16 November, 2013 by Jim

I feel stupid and contagious, here we are now entertain us

Nirvana.

Going back through the weeks when in Seattle we visited the EMP museum, which is near the base of the space needle. This museum is about popular culture but its main focus is music. It was one of the places we wanted to visit and is also maybe not a mainstream tourist mecca, like the space needle, which has a base made from souvenir shops and even a busking pan flute band with ponchos and CDs.

The EMP was quite enjoyable – if you have any interest in that kind of thing. As well as permanent exhibits, they rotate through exhibits. Current exhibits for our visit were all great: Jimi Hendrix, Nirvana, the lure of Horror movies, icons of Science Fiction and worlds of Myths and Fantasy. Something for everyone – the music diehards or those interested in two people/band that changed music; and the horror, science fiction and fantasy nerds. And you should have seen the sic-fi and fantasy nerds – they were literally wetting themselves and some were even disputing the fact that some dagger from Lord of the Rings was the actual one.

We started off going through the history of guitars – the music is very much guitar orientated. This was good, especially if you have any interest in guitars. We used the iPods they give you to listen to the displays and music but gave up after a while otherwise we’d probably still be in the history of guitars hall. Great to see the old guitars. Then moved on to the two key exhibits: Nirvana (excellent) and Jimi Hendrix (maybe not as good but still great).

Then we hit nerdsville – starting off with sic-fi and what I said about some people wetting themselves was not far from the truth. These people knew everything about the weapons on display, the costumes on display, the dalek on display, anything that was on display. This moved into horror, which I am a bit more a fan of and for things like Jason’s mask from Friday 13th, or the Alien and Terminator, and clips from films where they discuss why the films were as good as they were, like the Exorcist – made me kinda want to wet myself.

Then the myths and fantasy and as I mentioned above, there was a group there that knew more about the exhibits than the museum displaying them.

This was a really interesting museum, with a good cafe and some good merchandise. Very interesting architecture as well.

Here’s a few snaps and also some of the space needle. That’s kind of interesting but we didn’t waste money going to the top as the fog would have meant nothing more than an expensive ride in a lift. If you go to Seattle, go to a club to listen to the music, go on a ferry, visit the Pike Place market, see the eye and if interested go to the EMP. However, we have rated that maybe Seattle is not high on the revisit list but we are pleased we did visit.

: Flying saucers

: The best global buskers

: The needle reflected in the wall of the EMP

: Space needle

: In space …

: … no-one can hear you scream

: Scared …

: Destroy

: Destroy

: Destroyed – Hendrix guitar

: Hendrix outfit

: Museum sculpture

: In Utero

: Kurt Cobain destroyed

And still plenty posts to come …

14 November, 2013 by Jim

Highway 101 – North?: Let’s Go Niners, Let’s Go

Left Monterey Saturday morning and headed north to San Francisco. This is the third trip to San Francisco so have done the touristy things before; however, I did ride the cable trolley on a different route than previously – and found more hills.

San Francisco is hilly – damn hilly. It is also quite touristy but also quite pleasant. I like San Francisco and would go back there just to do nothing (although Caroline loves the shopping). Only problem is parking – we had the car so had to pay for parking at the hotel at a mere $54 a night. And we complain about the cost of parking in Melbourne!

We stayed down near the ferry terminal, which has an excellent market area and is also accessible to the main downtown area of Union Square via shanks pony or the tram or trolley. Another Kimpton Hotel, this time the Harbor Court, which was another nice Kimpton with the wine hour and if you can be bothered, warm milk and cookies at nine. This was a good hotel, although the concierge we mainly dealt with was maybe not as good as others; however, he did warn us to take a coat to the 49ers game.

The 49ers game – that’s pretty much why we took a detour to head back north to San Francisco, just to go to a game of NFL. However, for the atmosphere alone, this is well worth the diversion. I got the tickets when in Melbourne and scored magnificent seats amongst the 49ers faithful (die-hards) seven rows from the front. The game was not great as it was very defensive but the atmosphere was electric, even if the only thing the 49ers shouted all day was Deeefence! And after the 49ers played a rather shitful offensive game (their QB had his worst performance ever) they were jeered from the ground just like Richmond after a loss.

