Sunday Drive

Bob wants to take the Jeep and go out exploring, so I suggest we take the coastal route to Coos Bay to see if the road is suitable for travel with Popeye.

It's about 75 miles to Coos Bay once we turn onto Hwy 42, shortly past Mrytle Creek, and the drive is slow, but certainly Popeye approved.

We stop at the Casino in Coos Bay to use the facilities, and want to drive out to Charleston, the nicest and prettiest part of the Coos Bay area.

Now in Charleston, we stop for some clam chowder and enjoy the fog. It is supposed to warm up today, so we are delighted to be out in the cool fog of the sea shore.

Next we check out the Bastendoff County Campground, then drive over to Shore Acres and Cape Arago State Parks, take some pictures and enjoy the views of the fog.



Time to head back, we drive back through Coos Bay and  over the historic bridge at Reedsport, take a few pictures of the bridge, then head east on Hwy. 38 past the Dean Creek Elk Viewing area, and enjoy the Oregon Scenic Byway drive back. Highway 38 turns into Highway 138 follows the scenic Umpqua River and is a nice drive home.

It's been a very long drive of over 240 miles with temperatures of 61 degrees in Reedsport to 93 degrees back on I-5 - whew!

Tomorrow will be laundry day - not much to write about.

Falls Day

It's another beautiful sunny day, so rather than go to the gym for a workout, we take the Jeep and hit the road.  We travel north on I-5 to Roseburg and then head east on Hwy. 138.

This is known as the Land of Umpqua, and roughly follows the Umpqua River and its many tributaries.  It is a National Scenic Byway.

Our first stop is the visitor center in Glide. Armed with a few more maps we turn off onto County Road 17 first coming to the Cavitt Covered Bridge followed shortly by Cavitt Falls with its beautiful swimming hole, then on to the Wolf Creek Falls and over the long curved bridge to hike the 1.2 miles to the falls.

Now back on Hwy 138 and over to Susan Creek Falls, and finally, Fall Creek Falls. We think the Susan Creek Falls to be the prettiest of the falls.



Having hiked in excess of 6 miles, we decide we met our quota of exercise for the day. Now well past 5 PM and having no lunch, we decide to let the Creekside Cafe do our cooking and enjoy dinner, and naturally, pie and ice cream.  

Blackberries!

The sky is blue, I work out at the gym and Bob walks down to the casino for his exercise. Breakfast is lots of fruit and yogurt followed by more walks and berry picking. As the saying goes, a picture is worth a thousand words:




Covered with fresh blackberry juice and thorns, it's time for a serious shower followed by dinner at the Mrytle Creek Elks Lodge.

 

Finding Pioneer Cemetery, Mrytle Creek, OR

What a great morning. Cool overcast skies and life is good. We slept with the fans on and windows open - no smoke!

First we go to the gym and push hard with a 30 minute CV working. The it's back to Popeye for breakfast and chores.

Afterward we drive through the town of Canyonville for some milk. Next it's a trip to the little down of Myrtle Creek where we discover the Pioneer Cemetery.  At 6PM, the high for the day reaches 68 - perfect!




Returning to Popeye it's time for strength training, then it's time for dinner and dishes, a comment or two here, and early to bed. Yes, we're two tired and worn-out but happy campers.