North Bend, Oregon

I left Reedsport on a beautiful, sunny day.  It was windy out, but that felt good.  My first mile and a half went up another steep hill.  I was glad to finally get to the top, where there was a pull-out area with a spectacular view that included the Umpqua River Lighthouse.  The lighthouse was built in 1890 and was illuminated in 1894.

Having a mountain top experience!

From there I only walked a few more miles and found an RV park in Winchester Bay, where I set up my tent for the night.  I had a bite to eat in Winchester Bay, and took it easy that evening.  It was a pleasant day all around.  I'm really enjoying the fact that summer on the coast is fairly cool -- only in the 60's -- which is really nice for walking in.  I prefer a cloudy, overcast day to a bright, sunny day, but am happy that the temp has stayed fairly low.

The next day I walked 9 miles to William M Tugman State Park, just north of Lakeside.  I like staying at the state parks, because it only costs hikers and bikers $5.00 a night.  Most state parks have a specific area for tenters, usually close to all the hub, but the tent area in this park was quite remote, and rather seperated from everyone else.  And I was the only tenter there!  I was sent the opposite direction of everyone else, down a path, and out in the boonies!  Even though I really wasn't that far away, I felt really isolated and alone!  And then, to top it off, right near my tent site was a sign posted saying that a bear was spotted in that area on May 11th!  Granted, that was a few days ago, but still.... I made sure my 6 angels were around my tent that night!

Umpqua River Lighthouse

Unpqua River Lighthouse

Umpqua River Lighthouse

McCullough Bridge to North Bend, OR

McCullough Bridge to North Bend, OR

McCullough Bridge to North Bend, OR

I headed out from the state park around 8am, had breakfast in town, and then hit the road.  It was a cool, overcast day -- perfect for walking.  I walked 13 miles and crossed over the McCullough Bridge into North Bend.  Just barely a quarter from the bridge was the Itty Bitty Inn, where I stopped for the night.  They gave me an itty bitty price and the hot shower and comfy bed felt wonderful.

The Oregon Coast

Oregon Dunes

On July 14th, my friend Tom and I headed for the Oregon Coast, where we spent some time sight-seeing and enjoying the day.  Later on, he took me over to South Beach State Park, where I pitched my tent and settled in for the evening.  I've already walked down the entire Oregon Coast once before, but it won't hurt my feelings at all to do it again.  That evening it started raining.

The next day around 10am, things started to dry out and I packed up and walked 10 miles to Seal Rock.  There's an RV park there, so I pulled in and payed $24 to pitch a tent there.  Twenty four dollars seemed like a lot to me, to pay for sleeping on the ground, but the shower felt good and the water was hot.  That night it started to rain again.

On Tuesday I walked an easy 5 miles in the rain and fog to Waldport.  On my first walk down the Oregon Coast, I met Quirina in Waldport through the Lions Club.  We've kept in touch ever since, and I've mailed her a Christmas card every year.  So when I walked past her store a couple miles north of Waldport, I pulled inside to say hi.  In place of her art gallery was a real estate company, so I walked up to the desk and asked for Quirina.  The lady gave me a confused look, and said she hasn't been there in 7 years.  I mumbled that I'd just walk into town then and call her, and the receptionist offered to call her from there.  That made me a little bit nervous, because even though I remember her doesn't guarantee that she'll remember me. When the receptionist told Quirina who I was, she remembered me at once and they handed me the phone.  Quirina gave me directions to her house in Waldport, and I was on my way.  It was great to see her again, and I soon realized that it was quite by luck that I reached her at all!  She is a very active, busy person!  She showed me my room, the bathroom and the laundry room, and then she headed out to do errands while I stayed put and did a few of my own.  She was in and out several times during the day, and we had a great visit.

In Florence, it was still foggy and raining.  I spent a day there doing some sight-seeing and walking around town.  The next day I headed 9 miles to Carter Lake Campground.  Finally, a nice, sunny, dry day!  Halfway there, I stopped at a dune buggy place and went on a dune buggy ride on one of their monster-size dune buggys!  It was AWESOME!!  I had a blast!!  I totally enjoyed that!  That night, around 10pm at the campground, a really big thunder and lightening storm rolled in.  And it was only then that I realized I didn't have a clue as to what to do during an electric storm in a tent!  So I sat there, in the dark, on my sleeping bag and sleeping pad, praying fervently and wondering when the storm would pass on by.  It seemed to last forever, but finally moved on.  Then it poured down rain all night long.