It was also quite historical as this is the last season the 49ers will be playing at this home ground – Candlestick Park. It reminded me so much of the old Princes Park (almost a tear in the eye). No nacho hats but plenty of food options and at the ultra-huge mark-up options as in Melbourne. For those interested in nostalgia and can remember the MCG as far back as me, they also had a peanuts man who I reckon was so similar to the one from the MCG (except as an added bonus he also sold popcorn).

Our only problem for the day was getting to and from the stadium. It is a fair way out of town and the only real option is the bus. Getting there is usually a pretty good express run; however, it was also the day before Veteran’s Day (11/11) so the street was blocked for the veterans day march, which meant no buses could get through until after the march. This caused a lot of angst amongst those waiting, a group even hijacked a hotel shuttle. We waited it out – $4 return is good value on the bus and it was easy to get into the ground – bag searches like the G but also the wand. But getting home, well that had memories of leaving the old Waverley. Trying to find the end of the queue for our bus, then actually waiting for the bus. It took a long time and we were glad we brought the coats as it got effing cold out there. But anyway, we eventually made it on a bus, back downtown ready for an easy night with checkout Monday morning for a trip back down the 101 to Ventura.

Here’s a collection of shots from San Francisco and the football

: Niners mascot

: took this at breakfast

: Close to the action

: The crowd

: Some hills

: Inside the trolley

: Our hotel

: P’nuts

: Streets of San Francisco

: Traffic jams

: Some sculpture

: More of the streets

: The band

: Tough day on the job

: Damn tourists

: Where’s the elfin bus!

13 November, 2013 by Jim

More to Spokane than Dogs

Seems like ages ago we left Spokane and the dog conference – a few more posts to come on that, stay with me – and it’s probably good too as it’s snowing in that neck of the woods now. And you know the best part of that, I am writing this poolside in Palm Springs where it has been a magnificent day and will be just as magnificent tomorrow. Only problem, poolside beer costs more than the el-cheapo we have been having – but, who cares … Here’s a photo, which I took right now (and you should have seen the sunset change colour as I type)

Anyway, thought it was about time I gave a little more about Spokane, which is inland and the fourth largest city in the Pacific Northwest – we visited the others above it being Vancouver, Seattle, and Portland. I don’t think there is really much in Spokane apart from an international airport, skiing and obviously conferences.

There is an excellent river and walking paths and it felt pretty safe in the areas we ventured downtown. Spokane is also where the Gonzaga University is situated (famous for basketball and last season they had two Aussies on the roster). Hint, if not sure of where to go aside from the regular tourist places, go to a city where there is a large university as these towns are generally pretty well looked after.

Spokane, surprisingly (??), also had some excellent eating places. And one more thing, there are car parks everywhere a building once was (it’s not a city of high-rise or anything new – apart from the convention centre). Oh, and as well as being known for the above-mentioned, I bet you did not know that Spokane has the largest radio flyer wagon cart in the world.

And that’s pretty much for Spokane. Unless you are going to a conference or want to try skiing elsewhere, or maybe want to fly in from elsewhere, this is probably the closest you will ever get to Spokane.

Here are some random shots –

12 November, 2013 by Jim

Back to Highway 101 … and 1:Day 7

Left Yosemite a week ago and so much has happened in between – not like the drive between Yosemite and our next stop Monterey. This was a pretty much unexciting drive mainly on the 152 with a stop for Starbucks lunch at Los Banos. Starbucks are the new Maccas on road trips – cleaner and better quality food and drinks – and a better quality of clientele. Actually Los Banos might be a kinda interesting town as we passed several liquor stores that also sold sporting goods and ammo; and several sporting goods stores that sold liquor and ammo. Anyways, pretty much a lot of the flat lands were farming – and farming just about anything you could think of it, it was like all these plains were where the USA vegetables come from. Took one picture on the drive, which has no gardening, just dry hills near the San Luis Reservoir. (No map – work it out for yourself if you want – Google Maps Fish Camp, CA to Monterey, CA)

Arrived early in Monterey, which is on the coast and we had to touch back onto the 101, and also next door to Carmel where Clint Eastwood was the mayor. This is also where Pebble Beach is (we went to drive around there but you have to pay – no wonder they are rich so we didn’t give them any more) and Cannery Row – famous from the Steinbeck novel and sardines – and now nothing but a tourist trap. They have done a good job fixing all the old sardine canneries but if only they hadn’t filled them with every tacky kinda souvenir shop you could think of. Great things such as the mirror maze and wax museum – you name it, they had it. Here’s a couple of shots – note Caroline’s face, which pretty much sums up what we thought of Cannery Row.

