DAY 30 -Rogue-Umpqua Scenic Byway…

I planned on a scenic drive through central southern Oregon for the day.  Grant, Kimmie’s partner, had mentioned a nice route to drive but that it would take a whole day.  So I started out early; skipping breakfast and heading north out of Klamath Falls.  I passed by the Upper Klamath Lake and all of the pelicans.  I took Hwy 140 west after Rocky Point and went past Lake of the Woods and Fish Lake off into new Oregon territory for me.


Photo- Pelicans on the Upper Klamath Lake.

Shortly after passing Fish Lake, I took a right turn on to County Rd #821 on my way to Butte Falls.  I was driving through wonderful scenic forestland.  The road got rather curvy and I started to slow for the turns.  Before I knew it I was coming around a corner and BOOM!  There are cows in the middle of the road! COWS?!?!  Yes, I was in the middle of an open range area which happens quite a bit in Oregon but this was the first time I had actually seen cows on the road.  There were 7 large Black Angus cows in the middle of the road.  I slowed to a stop. 

Photo- HOLY COW!  They're in the road!

The cows just stood in the middle of the road.  HELLO! Move you big animals!  The car that was behind me started to honk and I followed suit; me being a City Girl had no idea what to do with cows in the middle of the road.  Low and behold; they started to move off the road.  Yeah!  As I drove by the cows just stared blankly at me.  I never realized how dumb cows could be.

I drove through the town of Butte Falls and after that the forestland was set back and fenced farms with green fields took up the foreground.  It was very pretty with horses and cows in the fields; with the periodic red barn or unpainted barn here and there. 

Photo- Farms with forest land in the background. Wonderful scenery!

I continued on; thinking that I was still on County Rd #821 but turns out I wasn’t.  I ended up coming out to Hwy 62 about 5 miles south of a cute small town called Shady Cove.  It was 15 miles south west of where I should have come out on Hwy 62.  But that was okay.  I went through Shady Cove where the cop sat right by the quickly reduced speed limit for the town.  I practically slammed on my brakes; to go from 55mph to 30mph.  I even managed a quick smile and way to the cop as I slowly went by.  But I HAD to stop for a quick picture of the pink Phil’s Frosty.  I later found out that it’s the place in Shady Cove to stop and eat ice cream or burgers.  There did seem to be a great deal of cars out front and it wasn’t even 11AM.

Photo- A hot spot and VERY pink place in Shady Cove!

Photo- The Rogue River as seen from a city park just north of Shady Cove.

I went along Hwy 62 where off to the right I could see the Rogue River.  It was a very scenic area with trees starting to change along the river and exposed rocks next to the road.  I drove past the small town of Prospect and on to Union Creek where I was told to definitely stop at Beckie’s Restaurant.  It was either their cinnamon roll or a piece of one of their pies that came highly recommended.  I stopped and I still had about 15 minutes of breakfast being served. 

Photo- A bird just taking off I saw on the Rogue River.

 

Photo- A MUST stop for thier cinnamon rolls or pie!

Photo- The inside of Beckie's Restaurant.

I opted for the yummy cinnamon French toast and hot coffee.  OMG!  It was dessert for breakfast!  It was as I was enjoying my breakfast that I over heard what sounded like Germans trying to learn to pronounce English words.  It was rather interesting listening.  As I was finishing my breakfast and looking at a map that I discovered I was close to a couple of sightseeing view sights.  I figured I could definitely use a bit of hiking to work off breakfast. 

Photo- Natural Bridge- where Rogue River runs under these lava rocks for 200ft. and then comes out.

Photo- Water comes out of Natural Bridge and there are side lava caves.

I did a bit of back tracking and went to the Natural Bridge parking lot.  The Natural Bridge is along the Rogue River and it’s where the river runs in lava tubes for about 200ft.  I grabbed my camera and off I went for the ¾ mile hike where there are viewpoints all along to see the Natural Bridge.  I read about the temperature of the water and how many gallons per minute that went through the Natural Bridge.  It was amazing and you could just hear the roar of the water as it went through the area.

Photo- Rogue River Gorge.

Next, I went by Beckie’s and discovered that while having breakfast I was about ½ block from a view overlook of the Rogue River Gorge.  I grabbed my camera again and off I went down the path.  This path however was packed with senior citizens.  It was a tour bus.  So I tried to slowly work my way through the group to where I could overlook the gorge area too. 

While trying to do that, the tour guide started talking to me.  He talked about how Oregon’s sportsmen’s, being so sports challenging orientated, used to canoe through this gorge area until about 2 years ago the state had to outlaw it.  He never heard of anyone dying doing it but he pointed out that it was seriously dangerous and he could imagine that some of they did die attempting it.  Why he shared that with me?  I’m unsure why he chose to share that information with me and he kept his voice down when he told me about it; so that none of the seniors could hear about it.  Strange.

