SALEM TO WALDPORT

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SALEM TO WALDPORT

Our drive today took us down 99W through Monmouth and Corvallis, university towns – then west out to Newport where we joined Hwy 101 again and followed the coast. What a beautiful day it was to be driving down the Oregon coast. There are so many places to pull off the road and enjoy breath taking views. One pullout had enough space for our rig so we stopped right above the beach, took out our chairs and ate lunch on the edge of the cliff overlooking the ocean. We decided to stop at Beachside State Park and take our chances at getting a camping spot. This is one of the older State Parks but it is right on the beach. We were fortunate to get the last space big enough for our RV and with water and electric hook-ups. If it weren’t for Dwain’s amazing skill at backing and parking the trailer we would not have made it – very narrow space with big trees that came within inches of the trailer. In other words, it was tight getting in. But we are here for two nights just a short walk from the beach, the sun is shining and there is no wind!! Last night we lay in bed and listened to the waves crashing on the beach.

After getting our camp all set up we continued down the coast road in the truck, taking in all the view points along the way. Our goal for today was to reach Heceta Head Lighthouse.

Located 12 miles north of Florence, this lighthouse sits on the west side of 1,000 foot-high Heceta Head. It has a 56-foot tower that sits 205 feet above the ocean. It was first turned on in 1894 and today its beacon can be see 21 miles from land, rating it as the strongest light on the Oregon coast. The historic Heceta Head Assistant Keeper’s house, built in 1892, is now maintained by the U. S. Forest Service and is a bed and breakfast and rental facility for special occasions. For the past two years a volunteer group has been restoring the old lighthouse and I thought it would be still surrounded with scaffolding. However we learned that the restoration was finished mid-July of this year, so we were able to fully appreciate this beautiful historic landmark. It is ranked as the most photographed Lighthouse on the coast.

Offshore rocks and headlands provide abundant places for seabirds to nest. Across the bay is Sea Lion Caves which also is a great spot to photograph the lighthouse. The Sea Lions were not in the caves at this time, but we did get information on where we could find them further down the coast, so will be visiting there at a later date.

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Photos

Great place for lunch
THIS IS WHERE WE SAT IN OUR CHAIRS AND ATE LUNCH.

Beachside State Park - tight spot under the trees
A tight spot under the trees but Dwain got us in without hitting any of the branches.

Beachside State Park -
On spaces available on this row!! I wonder why?

Beachside State Park - beach
We were right by this beach.

Heceta Head Lighthouse Keeper;s House Attic
I loved the detailed woodwork on the attic.