: From Cannery Row

: Cannery Row

: Caroline liked Cannery Row

: Cannery Row

: Cannery Row

: From Cannery Row

: As close as we got to Pebble Beach

We stayed out of the downtown area, never got to Fisherman’s Wharf, but did enjoy the shopping centre across the road from our Comfort Inn, which was another of those old-fashioned drive-in motels that comes with complimentary neighbour noise and a buffet breakfast – range of people at this hotel but I don’t think any generally caught their breakfast – also a few overseas visitors. This area is very popular with the tourists because this is also where one of the world’s most spectacular drives starts or ends, depending on whether travelling north or south. And that’s what drew us there and why we stayed two nights. I couldn’t imagine how busy this area would be over summer.

We travelled down Highway 1 from Monterey, through the Big Spur and turned around in Cambria, which was an excellent little strip-village off the highway, and many lunch choices. This covered the best areas of the drive and there was everything. Coming from north to south is also ideal as that puts you on the beach side when driving for the best views and turnouts. But interestingly, we came back south-north and it does give you a different view, it was like a new drive. Also interesting to see how long it takes. I didn’t do an exact time but it was over four hours to reach Cambria with all our stopping and a little over two on the way back – so it depends on how much you want to stop. There also seems to be a few who appear to want to see how quickly they can do the drive, which is primarily single lane each way at about 55mph. And there are also quite a lot who have done the ultimate road-trip in hiring a convertible – and yeah, the weather was good and that would be kinda cool to do.

So, the highlights on the trip was the absolutely magnificent view of the ocean, how close you get from the top of the cliffs, the amazement of driving through a forest at the Big Sur and then more great ocean – only a stone’s throw from Australia across the Pacific. But we also saw stacks of sea lions (now would be the time to go back to the Sea Lion caves) and a beach where the elephant seals come in before winter, and a gopher, and some fantastic houses on the edge of the cliffs, and sea eagles. And yes, it was well worth the drive. This and Yosemite were two of the things we wanted to see and do and have not been disappointed. And yes, the Great Ocean Road has nothing on this road-trip. Here’s a few pictures but it is really the views, sounds, smells in our heads that you can never put in a picture.

: For the rich – and the tourists do not like it

: What a house

: No zoom but the water is swarming with pods of sea lions

: that’s the road where the trees are

: a gopher – just

: bridge works

: the bridge

: Elephant seals – they are alive

: From the car

: That’s Australia in the background

9 November, 2013 by Jim

Backtrack – Keep Portland Weird

Seems like weeks ago when we were in Portland, which was where we started our driving trip, so I thought I better post some snaps and other such ramblings.

Portland was a pretty good place, easy to walk around, bike friendly (not that we went for that), good food, plenty of weirdos (some real weirdos, others on their way to the next G20), skateboards a plenty, a few beggars (some homeless, others very doubtful), trams, full of craft beers, not much hustle and bustle, pretty laid back (make that very laid back), polite, traffic but not like California traffic, food trucks, and best of all – tax free shopping. There are only four States that do not add tax to food, drink, shopping, etc. one of these is Oregon. The prices of the goods do not rise to compensate so it is a bargain place for buying and eating and drinking – woo-hoo!

We stayed at a nice hotel downtown – the Vintage Plaza, which is another Kimpton Hotel with the hosted wine hour – and because Portland is known as Brewvana there was also beer on tap – woo-hoo! Something some may find strange, nearly all USA hotels are pet friendly so here at the Kimpton they were most welcome with their own drink bowls during wine hour.

