Monday we left the coast and drove to Eugene, OR. It rained the entire drive and day for that matter. We’ve been so fortunate to have sunny days along the coast we didn’t complain. Our drive took us south to California and then west along the Redwood Highway. Yay! Big Trees!
Once we made it to Grants Pass, we hoped on the I-5 and worked our way north. Beautiful scenery along the curvy interstate.
Our reservation for the night was at the Graduate Hotel. If you ever get the chance, stay at a Graduate Hotel. They are the cutest. We stayed at one in Bloomington, IN a few years ago and loved it. We knew we would enjoy this one as well. Staying in Oregon Duck country, the room hit the mark.
Desk LampBedWallpaper in BathroomDo Not Disturb SignRoom Key
Meanwhile in the Lobby….
Go Ducks! Nike Legends
For dinner we went to Silver Falls Brewery. We shared a pizza and salad.
After dinner we went to a fun speakeasy. After ringing the bell, you have to share the password to be let in. Unfortunately, we didn’t know it. However, on a Monday night, the bartender was happy to let us in & share the password. “Bird is the word.”
Bird is the word
Inside the speakeasy had a well stocked bar and cozy seating.
Eugene was a great town to stop for the night and no doubt we could enjoy even more if we had more time. Final stretch back to Portland today. We catch the red eye home. Thanks for following along! Thanks for reading.
We had so much fun taking Alfred’s suggestions Friday we decided to make Saturday “Alfred Day”. We had a three hour drive down the coast from Lincoln City to Coos Bay. I already had a few spots marked and Alfred recommended all of them plus a few fun surprises. Off we go!
One final picture from our room in Lincoln City
Alfred’s first suggestion was to stop at Fogarty Creek State Recreation Area. Here we had a lovely view of the Pacific Ocean and Rabbit Rock.
Rabbit RockClose upBeautiful morning Bird Friend
We continued South on the 101. Our next stop, Boiler Bay, was also Alfred’s recommendation. The wave action was incredible.
The perfect Oregon Coast sunrise picture Waves! Those are giant waves!!
Back in the car heading south, we drove through Depoe Bay. It is known for being the world’s smallest navigable harbor and whale watching adventures. Unfortunately, whale watching is best in the winter and early spring. We just had spanning views of beautiful Pacific Ocean!
Depoe Bay is in the background
Stopping at the Devil’s Punchbowl was on my list and also suggested by Alfred. Alfred had a hidden way for us to arrive. It was a little one- lane back road with a bike lane through Otter Rock. I took a video and Alfred is actually talking in it!
Devil’s Punchbowl was really cool and not what I was expecting. About 15-20 million years ago, the roofs of two adjacent sea caves collapsed as a result of erosion from waves and wind creating a large “Punchbowl”. The sea cave entrances are still there and can be accessed during low tide. Our timing was during high tide so we weren’t able to access the Punchbowl.
Once we were back on the 101, Alfred offered us a detour through the coastal town of Newport. We decided to take the detour. One reason was, we have seen “Mo’s” restaurants along the way and it has never been a good time for a meal. It was about 10 at this point and it opened at 11. Second reason, I thought we could shop for a bit and then eat lunch. Little did we know what awaited us! Sea lions!! They are so stinky and absolutely hilarious.
Pile of sea lionsHis neck? Sea lion rockPiles
For your enjoyment- a short video. without the odor.
We shopped around and when Mo’s opened at 11 we were the second party seated. I need to tell you another Alfred story. Yesterday, as we were driving, he brought up food and specifically Oregon Coast clam chowder. Each day, we have shared a cup of chowder. Our favorite was at the Pelican in Cannon Beach. Alfred told us about Slumgullion. It’s Oregon clam chowder with Oregon pink shrimp on top. Mo’s was the first place Slumgullion has been on the menu. I felt compelled to order it. In a sour dough bread bowl. Seriously. It was delicious and our new favorite. The Caesar salad was good. We shared both.
