Oregon Coast

We cross the border into Oregon from California. Although at first Oregon appears to be more peaceful and laid back than California, the Pacific Northwest is home to the slumbering giant Cascadia Fault. It's even more powerful than it's more better known cousin, the San Andreas Fault.  For many years, the Cascadia Fault lay hidden just off shore under the Pacific Ocean.  In the 1960's, underground fractures were discovered by Oil Companies operating in Puget Sound.  Since then scientists investigating the massive 1700 Cascadia Earthquake have discovered local native oral traditions, including the myth of the Thunderbird and the Whale, are true.  Furthermore, telltale signs of this quake's corresponding tsunami have been found in Japan. In fact, we can still see remnants of this massive quake today. Some of the logs found on the beaches are what's left of forests devastated by salt water tsunamis spawned by the 1700 Cascadia Quake.  Today scientists warn coastal residents that the Cascadia Fault is capable of producing 9.0+ earthquakes and to be on guard.

Welcome to Oregon sign

Tsunami warning siren at Harris Beach

Just north of Brookings OR, we pull into Harris Beach State Park and are happy to find a good campsite available. Although Harris Beach is a very large and popular campground, it's still one of our favorites because of the easy access to long beaches and hiking trails. Shortly, after getting settled into our campsite, we head down the trail leading to the beach.

Campsite @ Harris Beach

View of Harris beach from trail

View of Brookings

Not many people down on the beach

I stop for Peter

Rocky shoreline

Large haystack rock with peephole

Close up of peephole

Calm seas and giant haystack rocks

Once down on the beach, we find we pretty much have the place to ourselves.  Although, it's a sunny day, it's not exactly warm. In fact, most other beach goers are huddled behind shelters to keep out of the wind.

This couple has found a nice spot

Great rock

Peter finds a driftwood shelter

Gorgeous, but not warm

The next morning we are up bright and early to take advantage of the wonderful weather. This part of the highway closely follows the coastline, so we are treated to one section of beautiful beach after another. At one particularly striking beach we pull off on the small overlook to simply admire the view and take a few photos (of course).

Looking south

View to the north

With abundant winter rainfall, Oregon has many rivers and streams. Consequently, Oregon also has many bridges, most of which look like they were built as part of the 1930's WPA construction projects during the Great Depression.
Oregon certainly isn't without it's share of roadside attractions.

This dino ignores bugs, but apparently finds bicyclists tasty

Sea Lion Caves

The Mill Casino RV Park overlooking Coos Bay

That afternoon, we stop at Carl G Wasburne State Park to camp. Since this campground is on the east side of Hwy 101, it's not quite as popular as the ones right along the beaches.  The campsites are in a quiet wooded area with an easy trail to the beach.  This looks like a place that Hobbits would inhabit.

Sunshine filters through the forest

Moss covered tree

Peter leads on trail to beach

The long sandy beach is deserted except for ourselves.  Perhaps the cold winds have kept others under the shelter of the trees.   Still, it's beautiful and besides it's low tide so we enjoy ourselves.

The next morning we take one last walk on the beach before getting back on the road.

Bridge at the north end of Carl Wasburne beach

Looks like fog ahead

South of Tillamook, Hwy 101 veers inland though farm lands. Of course, we have to stop at the Tillamook Cheese Factory for an ice cream cone and stock up on some of their aged cheese.  Funny, when I lived here as a teenager, I never went to the cheese factory, but now we always stop when we travel through (although once is enough for the tour).

We gotta stop at this farm stand

Cows close to Tillamook

Fog gets thicker

We stop for the night at Fort Stevens State Park, which is the only US military fort in the US to be fired on by the Japanese during WWII.  A Japanese sub fired on the fort on June 21, 1942. The campground is enormous with almost 500 sites with either full or partial hook-ups. We opt for a quiet site on the edge of the forest and then strike out on the extensive hiking trails. One of the main attractions is the shipwreck of the Peter Iredale which was driven onto shore by storm gales on Oct 25, 1906, adding itself to the long list of vessels in the Graveyard of the Pacific. 

Shipwreck of the Peter Iredale

Evening sun beams through the trees by our camp