Gold Beach on Monday

We started the morning with breakfast at Denny's. While we were there two police cars drove up, the cops got out and came into the restaurant. They arrested a man who had just come in before them. We will never know the story! Interesting start to the day!

  It was a beautiful drive to Gold Beach up the road in Oregon.

We did a double take when we passed this guy at one of the view points. Cary turned around and came back just as he was packing up his bagpipes. But he good-naturedly got them out and began to play for us!

Cary thought I should pose with him. Then he wanted to talk about the motorcycle--Cary, that is.

It is a 1985 BMW R80. He had checked it out on an earlier trip to Seattle (on a different motorcycle), flew back and paid $800 for it! He is now on his way home to Los Angeles. Cary's last motorcycle was a BMW so they talked a few minutes about that. Oh, and he gave me info on his site on U Tube so I can check that out later too!

Our first stop in Gold Beach was at a little strip mall designed for tourists. Cary's eye went right to this truck: a 1947 COE (Cab over engine)Diamond T, running a modern 6-cylinder Cummins diesel.

It really was beautiful.

Fascinating museum inside one of the gift stores about Oregon and Gold Beach history

Our favorite bookstore along the coast--two stories of old and new. I bought a New York Times Sunday crossword puzzle book and a 25 cent novel from the bargain table out front. Cary got one called American Panorama West of the Mississippi.

Lunch at very popular (and tiny) restaurant, the Barnacle Bistro. We got there just in time for a table.

None of these beers were available; Cary just wanted a picture of them.

Driving back to Crescent City, more wonderful scenery

He got his binoculars to scope the boats way out on the horizon.

The day never got much warmer or clearer, but we are in this part of the country for that very reason!

Saturday

We found an estate sale this morning. This was one of the rooms. The previous owner was really into crafts. And she was organized. I did not take pictures of her knitting and crocheting magazines that were against another wall. I took this before I went into the sewing room...fabric, notions, two sewing machines, baskets, linens...I found a big jar of buttons, several packages of elastic, butterfly-printed fabric, and bobbins (exactly like what I bought at Walmart a few days ago). We made two trips!

Cary found things we really did need for the trailer too: a stand for our sign, a funnel, a shoe spoon, a tablet, a storage bin and a frying pan.

Here I am sorting the buttons--the boring ones will be taken to the nearby thrift store.

My neighbor behind us saw me out at the table and came over to investigate. I have watch her quilt so it was only fair! She took some of the goodies that I didn't want and we had a good time talking. She informed me about some fabric stores in Brookings so I will have something to look for next time we go!

Saturday night we met Craig, Mary and their daughters at Torero's for Mexican food and had a very nice visit catching up. We plan to go over to the lighthouse again Sunday morning.

Thursday and Friday

 We decided to go up to Brookings, Oregon, to spend some time. First we stopped by the graphic shop and ordered the decal for the trailer. When got to Oregon I was hungry so we decided to go to a place we have gone to before. Sebastians. But it was closed for remodeling. The woman at the gift shop recommended Asana, just across the road--but they were still serving breakfast and I wanted lunch, so we just drove till we found something--or maybe it was another one suggested: Sporthaven Grill.

 I haven't mentioned that this proved to be the coldest day we have ever experienced in Brookings, known as the Banana Belt due to its normally temperate climate! We got seated at the very crowded little place (squeezed in barely between two tables) right next to an open window. I went back to the truck for my coat and still froze. My fish tacos were good, expensive, but good. Cary got a hamburger. Oh, and the service was interesting; Cary's food came several minutes before mine and even then I had to ask for it. We opted not to get Mexican food because we had burritos the night before.

The view from the parking lot near Sebastian's

At 2:00 p.m. about a mile from the California/Oregon border, the temperature was 56 degrees! We did find some thrift stores where I bought a book and three patterns. The fabric store I always visit was no longer in existence--the owners retired!

Friday morning we went out to the lighthouse to say hi to Mary and Craig, as well as meet the RVers who are working this month. We hoped to get there before tours started, but managed to get right in the middle of the first one. Craig emailed us later to try to arrange meeting for dinner Saturday evening. We caught their daughter, Claire, on her way to the parking lot so she could get over to the museum to do her research for a college class.

It was very overcast most of the day. This is a view of the jetty across from the lighthouse.

