Boat tour, lighthouses, what could be better?

June 18 – Short drive today to Clayton, NY.  Our campground, Merry Knoll, has a section on the St. Lawrence river and that’s where they parked us.  The front on the road is VERY wooded and they put smaller seasonal units there.  We are parked by a Winnebago Tour that’s 42’, very nice RV and very nice neighbor.  His wife’s children and grandchildren live here so this is where they summer.  They are full timers and winter in Tucson.

Boldt Castle

Once we set up, put in a load of laundry, and had lunch we headed out.  We had reservations for the 2:30 Uncle Sam’s Boat tour called “Millionaires Row” north in Alexandria Bay.  It’s only an hour tour and since none of the places (Boldt Castle) are open, it was pretty much our only choice.  You have to wear a mask while boarding, unboarding, going to the snack bar or restroom.  You must stay in your designated area on the boat.  We requested seats up top and they have

Boldt Guest House

removed, I would say, 2/3 of the benches.  So we had our own little space and could stand or sit and the seat in front or behind is 6 feet away.  We took jackets but in no way needed them.  Boy, it got hot up there.

The young lady who gave the tour was excellent.  This area is called “1000 Islands” as the river has probably that many islands from one big rock sticking up to multiple acre islands.  There are little houses built on some that don’t look like there is any land left.  The

Boldt power plant

Boldt Castle has a huge island and the mansions are amazing.  Most can only use generators for power and are strictly seasonal homes but there are some who paid for an underwater power lines there are year around.  The castle has it’s own power house.  There’s a tiny lighthouse just off the shore we left from.  Only 2

Our new place

"Living on the edge"

kinds of commercial boats can use the river and it does freeze in the winter and the islands have all varieties of animals that migrated to them during the winters.  The river is fished all year long as they ice fish in the winter.  She named a long list of fish that reside here and are caught.  Pictures don’t do it justice and I would love to come back and go in the castle.  It has a sad story but it’s an amazing looking place to visit.  www.boldtcastle.com.

After the tour there were too many people out and about for me to venture into any shops so we headed to Cape Vincent at the south end where Lake Ontario flows into the river.  At the cape in the Cape Vincent lighthouse (which is closed) but

Island Cottage

the grounds are open to look out over Lake Ontario.  One of the displays showed Charity Shoal Lighthouse waaaay out

Cape Vincent LH

there.  I was able to get it with my new camera! 

There was another old lighthouse listed but we didn’t see any signs as to where it was so we pulled into a convenience store and asked the first couple to come out.  Luckily there were locals and told us the old one was moved up the road beside the store.  We thanked them and drove the half mile to its new home in front of one of the town buildings.

It was about dinner time and the couple also told us their favorite

Cape Vicent Breakwater

restaurants in Alexandria Bay so we drove back there to O’Brien’s.  It’s down across from the bay.  There were not many diners, mostly drinkers at the bar.  They seated us by the window away from anyone else.  I know I’m particular about food.  I want “good” quality when I pay for a nice meal.  Well, the clam strips were strips and chunks and like elastic!  The side of crab salad was delicious but for the price I’m pretty sure it was not crab but imitation.  The poutine appetizer we shared was yummy and my Riesling was delicious!  Bill had chicken parm and brought part of it home.

We strolled some of the shops now that the afternoon crowd had died down.  Didn’t really see much of interest, the normal tourist items. 

We were both beat from the time in the sun and read until bedtime.  Bill set up the TV but didn’t watch it.

More lighthouses and seafood

June 23 - It was chilly again this morning!  I’m not liking this weather.  At least we don’t have snow like our friends in Colorado! Bill wasn’t feeling really well so once I had breakfast and he perked up a bit, he went out and did the outdoor stuff while I did the inside stuff.  We had to stop at the dump station and we were 4^th in line.  Once that was done we only had about 40 miles to our next stop.

Bill called the state park when we got on the road to see if we could come in early but there was no answer.  When we arrived in Coos Bay there was a big casino on the river and they have a huge parking area.  There were already trucks and RV’s there so we parked and drove to the state park.  It was much further than we thought and when we got there our site was right after the entrance and it was empty and was tagged with our name already.  However, the ranger said we could not check in until 4.  So now what!  I had left Molly with food and water so we ended up doing today’s designated sight seeing and got back at 4.

Cape Arago Lighthouse

As the day went on we decided to skip that campground and just park overnight at the casino.  The site was kinda small and then there wasn’t really room to park the truck and it’s WAY off the main road with no view, so later I called the casino and they said we could but we needed to pay a fee at their campground.

Cape Arago Lighthouse is on Chief's Island off the coast of Sunset Bay State Park where we were supposed to camp.  You can't go to it but with a zoom lens I got a photo of it. 

