Day #28—Bay Center KOA on Willapa Bay, WA --Sunday, June 19, Father’s Day

It is 8:45 PM and here I sit before the computer to recount our day. We are at the Bay Center KOA on Willapa Bay, Washington . . . the very same KOA Jess and I stayed at on our 2000 west coast bike trip. Who woulda thunk it would be déjà vous for real 11 years later? This is the KOA where the couple invited Jess and me to their RV for blackberry cobbler. He was up here for a black powder competition. This couple passed us on the road later in Coos Bay and called out, “Hello Susan!” Also, Jess and I stopped at a fish market before getting to the campsite and had a sumptuous meal. (Does any of that jar your memory, Jess?) 

Last night in our yurt we finished off our Australian Fish Eye Pinot Grigio and fell into bed early, so were up early this morning. Took us a bit to get out of Newport, however, as we first stopped at Dutch Bros Coffee for a cuppa for Sarah, then—forgetting it was Sunday—hunted up the Toyota Place. The Prius is telling me that an oil change is required. I have put nearly 5,000 miles on the car so far. Will see what I can find tomorrow. Then we stopped at a grocery for ice and rearranged our coolers. Finally we hit 101 north. 

Shortly after getting on 101, we drove a really bad section where the road had obviously washed out. I said, “No wonder they are fixing this road.” Sarah replied, “Yeah. Looks liked its e-road-ing again.” Ha ha my punster sistah!

We passed the Devil’s Punch Bowl—raining and foggy so we didn’t stop—another feature I remember seeing on the 2000 coast ride. 

The foxglove, rhododendron and Scotch broom along the highway continues to be incredibly beautiful, the rhododendron in hues of pink, lavender, rose, and reds. Today we saw several bushes that were perfect round deep red mounds. We have learned that the Scotch broom has become a terrible invasive species, even populating whole cleared mountainsides. It is beautiful though.

This and the two photos below it show how pretty but invasive Scotch Broom has become

It was sifting and foggy most of the day, with real rain in a couple of spots, though at one point we saw “enough blue sky to make a pair of Dutchman’s breeches,” which my grandmother used to say was a sign that sun was on the way. These past two days of fog and rain are supposed to give way to sun for the rest of the week, so we are hopeful that grandmother was a good weather predictor. 

We stopped in Tillamook at the cheese factory and took the self-guided tour. It is fascinating to watch the 40-pound blocks of cheese get cut, packaged, sealed and sent on the way via an intricate system of conveyor belts. We passed through the tasting area and then bought a bag of cheese curds and a small block of extra sharp cheddar. Had to wear our blindfolds to avoid being lured by the fudge and ice cream. (Below Internet pix of the factory.)

Just before Astoria we entered Fort Stevens State Park (another place Jess and I camped, and also a place where America by Bicycle cyclists go before the Across America North ride to dip their wheels). Here we had a tailgate lunch at the beach of hard-boiled egg, Tillamook extra sharp cheese and Triscuits. Then we walked the beach for a bit to see the wreck of the Peter Iredale. There were quite a few people on the beach, some of the kids in bathing suits frolicking in the water while adults stood by in sweatshirts and windbreakers. It was cold and windy. We also saw quite a few cyclists dipping their rear wheels, and it suddenly dawned on me that our visit coincided with the start of America by Bicycle’s Across America North ride. Riders were dipping their wheels in preparation for their cross-country ride tomorrow.

Sarah posing with the Wreck of the Peter Iredale

Though I saw the vans etc. at the ABB hotel on the Columbia River in Astoria, we didn’t stop. The socialization effort seemed to be just that and we were intent on driving up to the Astoria Column for its wonderful view of the Astoria-Meglar-Bridge across the mouth of the Columbia River, and then booking it to our overnight Bay Center KOA. On the way up to the column a frightened deer came down the street toward us, obviously lost in the residential area we were in. I hope it found its way back to the woods. 

Some of the detail on the column

Oregon side of the Astoria-Meglar Bridge which spans the mouth of the Columbia river between Oregon and Washington; this was a very frightening part of Jessica's and my 2000 West Coast bicycle ride

View from the top of the column

The drive across the 4.1-mile Astoria-Meglar Bridge to Washington State also stirred memories. Above, a photo of it from the Astoria Column. Suffice it to say that I was glad to be in a car rather than on my bicycle.

We took a wrong turn in Seaview and started up the wrong side of the bay on the peninsula, but eventually found ourselves and arrived at our cabin about 4 o’clock. The owners of this KOA just took over on Friday. They have gone out of their way to be helpful, Ken jumping on his mountain bike and leading us to our cabin which was a full 300 feet from, and in plain view of, the office. Seriously, he has given us a chair and a lamp and was most helpful in helping us locate the trail to the bay. The area is pretty and well kept. The laundry and restrooms, impeccable and we intend to give Ken and his fellow employees an excellent rating before we leave. Below, some pix of us on the beach.

After our "frolic" on the beach, dinner this evening was Italian vegetable soup with ham and a tossed salad. Whilst eating, I was startled by a loud snorting. At first I thought it was Sarah slurping her soup (just kidding), and then thought elk, but it was only a horse behind the trees behind the cabin.