This was the one place where Caroline had mapped out several eating locations and we were not disappointed, eating at some really great places and also some snacks at some really great places, such as Voodoo Doughnuts. This place is a Portland legendary doughnut shop where people queue out the front to buy a doughnut – although many buy many and even many more. I liked the fat kid and his Mom in front of us who was going through the revolving glass display cabinet (we are talking multiple doughnuts here, not just your stock-standards) and I’ll have one of those and one of those and one of those and … you know the story. Then came Jim’s turn, but you can only eat so many doughnuts before feeling sickly ill so we went for a small selection – two of the classics the voodoo doughnut and the maple log and bacon. I tell you, maple syrup and bacon are a match made in heaven – maple icing and bacon and doughnut are what they eat in heaven.

Portland is also known as Bridgetown. There is a river through the city (the Willamette River) – a bit like Melbourne. But at least in Portland they have more than one bridge. The city is also quite old – or it has that appearance – and the bits we were in seemed very safe. Although the old town where the doughnuts were may be a bit dodgy at times because that’s where all the missions for the homeless were. they also have a great garden along the river and running/walking tracks. Here’s a few shots of Portland –

: Bridgetown

: And even more bridges

: Trams

: Nice architecture

: Trees

: Old things

: Portland

: Skinny buildings

Did I mention that Portland is the home of the food truck? These are just making a good start in Melbourne but in Portland they are everywhere; however, I don’t know if they classify as a truck because many in the downtown area are permanent fixtures in a parking lot rather than a truck that can drive from place to place. The other interesting thing with the food trucks is that there is no seating, like you might find in Austin, but there is a park or somewhere to sit in the close proximity. So, as well as eating some fine dining we also had to make room for a food truck. I went for the BBQ and Caroline went for something healthy. There is so much variety that you could have something different every day and not have the same thing for a few months. For instance, in the location we went to there are 52 trucks.

: Food trucks

: Turn the corner and …

: Jim settled on this one

: and ate this

I said Portland was bike friendly – they have had number plates (for cars) dedicated to bikes. And there are bike racks and bike lanes, and like many of the cities, bike racks on the front of the buses.

With the food trucks and fine dining we also went to a great place for breakfast – The Original. In fact, we went there twice because first time round Jim went for the stock-standard and Caroline had some interesting polenta cakes and honey-maple bacon –

But what drew us back was not just the good food but Jim saw the Elvis Sighting on the menu and couldn’t resist – french toast, bananas, roasted peanuts and bacon – mmmmm

And just because I have uploaded them, here are a few more random shots from Portland. More catch-up when I get around to it. Off to San Francisco for the NFL tomorrow (Saturday).

: Jim ate here too …

: Rose is the emblem

: Another old building

: Even older buildings

: Under a freeway

: Weird – pick up a six pack with your flu shot

: More old stuff

: random

: Halloween police horse

: Whole foods

: Whole foods

8 November, 2013 by Jim

Yosemite

This visit needs no special post title, and it doesn’t need many words either. The park was magnificent. Being off-season it also was not crowded – the guy in one of the shops told us Yosemite has over 4 million visitors a year.

Our accommodation was very good and easy access to the park without actually being in the park. However, due to it being off-season there was minimal staff in the two restaurants open in the resort (you kind of don’t have a lot of choice unless prepared to drive to the next town) and this meant service was slow but there was nothing wrong with the quality when it did arrive.

Anyway, back to the park and the views kind of creep up on you then all of a sudden coming from the southern entrance, which we did, you go through a tunnel and reach the view from the earlier photo. It’s like a picture, in fact most of the park looked like a picture. And we were lucky with great sunny weather and some snow overnight but the roads we wanted were open and chains weren’t needed.

There are multiple places to camp inside the park and heaps of trails to walk. We followed one to Mirror Lake as it apparently makes for a great scene. However, as there hasn’t been any snow yet, there also isn’t any water in the lake. But the dry lake did still make a scenic and peaceful picnic spot.

Saw a few deer walking around and they had no fear of people but we didn’t see any bears. Although on the red sign in the album it mentions speeding kills bears and they put these signs out at all locations where a bear has been killed by a car during the year. So far this year a notice said over 100 bears had been killed on the roads.

