Seal Rock, Oregon coast: scenic pullout

Most often in our travels, vacations are relegated to searching out that elusive road with the best twisties & of course, scenery . Part of our trip planning is scanning maps and eliminating roads already travelled but which still take us in the general direction we have in our minds. For a change we decided that we would stay put for a couple of days and make Lincoln City our base for day trips up and down Hwy 101 looking for ocean views. The morning started out very overcast and a spit of rain. We headed south towards Florence and shortly the sun co-operated and made an appearance. Hwy 101 winds its way along the coast mostly beside the water. If you have ever travelled with me you will know that my vehicle is trained to stop at every viewpoint, or will turn down every road looking for water views. I spotted a likely vantage point up ahead and pulled over onto a small overlook near Seal Rock .



As luck would have it there were also bicyclists there taking a rest break while taking in the view



Yes, their bikes were loaded down with all the gear needed for a 3,000. km ride from Vancouver to Tijuana, Mexico.



They were a group of 4, but part of an 18 member group travelling as separate clusters along the highway on an 8 week adventure. They were busy taking pictures of each other and of the scenery and I offered to take their group picture. It was then that they mentioned that they left Vancouver on May 31st. It wasn't opportune to get their names, as they had to move on, but they mentioned that I would be able to find all their names on their website



She is trying to show me the website --> globalafc.org which is printed on their shirt sleeves. If you have a chance go and check them out. Here they are enjoying their great adventure



and another one with their trusty bikes which will take them to Mexico



A lot of logistics have gone into the planning of this trip which is an epoch of great physical endurance, and also great satisfaction if they succeed in arriving as planned.

I think I have kept them longer than planned with our socializing and chatting and finally they are on the road again



Miles down the road in Yachats we came across their support vehicle where they have set up a lunch and refreshment break for the cyclists. Hopefully they will save some food for our brave 4 who are at the end of the pack



Also while at this scenic stop we noticed an artist from Idaho doing some oil painting . Yes, it is Ila Thompson from Illusion Studio. She is here with other artists on a painting sabbatical sharing a beachfront cottage. Likely these "masterpieces" will be for sale in her studio



Here's Ila with her current "work" in process . She is not an impressionist, but rather her images are of actual scenes (and not made up) as you can see here



Here is another view of this painting without the Artist



This week she is being accompanied by Barbara who knew the scenery along the Oregon coast was better than looking out of her kitchen window in Idaho Falls, Idaho



If you should wish to purchase this painting, feel free to phone her at the number in the photo above

And before they left on their 'cycles, the "girls" also got a chance to brush shoulders with Ila



It's amazing who you meet by chance encounters while on the road.



And the Oregon Coast is a good place to be on a warm sunny day


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A few other photos taken today:




(closeup of seals from photo above)

R&R on the Oregon Coast

Continuing on our anticlockwise loop of WA and Oregon, we finally made it to Lincoln City, on the Oregon Coast. Here is our first glimpse of the ocean


(view: looking North)


(view: looking South)

We headed farther south and stopped at Depoe Bay



Just south of Depot Bay was this rugged coast line and in the background you can just make out the Sea Caves




(Depot Bay, Oregon)

It was our good fortune to see a whale spouting. Nearly missed him again. You never know where they are going to surface. We waited, and waited, but he didn't surface again



Here is a view from the balcony of our hotel which overlooks the sandy beach



Another view of the beach action. Soon we will be among them




(facilities include: Sauna, Spa and Pool)

We will stay here for a day or so before we head home. Tomorrow we will drive down Hwy 101 a bit and savour the scenery and experience the food from small town eateries.

. . . but for now, the SPA (ie: hot tub) beckons . . .

Fox, Oregon

Again we left mid morning from Pendleton, OR and took I-84 to exit 209 and then south on Hwy 395 bound for John Day area. Another beautiful day, sunny and warm. Later it was to get up to the low 80's (F) .



I must tell you that this highway is a motorcyclist's dream. Lots of twisties and smooth pavement, except for a few construction areas where they are rebuilding bridges. It is nearly 120 miles of pure delight, with little traffic.



There is something for everyone. Forests, twisties, rolling hills, barren fields, hoodoos, to name a few. This is not a well travelled road so traffic is light. Before long we come to the forgotten community of Fox (Oregon)



It is a town which has seen better times and is mostly deserted but I am sure that a few people hang on to their life here with nothing to do


(Fox General Store - deserted, Fox, OR)

The town is a blip on the map which exists in the past



Here is a former gas station, notice the old style gas pump



Even the newer gas station has seen better days. With all the old cars scattered about, it is a place where time has stopped



Off to the West you can see a working farm



Just south of town you will find abandoned homes in clusters scattered about the landscape. It's almost like the former owners just gave up on their land



Here is a stately mansion which looks like it is in process of being restored



Of course, it's hard to know the circumstances, but how easy is it to just walk away from your home and land



another view of the right side



Further south we notice lots more abandoned homes, some with trucks and perhaps with furniture inside. It's almost as if the residents just went to work one day, and didn't bother to come back home.


(highway 395 through the land that time forgot)

Palouse County, WA

We left Ritzville, WA mid morning. You could see the remnants of the overnight rainfall, the skies were trying to clear, and soon we could see Mr Sun. It was already 17c so the temperatures were just right.



Palouse county is a network of roads, transversing rolling hills and long sweepers in a farming community, mostly wheat or alphalfa. There is little traffic as most travellers stay on the superslab I-90 . The road surface is generally excellent and appeared to be newly installed . The fields are in transition. Some fields still have crops while others have been ploughed under awaiting new growth



While we were on holidays enjoying ourselves, other residents of this land have to tend to their fields, luckily with mechanized equipment



We just love the rolling hills and the tranquil pace of this part of the State. There is not much room to pull over for pictures but we do the best we can on a safe stretch of road and put on our 4 way flashers. Hardly ever will you encouter a vehicle passing by.



Notice that the roadway has abrupt edges and soft shoulders. I will say that a lot of photo ops pass us by when there is no way to stop when it is not safe to do so. The roads in Newfoundland, NB are constructed the same way. It appears that the roadway has been elevated with crushed materials then asphalt applied to the top layer sort of like an elevated causeway. If you should slip onto the soft shoulder you may be stuck there



About an hour later we noticed the sign for Palouse Falls.



From Ritzville, WA we took 395 south (from I-90), then state R-12 to Kahlotus, east on 260 to junction of r-261, south to Palouse Falls. Approx 8 miles south we arrive at the park entrance and are greeted with these signs



Yes, the approach is compacted dirt for about 2 miles as it winds its way down into the canyon. Our attention is diverted to the red sign at the bottom



On the memorial weekend there was a rattlesnake encouter with a 14 year old boy. We are warned by the park ranger to be careful, even on the walkways and watch out for the long grass.

Our eyes are finally greeted with the sight of the falls


(Palouse Falls)

And if you were there and turned your head to your right, you would see this . . .



While walking on the trail I noticed something out of the corner of my eye which resembled BIG rats, I don't know what they are but are probably related to the prairie dog family



Don't you think that the chain link fence spoils the view ?



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We consulted our maps and make a quick decision to head south to Pendleton, ORegon


(state Hwy 37 approx 10 miles north of Pendleton, OR)

The Palouse is such a beautiful area and every time we pass through we try to take a different route so as not to duplicate. When ever we see pictures such as this . . .


(State Hwy 12 just north of Dayton, WA)

We are reminded of the gentle beauty of Palouse County, Washington .