Northern California during the wildfires

The plan had been to drive up the California coast on Route 101 and to spend the night in Brookings, Oregon tonight.  But, we heard last night that whole town of Brookings was evacuated due to a wildfire in the Suislaw National Forest that was coming too close.  So, we tried to check with several authorities in Eureka, CA to find out if route 299 was still safe from wildfire and discovered that all of those authorities (fire stations, police stations, Forest Service, and National Park Service offices) are closed up tight on weekends.  Eventually, the California State Patrol phone number confirmed that 299 would be safe and probably smoke-free.

Route 299 was very beautiful, though, with the Rogue River winding through next to the road and the Redwoods sprinkled through the forests.  It was a very windy road, perfect for listening to Fleetwood Mac's Mystery to Me album.  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kFTKnuilf2c 

It was a such a long drive that I finally realized that I have Audible books that we could listen to and pulled out The Beekeeper's Apprentice by Laurie R. King.  I love that book and it was wonderful to be able to listen to the Mary Russell and Sherlock Holmes story being narrated as we traveled.  I really wish I had remembered those audio books a long time ago.  I don't have many, but we could go on to the 2nd book in that series The Monstrous Regiment of Women, To Kill a Mockingbird, or even Pippi Longstocking.  This will not be forgotten again!

After driving until way after dark, we are now in a motel in Weed, California (I know, it's not what you think. Weed was named for Abner Weed who discovered the area).  We will be heading tomorrow for either Portland or the Northern Oregon beaches by way of Corvallis again.  Neither are threatened by wildfires, thank goodness.

The Rogue River and NO wildfires.

We made it!

Oregon beaches, Siuslaw National Forest and Brookings, OR on the Calif. border

Florence, Oregon is a quiet little town on the Pacific Coast Highway.  My parents lived in several places in Oregon including Florence after they retired and quit the jewelry show circuit business.  [We are a gypsy family at heart.]  The beaches along the way after Florence were gorgeous.

We camped for the night in the Siuslaw National Forest (50% for Seniors with the National Park Card, friends) at the Sutton Campground.  Camping was not bad at all.  We set up at a site directly across from the bathrooms (running water, but no showers).

The cell service appears to be iffy for those with ATT and Tmobile on the Oregon Coast.  I'm told you need Verizon out here.  So, we have been off the radar for a few days.  Since I have Tmobile and ATT is the provider for the "bars" that I am finally getting right now, my service is very slow and uploading photos is not happening.  The scenery is outstanding and I will do a photo dump when I can manage it.

I'm sitting in the car (resting my healing, but broken toe) and looking at the beautiful beach at Harris State Park right now.  Those beautiful Oregon rocks are strewn just off the coast.  Steve is walking the beach and taking photos.  I am walking the sidewalk and doing the same.  (Sand and toe lacerations do not mix, not yet.)

Steve driving.

Steve in front of Harris beach.

Beach without Steve.

We spent the night in a great little RV resort near Brookings called At River's Edge.  They rent RV parking, little cabins, and tent space.  For two nights, we are renting one of their cute little cabins.  Ours could sleep 4 people, but it looks like a "tiny house".  They are clean, have a front porch and electricity, and best of all they are a short walk from bathroom and shower facilities.  They even have washer/dryers.  Heaven!

Indeed a "little house" and it's close to shower/toilets, too!

With the scent of dead sardines in our nostrils we ate our dinner in Brookings, OR and watched pelicans feed.  If you look really hard you can see pelicans all over the second jetty.

Tomorrow morning early, we make a run for the border.  As long has we don't have any produce we should be fine.  We've already crossed once because, oddly enough, you can't seem to buy a California road map outside of California.  (Believe me, I've been trying for 100 miles.  We are only a couple miles from the California border here, but Fred Meyer and two other places do not have California maps.)

False alarm.  We stayed one more day in Brookings (the sun belt of the Oregon coast) to explore its potential.  Steve definitely didn't want to leave.

As I finished packing, Steve gazed off into the misty banks of the river.