Taken about 3:00 p.m., we caught some sunshine and did some reading. A neighbor who had been fishing a good part of the day offered us some fish which Cary grilled for supper. Here is the picture I promised yesterday! It made a very nice meal.

Tuesday

We took care of a few errands this morning(washing the truck for one)and made a visit to the library just as the storytellers and kiddoes were going full steam (and drums) ahead! I had to check in at Weight Watchers, even stayed for the meeting, and finally we got groceries at Walmart before heading home for lunch.

While I was at my meeting, Cary stopped at a place in town that does graphics. He wants a decal for our back trailer window. Our neighbor across the way here has one that says "Recluse Caboose." He stopped to ask about the lettering and was told the wife, Leslie, was at work but would let him know when she returned.

When she came over, she had this in her hand--the trailer they owned before their current one was an airstream they named "Millie!" Leslie had seen our sign out front and knew I was a Millie. So funny. They had their sign done near where they live in the SF Bay area. Cary perused several font styles on a website the graphics business gave him and thinks he has something in mind. Stay tuned.

Fog in the Morning

After breakfast, and after two loads of laundry, we took a drive along the coast

and took pictures of the ocean in the fog.

Hard to believe that the sun actually came out and the sky turned blue later!

Of course we had to go see the lighthouse! I even captured the light while it was on.

Because the tide was up the lighthouse was closed today and for the next three days. It will be open one hour on Friday.

I am following the blog of the folks who are living in the lighthouse now. Mary reported that five (I think that is the number)police cars and the K-9 unit from the area were out there yesterday, filming their entry for the lip-sync contest! Wish I could have seen it! 

Saturday

 We started the day by buying a newspaper to find out about yard sales; there weren't too many, so we saved some money!
  One of our favorite things to do on Saturdays in Crescent City is going to the Farmers' Market. First stop at the bakery truck that comes down from Brookings--huge bear claws and an apple fritter--yum!                                                                                      
 There always lots of interesting things for sale--crafts, food, plants--and folks sitting at tables with information about voting and upcoming events.

Back at the trailer Cary is investigating what may be a leak of some sort. We both decided the area next to the closet (where a washer and dryer could go if we wanted one) was damp, not just cold. He was able to turn off the feed for the water supply to that area and employed our hair dryer to give the carpet a start on drying up. 

After lunch we walked over to the part of the RV park for tents and investigated this little cabin that will probably be available for rent. There is another one in a different location that was installed two years ago when we were here. This one has more windows.

I almost forgot--went to the antique store down the road from the park in search of fabric. From past years I knew there was some upstairs and sure enough, the nautical fabric I hoped to find was there!

For a project I have in mind. Perfect!

The Journey and the Destination...It's All Good!

 My first picture of the lighthouse on this trip. We went over to say hi to Mary and Craig, folks we worked with there in 2013. Their daughters are also along, helping out when needed. Craig was up in the tower when we got there, so rather than interrupt the tour we just said hi to Mary and bought some postcards.

Another view before going up the walkway to the lighthouse.

It has been a gorgeous day, sunny and cool. 

I needed a schedule of the days and hours the tours are available so took a picture of the calendar posted in the kiosk nearby. It has to close when the tides are too high to cross the isthmus.

Sea lions bask on these rocks.

A bright shell stood out as I walked on the beach.

We happened upon two yard sales, got some more books (free at the house across the street from one of the sales) and the game, Perquackey, ca. 1956. I will read over the instructions so we can play it later.

Getting to Crescent City

It was a foggy morning as we headed out.

Redwoods line much of the highway.

We were stopped two or three times while workers repaired storm damage.

Cary stopped to check out the tires so I watched the goats head into the pasture.

More fog.

We are in Crescent City, went to the Chart Room for an early supper. Cary got his usual fish and chips; I tried a cup of clam chower and a grilled crab sandwich. Very yummy.

More to follow next time. It is nice to be here and relax.

Reading and relaxing!

Arcata

Wearing the plaid shirt he bought at the American Cancer Society thrift store, Cary holds our bag of books that we got here for $1.00. Fun!

Beautiful trees in our RV Park in Arcata

Our trailer here in the park

I like the yellow contrasting with the worn, brown fence.

A magnolia tree

And more flowers