Headed South on Oregon 101

[Seangie]

Hey all -

Just a quick update since the last time I posted I was at a critical juncture.

Since we left that God Forsaken Truck Repair in Missoula, the bus has been running good.

We took it to a real 2 stroke mechanic in Spokane and he spent about 3 hours going through the engine and couldn't find anything wrong with it.  Of course there were a couple things needing lovin but nothing major.

From Spokane we drove to Yakima.  I know that on one morning while idling up for air the bus was in gear.  Weird because usually the high idle won't go unless its in neutral.

After that I noticed the tranny fluid was a gallon and a half shy.  I topped it off and we climbed over White Pass.  Beautiful visions of Mt Rainier and the surrounding area. 

We have been parked in Randle WA for the past 3 months and have just yesterday left Portland now headed south.

Went through Tillamook and did the cheese factory.  It was quite a storm when we got there.  Wind gust of 60-70 MPH and torrential downpours.  Needless to say we were just about the only people visiting the cheese factory that day.

The locals told us everything in town would be shutting down that afternoon.  Roads, businesses and bridges as the 5 rivers that pour into the bay were overflowing into the valley. 

So we had to make a decision - stay where we were and hope to not get flooded out or drive south to Lincoln City in this mess before all the roads close.

So we chose the latter.  Needless to say it was a white knuckler headed through the hills with tthose winds and the rain coming down sideways.

So we made it to Lincoln City and are headed south to Florence today.  Bus has been running fantastic.  No issues at all.

Any "must sees" along the 101 south?  Any spots I need to be careful of?  I've heard its quite the drive here in Oregon.

Thanks guys.

-Sean

[lvmci]

Hi Sean, good for you, weather  says rain, rain, rain. 101 thru CA is nice, take a side trip thru montery, ca and see aquarium and Big Sur, missions, in big Sur area a wonderful restaurant on the coast hyw, where you can sit in a river in rough hewn chairs, with a canopy trees over you, pretty neat, tom...

[Seangie]

Hi Sean, good for you, weather  says rain, rain, rain. 101 thru CA is nice, take a side trip thru montery, ca and see aquarium and Big Sur, missions, in big Sur area a wonderful restaurant on the coast hyw, where you can sit in a river in rough hewn chairs, with a canopy trees over you, pretty neat, tom...

Hey Tom -

Sorry I missed you these last couple weeks.

We did 101 from Ventura up through Monterey last year.  It was an amazing drive! 

We even bought a family membership to the aquarium as it was cheaper than a one day ticket for all of us.

Tip for bus converters visiting Monterey -  They have "bus only" parking downtown for free.  This is for the tour buses that go through there but we parked there all day and had no problems.  I did ask the local tour drivers if it was okay as I didn't want to impede their work space.  The two I spoke to said no problem, if its a bus then park it!

-Sean

[Lee Bradley]

Newport is worth a visit and the aquarium south of town.  A little farther south the Prehistoric Gardens https://www.google.com/maps/place/Prehistoric+Gardens/@42.6005135,-124.3915712,14z/data=!4m2!3m1!1s0x0000000000000000:0x3eda26792c70bef0

Gold Beach has boat rides up the Rogue River at http://www.roguejets.com/

Bandon is nice little town with http://www.facerockcreamery.com/ I am a fan of their Vampire Slayer Cheese

[Cary and Don]

Gold Beach, OR.

If you like back roads, there is some fantastic roads up the Rogue River area. The roads are good gravel up into the hills there.  Really pretty. We stayed across from the river at Indian Creek RV. There is also some boondocking along the river if the water isn't too high.


Don and Cary

[HB of CJ]

Be sure to stop in Brookings OR and hit "Feelies"  the soon to be world famous hamburger place.  It is in the Sears Shopping Center strip mall.  Be very hungry indeed.
Get there before about 2 pm.  They usually run out of hamburger meat.  Easy parking.

Also include the obvious coastal redwoods.  Wow!  300 foot high trees.  Go N on 199 to the Stout Grove.  Less than 30 minutes from 101.  Redwood National Park in NW CA has that famous crescent shaped beach just S of Crescent City CA.  World class beach.

Years ago we budgeted 14 days wandering down the Pacific Coast from The Columbia River OR to San Francisco.  It ended up taking us over 30 days.  Be sure to take the off ramps and hit the bypassed numerous small CA towns.  Very fun indeed.  Enjoy.

Forum running strange

[digesterman]

Decent RV park in Winchester bay just south of Reedsport, on the bay. We have a place on Tahkenitch lake (MP 203) and love it, beautiful country, think you will enjoy

[bobofthenorth]

If you haven't already passed through, watch out for the revenue hungry sheriff in Rockaway Beach.  You are making that trip headed the right way - its a whole different experience going south than it is going north.  On the southbound trip if you see something interesting you can simply roll off the road and have a look.  When you're done merge back in and keep on keeping on.  Northbound, not so much.

[HB of CJ]

We here in SW OR are expecting very heavy rain and higher snow from now 9 Dec, through the weekend and leading into next week.  Yikes!  Usually the coast gets high winds also.  Like 50-70 knots.  We here have gotten over one foot of rain in just a week.  More expected.  Flood watches in effect.  This might affect your plans.  Stay safe!