Rather than turning east when Hwy 62 turned, I decided to continue on Hwy 230 up to Diamond Lake; a lake that I could see when I was on the trolley tour up at Crater Lake.  Yes, I was just west of Crater Lake and heading north.  I thought I want to see that lake from the shoreline.

I was about 6 miles north of there when I saw a sign that said—National Creek Falls with an arrow.  On the spur of the moment, I thought why not.  I turned the car.  I went down the road 3 miles to a sign with another arrow.  It said 2.5 miles on a one lane road with turn outs.  Okay, I thought I came this far.  I drove on the one lane road and only had a pickup truck that I had to wait for in a turnout.  I got to the next sign that pointed me off to the right to a parking area and another sign that had an arrow and said ½ mile hike.  I came this far and hoped it was really an actual waterfall but I continued on. 

Down the dirt path I went.  It hairpin turned down the side of a hill quickly and seemed to go back and forth again, and again, and again down the hill.  Wait a minute; this has got to be more than ½ mile by now.  BUT I continued on the path.  I got to the bottom and saw a couple with three dogs.    I went over a couple of logs and off to my left I heard and saw an amazing waterfall.  I could even feel the mist off of the fall. 

Photo- National Creek Falls a secret hidden off the road a ways.

I petted the dogs, of course, and talked with the couple.  They were from Grants Pass and came here to get away from the heat for the day.  It was as I was leaving that the guy mentioned that he saw a black bear about ¼ mile down on the road when they came in.  Oh, great I thought and here I am walking alone in black bear territory!  Go figure!  Note- It is recommended that you never go alone in black bear territory.  They are more likely to attack lone hikers.  Well, I decided to just book it back to my car, but I figured that if I talked to myself in two different voices that I could trick a black bear into thinking that there was more than just me in the area.  Yes, I really can be that silly and naïve at the same time!

Photo- The view of Mt Bailey on my way to Diamond Lake. 

I’m glad to say I made it back to my car safely and was not a headliner on a local TV news show.  Off I went back to Hwy 230 and continued north to Diamond Lake.  Diamond Lake is a wonderful lake to see from its shoreline.  It also is a very popular area.  There were quite a few boats full of fisherman out on the lake.  I also drove through quite a resort area with restaurant, cabins, and hotel. 

Photo- Diamond Lake a popular fishing place.

I swung by the gas station there to get a bit before I headed back to Klamath Falls.  It was funny because the attendant said that he had waited on a Jeep earlier in the day that was from Utah too.  He asked if it was Utah day and he didn’t get the memo.  I just shrugged my shoulders and smiled.  Then, off south I went back to Klamath Falls.

DAY 20- Chocolate, Cars, & Cheese!

I ended up staying the night at the “Hilton” of the KOA campsites.  The facilities for this KOA were deluxe and they even had a free pancake breakfast that they served in the morning at their kitchen building.  The night before, I had gone to a chocolate and wine tasting that they held at the main KOA store.  It was chocolate truffles cut up and then served with a red wine that was infused with chocolate.  It was chocolate heaven!  The wine tasted like a chocolate version of Bailey’s and was very yummy.  So yummy in fact that I bought a bottle of it and took it back to my tent site. 

Photo- My campsite at the "Hilton" KOA.

I almost drank half of the bottle while I sat at the covered picnic bench at my campsite with my plugged in computer surfing the web on my computer till it was bedtime (midnight).  Did I mention that I had a tent site where I had power and water?  It was also fenced in and rather private; too cool!

Next, after breaking camp and grabbing my free pancakes, I headed south along the coast on Hwy 101.  It was misting rather heavily most of the morning since about 7am shortly after I had gotten my camping gear packed up. (Thank goodness!)  I had asked a gal at the pancake breakfast if this was considered rain in the northwest.  “No, not yet there but it’s on its way,” she answered.

So it was some wet driving towards the south for the next 14 miles.  It never full rained but the misting got to a point of a good drizzle.  I drove about 5 miles under the speed limit because I wasn’t sure how the roads were when they were wet here.  In Utah, the roads get awfully slick when they get wet.  I think that I was frustrating some of the other drivers behind me and I took every opportunity to get over into the turn outs so they could whiz on by me.  I just didn’t want to chance it.

Photo- Car show in Seaside.

Seaside was the next town that I came to.  It’s a vibrant little community along the beach area.  They were also having some kind of hot rod car show along their main street area; only all of these cars were taking all of the parking along the street.  They also had the street closed to other cars.  It was rather fun to walk among the cars and the misting seemed to be finally waning a bit. 

