Yaquina Bay Oregon

Yaquina Bay is on the 101 highway along the Oregon coast at Newport. The highbridge is characteristic of the many interesting bridges along the west coast due to almost all of them being designed by the same man. He had no real architectual formal training but used his position as the chief engineer of highway systems to get the job done. This one looks like it should have Gargoyles positioned on the Gothic towers.
This harbor is 'musical' with the sound of barking Sea Lions, night is no deterence to them. The harbor bouy sounds its fog horn every 23 seconds. I counted it last night between the Sea Lions barking.
I met an interesting man yesterday. His name is Keith, 57 years old and has been at sea all of his adult life. Keith lives on his 40 foot single masted sailboat with his young Samoan wife. Keith says since they have lived here the last three years she is spoiled and he can't feed her fish heads and rice anymore. She likes to go shopping now and wears shoes. Keith said she has lost her island survival skills and now he is worried about her. Keith said if he dies, his friends will take him to sea for his burial, but then she will be at the mercy of the cruel world. It sounds like Keith is getting domestic. He told me of the load of school supplies he was to deliver to Pitcairn Island, (Mutiny on the Bounty) the storms were so bad that he was riding out the waves offshore for three days with no sleeep. Finally he radioed that he could take no more and sailed for Easter Island. He never did get to Pitcairn.
Keith told me all of those small islands are populated with people that have been marrying their close relatives for so many years, there is some serious noticeable heredity defects. Keith has supported himself since a very young man, at sea you learn to be self sufficient. No one else is there to care for you. I could see this confidence in his eyes as we spoke. This is the longest he has stayed at one place for many years. Keith sells boats, patrols the docks as security, and knows the history of each and every one at this port. I was very impressed at his many stories about his life at sea. I tried to get him interested in a Blog to tell the world of his adventures. One old power boat caught my attention. It looked like one that a famous film star of days gone past, may have owned. It is now forgotten and abondoned and left at the dock to waste away until some person takes it under their care with tens of thousands of dollars in renovation. Many old boats catch my attention along this coast, ...Oh the stories they could tell.

Pacific Coast HWY 101

Still traveling and enjoying this great nation. We are parked with the front of the MH overlooking the bay at Brighton Marina. Wireless is operating. We had fresh caught live crab and steamers for last evenings meal. We are now spoiled forever. Nothing will ever compare to that flavor. Today we traveled back up the coast in the Jeep to a few small villages. Why any one would leave this country to see elsewhere in the world is beyond me. We have it all right here. These beaches are a sight to see from the tops of the cliffs or from the shoreline, every curve in the hiway 101 is 'super scope' to the max.
The fact we were shut out of travel from Anacortes Washington (named for 'Cortez' wife Anna), to Victoria British Columbia by the terrorist plot, was a blessing in disguise. We had no passports or birth certificates, so they said it would be a problem from now on. Oh well some problems are good in the end results.
I hear that Beerfest cast has a party going on. I am sorry to miss out.. Enjoy it all of you lucky people. My son works in Wisconsin and all of his friends are raving about Beerfest and the fact his Geezer Dad is in it somewhere doing the chicken dance! I am right behind and to the left of the chicken..(I hope)
This coast trip is a real treat. We stay at National and State Parks all along the way if possible. Sometimes Marinas work out. This little one is great. The ocean is relatively calm at this time of year. The Maritime Museum at Astoria Oregon shows films and has live transcripts of past rescues playing out. It is really a good one. The Coast Guard is busy at the mouth of the Columbia due to the outflowing river and the incoming tide causing a river 'bar' second to none. Thousands of ships have met their demise there. It is known as the Graveyard of the Pacific for that reason. After seeing the storys about the river pilots having to leap from boat to ship during storms to bring in the ships, I have great respect for those people.
The parks, excellent in layout, are at the oceans edge on prime real estate. The roar of the surf is ever present and lulls me to sleep. During our last visit three years ago, the waves were at heights that exceeded 45 feet on the bar. Wild scenes were played out including a large fishing boat of over 90 feet being put on top of the 'Chetco' river Jetty, by a massive wave. The Captain reversed power and pulled it off just in time or it would have been sunk right in the harbor. I still have the photo of that from the Chetco news paper. This coast is volcanic Lava rock that flowed here from near the Idaho border (long ago of course). The big Seamounts called 'Haystacks' are all along this area and are remnants of the ancient coastline. Oregon is not lacking in tourist sights. I even aquired a very large heavy old compass at an antique store. always needed one of those. Now I can really know what direction my life is taking me.

Yellowstone Park

Well this may work. The trip is going well. We are in Coeur d' alene Idaho at the Blackwell Island RV Resort on the wireless system. This is a great scenery rich environment. The lake itself is the centerpiece. These college students have a great ambience to surround them while studying and doing whatever students do. We have been on the trail for about a week now. Gas is at 2.88 here but was over 3.00 in Montana. The comfort food in Montana made it worthwhile though.
I got a call from Wildfire casting while traveling through Montana. I had to tell them I was not available. I did that with much remorse. Wildfire is a fun set to work. Maybe they will still need some 'Extra' work after my return.
Yellowstone is still there and just as intrigueing. Wife got soaked by a geyser that went off about three hours late and the spray got caught by the wind. It is a bigger spectacle than Old Faithful. By the way in unrelated happenings, did you know the Great Salt Lake is partitioned off from a very large body of fresh water known as Willard Bay? It is an engineering marvel and a recreation destination for many. It is held in place by a 6 mile dam across the eastern shore. Water skiing and fishing for 'Wiper' as well as Striper bass. A Wiper is a hybrid for that lake. A cross from the wide mouth and striper. Big and tasty they say with lots of fight.
Targhee National Forest is just west of the west gate of Yellowstone by about 28 miles. When we pulled in for our campsite a moose cow with two young calves walked in front of us. They called back and forth during the time we stayed. We got to drive around in the park for about 6 hours and saw lots of hot water being wasted on us tourists. A dozen Elk, one lonesome bison, were the extent of animal life on that day. During the cold weather the last time we were there, lots of different herds were seen close to the road. Snow was the difference due to the time of year being October that time.
tomorrow we head west again for the next horizon special to come into view. Adios till next blog. I hope you all get choice camera time while I'm gone.