Redwood & Coastal Oregon
Sue-Meg State Park, Redwood National Park and the coastal route in Oregon.
September 23, 19:59
We just came back from a sunset adventure. We walked through the forest to Palmer’s Point to have a sandwich dinner while watching the sun set in the ocean. And honestly, that never disappoints. After the sunset, we of course had to walk back in the dark. Armored with our flashlights, I convinced my mom to take the shortcut through the dark forest instead of the main road. The sigh of relief when we arrived back at the campground had me thinking she wasn’t particularly happy with the route. But all’s well that ends well. We’re safe back in the RV, sipping our evening tea.
The rest of the day was a chill/ working at ‘home’ day. In the morning, we hiked to different viewpoints in Sue-Meg State Park. While there, we decided that a day without driving might be a nice change. And it definitely was. So we spend the afternoon doing our laundry, changing our sheets, cleaning out the RV, and emptying the grey and black water tanks. All tasks done and ready for our third week on the road, tomorrow into Oregon!
Birds flying above the ocean at sunset, Sue-Meg State Park, California.
September 24, 18:51
I sat down on a little mountain of rocks to view the sunset here on Harris Beach State Park. Today was and still is a beautiful day. It was the day of Redwood National Park. We did two hikes in different forest areas of the park, and both were equally stunning. Green in all imaginable shades, Redwood trees that sometimes had an actual red bark and sometimes light grey, creeks of slow-running water, and a hidden waterfall. Just absolutely beautiful. And the best part is, the park is located along the coast, so we also went to Enderts Beach. We took off our shoes and, carefully looking at the tide, ran under a naturally formed bridge of rocks to the other side of the beach. We had it completely to ourselves. On one side, there was a huge collection of pebbles, and when the water washed over it, it created a fun, tingling sound. We tried to record it, but you can’t hear it that well. So if you want to hear it, you really just have to go yourself. I promise, it’s worth it. And while you’re here, you might stumble upon a family of Elks too, as we did! You can see more of the Elk photos here: Wildlife in the USA
September 25, 20:54
Today was a much-needed rest day. It’s like the weather gods knew and decided to help us out a little. Let’s send a sky full of clouds and drizzly rain down their way, so they won’t feel bad if they don’t do anything today. And is there a god for planning and reservations? Cause if so, they helped us out too. The campground we’re on now had a spot available tonight, which they normally don’t, plus the campground mom found for our possible next stop wasn’t available this night, but is tomorrow. So it all works out perfectly. We did some groceries, got fluffy socks, a small thermos with cups, and another candle, so we’re ready for the colder days. And now we’re gonna play our second round of cards and then head, rested and well, to bed.
September 26, 21:16
Today just kept getting better and better. Granted, it didn’t start great, so there was a lot of room for improvement. The clouds kept lingering for a little too long. So, Harris Beach State Park, we only saw, or actually barely saw, in the clouds. Then we went on the Samuel H. Boardman State Scenic Corridor, I know, it’s a mouthful. It’s a scenic drive along the coastal highway with lots of viewpoints. First stop was Cape Ferrelo, completely covered in clouds, then House Rock viewpoint, where the clouds lifted, and fog stayed behind on ground level, then Whaleshead Beach, where we saw the fog disappear as we were walking on the beach. And after we dried our feet and hopped back into the RV, we saw the Natural Bridges and Arch Rock, both with clear blue sky. The last stop was accompanied by curious ground squirrels, who even dared to sniff their tiny noses at our shoes. Super cute. What a way to end the day. Well, we still had to drive about 2,5 hours, but it was the end of our scenic stops. Scroll to the bottom for more of my favorite photos from this scenic drive, or click here for all photos from Oregon.
September 27, 19:12
Today we started the day at Umpqua Lighthouse State Park. We joined a tour inside the lighthouse, which was cool, because apparently, this is the only lighthouse where you can actually go into the light area. Normally, there is a floor or ceiling under that area that prevents you from looking in. But because they dealt with an architectural mistake, way back in the day, in the sizing of the structures inside, they worked around it and created an extra staircase right inside the lamp. Probably annoying back then, but very nice today.
Afterwards, we kept driving north along the coastline and visited Perpetua Cape. A rough and impressive scene where the waves crashed on the black rocks on shore. If there is ever any doubt about how tough the ocean can be, this is the place that will forever end it. A mesmerizing view that leaves you both frightened of what could happen if you ended up in the water and thankful because you get to witness this beautiful scene from a distance.
Cape Perpetua, Coastal Oregon.
September 28, 17:35
Three Capes Scenic Drive: the route for today. We started with a walk on the beach at Cape Kiwanda and a stop at a nearby coffee shop to work on our ‘administration’, which consists of updating Polarsteps and WieBetaaltWat, we’re Dutch for a reason. Next stop was at Cape Lookout State Park for another walk on the beach. And finally, the last stop was at a viewpoint at Cape Meares. The perfect stop for a late lunch.
September 29, 13:17
We’re saying goodbye to the coastal region of Oregon. We went to Cannon Beach this morning, and what a beautiful beach and cute city! Together with the Samuel H. Boardman area, this is probably my favorite coastal place in Oregon. It’s a very sunny day, and I think the warmest day we have experienced on the coast, so it’s a little sad we leave this day. But the road trip must go on, and so we do. Yesterday evening, we sat down with a big state map, markers, a laptop, an Ipad and a mediocre wifi connection. We chose our next destinations in the centre of Oregon and marked the road on the map. Waterfalls, blue lakes, a huge mountain, and a former volcano - that’s the plan for the next 10 days. Ohh and of course, Portland, the city we’re headed for right now.
