Newport to Coos Bay

Friday 23rd July

We are SOOOOOOOO glad that we are driving south down Highway 101. This is some of the most gorgeous scenery we have seen.
Today we drove 98 miles - the least distance of all the days so far but the most time spent on the road. The first 50 miles took us four hours - and the reason is simple. There is so much to see along this coastal strip of 101. The road hugs the coastline - really hugs the coastline. There are art deco bridges galore that really are magnificent architectural structures and there are simply lovely quaint towns that we drove through ... oh and there are also more trees too!
Along the coastal stretch there are lighthouses of many different sorts, like these two we visited as we left Newport this morning:

Yaquina Head Lighthouse

We encountered a little problem here though ... we had planned to climb the 150+ steps to the top BUT the volunteer was more interested in talking to the waiting throng than handing out 10.30 tour cards (or telling those waiting that all the cards had been handed out). As a result after waiting for 25 minutes in rather solidly blowing winds, we were unable to get the guided tour (and waiting another hour to do the self guided tour would have completely stuffed our schedule).

Yaquina Bay Lighthouse

This one is like a little toy lighthouse. No this is not trick photography. It really is perched on the top of this two storey house -with access to the beacon through an attic style ladder. The lighthouse keeper also had a bed up here too. This lighthouse didn't last long though as it was in a recessed bay and did not light up the rocks adequately. It was replaced by the Head lighthouse above.

We felt a close affinity with the Bay lighthouse ... Captain James Cook made this spot in March 1788 - and named it Cape Foulweather. For us the weather was delightful, although as we ventured further down 101 it has become noticeably cooler - we may even be required to turn the heating on tonight in Coos Bay!

Leaving Newport (after a morning tea of a too heavily iced cinnamon roll and rather acidic coffee), we encountered a bumper coffee table book of coastline images.

Devils Churn

approaching tunnel

another lighthouse

more road

coastal dunes

Along the way a must see (which can't be missed) is the Sea Lion Caves, although they didn't have any food available except popcorn when we really could have done with a restaurant. Lunch for us ended up being coffee and muffins at 3:30pm.

Bini says these look like brown grubs!

more grubs

And of course then there were more bridges along the way too:

bridge at Florence

and near Coos Bay

Yes ... another gloriously delightful day!