We also didn’t see everything there is to see in the park but what we saw was pretty damn good. I hope you enjoy the photos (which I could have posted earlier but the resort had slow internet that you had to keep renewing every hour).

Home » Yosemite » Yosemite

DSC01949.jpg

The drive up to Yosemite

DSC01957.jpg

Tunnel at Tunnel View

DSC01960.jpg

From Tunnel View

DSC01966.jpg

From Tunnel View

DSC01967.jpg

Tunnel View

DSC01970.jpg

El Capitan from Tunnel View

DSC01971.jpg

Brideveil Falls - not much water until after the snow

DSC01980.jpg

That's the tunnel ahead

DSC01985.jpg

Sunset

DSC01997.jpg

Snow on our balcony

DSC02002.jpg

From Tunnel View

DSC02012.jpg

From the valley floor

DSC02015.jpg

From the valley floor

DSC02016.jpg

From Mirror Lake

DSC02019.jpg

A dry Mirror Lake

DSC02025.jpg

Don't feed the bears

DSC02027.jpg

One of the creeks with a trickle

DSC02030.jpg

Reflection

DSC02036.jpg

The Ahwhanee - historical and you need to be rich

DSC02047.jpg

Plenty of tame deer

DSC02049.jpg

Don't run over the bears

DSC02051.jpg

El Capitan - to the right of the top of the tree is a rock climber

DSC02056.jpg

From our balcony

IMG_0854.jpg

Tenaya Lodge lobby

photo.JPG

The rock climber

And here’s a copy of the park map. We stayed at the bottom of the park at Fish Camp. The photos come from the drive along Wawona Road and in the Valley Floor. yose-2011

7 November, 2013 by Jim

Nowhere Near Highway 101: Day 5

Okay, back on the road from Sonoma for a drive further inland to Yosemite. This was one part of the road-trip we were looking forward to and for a while there we were going to have to find something else to do with the Government Shutdown and the National Parks closed down. So, we hadn’t booked any accommodation and eventually came up with a magnificent resort – Tenaya Lodge – just outside of the National Park and because there were vacancies and this is off-season we got it at less than half price (usually over $400 a night).

But, first we had to get there. The morning started with an excellent pecan pancake and crispy bacon at the Cinnamon Bear and here’s a picture of the breakfast and because I asked, here’s a picture of the pancake mix and our lovely host Darla.

Bit of a chat with the other couple staying the night (that’s what happens in B&Bs) and then hit the road. Back through Napa, making our way to the 99 then the 41, which would take us to Yosemite.

Started well until we had to take a detour off the freeway due to a head-on involving two semis with one of the driver’s deceased I later found out. Lucky Mr Garmin was speaking to us so we knew which way to go.

Pity Mr Garmin didn’t keep speaking to us because after some hair-raising driving through Stockdale where there were multiple trucks, heavy traffic, shitful roads, and roadworks Mr Garmin decided he’d had enough and packed it in. Caroline twigged when she said it’s been saying we had 58 mile until our next turn-off for a very long time. She tried a reset but the pin Avis gave us did not work so we were at the mercy of T-Mobile and Caroline’s iPad. If ever you go to USA for more than a few weeks recommended to get a sim-card from T-Mobile, you don’t need a social security card with them like AT&T. Getting back to the pin on the Garmin, this is the second time this has happened (last time we were in Memphis on our last trip – I probably blogged about that if your are interested) so Avis will get a message when I get back.

Back to the driving – if you do not like driving on freeways in heavy traffic with a concrete barrier on one side and a series of semis on the other with hardly any gap between you and them and you are doing over 65mph and you have no idea where you are going – do not drive in America. Here’s a picture of the roadblock after the fatal –

And because it’s not all doom and gloom, here’s a picture of some wine vines coming out of Sonoma.

Maybe it was all gloom, here’s another typical shot out of the roadworks and semis.

Almost there, made it through some town which appeared to be very much Latino populated, then off into the hills. (Although we did have a pleasant sandwich at Starbucks in Chowchilla.) I was expecting a much more curvier and steep drive – it was bendy but not as steep as our earlier trip to Reddding. However, this was made even more enjoyable when poor old Jim just wanted to take in the scenery; however, he felt he was in the movie Duel with a delivery truck chasing us up the mountain – does the worker have no consideration for the tourist.

