Leaving Lincoln Nebraska

Today we are leaving Lincoln Nebraska, heading (circuitously) to Minneapolis.

Here is the latest map of our travels to date.  You can click on the map if you want more details.  Be patient though, it may load slowly.

  

Washington and Oregon

After New Years we started heading south.  Our first stop was in Tacoma at Dash Point State Park.  It was cold, overcast and rainy.

Dash Point State Park is situated in a forest with tall trees.  Getting a satellite signal was challenging.

Dash Point State Park, Tacoma, Washington

Satellite receiver is on a table on a slope to get a clear enough view of the sky.  I used some trailer leveling blocks to level the receiver.

Leveling the satellite receiver

After a few days in Tacoma, we headed south to cross the Columbia River and visit Portland for a few days.

Entering Oregon on I-205

The Portland skyline is dominated by Mount Hood

 West Face of Mount Hood

North Face of Mount Saint Helens

Burger Family

The A&W Burger Family used to adorn A&W restaurants across the country in the 1960's.  Each character represented a different size burger.  Today, only the Papa Burger remains on the menu.  They were replaced in the 1970's by Rooty, the great American root bear.

The A&W Burger Family

Harvey is named after the rabbit in the film of the same name.  His only purpose here is to scare children.

Harvey the Rabbit

Portland Bus Passengers

If you are looking for good pie (fruit pie, quiche, meat pies) then Lauretta Jean's in Portland is the place to go.  We've been here twice and not been disappointed.  Good coffee too.

Best Pies in Portland

We continued south and stopped in Eugene for a couple days.  Our favorite restaurant in Eugene is Bar Purlieu, a French inspired farm to table restaurant.

Bridge across the McKenzie River

The north side of the tree.

Armitage Park, Eugene, Oregon

Charcuterie at Bar Purlieu, Eugene, Oregon

Leaving Eugene to the south, you start to climb into the Klamath mountains.  We got above the gloom for a while, then descended back into it.

I-5 through Klamath Mountains in Oregon

I-5 through Klamath Mountains in Oregon

We spent the night in Grant's Pass at a nice county park on the Rogue River.

Schroeder Park, Grants Pass, Oregon

The next day we crossed over Siskiyou Summit and began the long descent to Redding

I-5 through Klamath Mountains in Oregon

The Oregon Coast

We left the redwood forests of California behind and met the rugged Oregon coast.  This has to be one of the most scenic routes in the world.  Incredible rocky cliffs.  Long flat sandy beaches.  Small fishing towns and some awesome cheese.  You have to see the Oregon coast.

US-101 near Pistol River

Gold Beach and the bridge across the Rogue River

Seals in Alsea Bay, Waldport

Seal Rock

Beach near Lost Creek, south of Newport

Bay Street Pier, Newport

The start of crab season was about a week away when we were in Newport.  The harbor was busy with crab fishermen readying their traps and loading them on boats.

Crab pots ready to go in Newport

Yaquina Bay Bridge, Newport

Release the Kraken!  Wait, not yet!

A dock just for sea lions, Newport

Pacific City campsite

Awesome view from our campsite, Pacific City

Pacific City

Tillamook Creamery, Tillamook

We spent two rainy days in Long Beach, Washington, just across the Columbia River.

Crossing the Columbia River at Astoria

Welcome to Washington and unceded Chinook territory

We added the Washington sticker

Looking south at Cape Disappointment

Big jellyfish

Flooded campsite, Long Beach, Washington