Bert's Musings

We arrived at Midway RV Park in Coos Bay, Oregon a little before 5 PM. We left Eureka a little before 10 AM. We travelled around 230 miles today. The distance was split about equally between California and Oregon. The portion in California was twisty, up hill and down hill, etc, again. In Oregon the road improved. Kathy drove the nasty CA roads and I drove the better OR roads. The photos below show the ocean that is on one side and the meadows and trees on the other. Once again there were redwood trees right up nest to the road. And the road was twisty. There were lots of areas where the edge of the road was just gone. It had slipped down the hill, typically 2-3 feet down. We stopped at a rest area in Oregon for lunch.   Parked at the campground. Note the hedges between all the "campsites". We even have cable TV here! I've got it hooked it up temporary. Tomorrow I have to see if I can figure out the correct way to hook it up. I think we will stay here 3 nights and then ...

I went over and watched the races tonight, Kathy stayed at the RV and watched the finish of the Nascar race. They ran four different types of cars. First there were heat races, two for one of the classes, and then they ran "main events" for each class. The classes were Roadrunner, Real Stock, Thunder Roadsters & Sportsman. There was one bad wreck in the entry level class, the Roadrunners. In that one they had to cut the car apart to get the driver out. He was initially unconscious. By the time they got the car cut apart, got him on a back board and into the ambulance he had regained consciousness and was talking to the EMT's. The wreck occurred during the 25 lap feature for the Roadrunners. My old 510 Datsun would have fit right in with the cars that were being run. Just take out the glass and weld in a roll cage. The feature for this class was becoming a joke. The most laps they got in between wrecks was four. Usually they didn't even make two laps without a yell...

Today we spent the afternoon looking around Eureka. I laid about all morning. Kathy did some laundry and a little laying about. Our first stop with the Blue Ox Millworks http://www.blueoxmill.com/index.html The bad news was that since they had they ran their trolley car in the Rhododendron parade today. (We didn't get around in time to go watch the parade) A lot of Blue Ox people were riding the trolley and the place was officially closed today. The good news was that they let us just wander around anyway. First, getting there is interesting. The tourist information says they are located at the corner of 1st Street and X Street. Below is a photo of that corner and yes it is the entrance to the place. There are absolutely no signs. Even after driving into the driveway I wasn't sure what we were getting in to.  Walking around the grounds you find some strange things. This building is one of the "skid" buildings. It represents a "theater" building that might ha...

The day was mostly sunny and cool. Not cool enough to wear a jacket, although when in the shade for an extended period of time one would have felt good. This morning we went to the Samoa Cookhouse for breakfast. It was originally a cookhouse for loggers. Food is served family style, it is "all you can eat". There is no menu. You get what they have fixed for the meal. I guess you can call and find out what they are serving for the day. You sit at long tables. This morning they started Kathy and I off with at least a quart of orange juice, two biscuits and gravy, a bowl of scrambled eggs, hash browns, 6 sausage links, two pieces of sourdough Texas toast and a pot of coffee. The waitress came back a couple of times to make sure everything was OK and to ask if we wanted more of anything. There were some interesting artifacts in an area off the dining area. Right at the top of the photo is a chain saw hanging from the ceiling. It must have at least a 5' bar. The cookhouse is l...

We are parked at the fairgrounds in Eureka, California tonight. It drizzled some while we were packing up and heading out, but nothing to bad. Had some occasionally drizzle on the way here but mostly just partly cloudy. We drove highway 101 from Santa Rosa to Eureka. Total trip was about 230 miles. We left Mt. Gilead a little before 10 and pulled in to the campground a little before 5. There was one place where the road was straight for a quarter mile, but only one. Most straight sections were 100 yards long, at best. We stopped for lunch along the road. Stretching our legs after lunch Lunch views, out our dining area window The other side Lots of trees along the highway in places Some fairly close to the road  Some closer to the road And some right up to the road There was no navigating involved in todays drive, just stay on 101. I did the driving. We spent maybe a half hour during our lunch stop and maybe lost 20 minutes during a fuel stop. After seeing the photos above you get an ...

Today we did some cleaning and shopping. Everything is pretty much ready for our morning departure. Roll in the slides, stow the electrical, water and sewer connections and we should be ready to move out to the front of the camp where we can hook up the CRV. Frank, the guy who I worked for while at Mt. Gilead, came by this morning and gave Kathy and I Mt. Gilead hoodies as a token of their appreciation. A nice gesture by the camp. We have had a good time here and the folks at the came seem to think that we "earned our keep" while we were here. Certainly a win/win deal. Some random photos: This was some of the "excitement" while Kathy was back in Missouri. Our son Doug was there helping (ramrodding) the demolition phase of Kelsey and Andy's (our granddaughter and grandson-in-law, Doug's daughter) kitchen remodel. The kitchen had been gutted prior to Doug's arrival. The single door you see on the right was a pair of French doors. The door on the left goes ...