Road Trip Part 1 – Oregon Coast!

Posted on April 17, 2021 by

36 Comments

There’s nothing like a road trip to chase away the covid blues and there’s no better way to start than with donuts and coffee.

It would be our first real vacation in over a year – at least the first vacation more than a few days long and farther afield. We would drive down the Oregon Coast, through the Redwoods, to San Francisco via California’s Highway 1, then come back up through the middle.

We wished the kitties well and hit the road, crossing into Oregon at Astoria, then found 101 under blue skies and sunshine, more than we could have hoped for in early spring.

A stop at the overlook in Oswald West State Park showed us what was ahead; we’d have views like this the whole trip. We had Oswald West to thank for that, at least in Oregon. He was the governor who established Oregon’s beach highway law declaring that the entire Pacific coastline up to the high tide line would be a public highway, ensuring public access for all future generations. Squint and you’ll see the tiny cars high up on the left.

We spent our first night in Lincoln City arriving just in time for sunset, at the only hotel we booked in advance. Risky perhaps, but we weren’t exactly sure where we’d end up each day. As the rhythm of the trip took shape, I started booking hotels the day before we needed them.

The next day we stopped to watch the wild action of the waves at Devil’s Churn, Cook’s Chasm and Thor’s Well at Cape Perpetua (click on the pictures to enlarge them.)

Further up the road we stopped for a look at Heceta Head Lighhouse, the most photographed lighthouse on the Oregon Coast and perhaps in the country. I added a few more pictures to my collection.

Next was Old Town Florence on the Siuslaw River for lunch and shopping – though I did most of the shopping.

The Siuslaw Bridge opened in 1936 and is one of many funded by the Public Works Administration during the 1930’s. You can see the Oregon Sand Dunes in the distance.

We spent our second night in Bandon, one of my favorite towns on the Coast. Surprisingly Bandon was under stricter covid restrictions than previous stops so no indoor dining was allowed. Dinner came from a drive-thru burger joint and I think the whole town was in line. Social distancing was easy as we mainly shared the beaches with birds, seals and sea lions.

Our last day on the Oregon Coast we enjoyed beautiful vistas along the Samuel Boardman Scenic Corridor including, Natural Bridges.

I’ve forgotten the name of our final stop but I do remember a walk through the woods on a trail that emerged near the edge of a cliff. Uh-huh. Still the views were good (click to enlarge.)

California and the Redwoods are next. Stay tuned for that.

~ Susanne

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36 Comments on “Road Trip Part 1 – Oregon Coast!”

  2. We did this ride on a Honda Goldwing. It was amazing. I loved every minute and took tons of pictures.

    • Thanks Don. Sorry to tempt you to have that second one but I think it’s perfectly okay to have two donuts on a Saturday! That was a maple covered chocolate cake in case you wondered and it was my husband’s. Mine wasn’t nearly as photogenic! 🙂

  4. Oh I haven’t been to the coast since the 1st lock down. What gorgeous photos you have. I know a lot of the areas you stopped to take photos at 😀

  5. Great photos of a wonderful stretch of coast, though I’m having trouble believing all the blue skies!

    • We were so lucky to have perfect weather for this time of year! And we seemed to have brought it back to Seattle where we’ve had blue skies all week and temperatures up to 80 degrees this weekend!

  6. I hope at some point you’ll take time for whale watching and puffin photo-ing. There are a couple of places along the coast with superb photo opportunities for shore birds in general but puffins in particular. Check the Oregon Audubon Society website for further info. Returning to Washington via interstate 5 from Cali is boring, boring, boring (IMHO) (except of course for two Oregon opportunities for In ‘n Out Burgers in southern Oregon). Why not return up the Oregon coast as far as you can? The spring weather is perfect beyond belief and there won’t be the long lines of RV’s to contend with on the coastal roads.

    • Thanks for your suggestions but we’re already home! 🙂 Since we’re from Washington we’ve made the trip down the Oregon Coast many times and it’s always special. There’s so much to see and to do but you can’t do it all every trip. Our plan this time was to do the Oregon and California coasts to San Francisco, then cutover and back home. It worked great for us!

  7. Ok you had me at the donut! 😀 That looks like so much fun! And your photos are gorgeous as usual. I’m glad you guys got to go on the trip!

    • Thank you so much! That was a maple covered chocolate cake donut and it seems to have caught everyone’s attention! 😉 We had a great time – I’m so glad you enjoyed the pictures. 🙂 🙂

  8. Looks l like a good choice for your vacation! This pictures were great – I can’t wait to see your redwoods!

  10. Lovely pictures 💕 thanks for taking us along by sharing the journey and what a mesmerizing coastline you have. Best wishes

    • They know when we’re leaving and seem to resign themselves to their fate. Homecoming is good for all of us. 😊

  13. What glorious pictures of the coast, Susanne! I really need a trip like this, so great inspiration here! Looking forward to your next set of pics!

  14. Pingback: Road Trip Part 2 – The Magnificent Redwoods! – Cats and Trails and Garden Tales

  15. Pingback: Road Trip – Part 4 San Francisco! – Cats and Trails and Garden Tales

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