Anyway, managed eventually to let him pass when we paid our $20 vehicle fee (lasts a week) to enter the Yosemite National Park and came across this:

and this:

and more to come … suckers

5 November, 2013 by Jim

Highway 101: Day 3

Back on the road after a wonderful night at Gold Beach. As mentioned, the breakfast was an experience. Hotels with complimentary breakfast attract either business people, travellers like us or folks or have no time to catch their breakfast. Unfortunately we were caught up in the latter. But the breakfast was okay and it does make for an interesting morning.

Another cheap fill of petrol, pumped and cleaned by the young lad who did a good job. We were away early as we had a long drive and there was no reason to linger over breakfast. The highway south was a good drive and we checked in to several turn-outs for a look at the view.

Then we crossed the border from Oregon to California. You could feel you had actually entered somewhere new (or different. or old?)- a bit like crossing from Victoria into NSW on the old Hume. The roads needed more work, there were hitchhikers everywhere that all seemed to be heading to a G20 demonstration and wondered why no-one was stopping.

The coastal towns were older and mostly bigger, the traffic busier and faster, and the lunch stop was McDonalds in Eureka – this was on our original plans for a stop and quite pleasing we changed. But, maybe there were some good parts (unlikely).

Forgot to mention we also gained an hour as daylight saving ended so we could head away earlier than usual, which would be valuable as the next leg was one hell of a leg.

Before we reached Eureka we did have the tacky tourist stop at The Trees of Mystery. Going into the forest and seeing the size of the trees (200ft or more and some you could drive a car through – we did not bother going to where you can drive through the tree) and a ride in the Gondola for a magnificent view and the customary souvenir shop at the end (the only thing missing was the photo of your visit – very common in USA tacky-tourism; on a previous trip we got kicked back in the line for photos at Empire State Building as we had no intention of buying them but that doesn’t matter, you still have to have it taken). The Trees of Mystery have been around for a very long time and you could tell and as the trees are over 600 years old or more, will probably be around for many more years to come.

After Eureka we doubled back to the Highway 299 to head inland to Redding, which would be a nice stop-over and would make our day 4 to Sonoma an easy drive. This drive was one hell of a drive, windy (as in lots of bends), long, a bit of traffic every now and again, a few bridges under repair, and long, and did I say windy and steep (over 3000ft). But we made it, with one bit of excitement when we were coming through a nice little town, which name escapes me, but it was that nice there were bigfoot museums and shops (this is bigfoot country) but a deer also walked across the road in the centre of the downtown.

As mentioned, a rest at Hampton Inn in Redding (this was a busy place) and dinner at the Cattlemen’s where the steaks were excellent – as is the norm in USA. And we had complimentary breakfast so what would be in store for us on Day 4?

Home » Highway 101: Day 3 » Gold Beach to Redding » Gold Beach to Redding Average rating You must login to vote

4 November, 2013 by Jim

Highway 101: Day 2

Just finished day three of our drive and we are off the coast and inland – one hell of drive through the mountains but more about that in the Day 3 blog because this is the Day 2 blog.

End of Day 1 and we camped for the night at The Timbers Motel in Eugene. This is an old, original kind of motel on the outskirts, next to the Greyhound Bus Station but it was good enough for sleeping and it was close to a brewery bar (Falling Sky – excellent beer and I had pasta bolognaise and it was outstanding), Starbucks and the Saturday morning farmers market. And easy to get to and get out of in the car.

Day 2 was not going to be a long drive but we had to head back to the coast on a different route and this was also the first day we hit rain, which the locals tell us is very unusual (unusual that there has been no rain, not unusual that there was rain). Apparently the weather has been great for this time of the year and we aren’t complaining. No need for petrol and the toilet stop was at Deans Creek Elk Viewing Area – a stop-off on the side of the road (Highway 38) where the elk live. At least we waited until there were toilets with a door as we counted about five or so folks that had to park on the side of the road – this is either what you do in this neck of the woods or maybe it has something to do with the amount of coffee people drink. Most places the small coffee is 120z and they go up from there – 12 oz is 350mil – most people go for the 18oz, which is half a litre. And I say it again, no wonder you gotta pee in this town.

