Destination: Yaquina Bay!

Click on the photo for a slide show.

Another travel day today, if you can call it that.  We moved a huge 47 miles, from Florence to Newport.  Oh, the agony.  Actually, our biggest concern on the trip was that we would arrive in Newport too early to check in to our RV park space.  We arrived at 12:08, just 8 minutes after check out time. In any case, we were checked in and found our space without difficulty.  I'm glad I made a reservation.  Newport is a zoo this weekend.  It is the last weekend before the state colleges start classes, and it is warm and sunny, so the people with kids in school are getting in one last trip to the beach. 

We drove to the bayside attractions and found that there was so much traffic that we couldn't find a parking space, and all the attractions were overrun with people. Hence, we opted for plan "B" and headed for Waldport.  On our way to Newport, we had passed through Waldport and decided it would be a destination for a visit during our stay in Newport.  It is a cute town.  When we got there, we discovered that the architecture is better than the businesses that line Hwy 101.  There were not enough "tourist" businesses to satisfy us, although we did find a second hand store that had an amazing collection of eclectic junk.  We came away with a DVD for me and some piano sheet music for Jill. 

On the way to Waldport, we stopped to look at some chainsaw carvings of bears.  There were a lot of cute ones to choose from, but we agreed that none of them was worthy of laying down our hard-earned cash. We have been thinking that a chainsaw bear would be a great addition to our backyard, by the waterfall.  On the other hand, we are not ready to settle for just anything.  

After we returned to Newport, we were feeling kind of hungry, so we went to a local eatery that is near our park.  We had a snack, because we had been planning to have the remainder of our Ahi tuna for dinner. Yes, we had a reprise of last night's dinner this evening.  But hey, if it's good it's good...know what I mean? And for dessert? Jill reprised her huckleberry crisp with the berries she picked yesterday evening and this morning before we departed Florence.  (I'm told we have enough more berries for huckleberry pancakes in the morning!! :-)

Jill had a hard time getting good pictures from the coach along the way today.  The road was narrow and winding, and the scenery was all on the left side of the coach.  Nevertheless, I think you will agree that the photos in the slide show are quite good.  I like the one that captures the driver...er, I mean the scenery on the far side of the driver.  

Alas, this is our last stop on this trip.  We will spend tomorrow exploring Newport (with luck, the weekend tourists will be leaving early!).  In particular, we hope to have some of the famed smoked salmon chowder at the Stephanie cafe.  Come back, and I will give you a report on that evolution!