So, prior to Friday’s bad news of the bike being stolen, Michelle and I had already planned to come down to Oregon this weekend. She has been doing the gluten-free thing all year, and that has helped her lose some weight she thought she needed to lose, which caused he fingers to get smaller. This means her wedding ring was slipping of. Time to get it sized down and ONLY Olufsons in Corvallis (where we bought it) touches her ring!
Originally they told us it we be an over the weekend job (turned out it was done in 90 minutes…) so we decided to stay Sunday and go to the ocean! Well, even though it was done early, we still went!
The Oregon coast, except for maybe Mt Rainier, is my favorite place in the world! Michelle was born in Newport, Or, so for her it was going home! We decided to spend the day! We also decided to invite our friend Sean to come along!
Now normally it’s a less than 60 minute drive to Newport from Corvallis. That is, of course, unless you get stuck behind something like this!
Luckily there are a lot of passing lanes so it didn’t take TOO long!
Our first stop was Newport. One of the larger cities on the coast, but it doesn’t always feel that way. We arrived relatively early on Sunday, and went down to the most touristy part, the Bay Front. It has a Ripleys Believe it or not, a Wax Works, and your typical tourist town shops (t-shirts, candy, kites, knick knacks etc). It’s tacky, overpriced and we thoroughly enjoy walking the entire street every time we are there!
What I find the most unusual is one side has the shops, while the other has working fish processing plants. YEP, noise, fork lifts, and LORD the smell! All this fish is available for purchasing! (note the Fresh Tuna sign!)
It also attracts others aside from tourists!
The next stop was to head south over the Yaquina Bay Bridge heading for Seal Rock
Seal Rock is a state park on the side of the road, at 55, its easy to miss. But it is truly one of my two MUST see nature places on the coast. It has an easy path down to the sandy beach, but more importantly, there are easily accessible rocks for tidal pools.
These pools contain star fish, hermit crabs, fish, anemones and a variety of other little critters:
However, sooner or later your eyes get pulled to the off shore rocks. The waves come crashing in loudly, throwing spray into the air!
Honestly I have, and still could spend hours at this beach, climbing the rocks, looking at the tide pools, and watching the waves. It just makes every problem you have go away for a little while…
We stayed for quite a while, all 3 of us having a blast, but we had a few more items on the agenda. Sadly, one item did not come to fruition. It was the only negative of the entire day. Yes, my favorite cookie store on the coast, the one that spurred me on during cycling trip along the coast, is gone… (sigh)
However, it was WAY past lunch time! Folks make this note. If you like Pub food, if you like damn good beer, and you are on the coast, make the Pilgrimage to Rogue Ales!
There are two places, one on each side of the bay, both are GOOD! I had the Onion rings, a three cheese (Cheddar, Goat and Sheep cheese (weird sounding yes but WOW it was good, shoulda had 2!)) and a pint of Brutal Bitter! Bar none, my beer of choice!
It was a perfect day!! Always like being with my wife, and having Sean along made it even more fun! Then the topper! We made it back in town in time to pick something up!
