Grayland Beach, WA

We all leave Belknap Hot Springs in good spirits.  We follow Philip to AM Solar in Eugene as both Peter and Philip are interested in installing solar panels on their respective camper vans.

Goofing w Philip

Electric car charging @ AM Solar

After parting ways with Philip we head north to Washington.

Past Mt Hood Past Portland Past Mt. St. Helen's

During one of the many road repair traffic stops, a biker from BC jumps ahead of us in the line while waiting to go through the one lane construction zone. Once back on the open road, Peter pulls the van aside so a State Trooper can roar past with his lights flashing to catch up with the biker.

Impatient BC biker

Busted BC biker

Ahhh... there is occasionally justice in this world.

Best Laid Plans...

We arrive at Grayland State Beach later than usual around 6:30 pm and quickly learn how the place got it's name. Everything is gray - the sky is gray, the ocean is gray, and the land is gray.

As we pull up to the ranger station to check our campsite, I open the door and we notice a hissing sound. Turns out it's a leaking valve stem to our rear tire. Peter quickly swings the Sprinter around the ranger station to a safe parking place off the road before the tire goes completely flat. To make a long story short, through a series of mishaps we end up having to have the Sprinter towed to a dealer for repair in Olympia WA the next day.

Tire awaiting repair

Splinter towed to Olympia

Since we arrived at the Rainier Dodge dealer just before closing on a Friday, they tell us it will probably take at least until Tuesday to get the needed parts to complete the needed repairs. So we settle in at the Red Lion Inn which isn't far away and await our fate to play itself out.

Rented wheels

Red Lion Inn, Olympia, WA our new home for the next several days

At least we are safe and comfortable for the duration of the repairs and Olympia is a nice town much like Santa Cruz.

Checkers recommends Red Lion

Belknap Hot Springs

Ahhhh... this is more like it - warm weather, beautiful campsite next to the river, and hot springs.  Something very primal about sitting around a camp fire next to clear running water that is deeply satisfying.

Campsite next to McKenzie

McKenzie flows fast here

The gardens around the resort are amazing. Several were built in the 1920's including the "Secret Garden" a popular place for weddings. It's a surreal experience finding this ancient garden in a wilderness area... reminded me of playing the computer game "Myst."

Columns out of Maxwell Parrish

Waterfall down stairs

The hiking trails are lovely and there's a wide variety to choose from. Several start at the bridge over the McKenzie at the Lodge.

Lodge w bridge

Splinter on the river

Hot spring source... Boiling HOT!

There are two hot pools each at 104 degrees. One is by the lodge (which is more crowded) and a smaller one by the upper campground. We preferred the smaller less frequented one.

Ahhh - now that's a VACATION

Harris Beach to Belknap Hot Springs

We leave Harris Beach early to make more miles to Belknap which is east of Eugene in the Oregon Cascades. Peter's brother Philip (who lives in Eugene) and his wife Sue are meeting us there.

We are happy to get a clear sunny morning for the drive up the southern Oregon coast.

Hwy 101 along southern Oregon

Beautiful drive

We cross an Art Deco bridge over the Rogue River and enter the Oregon Dunes.

WPA project?

Rogue River

Beginning of Oregon Dunes

We stop for lunch at the Harbor Light in Reedsport (recommended by PM) and head up the Umpqua River towards Eugene.

Harbor Light

Umpqua River

We pass classic Oregon farms. Oregon is one of the greenest states and they carefully manage their forests, by cutting trees and reforesting in stages for minimum soil erosion. Oregon state parks and forestry sustainability way surpasses either California or Washington. It's somewhat surprising that a poorer state does a better job in public services as their state parks have larger campsites, are cleaner and better maintained. Oregon also does a superior job in managing its natural resources. Still it's sad to see much smaller logs than when I was a kid living in Oregon.

Classic red barn

Forest harvesting - 3 stages

Log truck

After picking up provisions in Springfield, we head up Hwy 126 that follows the beautiful MacKinzie River. The forest is mostly blue spruce, Douglas fir, and native maples.

MacKinzie River

Tall spruces and firs

Old covered bridge

Shortly we reach the main lodge at Belknap Hot Springs.

Covered entry to Belknap Lodge

Harris Beach, Bookings, OR

 *Warning this blog has content suitable only for mature audiences.*

It's only about 3 hours of drive time between Patrick's Point and Brookings, OR so we have time for some side trips, including a rive along Prairie Creek Redwoods. (Once I get better bandwidth, will upload a short video of driving through these tall Coastal Redwoods.)

We wanna know where the toweds go... so we don't have to follow them

Prairie Creek Redwoods

We stop along the Klamath River to buy some smoked salmon.  Once in the store, it's apparent, they have precious little salmon and what they do have was probably from Alaska. 

Klamath River

Redwood Salmon

Our next stop is for lunch in Crescent City for seafood at the harbor. The food is good, but nothing to write home about.

We did get a laugh out of their sign

They aren't kidding

Harris Beach

We are delighted to be greeted by sunny weather and a nice open, clean camp ground. The Oregon State Parks offer more services for less $$$.

Splinter @ campsite

Popular w honeymooners

and sea gulls

It's such a lovely afternoon, we head down the trail to the beach with the hounds. Where we meet some new acquaintances.

He-man hemlock w Buxom birch

Overlook of beach from trail

Wide sandy beach w huge rocks

The next morning is foggy, turning to sun by mid day.  We return to the beach for the low tide and the tide pools.

Starfish and sea anemones

Mary's quite a rock climber

As are local kids