On Things Along the Way 25

For photos:    http://willemcoetzee.blogspot.com/2014/07/fotos-29.html

We got from Jedediah Smith to Harris Beach State Park in less than an hour and Willem, with the entire assemblage parked 20 yards from the check-in kiosk, wandered over at about 10:30. Lo and behold, it was the very lady he spoke with the day before and looking past him at what with he came there, she began to scrutinize her data, while making and deleting notes. Finally, the verdict was in: one site available for two nights! That was all we needed and had the window been larger, he could impulsively have hugged her; he did not try, though and returned to the truck, stepping high at http://www.oregonstateparks.org/park_79.php . It must have been providential for us to experience this jewel of a place. With hookups, each spacious paved campsite was embraced by neatly manicured hedges and the restroom and laundry facilities were reminiscent of Topeekeegee Yugnee (T.Y.) Park in Florida (On Things Along the Way 8). It was a beautiful bright sunny day. After setting up camp and having enjoyed a light lunch, Fickie and Stella hit the trails, cameras in hand, while Willem headed to close-by Brookings http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brookings,_Oregon and https://www.google.com/search?q=brookings+oregon&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&sa=X&ei=c1WuU72VCsTFoASy7YHQBA&sqi=2&ved=0CEYQ7Ak&biw=1366&bih=622 for hardware to address a problem with a window blind that became apparent after arrival. Realizing that it might occupy him for a while, he drove down to the day use area of the park and took in the beautiful scene of the beach and the surrounding landscape. Then on to the repair job, which turned out to be more challenging than anticipated and kept him busy until Fickie and Stella returned.

That night it started to drizzle and it continued for four days, which cornered us to sort photographs, work on the blog, do laundry, drive to Brookings for recreation and get the odd piece of grocery, fruit and gas. Realizing that we needn’t leave camp before 1:00 pm, we tuned into the USA/ Germany World Cup Soccer game telecast and by noon were on our way to Jessie M Honeyman Memorial State Park, just south of Florence, OR, http://www.oregonstateparks.org/park_134.php . Although very satisfactory in all respects it didn’t quite measure up to Harris Beach, notwithstanding a brochure-claim that Time Magazine rated it in the top 10 in the nation. It wasn’t clear to what decade the claim is attributed in a paragraph that includes a 1950’s reference in a different context. Nevertheless, we had a great site so tucked in the woods that satellite reception was a no-no. In addition to hiking within the huge State Park with its access to 3 photogenic lakes, trails lead to the top of dunes barring the campground from the ocean -- quite some distance away.

A good bit of the Oregon coastline has humongous dunes that make the area popular for all kinds of motorized and otherwise propelled dune conquerors: https://www.google.com/search?q=florence+oregon&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&sa=X&ei=nRmuU766IYLfoASlzoCACQ&ved=0CGQQ7Ak&biw=1366&bih=622#q=oregon+dunes&tbm=isch From the campground the growling of engines behind the dune could be heard vaguely during the day but discontinued abruptly in the evening so it was never bothersome at all.

And what one cannot find at Honeyman, one can look for in Florence and surroundings https://www.google.com/search?q=florence+oregon&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&sa=X&ei=nRmuU766IYLfoASlzoCACQ&ved=0CGQQ7Ak&biw=1366&bih=622

After another night of raining and it not been possible to decide how much and when it paused (for under the trees it seemingly just never quitted) we pulled things together and hooked up after breakfast to move on. We followed the coast line through one nice coastal village after another and the tourist attracting towns of Newport https://www.google.com/search?q=newport+oregon&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&sa=X&ei=7xy4U4yZOMTwoAS59IKQBQ&sqi=2&ved=0CGgQsAQ&biw=1366&bih=622  and Lincoln City https://www.google.com/search?q=lincoln+city+oregon&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&sa=X&ei=WR24U8qmFYb4oAS6ooCADg&ved=0CEsQsAQ&biw=1366&bih=622 , after which activities started tapering off.