Mo’s Chicken Caesar Slumgullion Newport Bridge
After lunch we were back in the jeep heading south. Our next stop was at Seal Rock. Another of Alfred’s suggestions. The Oregon Coast views never get old or boring!
Seal RockLooking SouthWave Power!
The next stop was one I had marked and also one Alfred suggested. Devil’s Churn. It lived up to its name. Plus, we had a chance to walk a little around the other side of the cove. Again, beautiful.
Our next planned stop was one we were very excited about. Sea Lion Cave. I had it marked and Alfred mentioned it a couple of times. Apparently, sea lions hang out in the cave which you access via an elevator. It costs $18 a person. Except when the sea lions are out in the water preparing for winter and eating. Such was our experience. You can pay only $16 which includes a “rain cheque” for another entrance in a year. Whomp whomp. No sea lion caves for us. At least we had the joy of seeing them in Newport!
The credit goes to Albert for our next stop. Darlingtonia Wayside. It is a small area that has been set aside as a botanical preserve. It protects the fragile habitat of the Darlingtonia califorinica. Also known as the cobra-lily or pitcher plant. It is a carnivorous plant that attracts insects with its sweet smell and traps them, then digests them with bacteria juices in the stem. So cool. And oh so many! Thanks, Alfred. My science teacher heart was so happy.
Driving down 101 we were stuck in traffic for a quick minute. Only to realize a truck pulling fish crates toppled. Check it out. Notice the fish in the back of the truck and on the pavement. The guys were working so fast to get the fish in the truck!
As we rolled through Florence, OR, Alfred bid us farewell. We both were so sad to say goodbye to our friend. The Oregon Coast tour stopped after the central coast. Seriously, if you’re planning a road trip, check out GuideAlong. It is a really fun way to explore and learn about the area you’re exploring.
And finally, we arrived in Coos Bay where we are staying for the night. Based on the reviews and a couple bloggers, I picked Bay Point Landing. It’s an RV and glamping venue. Funny story. When we arrived, I went in to check us in. The receptionist tells me about the amenities- pointing in the direction of the indoor pool and she says also that’s where the showers and restrooms. Hmmmm… not sure how I feel about this. I thought we had a bath in our container… but, I didn’t say anything. I asked about laundry facilities. Yes, and she shows me on the map. And says there are also showers and restrooms (same building as laundry) that are closer to your cabin. Oh, no. We don’t have a bathroom? How did I f-k this up. I walk out to the car and say to Dave… I don’t know how I fu-ked this up but I did. Why, he asks. And I proceed to explain. He says, so very calmly, basically we are camping. Yeah… with a roof. And then I say “it’s only one night”. We drive around and look at the facilities. It’s very nicely kept. Then come to our container. I walk in and the kitchen is amazing. How in the world is there no bathroom. There is and it’s lovely. I’ve never been so happy! We’ve been laughing ever since. Our guess, the receptionist is new and didn’t know the difference between the containers. Some are smaller and probably don’t have a bathroom. Anyways, we are good, happy by the fire pit and did a load of laundry. Enjoy a video.
Campfire dinner. We picked up some smoked salmon and tuna for dinner. Plus crunchy curls and an apple from Trader Joe’s. Simple can be delicious.
We were hoping for another amazing sunset. Mother Nature had other plans. Dave told me to snap a picture before the fog completely rolls in. Sure enough…. Foggy fire pit night.
I appreciate you taking time to read to the end. That was a long one. As always, thanks for reading.
Before leaving the northern part of the coast, we went to Ecola State Park for a lovely morning hike. Ecola SP has been the filming location for several movies. The Goonies, Kindergarten Cop, Point Break and Twilight. The rocky coast line and dramatic cliff make it perfect for the big screen. Our hike was a 3.5 loop with 1000ft of elevation.
