Day2 -Oregon Coast Road Trip

Today was the longest drive-day of our trip. We went from Port Orford to Lincoln City, stopping for lunch at Bandon Dunes Golf Resort. It was a little slice of Scotland with the weather simulating the highlands perfectly. They don't allow golf carts, making the Scotland comparison even more authentic. If we were golfers this would be paradise. Then on to Florence and Newport. Both of these towns have a lively old section that caters to tourists, but Newport is an active, working port with docks and fish processing right in old town. The drive north from Newport along a  rugged, narrow cliffside road was made a bit more exciting as the skies opened up to a major rainstorm. One last stop before arriving at The Inn at Spanish Head was Depoe Bay. The Bay, affectionately called Devils Punchbowl was churning and boiling and basically living up to it's name. We spied a place we will one day return to that looked amazing - Whale Cove Inn, Depoe Bay.

Rainforest Arts in Langlois - Lots of really good artists represented here.

Brandon Dunes Golf Resort - with Rolex time clocks all over the place

Florence Bridge

The working port of Newport

The Barking Seals were a hoot

Devil's Punchbowl, Depoe Bay

View from our room at Inn at Spanish Head - It's beginning to clear!

Oregon Coast/Wine Country Road trip

Oregon Coast Road Trip, Day 1

Took the backroads from Ashland through Rush over to 99 then on to the coast with a stop for a walk in Jedadiah Smith Redwood State Park. We went from perfect autumn weather in Ashland to stormy, rainy coastal weather. The payoff was staying at The Loft, the upstairs (and upscale) studio above the only truly gormet restaurant along the southern Oregon coast, Redfish. After a good breakfast in Rush at the Honeysuckle Cafe we were ready for our delicious dinner at the corner window seat looking at the angry Pacific at Redfish. A treat indeed!

Port Orford Harbor

View from our room at The Redfish Loft

Fish Lake to Lake of the Woods

What a glorious day of hiking. Nine easy miles around a couple of pristine mountain lakes with beautiful Mt. McLaughlin in the background. It's distressing that we haven't had much snow this year - but hard not to like these sunny, clear days.

Lake of the Woods with Mt. McLaughlin in the background

Crossing lava fields 

Almost done, after 9 miles on the trail

On a clear day . . .

We joined our hiking group on a trip to N. CA's Castle Crags, just south of Mt. Shasta City. Even though it is mid February, it might as well have been June. We shed our light jackets early and enjoyed the sun and clear blue skies. The hike took us over at least 5 running streams and up 2400 feet. We have been awe struck by the views of Castle Crags on our many trips back from S. CA along I-5 and wanted to hike in the area. This was our chance and it couldn't have been a nicer day.

Our landscape project is almost completely finished. It took longer than anticipated (don't all construction jobs take longer?) but we are very pleased with the result. When the good weather starts, it will be nice to have an inviting outdoor area to enjoy the firepit and views.

View from front door

North Patio

Nightengale's Christmas Tea

My good friends, Gladys and Taffy, took the "hat challenge" and we attended a Christmas Tea at Nightingale's Bed and Breakfast. The innkeeper is an old friend of Gladys'. There were mimosas to start then a wonderful assortment of scones, tea sandwiches, cookies and chocolate covered strawberries. A local dress shop displayed new fashions. Great afternoon!  . . . and Taffy won a prize for her outrageous hat.

Ready to go

Lost - and found . . .

Autumn in Southern Oregon is a symphony of gold, orange and red. It's wonderful to be in a hiking group that routinely gets us out into nature. For most of a day we are part of an ever changing landscape. Lost Creek Lake is really a reservoir that it painfully low at this time of the year. But,  there is beauty in the bare banks of the lake - and promise that the changing season will bring rain, snow and rebirth.

Lost Creek Lake