The rain started last night and has been pretty steady since. Nevertheless, we bravely ventured out for some damp exploring.
We started north on 101 from our spot in Florence and drove up to Heceta Head. There is a very scenic lighthouse here that paying guests can walk up to but we felt little compunction to wade out into the rain to see it. Glimpses of the lighthouse are available from 101 which near Heceta Head is narrow, steep and unforgiving for those that venture near the edge. There is an impressive old bridge carrying 101 that you pass under when entering the park which spans a very brisk creek dumping into the ocean. It is emerald green here. Everything is covered with moss or lichen or ferns, even the concrete.
We then turned back south on 101, right into some highway construction adjacent to a local attraction called Sea Lion Caves. While waiting in the queue for the construction, we could hear the bellowing of the mammals below. Fortunately, we were not downwind so we were saved the pleasure of smelling these critters. Once through the construction zone, we drove back to Florence where we turned east on OR-126 to Mapleton. 126 turns toward Eugene in Mapleton but we went the other way up OR-36 to Swiss Home. The drive from Mapleton up this river is pretty spectacular with waterfalls alongside the road and rapids in the stream. The water is clear. Many spectacular homes are located along the opposite shore but they are all behind locked gates. The residences on the road side of the river are slums, inhabited by folks with many wrecked trucks, 55 gallon drums and broken equipment in their yards and some few teeth in their heads. There are some wood products businesses up here but we did not see any retail outlets north of Mapleton. It is very pretty.
At Indian Creek we turned around and headed back toward home. Fortunately, when we made it back to town Peggy wanted some ice cream so we pulled into the Florence Dairy Queen. Strangely, this particular Dairy Queen has a boat parked at the exit from the drive-thru which makes manueuvering Charlotte dicey unless unconcerned about pushing the parked boat over a cliff into Old Town. We both ordered things that were probably very bad for us. I noted as we were driving away from the order speaker that the calories of each treat was shown. Through squinting and averting my gaze, I was able to devour my human killer without guilt or remorse.
Pix are available by clicking here