[jackhanow]

If your not in a hurry I would wait until the storm passes otherwise it's gonna be a tough drive. And you'll miss al the things to see

[TomC]

Sea Lion caves just north of Florencs

[Seangie]

Thanks for all the suggestions!

We are in Florence trying to sit this storm out for now.  There was a shooting up in Newport yesterday and they shut down 101 until about 6 last night. 

So we did a good section of 101 in the dark from Newport to here.  Probably the prettiest views but it is what it is. 

Hopefully this passes sooner than expected.  Probably down to Coos bay tonight and park it at Sunset Bay SP tomorrow. 

We've been bondocking for about a week now.  Doing good but wifey needs to catch up on laundry and I'm about done with navy showers so a good long 30 minute shower would be nice.

HB -  thanks for all the suggestions.  A decent burger sounds awesome right about now.

Wifey said she must try the Vampire Slayer cheese so thats on the docket now as well.  Definitely will stop in Gold Beach too and Redwoods are a not to miss for us.

Thanks again.  Hope you all have a super weekend and get lots of projects checked off the list!

-Sean

[Iceni John]

There used to be a little café in Gold Beach OR, on the main street in the center of town not too far from the police station, that had THE BEST pies I think I've ever eaten.   is it still there?   I was riding my bicycle down the West Coast some years ago when the weather turned nasty (sounds familiar?), so I holed up in Gold Beach for a few days waiting for it to pass.   Well, it didn't, so I ate pies instead, all day, going through the entire menu several times  -  I still recollect the strawberry rhubarb pie all these years later.   I finally capitulated and rode to Crescent City and put my bike on the Greyhound bus that used to run from Portland to SF along 101, and that was my first time in an MC9 with a 6V92.   Ah, memories.

At Leggett CA the true coast highway, California 1, starts, but it will be a challenge in a 40' bus.   If you're up to doing it, it's sublimely beautiful all the way to SF, and it has its own rugged beauty in the winter with waves crashing on the rocks and the wind blowing the trees sideways.

John

[Jim Eh.]

Thanks for all the suggestions!

We are in Florence trying to sit this storm out for now. 

-Sean

That's funny, I don't see your pictures posted in the "Bus Travel and Use Stories" section. Must be something really wrong with this forum. They used to say "it ain't so without pictures!"

[RJ]

Sean -

I'll echo John's suggestion about picking up CA - 1 in Leggett and continuing SB from there.  The first 10-15 miles can be a little twisty, but not really any worse than Hiway 1 from SLO to Monterey.  There are several switchbacks that you'll need to take your half out of the other side in order to not scratch the rub rails, but just watch for traffic and stop until it's clear.  Better yet, let Angie drive!  Hehehehe. . .

I'll check with another busnut friend of mine who works for Golden Gate Transit to find out where's the best point to get back over to 101, as GGT runs transit service all over that area N of San Francisco.  Watch your text msgs for that info.

S of Crescent City, but N of Eureka, is Patrick's Point SP, which is a really nice little campground.  Unfortunately, I don't think your Eagle will fit, last time I was there we were in the Caravan pulling a tent trailer.  (But there was a 4104 nestled in among the trees, even tho there's a 31' rig limit.)

Speaking of Eureka, you've GOT to take the Turtlettes to the Samoa Cookhouse for dinner - it's been feeding folks since before the environmental wackos shut down the lumber industry.  Plenty of parking for the coach, especially if you go early and don't go on a weekend.

Leaving Eureka, take a little side trip to Ferndale, a perfect example of small-town Americana where time has stood still.  It's also where they filmed the movie Outbreak, if you remember that one.  The front of the old bank in downtown was used as the entrance to the "hospital" in the movie.  We were there when it was being filmed - lighting cables strung all over everywhere, and traffic wasn't allowed.  Didn't see Dustin Hoffman, but did get to chat with a grip for a few minutes.  Said he liked the town so much, was going to look at buying property in the area!

About 10 minutes after you rejoin 101 from Ferndale is the N entrance to the Avenue of the Giants and it's well-marked.  The Avenue parallels the freeway, but it's a leisurely drive type of road where you get to savor the magnificence of the CA Coastal Redwoods.  Angie would not be happy if you bypassed this!   The Avenue rejoins 101 a mile or so south of Phillipsville.  Take your time and enjoy!

Back on 101, another 15 - 20 minutes brings you to Leggett, where you'll turn right to head to the coast.

From Ft Bragg S along the Mendocino coast, you'll experience what the west coast of Ireland is like.  It's uncannily similar, having been to both.  And if you've got any Irish in your family history, you might want to check out The Irish Shop on Main St in downtown Mendocino, a quaint little place with lots of Irish items.  Buy Angie a genuine Irish Aran Wool sweater for Christmas!!

Not sure of what your itinerary is once you get near the Bay Area, care to elaborate?  It looks like we may be two ships that pass in the night again as I head NB to Canada for Christmas while you're working your way down the coast.  Maybe you'll still be in the area when I get back around Jan 3/4?    Either way, we'll be in touch.

FWIW & HTH. . .