Indian BeachOff we go! FernsInteresting treesGoats beard1000ft above sea levelSunrise through the treesFiltered lightPlank & new bootsIndian Beach with a little fog
After our hike and check out, we started our drive down the coast. Our final destination was Lincoln City.
We are using the GuideAlong app again. Alfred our narrator, is like having an old friend in the car. Plus, he has so many stories and knows where all the fun places to stop are located. Like Pronto Pups! We wouldn’t have stopped for a Pronto Pup if Alfred hadn’t told us it was the original Pronto Pup location!
Our next stop was at the Tillamook Cheese Factory. We completed the self guided tour, sampled cheese and decided to enjoy some ice cream!
40lb blocks of cheeseCheese! Cheese! Fireside peanut butter cup
Alfred gave us two options for the drive. We could hug the coast or go more inland on the 101. We decided to take the scenic coastal drive. We had so many fun places to stop. The first was Cape Meares to see the light house and Octopus Tree! The Octopus Tree is a 300 year old Sitka Pine and there is still debate as to how the Octopus Tree formed. Naturally or was it created by humans. We may never know…
The view! LighthouseOctopus Tree
Our drive continued along the coast with a stop for some salt and salted caramels at Jacobsen Salt Company. (Another suggestion by Alfred) They harvest the salt from the Pacific Ocean and ship to chefs all around the world. The caramels made a lovely addition to our car snacks.
The last stop along this part of the coast was Pacific City. We hopped out to see the beach and were amazed at the giant sand dune.
We made it to Lincoln City in time for check in. The inn is right on the ocean. It’s so lovely. We slept with the sliding door open listening to the waves all night. Nature’s natural sound machine.
Our hotelOur room on the third floor
We enjoyed another amazing sunset. We walked the beach for a bit and then came back to the fire pits at the hotel.
Monday was our last night of camping. When I booked a spot at the Gore Creek Campground I thought they had running water. Nope. Rookie mistake. I assumed when using Reservation.gov if the campground didn’t specifically say “no water” then water was available. Not the case. Always be sure to check that it says “water” as an amenity. Fortunately, it was our last night camping and the next night would be in a hotel.
Our campsite in the Aspen grove
Speaking of water, I purchased a solar shower before we left. Up until Monday morning I was super pleased with Dr. Prepare. And then I wasn’t. Sadira went to fill it up Monday morning and the hose disconnected from the bag. We tried to duct tape it. But, it just didn’t work. I don’t recommend the Dr. Prepare. It only last 4 days for us. That’s ridiculous.
Dr. Unprepared
After settling into our campsite, we decided to take a short hike. According to AllTrails, the trail was a 1.4 mile loop. We found the trail easily and set off. We hiked up and enjoyed the view as we climbed. A little over a mile in, we became concerned because we hadn’t looped around. When I checked AllTrails, no surprise. We were off the trail… again! We double backed and couldn’t find where the trail was supposed to turn. It looked liked it had been blocked. We continued back down the way we came and our 1.4 mile loop turned into a 2.5 out and back! Haha
Despite the extra distance hiked – the views of the mountains were beautiful.
Sunflowers and AspenA trail through Aspens Almost clear skiesHappy hikers We think this was some sort of mushroom.
After our hike, we prepped the tent one last time and Sadira made us quesadillas for dinner!
Campground sunsetCampground Chef
Tuesday morning we packed up for the last time. We headed to Denver for the day. We stayed close to the airport Tuesday night so I could fly home easily Wednesday. Tuesday we had lunch at Lowdown Brewery. We split a mushroom pizza and salad. Yummmmm!
One last selfie
It was a fun and relaxing camping trip. We had a few hiccups throughout the week… but, overall it was a success. As always, thanks for following along!
Sunday morning we were up early and packed up by 9am. We wanted to hike the Snodgrass Trail in Crested Butte. George and Juliana hiked this trail two summers ago and highly recommended it. Their directions to find it left us doubting we would. “Drive through town and follow the road until you see a parking lot with a port-a-potty.” Sounds sparse, right? Actually, they were spot on! we spotted the potty, found the trail we wanted to take and set off!