We stopped in one part of the park on the way out and there was a sea lion and seal

Sea lions and seals

viewing set up.  There were volunteers with 3 telescopes to see the 4 different breeds.  It was really something to see.  I took some decent photos and Bill chatted with one of the

More sea lions and seals

volunteers.  They gave us a map that helped with where we were headed next.  

The decision was to go to the furtherest stop and work our way back.  So we headed to Cape Blanco where we visited the lighthouse.  It’s out on a tall cliff and

Cape Blanco Lighthouse

the wind was so powerful.  I can’t imagine living there.  The original house is long gone but the lighthouse is in excellent condition.  They give tours but I’ve been on a lot and there’s not much difference in them.  One of the keepers was here 42 years, first, as an assistant and later as the head keeper.  Two of his 3 sons went on the be keepers as well.

Griff's on the Dock

Next stop was Port Orford where we scoped out lunch spots but one had a 35 minute wait and I didn’t really care for the menu of the other.  So I checked Yelp again and there was a place called Griffs on the Dock so we headed there.  It is literally on the dock and was tiny and run down looking.  I could tell Bill was not totally in favor of it as there was no one there when we arrived except a guy buying fresh seafood.  We took our seats and had a great lunch!  Bill had chicken (boring) and I

Calamari is larger than
the fries

had prawns and calamari.  It was unlike any calamari I’ve ever had.  It was thick long strips, about 4 inches and 3/8-1/2 inches square.  It was very lightly battered and so tender.  It was the first time I really got to taste calamari as it’s usually much smaller pieces and thinner.  The prawns were excellent as well.  I’m not much of a fries person but these were fresh hand made French fries!  Yum!  Gold Star!

Coquille River Light

We popped by the tiny post office to put cards in the mail and then on to search out Coquille River lighthouse.  We got confused on if there were 2 or just one lighthouse.  The directions we had were a bit confusing and didn’t match the map we were given.  Bill spotted it over a bay and we stopped and I took my first photos.  Then we went along a side street and got closer shots and then Bill pulled in a parking lot and we were directly across the bay from it. 

Time to head back and check on Molly.  On the ride it dawned on me that we left the RV on battery power and didn’t know how long that would keep the freezer frozen.  All I could see was melted huckleberry ice cream.  Molly might be a little hungry as we didn’t plan our day this way, but she’d be fine.  The RV was right where we left it and Bill went to the RV park and paid for our overnight stay and I moved to a spot beside a couple other RV’s.  The ice cream was fine!!

Bill called the campground at Crater Lake, where we’re headed tomorrow to verify which roads are best for the RV.  We’ll be there 3 nights and since they cancelled our boat trip on the lake and part of the rim is closed due to late thaw and broken equipment, we should have a little bit of down time!

When we had lunch today I had them bag a big piece of smoked salmon to take with me for my dinner.  There was a hamburger left for Bill and we had enough broccoli slaw left to share.  We were both happy with our dinner, delicious smoked salmon!!!

More Lighthouses

June 21 – We took our time this morning as we had a rather short day planned and not too

Yaquina Bay Lighthouse

far to drive further south in the process.  Newport was the first destination.  Yaquina Bay Lighthouse was the first stop.  It had limited hours and was not open and the shutters were closed up.  It is the shortest lighthouse in Oregon.  I guess  it sits high enough on the cliff to do the job.  The beach area below was beautiful but it was windy and there were not many folks on the beach.

Yaquina Head

Yaquina Head Lighthouse is not too far and it sits out on a small peninsular.  It’s surrounded by huge rocks in the water and they are literally covered with birds, they are seabirds, Murre.  There are occasional seagulls but they don’t get along so if you see a seagull the Murre keep their distance.  The lighthouse is picture perfect if you can get in the

Cluster of Murre

right photo spot.  On the way in we passed the interpretive center where we stopped for the bathroom and to see the information on life at the lighthouse. 

Further south is Cape Perpetua where the Heceta Head Light is.  It was a bit dicey getting in.  It was a narrow curvy lane going downhill and overflow and large vehicle parking had to make a sharp left under the bridge where they were working on the road/bridge.  Yikes!  Bill was driving the truck thank goodness, as that’s the only way I could make the turn without hitting the bridge.  I did, however, run over my first orange cone!  Should have taken a photo of it.  I apologized to the STOP sign guy when I walked back that way!

Keeper's House

Bill and I drove over to the car lot but there were no spaces so he told me to just go and he’d park.  I think when we saw the sign that it was ½ mile UPHILL to the light house he decided to stay behind.  I got my 30 minutes of walking in today for sure.  It’s a breathtaking view from there top.  Halfway up is the living quarters for the lighthouse keeper and now it’s a B & B.  The guests are the only ones that get to drive up.  The hired help and volunteers have to walk up

Heceta Lighthouse

like the rest of us!