Camping out at Carter Lake Campground



Camping out at Tahkenitch Landing

Tahkenitch Landing

Oregon Dunes

Oregon Dunes

Oregon Dunes

Florence, Oregon

Oregon Dunes

Oregon Dunes



Florence, OR

Florence, OR

Florence, OR

Florence, OR

Florence, OR

Florence, OR

Q

Waldport bridge on a foggy day

S

The rain finally quit the next morning, and from Carter Lake Campground I walked an easy 5 miles to Tahkenitch Campground.  I have a nasty BIG blister on my right foot, and I'll be losing a toenail on my left foot, so these easy days are appreciated.  I pitched a tent there close to the lake and enjoyed the afternoon.  It turned out to be a nice, sunny day.

I left Tahkenitch Campground and headed for the city of Reedsport.  On the coast, there's a free magazine that documents every mile-by-mile guide of the Oregon Coast.  As I was looking at the area I'd be walking today, I wondered why there weren't any businesses, parks, campgrounds or places noted for 6 miles.  Then I walked it and found out.  I went 3 miles up a mountain, and 3 miles down it.  I didn't think I was ever going to find the top of that hill.  When I walk, I usually walk on the left side of the road.  But walking down the Oregon Coast, the south-bound lane has a much larger shoulder than the skimpy shoulder on the north bound side.  I think that's because there are many, many bicyclists who ride from north to south down the Oregon Coast.  So because of that, I've been walking on the right side of the road, because the shoulder is a lot bigger and better.  Another reason is because all the pull-outs and rest areas and view points are on that side of the road too, so rather than crossing the highway a hundred times a day, I just stay on that side.  But it does make me nervous, because I can hear but not see who's coming up behind me.  Another thing I've noticed, is that on the curves -- and this is indeed a windy, curvy road -- nowadays they really bank the curves up, like on a race track.  So when I'm walking on the wrong side of the road, and I'm down in the bowl of one of those curves, I'm not kidding you, I'm praying for my lost soul!  But -- whew! -- so far, I'm glad to say, I've made it.

After my 6-mile mountain walk, I came to the little town of Gardiner.  I was hot and tired, and after 3 days of protein bars, I was hungry for something else.  I headed into the first place I found and ordered a double cheeseburger and a cold beer.  Man, was that ever good!   Revived once again, I headed for Reedsport, just 2 more miles down the road.  I stopped in at the Visitor's Center, and after a few phone calls, found a motel that would let me stay for $30/night.  So I paid for Saturday night and Sunday night and was more than ready to kick back for a day or so.  Aside from the fact that I hadn't showered in 3 days, my feet and that crazy blister will enjoy the rest!

Oregon Dunes

Florence, OR



Quirina and Maxi



On The Road Again!

On Sunday, July 15th, I'll spend the day at the beach with my friend Tom.  I'll probably find a campground and pitch a tent that night, then on Monday I'll start walking south again.  Finally, I'll be back on the road again.  I've enjoyed the visit with my family and friends, and the family reunion was great -- but I'm ready to get back out on the road again.

I've loaded up my backpack and made a couple trial runs -- or should I say tried to make a couple trial runs (and trials they were!)  The first try was hauling around 47 lbs. I didn't last a mile with that.  The next try was with around 40 lbs -- still too much.  So with a great sigh of defeat, I am back to pushing the cart again -- albeit with a much smaller load than I started out with!  I've eliminated quite a bit of gear, and have pretty much streamlined what I have kept.  I bought a new, lighter sleeping bag, but kept the same 7x7 tent.  Also, since I decided to push the cart, I added on my camping chair -- something I totally enjoyed with my cart, but eliminated with the pack.  And I did allow myself to keep a few toys with me, such as a puzzle book, my ipod, an electronic game, my camera, and my kindle.  And I've kept the Bibles I'm carrying, too.  All in all, the load is quite a bit lighter, but I'm still pushing the cart.  My back really likes that.

 Here in the Willamette Valley, it's been fairly warm, around 85. The other day, my friend Barb and I went to the coast to spend a day at the beach, and it was a good 20 degrees cooler. That was nice, and I'm looking forward to getting back to that. It's around 1,200 miles to San Diego, and should take me around 4 months to get there

Barb and I at the beach.

My dad and his siblings:  Boone, Joy, Monty and Doris.

Fenton gave us his all!

Uncle Monty and Krista.

Dad playing with his toy tractors.