After reading AllTrails, the hike was 5.8 miles. We packed water and snacks and set out. Ironically, the AllTrails map took us to the top of Snodgrass Mountain. The trail Sadira is pointing to in the picture above is what we walked for about a mile before realizing we weren’t on the trail. Our 5.8 mile hike turned out to be 8 miles! The views were amazing! Wildflowers and Aspen and of course Crested Butte.
Sierra larkspur & Crested ButteAspenAspen and fernsFlower FriendsArrowleaf Balsamroot & Crested ButteLichen
Once we realized we weren’t on the summit trail, we turned around and started up the mountain. Everyone knows the reason you hike a mountain is for the panoramic view at the top. Hopefully. We hiked up about 1.2 miles in what seemed like straight and steep uphill. In the sun. Only to find the top was covered with pine trees that obstructed the view.
The view at the topTaking a breathe break at the summit
Regardless, it was a great hike and a quick walk down. More Aspen, butterflies, and flowers.
Crested Butte on your head! Callippe fritillaryWood betony & AspenCrested Butte
After the hike, we hopped in the car and started the drive over to Redstone Campground. It was about a 2.5 hour drive. We had to go up & over the mountains using Keebler Pass. Little did we know the drive was mostly (40 miles) on a curvy gravel road. It was awful. Sadira was car sick by the time we got over it. We stopped at a little campground and had a snack while watching the hummingbirds until she was feeling better. Whew! What a drive!
Saturday was the only night we’re stayed at a KOA. Camping life in a KOA campground is much different than camping life in a National Forest. The perks of a KOA include showers, laundry and flushing toilets. Oh! And a dishwashing sink that ONLY has hot water. To enjoy those perks you pass up seclusion, privacy, and incredible views. Sunday night we were in Redstone Campground. It was appropriately named – there were red stones all around us! We had privacy, scenery and clean pit toilets!
I forgot to snap a picture of our meal. Sadira made us pimento grilled cheese and tomato soup. It was delicious. We took a dip in the creek and then had a solar shower… our last one, actually… more on that tomorrow-
Our drive to Gunnison, CO on Saturday was about three hours. We had lunch on the road and arrived at the Gunnison KOA right at 2:00pm for check in. We were so late to the party planning this adventure this was the only campground I could find for Saturday night. Honestly, it wasn’t terrible. We had a real shower, flushing toilets, and laundry facilities. It was a good reset for the halfway point. From one perspective it looks like a KOA. From the opposite perspective it looks perfectly pleasant.
Campground Chef in a crowded KOAIt’s like we have the place to ourselves
After checking in, we went to Hartman Rocks for a short desert hike. We really pushed the Prius to its uphill limits. This area is filled with mountain bike trails and the road was super rutted. We decided not to push the limits too far and hiked around from the first parking lot.
Adventure awaits RocksThat view! Lichen Champion
We saw several great wildflowers over the past two days on our hikes. Here are my favorite.
The hike was hot with a nice breeze. We decided a short hike was best to keep us from a visit to the hydration station. We went back to the campground and enjoyed not having neighbors- until they arrived after we went to bed. Speaking of the campground, we decided this would be a great opportunity to rack up some license plates. As we walked around, we added an additional 5 plates to our collection. Bringing our total up to 43! #strongwork
Thursday morning Sadira and I beat feet to get out of Texas. Honestly, we couldn’t leave it fast enough. The beauty of the concave desert landscape is truly in the eye of the beholder. Of which we aren’t. The best part of TX, besides leaving, was spotting an Alaska license plate in the hotel parking lot.
Alaska!
We were so excited to cross into New Mexico and even more excited when we started seeing mountains on the horizon. Unfortunately, we didn’t heed the the last pit stop before we started across the NM desert and with no facilities available for 60+ miles, we had to use the facili-trees. Along the drive we saw lots of cute prairie dogs popping tall and welcoming us to NM. Our first stop was in Taos, NM. We enjoyed lunch at the Taos brewery. Delicious beer & pizza.