But I still ended up purchasing a much needed raincoat at local store.  It’s not that I didn’t have one at all but that the one I did have was for my cycling.  It has bicycle grease on it from riding around with my bike in the back of my car.  I went to several different shops and finally found an inexpensive men’s raincoat that I liked.  I walked down to the end of the street where there was a lovely turnabout and plaza area of the town that overlooks the beach.  There were a lot of people flying kites along the beach.  T was rather fun to watch them.

Photo- The wonderful view of Cannon Beach from the south of town.

Next it was onto Cannon Beach which came highly recommended in the 1001 Places to See Before You Die book that I’ve periodically been using to help me along the way.  I lucked out and found a parking place at the end of a street just off of the beach.  I just walked over to the end of the street but didn’t go out on the beach.  I didn’t want to worry about sand in my sandals or my socks. 

Yep, I’m doing the socks with the sandals thing that is like a Utah thing.  MAN! And I used to hate that when I would see that but after living somewhere for over 20 years I guess you pick up some of the habits of the locals.  What the Heck! (Which is another Utah-ism, because they don’t say hell! They consider that swearing.  But then it doesn’t tend to hail there much either so you can’t choose to say you were using the proper word to describe precipitation either. Oh HECK!)

Photo- Cute little courtyards nested along with shops in Cannon Beach.

I walked around the main street of Cannon Beach; mainly, through some of the galleries.  I was particularly liked the art gallery in the Cannon Beach Mall called Haystack Gallery.  It had a beautiful original watercolor painting from Steve Hanks.  And another artist that I really like was Michael Schlicting who had some amazing ocean scenes done in watercolor.

Photo- A self-supported cyclist on Hwy 101.

Next, I stopped by the first viewing area just south of Cannon Beach which had a better view of the overall beach.  While there two self-supported touring cyclists I had passed earlier stopped at the viewing area too.  I talked to them for a bit.  This was their first tour of any sort and they had started in Vancouver, BC and were on their way to San Francisco where they would fly back to Ontario, Canada.  I wished them luck and when they saw my Utah plates they said that a bike tour of southern Utah was next on their list.

Photo- I took a self-guided tour.

Behold the power of cheese!  I next went to Tillamook where I took a self-guided tour of the cheese factory.  It was interesting reading about the process and then viewing some of the processing from a second floor observation area that overlooks the production floor.  Then I came back down stairs where there was an area that you could sample some of the cheeses.  I would’ve bought some cheese but I really had no way of keeping it much past the afternoon and even the smallest package was a bit much for an afternoon consumption for me.

I turned onto Hwy 6 and started heading towards Portland where I would be staying the night.  I drove through the very dense Tillamook State Forest which seemed to make a very winding road to drive on.  Then, it was on to Hwy 26 which was a double lane in each direction.  I was able to pick up some speed, and before I knew it I was near Portland.  I managed to find my way to the Sellwood area where I was renting a room for the next two nights from a homeowner that I found on the www.airbnb.com website.  A friend had given me the website to check out.

DAY 4- Exploring Whigby Island...

Photo- My faithful morning walk companion Otis.  A resident at Wildwood Farm B&B.

I woke about 6am again and had a nice little walk with my morning walk companion, Otis.  He took led me along a different area of the horse pastures.  I came back to the B&B and had another wonderful breakfast of sweet bread, fresh bananas with strawberries, sausage, breakfast potatoes, and an everything veggie omelet.  Again, I couldn’t finish all of what I was served but I found out that my friend Otis gets to enjoy the leftovers, so I didn’t feel as bad.

I decided to do a bit of exploring in my car.  I drove over to the south end of the Island to where the ferry leaves for Seattle.  I did a typical Utahan illegal U turn; anyone from Utah will know what I mean.  I really think U turns are the only way to get around in Utah.  I found a little bike shop in Bayview town on the way south and stopped to get a new mirror for my glasses.  I had misplaced the one I had.

Photos- of Langley town's Main Street area.

Next I took the turn for Langley town.  I parked just off of the Main Street area near a beach area.  It’s a cute little scenic community and I went through some shops.  I also went down to the public access beach area and walked around for a bit.  Langley had a great deal going on and was in the process of clearing the parking stalls along the Main Street for an event.  I could see parking becoming an issue later on in the day.  I found this cute little Swiss Bakery tucked back in from the Main street area.  Everything looked SO good but I finally decided on a strawberry square and a black coffee.  The strawberry square had cut strawberries on top, a thin layer of chocolate, a layer of cake with an almond cream layer in the middle of the cake and a crushed almond baked crust.  I took it over by the beach found a bench and enjoyed it and the view.  Yummy!