The top on my way down

The residents sure have/had a great view but I imagine bitter cold wind in the winter.  I trudged the rest of the way up to the lighthouse.  Too bad you can’t get far enough back to get a really good photo.  I chatted with the couple volunteering today and she’s the one who told me they have to walk up every day.  It was faster going back down, of course.  I was pooped by the time I walked ¼ mile further through the first lot, under the bridge and to the RV.  Bill was sitting in his truck, thank goodness there were unread books in the backseat.  He didn’t realize I left the RV keys in the floorboard of the truck. 

Unfortunately I had to go back out the way I came in but they were cleaning up at the end of

View of the bridge we were going
to cross and the parking and beach

their work day so things were opened up a bit and I made the turn and there was no incoming traffic to deal with.  It was on down the road there we saw a Wal-mart and a Fred Meyers where we were stopping to get diesel in Florence.  We were getting pretty low, it took 83 gallons!   Behind the store were the beginnings of the Oregon Dunes.  If there had been a spot there to park we would have gone out on them.  We did turn in the bottles, cans and plastic bottles we (and Bruce and Sharon) had saved.  We got a whopping $6.30. 

Last stop for the day was William Tugman State Park in Lakeside.  We’re here for 2 nights.  The park has 100 spaces.  We have a nice space with no one on one side and a truck camper with 3 tents on the other.  There are 3 adults males and 5 teenagers.  Not sure of the connections but Bill went over to pet the dog.

I was pooped and didn’t journal or download any photos.  I just wanted to chill!  I grilled burgers on George, nuked 2 ears of corn and made a bowl of broccoli salad.  I made sure I turned the heat on before I went to bed as it’s been rather chilly at night.

Cheese and lighthouse, that's a good day!

June 20 – We woke to a chipper morning!  It was 47 when I got up and 51, I think, when Bill got up.  It was supposed to only be in the 50’s all day.  I put on long jersey pants and a t-shirt and had my jacket on the ready!  Bill wore his usual shorts and t-shirt and a heavier jacket than normal.

Tillamook Creamery

First stop was Tillamook, OR where the Tillamook Creamery is.  We were pretty early and they have a huge parking area.  In the back they designate for Rv’s and large vehicles.  We pulled right in.  Behind us was another big lot for overflow.  The tour here was much better than the one at Bob’s Red Mill.  First there is a timeline about the history of the company, then there’s education

40 pound blocks

about the breed of cows they get their milk from and what the cows are fed and how they are milked, etc.  Then upstairs both sides are huge windows looking down into the various departments.  There are plaques telling what they are doing and above the equipment are signs naming the job, task or equipment.  We could see them processing curds and the 40 pound blocks being cut and packaged, along with what happens to the rejects.  Very interesting and educational.  When you leave there you get in line in the sampling area.  There are 5

What can I say, it was fuller
before I took the photo

cheeses and 1 curds.  The little cups are small but you can pick which you prefer.  Of course there’s a gift shop where they sell ALL of their products and lots of other items.  Then in the huge mall area there is in ice cream shop on one side and a café on the other.  Bill had ice cream but it was too early for me.

We left the RV parked there while we took the truck and

Cape Meares

went into town and out to Seaside to see the Cape Meares Lighthouse.  It is the shortest lighthouse in Oregon.  It’s quite lovely, but it’s small.  The view of the ocean was gorgeous and the sun was out with still a nip in the air.  We saw a deer as we walked back up to the parking area and it was rather tame as it would give a look

as a group of us gawked at it but just went back to eating.  The drive out there was a bit treacherous, and they actually have the road closed right after you turn into the state park where the lighthouse is.  Seaside is a community that is literally on the shore and up the side of the cliff.  The waves were big in that area.

We had lunch back at the RV and then we continued our trek south.  Not the most pleasant road to drive on as it’s a continual up and down, left and right, curvy 2 lane road.  They do have pull outs and I was nice “once” and pulled out to allow the 7 vehicles behind me to pass and then there was road work and we all got backed up in the slow down!  We drove through Newport where there are 2 lighthouses but we decided to get to the campground and maybe go back. 

We found Whaler’s Rest with no difficulty, and it’s an Encore and Thousand Trails park.  Bill went in to check in and they could not find our reservation.  He came back for me and I showed them the email confirmation and with the number and they still couldn’t find it.  Finally they saw that for some unknown reason it was listed as Lake Eola Sams and then Bill’s name.  They had our packet ready!  The sites where we were parked are woody and rather close together.  We did snag a pull through with a concrete pad but it’s a little unlevel front to back.

By the time we got set up I really didn’t feel like driving 20 minutes back tonight so the plan is to leave the RV packed and ready and go in the morning, then come back for the RV.  We have until noon to leave. 

We rested and relaxed a while and eventually I made supper of stewed chicken in broth that I thickened about like in chicken and dumplings, and served it over the Bob’s delicious biscuits with a side of steamed cabbage.  Then we had Bob’s cookies for dessert.  We will be sad when all of Bob’s food is gone!