ON THE MOVE IN OREGON – NEWPORT TO WINCHESTER BAY TO SUTHERLIN

Before I forget, I want to thank Mike for leaving a comment on my previous post, suggesting a book for the Kindle, Happier Than A Billionaire: Quitting My Job, Moving to Costa Rica, and Living the Zero Hour Work Week by Nadine Hays Pisani.  For only $2.99, I figured it was worth a look.  Mike, I LOVE it!  Nadine is hilarious!  I’ve subscribed to her blog, too – always nice to have a good laugh arrive periodically on Google Reader.  Great suggestion – thanks much!

When we left Newport on Friday, we cruised down Hwy 101 in sunshine, heading for Winchester Bay.  We’ve traveled the entire length of Hwy 101 at one time or another, and I always think of the coastal Oregon portion as a pleasant ride with fantastic views.  And it is… but my memory conveniently edits the twists and turns, the portions with no shoulder, the narrow tunnels and bridges.  It must be a nightmare to maintain!

Metal mesh covers the rock face beyond the “Slides” sign.	Lots of bike riders, not much shoulder.
Narrow tunnels – and there is a big truck in this one!	The sand dunes south of Florence creep towards the road.

Our trip from Newport to Winchester Bay was just 77 miles, but took a bit over 2 hours – average speed: 38 mph!  Fortunately for the people behind us, passing lanes and pullouts appear reasonably frequently and we take full advantage of them.

While Odel negotiated the challenging road, I enjoyed views of the ocean in bright sunshine.  As we approached Winchester Bay, a few puffs of fog appeared, thickening as we passed through Reedsport.  We turned the corner towards the harbor into a blast of cold wind and fog, watching the temperature drop from the upper 60’s to 54 degrees!  Hey, isn’t this August??

We’ve visited here several times, often when our friends in the Roving Rods are holding their annual crab fest (click here to read about our last visit in September of 2009).   There is plenty to do in close proximity to this little town (click here to read about one of my favorite excursions, riding a speeding sand rail on the Florence Dunes). This time, we came just to spend a couple quiet days relaxing. 

After a visit to the dump station, we settled into a site facing the marina on Pier C (click here to read our 2009 review of the dry camping options at Winchester Day; click here to read our 2009 review of the county campground, Windy Cove B).

The fog and fierce wind stuck with us all afternoon and evening; I wore a fleece hat and heavy sweatshirt for our afternoon walk.  Thick fog when we awoke – which finally lifted around 10:30, when we took off for a hike at Sunset Beach State Park, west of Coos Bay.  Once again, we drove south in brilliant sunshine, only to smack up against a fog bank as we neared the ocean.  We cut our planned hike a little short and headed home – oh, so happy to find sunshine at Winchester Bay!

Though we had a sunny afternoon, we decided to cut our visit short.  This might seem crazy to readers who have suffered through the long, hot summer in most of the country, but we want a bit of SUN and HEAT.  I can count on one hand the number of days we have needed A/C this summer – and yes, that IS a good thing - but hey… fog??  High’s in the 50’s??  Chilling winds??

So, we’ve headed inland once again, back to Umpqua Golf & RV Resort (click here to read our review from earlier this summer).  At 3:30, as I write, it’s 83 degrees and sunny.  Odel played a round of golf earlier today; I planned tomorrow’s trip along the Umpqua River Scenic Byway – sightseeing, hiking and picnicking in SUNSHINE.

Now, I’m heading back outdoors to my lounge chair and the next chapter of Happier than a Billionaire – and wonder how many billionaires are happier than I am.