Approaching Tillamook  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tillamook,_Oregon  it became clear that we were getting further away from glitzy tourist country as the cattle herds increased in frequency and size in beautiful meadows with pastures so lush and embraced by forests blanketing slopes in various shaded of green. For as long as we can remember, ‘Oregon Pine’ has been known to us in Africa. And here we were marveling at the very thing as we often encountered loaded logging trucks. It would be unfair to say that one could be through Tillamook before realizing one had entered. Contributing to this is an enormous hangar just south of town which used to house blimps during World War II and is now the Tillamook Air Museum http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tillamook_Air_Museum . Soon after, an invitation to visit a blue cheese factory is displayed along Route 101 and a mile further another much larger cheese factory right by the road side encouraged daily visitor tasting and operations viewing. We thought of setting up camp and returning to do exactly that http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tillamook_County_Creamery_Association   . Our campground www.tillamookbaycityrvpark.com   was a couple of miles further north and in the process of uncoupling the 5^th wheel from the truck Willem noticed suspect dripping underneath the truck. We had about an hour before any place that could take a look at it would close for the weekend, so Willem rushed back to town, after not finding a GM dealer listed there by GPS. He pulled into a regular lubrication center, where the guys spotted a leak in the transmission fluid line. The next door auto parts place couldn’t find a replacement part on their computerized data base but indicated that they could provide whatever was necessary for the auto repair shop (already closed) behind them to improvise a fix on Monday. Willem headed back with a quart of transmission fluid, should any weekend driving necessitate its use. Back at camp, where Fickie and Stella got things under control we assessed the situation, decided to refrain from ambitious driving and do the cheese factory the next morning. There wasn’t much to do at the Bay City RV Park but Stella had the good idea to process at least all our towels through the fine laundry facility. Part of the problem was that due to the incessant rain and cool weather of the past few days such items remained damp. After dinner we watched one of the many DVD’s that Fickie acquired over the months and turned in early.

Susan had informed Willem that they were going to venture away from Chicago that weekend to Matt’s sister, El and her family up in Wisconsin. So, not too many to communicate with but Fickie and Stella succeeded in Skyping with their children abroad the next morning, after which we headed for the Tillamook Cheese Factory. This is a surprising operation, not only in size but also in its outlay. Visitor friendly, it was organized with large viewing areas one floor up, from where some operations below can be observed through floor to ceiling glass windows. Historic displays and poster boards cover the manufacturing process attractively and downstairs the tasting line moves pretty fast as cubes of all products in respective buckets are sampled with tooth picks. It leads to the well stocked store offering many local area products in addition to cheese. A wide selection of ice cream and a lovely restaurant-like facility provide more tempting eats in a pleasant atmosphere.

When we entered the factory and were still studying the outlay, Willem saw a young lady with a white cowboy hat ornamented with a golden badge. She looked quite at home and thinking she might provide a shortcut to info that would obviate further reviewing the directions, he asked her if she was part of the establishment.  No, she was not; she was the Tillamook Rodeo Queen of 2014 and abruptly handed him a leaflet on the rodeo starting at 1:00 that afternoon at the Fairgrounds http://www.tillamookrodeo.com/   . Willem asked her where her king was and she responded she doesn’t have one, but he could be it! Taken by surprise, he suggested she could do a lot better but he, Fickie and Stella would be delighted to go to the rodeo. A real quick-witted charming girl!


We returned to camp to get our purchases into the refrigerator, have a light lunch and took off for the rodeo. We’ve been talking about attending such all along but wherever shows were advertised the dates didn’t match our schedule. And there we found ourselves in the stands enjoying a terrific atmosphere and seeing the whole thing, starting with perhaps 5-year olds, one after the other, trying to stay on top of sheep with success varying from little to no. There’s a lot of excitement associated with each event and a new competition is introduced with flag bearers on horseback charging in, circling the arena and exiting forthright. The Queen http://www.tillamookrodeo.com/queen.htm  and her lady deputy (lady in waiting?) were on horseback fulfilling various duties during and between events. All of this down to earth and in the dirt entertainment was really fascinating and the family folks we met in the stands were friendly, outward going, seemingly uncomplicated and simply great to be around with. This was a most enjoyable well spent afternoon. 

By 3:30 we were on our way past the campground to the neighboring village of Garibaldi  https://www.google.com/search?q=garibaldi+oregon&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&sa=X&ei=Cje4U-z4J4jboATI6oDIDQ&ved=0CEwQsAQ&biw=1366&bih=622    with an inviting fishing harbor. We encountered folks doing crabbing on a pier-like structure, which was new to us  http://www.scod.com/cities/crabs/crabbing     and there was no shortage of photo material. A good-looking restaurant right there tempted us and before we knew it, we were seated and enjoying a great meal of fish and chips, which came with delicious lightly toasted and buttered bread slices and coleslaw; a fitting end to the first rain-free day out of the last 5.  We don’t know how much it rained those four days and nights, neither did it bother us any because we have not seen such in a long time. For this winter rainfall region though, it felt like we got the entire summer’s odd precipitation in those four days. We began to appreciate why the Oregon Ducks are so called and will be looking at college football with enhanced understanding https://www.google.com/search?q=oregon+ducks&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&sa=X&ei=1jm4U5jiCJL3oATvuYKABw&ved=0CEIQsAQ&biw=1366&bih=622 .