Anyways, the elk were good, although they were off in the distance. Then back towards the coast, which we picked up in Reedsport. This area is the sand dune area of the coast; however, you can’t really see them without taking a few detours and we were not inclined, just in case we got caught short.

So we kept heading south through some tiny and at times rather uninspiring towns until we stopped at Coos Bay for an excellent sub. Then on to Gold Beach where we stayed for the night at the Gold Beach Resort. Not the kind of resort as we know it but have a look at the views and this place fronted the beach and no doubt in summer would be a busy place. We ate at one of the local Italian restaurants not opened for long and it was excellent – the Mangia Buff. This is the second time we have found excellent Italian in the most unlikely of places (many years ago when we drove route 66 we found an Italian restaurant in the middle of the desert that was outstanding). It was a family run restaurant, with family employees and they were so accommodating, we even had free ice-cream and more importantly free bourbon – woo hoo!

Breakfast was one of those interesting times where I think we were the only ones who did not live in a trailer and do not have to catch our food – but that is Day 3, so more to follow. Here’s some photos …

Home » Highway 101: Day 2 » Eugene to Gold Beach » Eugene to Gold Beach

Average rating

You must login to vote

3 November, 2013 by Jim

Highway 101: Day 1

We left Portland on Friday to commence our drive south. We have given ourselves a week for a trip that takes about four hours on the freeway by taking Highway 101 – the Pacific Coast Road – along the Washington, Oregon, California coast. This drive is also recognised as being one of the world’s greatest road trips. So, we didn’t come all this way just to go to Spokane for a dog conference. Actually when we go to conferences (this is the third and we also did one in Canada) we always look to see where it is situated and if there is anything around that would make the trip into a worthwhile holiday as well as an informative five day conference.

Back on the road and I had planned a certain route that would have us picking up the coast a little farther south than Portland but the concierge recommended picking up the highway at Tillamook (farther north than where I was headed) so we took his advice as I’d be guessing he’d know a little more than me and Google maps. Our actual target for day 1 was Eugene, which is about 2 hours south of Portland on the freeway but where is the fun in that – and the freeway is inland. So our planned trip would take us through the mountains to the coast, south to Florence then cut back through the forest to Eugene – a bit under five hours.

It was a pretty easy drive, the road system over here is excellent and you know one of the biggest differences is that they aren’t doing roadworks everywhere and when they do they don’t see a need to block half the road and reduce the speed to almost nothing. Although there was one section of the coast road that was reduced to one lane and luckily we were in the direction that got flagged through first as the opposing traffic was about a kilometre long (or at least it seemed that way).

Also, everyone here in Oregon and moving back into Washington are very polite drivers. No-one sits in the left (the right for us) unless passing, trucks stay on their reduced speed limit (65mph for vehicle on the freeway, 60 for trucks – on the coast road this is 55mph for cars). The roads are smooth and hardly a anyone speeds or tailgates.

Nice drive through the mountains but I was wondering where the bloody hell was the coast. A highlight was petrol in Beaver Town (it was beaver something anyway) where there was someone to fill the car and do the windscreen for you and the guy inside was in for a chat and the toilets were great – such a contrast to Connell from one of my earlier posts. And the petrol prices, this is the second time for a refuel – it costs about $3.45 a gallon (which is expensive the attendant told me), which for us is about 90 cents a litre – and that’s expensive!

We finally picked up the coast, had a nice seafood lunch (fish and chips and a cup of clam chowder) in Newport and headed inland to Eugene. There are a few viewing points along the way but the sky was quite hazy but the views are worth seeing. And so was the highlight, which was a visit to the Sea Lion Caves the largest sea lion caves in Nth America. Unfortunately we were out of sea lion season (they return to the caves about tend of November, not the start) but we were lucky enough to see two of them swimming around in the rather rough ocean (and we did get a discount as there was no guarantee of seeing a sea lion). Great views from here and the cave was pretty amazing, even had to catch an elevator down.

So day one ended in Eugene as expected. More to follow.

Home » Highway 101: Day 1 » Portland to Eugene