Lunch
Before heading to our campground, we drove out to the Rio Grande River Gorge. We bravely crossed the bridge on foot and held our breath when we looked down!
Rio Grande River GorgeWindy HairDon’t look down…
Elephant Rock campground was smaller with perfectly acceptable pit toilets. Our neighbors felt the need to preach thereby encouraging us to plug in some tunes. The higher elevation was cool and optimum for star gazing.
Dinner was campground gourmet. Chili, cheese, canned wine and altitude puffy Fritos.
All in all – it was a first night of successful camping.
This morning, my niece and I left Memphis and drove to Amarillo, TX. What started out as a joke to meet up with her parents on their adventures https://semisabbatical.com/ morphed into a trip to Colorado. We spent 12 hours in her parent’s Prius cruising west on I-40. The car is loaded with camping supplies, snacks, and wine. #winecamp That part of I-40 doesn’t have much to offer. Except windmills, Cracker Barrels, and Stinky Stella in Shamrock, TX.
To spice up the trip, Sadira downloaded the app Plate Spot to track how many different license plates we see. After 12 hours we were at 28 plates. #strongwork
We made Cadillac Ranch our destination for today. It was underwhelming, kind of like driving I-40 West from Memphis for 12 hours…
Cadillac Ranch – Amarillo, TX Obligated Selfie at Cadillac Ranch
Tomorrow we are driving to Taos, NM and then to our first camping spot. A much shorter drive day with an afternoon hike!
Today we traveled from Moab to Park City. As we drove over the first mountain there was a noticeable difference in vegetation as we transitioned out of the desert. Once we passed through SLC and went up and over the mountains again, there was even more noticeable difference. Ecosystems are amazing. On our way to Park City, we stopped at Sundance. It was beautiful. This picture was my favorite.
My Love at Sundance
Moving on, we stopped in Park City for lunch at Squatters Brewery. Dave had a lager and I enjoyed a “Juicy IPA”. We split the “New York Cheesesteak” – despite everything wrong with that name, it was delicious.
Squatters Brewery
After lunch, we goofed around Park City until it was time to check in. We are staying at the Stein Eriksen Lodge in Deer Valley. It’s absolutely amazing. Our room is fantastic. Amazing views, full kitchen, two fireplaces, two bathrooms, amazing bed and did I mention the view. I was so excited about everything… and then the bellhop told me about the laundry room with complimentary detergent. I felt like I landed in vacation heaven. A comfortable bed AND free laundry after being in the desert for 3 days… yes, please!
Kitchen and denBedroom – views of the mountains View out the backMain bathroom DenWasher & Dryer. This Dwyer is HAPPY
Our elevation is about 8,500 feet. We are surrounded by green ski slopes, evergreens and aspens. Once we checked in, (started laundry) we walked around to enjoy the view.
These beautiful planters are Everywhere! I took this picture around 4:30pm.
We finished up laundry, dealt with an A/C issue and were ready for dinner. Yes, at this point in the day the sun was blazing hot and shining into the room. The A/C was at 75 and only going up. The repair man was there in minutes and had it working in 15 minutes. Ironically, a storm was coming at the same time and it became super cold. However, the storm coming over the mountains was beautiful.
Around 6:30. Storm moving in!
We went to the Champions pub/ game room for dinner. Pizza & Salad. On our way there, we found the Clown Car. we were pleased to see he was tucked away for the next couple of days. The resort shuttle will take us to trails, dinner and anywhere else (in a 5 mile radius).
Good night everyone. I’m officially relaxing and on vacation…. Tomorrow is a new day with lots of trails to find!
