Driving to the Oregon Coast

We are on the road to the Oregon coast when I finally can relax and just enjoy the ride. After a busy week at work and all the preparations for this trip, doing nothing but watching the scenery roll by for a few hours is a treat indeed.

There are several passes across the Coast Range from I-5 to the coast, and at one time or another I have probably traveled them all. It occurs to me that most of them look very similar.

After we exit the freeway on the outskirts of town, we rumble across flat farmland, and then begin to climb. Soon, rolling hills take over and we pass a winery or two. I think a day of wine-tasting would be fun until I remember that drinking, even a little, and driving is not a good idea, and I’m not much for group activities like a bus tour.

Patches of forest between farmlets rise in the mist between sun breaks, and the bright white blossoms of wild cherry trees are mistaken at first for snow-covered branches by my sleepy mind. Goats romp on one side of the road, llamas stretch their necks on the other, a cow grazes on fresh green pasture here, and a couple of horses stand by a watering trough there.

A stream rushes downhill toward us as the road winds more steeply through deeper forest dotted with gleaming white. How did all these wild cherry trees get planted? Was there a Johnny Cherryseed who traveled through here dropping seeds as he walked? My wandering mind is playing tricks. I remind myself that the original homesteaders must have planted cherry trees in their orchards, then seeds from those trees were spread by animals and birds. Sure makes for a pretty landscape in the Spring.

Towering fir trees overhang the road as we reach the summit. I can barely see the dark and threatening sky. Will we have to set up “camp” in a downpour?

I had forgotten the tunnel. This one is long and curves through the hill. I remember another that was straight and shorter. Suddenly we are surrounded by other vehicles, all with their lights on and horns honking, echoing crazy music. Dad used to honk the horn in tunnels for us; how fun!

The water now flows away from us on one side and a very large flat rock slopes toward us on the other. Patches of pink and yellow wildflowers dance around its shiny black edges in the breeze, while their performance is perfectly reflected in the wetness trickling across the rock. Does that make it a double-feature?

The creek grows into a rushing river, then slows and widens. More wildflowers line the opposite hillside behind the railroad tracks. I think there’s a wildlife refuge ahead. Nope, that’s a different route. No matter, I always expect to see deer or elk there, but usually am lucky to see just a duck.

The sky has lost its menace now, the air is still, and the river is so flat that it perfectly mirrors patches of blue sky and houses with private docks and small fishing boats. Is this where they filmed Sometimes a Great Notion? No, that was a different route too.

A boater's maze of small islands with steep muddy banks and grassy green tops gives way to mud flats. The low water level means the tide is out. I love to walk on the beach at low tide, but there is no beach access at Honeyman State Park. Instead, I’ll take my camera for long walks in the park while the guys are zipping around the dunes on their ATVs.

A road to a restaurant, or casino, turns right and curves uphill next to a sandy bank topped by intense yellow and dark green Scotch Broom. The motorhome we followed for the last 50 miles turns that way. Then a traffic light signals that we have arrived at the coast and must turn north or south on highway 101. We turn south. Concrete arches rise on both sides of the highway as a beautiful old bridge carries us over the river that led us here. Bridge designers put a lot of thought into aesthetics back then. I think I caught a glimpse of the ocean.

My husband set up camp (the trailer) in the afternoon sunshine and then barbequed steaks for dinner while I baked potatoes with sweet onions and bacon, and tossed together a salad. So tender, so sweet, so good.