Photo- Langley's public beach area.

Then I drove more north and took a left on Fish Road.  Well, Fish Road led to Mutiny Bay.  Go figure! Mutiny Bay was very pretty but I was surprised to see tsunami warnings in the area.  It was lower and it was on the Ocean side of the Island.  I was also surprised to see a great deal of building going on.

Next, I turned off at Greenbank Farm.  There, I visited a few art galleries and a cheese store.  AND of course, the wine store.  It was late enough in the day that I did a bit of wine tasting.  I have to laugh because when I told the gal behind the counter I was from Utah.  She took each wine that she had poured out and poured a little more into each glass.  “Here you go sweetie.  You poor thing, you need a bit more then.”  I had to laugh.

I drove further north and turned off at Ebey Landing Overlook.  It’s a ridge that you can see for miles. At the overlook you can see farms, houses, fields of trees, and off to the right the sea.  Just an amazing view! I had a bit of a laugh because on the way out I see a house where there’s a combine tractor pulled up in a stall right next to the house.  I could see it by a barn or out in the yard but right next to a house.  It just struck me as quirky.  On that same ridge is one of the oldest cemeteries in the area.  The first gravestone is from 1863 and the cemetery has a great deal of history to it.  The cemetery is called Sunnyside.  It seems like a cheerful name for such a morbid place.  I found it interesting how there was cement curbing or white picket fences around the family plots.

The other highlight of the day was dinner.  I stopped to have dinner at the BBQ Joint.  It’s a couple from the south that moved to Whigby Island and there was no REAL BBQ in the area.  Well, they brought it here. They brought the REAL Southern BBQ to the area.  The brisket I especially enjoyed.  The atmosphere is very laid back and help yourself.  The counter where you order is at the back and then you take your food to a table up near the front.  You have your choice of tables or booths.  A TV plays the blues and jazz for music and it just feels comfortable and easy.  A perfect way to finish a day of sightseeing. 

DAY 3-- On Whigby Island...

I woke up around 6AM to the pure sound of silence.  It’s so peaceful here at this Wildwood FarmBed & Breakfast.   In fact, I felt like my heart rate fell just as I drove down the valley where the B&B is located.  It’s surrounded by evergreen forests and there are large fenced off areas with pastures.  Horses and a few colts are frolicking around the pastures.  It’s just amazing.

I took a walk in the morning around the B&B with Otis; an older dog that resides at the B&B.  Of course, Otis wanted me to throw his rubber squeaking toy in the shape of a female chicken with a bathing suit on.  I said okay but I throw like a girl.  He didn’t seem to mind.  After a few throws then he started leading me off on a tour of the farm.  He would lead the way and then stop.  He would take a look over his shoulder as if to say, “Well, are you coming or what?”  So I followed Otis around and he led me on a loop around some of the Pastures.  I even got to pet and talk with a couple of horses along the way.

Shortly after returning from my walk breakfast was ready.  Another AMAZING thing about the Wildwood Farms is the breakfast.  It started out with fresh ground strong coffee just the way I like it.  Then apiece of raspberry sweet bread; followed by vanilla yogurt with granola topped with fresh black berries.  Then it was a waffle (You KNOW how I LOVE my waffles!) that was served up with a homemade black berry syrup.  Also, served was breakfast potatoes and bacon.  I was a bit disappointed that my stomach wasn’t larger because it was all SO good.

About mid breakfast, as I sitting there eating and watching the horses frolic in the pasture, a fog literally rolls in.  The B&B owner told me that it was the marine layer and that’s what keeps the temperatures so mild here.  He went on to explain that it usually will “burn off” as the day goes on. It will last anywhere from an hour to 8 hours depending on the time of year.

I went on talking with the owner.  He bought the property about 18 years ago as an investment.  His daughters, all three now grown; started taking horse riding lessons.  “Well, one thing led to another and this,” he pointed out to the pastures around,” is the result.” The horse part of the farm basically breaks even at best, but it is the B&B and horse tack/clothing/gifts store that keeps things really going.  I guess that as of tomorrow evening I will not be the only guest at the B&B.  They have had most of the summer weekends this year booked solid, and I can understand.  If you are up this way and need a relaxing place to stay…this would be ideal!

Shortly after breakfast the fog lifted and I managed to get out for a bike ride.  It was a bit chilly and windy. There’s a great deal of rolling hills on the Island and a bike ride is a workout.  It was just what I needed after that breakfast.  I managed a little over 20 miles and rode north from the B&B to Dugualla Bay with some beautiful views.  It was wonderful and I only had 4 stop signs along the route that I took; almost like a biker’s paradise.