View from the balcony Deer friend from our balcony
Today started early – even by Dwyer standards. I really wanted to see Delicate Arch at sunrise. The drive from our Airbnb to the Delicate Arch trail head is about 30 minutes. The hike to Delicate Arch is 1.5 miles mostly uphill. Sunrise was at 5:55am. I know it’s crazy… I set the alarm for 3:15am! On vacation… to chase sunrise! Before I share any pictures, I want to give a big shout out to Dave. He is always a good sport about my crazy ideas – especially, when on vacation and it involves a sunrise. When I tried to talk myself out of the whole thing last night, he encouraged me/us to go for it. He even woke up earlier than needed to turn on the coffee pot. Thank you, my love.
Us at Delicate Arch
We started hiking at 5am with our headlamps and flashlights. The trail was pretty easy to follow. It’s been well maintained because of all the visitors. I thought it would be more challenging to follow, especially in the dark, but it was pretty easy. We made it to the arch with time to spare and watch the early sun rays turn the clouds into cotton candy. It was beautiful.
First picture at the ArchCotton Candy Clouds at Sunrise Sunrise
Surprisingly, we weren’t alone this early in the morning. There were quite a few early birds. Mostly photographers trying to catch the perfect shot.
This is my favorite shot of the clouds and Arch.
Ahhhh…. Sunrise!
We stayed for 10-15 minutes and watched as the sun continued to rise and it became more and more crowded. We realized it was time to head down and continue seeing the park. It was a quick walk back down especially because we could actually see what was around us!
I also want to take a minute and share navigational tips to hiking in the desert. Trails can often be difficult to follow because there are no natural trail markers like trees or vegetation. Instead, there are cairns or rock piles. They are the navigation points to walk towards while hiking. They are spaced apart and give you a visual line of where the trail leads.
Rock Cairn
We returned to the car and headed up to our next hike. We were going to hike to see Sand Dune Arch, Broken Arch, and Tapestry Arch.
The light at Sand Dune Arch was beautiful. Broken Arch – do you see the crack? Broken Arch Tapestry Arch
This trail was really sandy in several spots. We even saw this cute little beetle.
We reversed course after tapestry arch. And stopped for a few pictures of the other side of Broken Arch.
Our next destination was Devils Garden Trail head. We stepped it out to see Landscape Arch – the longest arch on the planet.
As we walked, we started seeing elephants in all of the rock formations. Elephant trunks and elephant butts. Look at landscape arch – it is actually two elephants on either side extending their trunks. The one on the left has a crown above his ear. The elephant on the right has his mouth open. Do you see it?
More elephants
Pine Arch – elephant Pine Arch Tunnel Arch – elephant
We decided to pass on Double O Arch. The trail was crowded and really windy. We didn’t feel like scaling the fins in the crowd and wind…. We took a picture from below.
As we drove back to the park entrance we decided to see if we could find a parking spot at The Windows. We were pleasantly surprised the crowds had thinned in that part of the park. We found a spot without an issue. We walked along the main trail and then took the primitive trail back to the parking lot. We had the place to ourselves on the primitive trail!
WindowsTurret ArchBehind the North and South Windows aka behind the scenes Windows Double Window Arch
After we finished with The Windows, we headed to the visitor center. It was after 11am and we were getting hot and tired. I had almost 26k steps and Dave had over 30k. I would call that a very successful day of chasing sunrise, hiking, and having fun!
We took this picture yesterday on our way to Canyonlands. We knew we would pass in the dark today. Seize the opportunity!
We were back to the Airbnb by 12:30. 8 hours of hiking and driving. That’s a full day even if we were done in a half day! After a nap and shower, we enjoyed dinner at a Mexican restaurant. It was delicious. I came for two things… a BiG margarita and sopaipilla. I first & last had sopaipillas when I went to New Mexico with my Mom in the 2008. They are sugary puffs of dough. Like a hollow doughnut. Just add honey! Both were delicious!
Hike long – drink a margarita! Sopaipilla
Tomorrow we head to Park City. We plan to not set an alarm – check out isn’t until 10:00am!
