Today we got to have one of those days that make retirement fantastic. When we awoke, the marine layer fog right here next to the ocean was just burning off leaving a crystal-clear day with temperatures right at about 70 degrees. To avoid wasting any of today’s exploring time, we had our coffee and then headed into Florence for breakfast at the Little Brown Hen restaurant. Peggy said her B & E were yummy and my chicken fried steak and eggs were great. We got away for less than $30, including tip.
We then headed north about 50 miles up the coast through Florence, Yachats and Waldport before getting to Newport where we turned east on OR-20 for about 5 miles. There we turned north on OR-229 for a gorgeous drive down the Siletz River. About 10 miles later we stopped in the little town of Siletz at their cute little downtown park bordering the river for some snacks and the facilities before continuing downstream. The Siletz follows a very circuitous course through a twisting and turning valley. The road mostly follows the river although there are some spots where the road veers away from the water and heads uphill to cross some forested ridges. We saw no places where there were any rapids or waterfalls in the river so it looks like it would be a superb place to get a small boat and just let it drift through this stunning locale. The current looked like it was making about 2 or 3 knots.
After what we wish was longer, we emerged at the mouth of the river where it crosses a big sandy beach and mingles with the Pacific. We turned south off OR-229 back onto US-101 and headed for Depot Bay. Before we got there, however, we turned off the road at a beachside park called Boiler Bay. The park sticks out in the water a little more than the surrounding coastline so admirers can get the perspective of this magnificent stretch of nature from the water. We spotted a variety of sea birds, two bald eagles, an abundant colony of sea lions and some gray whales that live here in this stunning place.
It was getting late in the day so we finally departed Boiler Bay and continued our return trip south, passing through Depoe Bay and Otter Rock on out way by Cape Foulweather (where the weather was wonderful) and Yaquina Head and its old lighthouse. We got through the bit of traffic congestion in Newport and continued down the edge of the Pacific, past the Heceta Head Lighthouse and eventually arrived at the straight road sections just north of our RV spot at Florence’s South Jetty Resort. It was a great excursion through extraordinary scenery today. Total length was a bit under 150 miles but there is not a bit of it that isn’t stunningly beautiful, particularly when supplemented with gorgeous weather. What a day!
There are some pictures we took along the way and you can see them if you click here