that Seaside is a lower costs outlier to the more luxurious nearby Cannon Beach. There are lots of older motels and dwellings and a nice 2 mile paved walk way along the beach.
We were very interested in a recreation of the Lewis and Clark saltworks which we had learned of from the cruise lectures. At this spot several members of the expedition had set up a beach camp and boiled sea water to make salt for the rest of the explorers while staying at Fort Clatsop about 15 miles to the north.
I thought it very interesting to read how the local historical society had decided on the correct location for the long gone salt works. A local woman who died in 1905 told some folks that her father, a native Clatsop Indian, remembered some white men boiling water at this very spot. Somehow, this story reminded me that the Lewis and Clark expedition was not really all that long ago.
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SEPTEMBER 15, 2021 WEDNESDAY
Today we continued south along the Oregon coast towards our next stop at Florence. We stopped for a quick walking tour of Cannon beach and were very favorably impressed with the area. The beach was wide, flat and firm and good for walking. We took many photos of Cannon Beach's famous Haystack Rock which is the world's third largest off shore intertidal monolith. That means it is a very big rock.
We had lots of spectacular views of the rugged coast, drove through some coastal plains with lots of agriculture and small towns. Our motel, the River House, in Florence was on the Suislaw River and satisfactory to us.
SEPTEMBER 16,17 2021 THURSDAY FRIDAY
Our destination for today was Crater Lake National Park so we headed inland past Eugene OR and then route 58 south east. We stopped briefly at the city of Oakridge and we had our first taste of the wild fires that are raging in these areas. The air was smoky and the smell quite strong.
At about 1510 we had our first look at Crater Lake and were lucky to have clear air and no smoke! By 1600 we had checked into our room at the Mazama Village.
For our two nights here we had to endure the inconvenience of no Wifi and no cell coverage! what an outrage. There were very limited eating facilities due to being late in the season and difficulty of having sufficient staff.
Our plan was to spend most of the day Friday driving completely around the crater which was formed about 7700 years ago when the volcano, Mount Mazama, erupted with a massive spill of lava. the top of the mountain collapsed creating the crater which is now filled with water.
We did drive around the crater (about 30 miles) but, sadly, the smoke had arrived and visibility was reduced.
During the regular season there is a boat ride available which leaves from Cleetwood Cove but the trail to the boat docks is about 2.2 miles round trip and 700 feet of elevation change!
SEPTEMBER 18, 2021 SATURDAY
We departed Crater Lake at about 0830 and headed back towards the coast. Our destination was Crescent City, CA. We descended the Cascade Mountains through light rain, passed more agricultural areas, had lunch at Grants Pass OR and by 1415 made our first stop to look at the magnificent Coastal Redwood trees.
We stayed at the Ocean View Inn with lovely views of the ocean and enjoyed another seafood dinner.
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SEPTEMBER 19, 2021 SUNDAY
At 10 we departed Crescent City and drove south to our final stop, Eureka, CA. We stopped for a short walk through the Redwoods in a wet rainforest with lots of ferns and at 1330 we visited the Prairie Creek Redwood State Park visitor center. I was sad to read that 95% of the original Redwoods were cut down for the timber industry. Hence, we were marveling at just a tiny sliver of what had once been here!
At 1600 we moved into our lodging for the next two nights, The Euro Flat courtesy of VRBO. i realized I had somehow made a major mistake as the flat was on the third floor and we had to share a bathroom which was down the hall. Oh well, still better than camping
SEPTEMBER 20-21, 2021 MONDAY TUESDAY
For our final day we drove south from Eureka and then did the complete drive through the Avenue of the Giants for more Redwood viewing.
Then on Tuesday it was off to the Arcata Eureka Airport to return our car and a quick flight back to San Diego.
These excellent adventures were complete!!
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THE END
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