Bob's Red Mill

July 19 -  Today was a bit simpler!  We left the campground at 9 and we didn’t hook up as we knew once we got to Milwaukie we would be parking the RV at Lowe’s, which was just down the road from Bob’s Red Mill Factory and Store.  We decided to just drive separately as we weren’t sure about the size of parking and it worked out well as the lot was rather full but I found a spot long enough in the back of the lot all the way to the end.

We were the first to arrive for the 10:00 tour so we signed in, got our tour pass and played match the grains and another matching game they set up.  It’s little tins of different grains they mill and you have to figure out which is which.  The other is

With a vintage mill stone

different dried beans.  They show a nice movie about Bob and go over a lot of the products.  Then the tour begins.  We were a bit disappointed as we thought we would see more but it’s just views through 5-6 windows and you can’t really see everything.  The guide went over what the various machines did and what changes they are making and the history of the company.  It started as Moore’s Mill but later he bought a big old barn and painted it red and changed the name to Bob’s Red Mill.  Bob had retired from a

With another mill stone

job in California and he and his wife retired to Oregon and they started the business together.  Now it’s an Employee Owned Company and they are proud to say so.  At the end of the tour they give you 2 different samples and a $1 off

Chatting with Bob

coupon each.  We left there and went a mile down the road to the “big” store where they have a restaurant and bakery.  We had a delicious lunch and bought some day old biscuits that are huge.  There are 6 in the package and they weigh 1 ½ pounds.  One is the size of a cup.  We got some new granolas and some cranberry oatmeal cookies.  They

That's a 1 cup measure

are yummy!  I picked up a few items from the bulk foods area but we only have so much room.

The RV was right where we left it at Lowes but we decided I could not get out towing so the plan was I was lead vehicle and I was to stop when I found a suitable hook up location or rest area.  Well, traffic thru Portland was awful and there was an accident and there were no rest areas once we got out of town. We ended up stopping about 15 miles south of Seaside where we had a reservation.  The GPS went wacky in the RV and I couldn’t fix it without stopping and wasn’t sure what happened so I pulled over and Bill came in and got it back on track.  Circle Creek RV Park wasn’t too far and it’s a pretty nice place.  About 40 sites, mostly back in but I had reserved a full through full hook up. 

Kelly Chambers is on the beach

Here I thought I’d have some “time” to catch up and chill, but no, it didn’t work that way. 

Tillamook Lighthouse

Due to my over zealous scheduling for tomorrow, Bill thought we should go to the first lighthouse just a few miles south today and tick it off the list.  So after a drive into Seaside and a walk on the beach for our first view on this trip of the Pacific Ocean, we headed to Ecola State Park and drove a super curvy, up and down narrow road to the gate, paid $5 to drive to the shore and park and walked a nice trail to the best viewpoint to see Tillamook Lighthouse perched on a big rock a mile away.  Good thing I have a good zoom lens.  On the way in we passed several RV’s leaving and had to pull over.  We could not believe the motorhome could get in

Beach shot

there.  They have no camping so they were just sightseeing we guessed.  Glad we didn’t wait until tomorrow as we would have been in a world of hurt trying to put the RV somewhere.

I had put some chicken in to marinade in Dorothy Lynch special all in one sauce.  My friend Barbara gave it to me and it’s made in Nebraska.  I was waiting for the right time to open it and tonight was it.  I sautéed sliced carrots in coconut oil until they were close to done and then slow fried the chicken and we share one of the giant biscuits for our dinner tonight.  Dessert was a big cranberry oatmeal cookie. 

Ok, I’m caught up on my typing but not so much on my photos.  Might get one post posted tonight!