WA/OR/NV 2021-04+05

[seeNik48]

Days 1+2:

We left on April 10 during beautiful weather. While we were away for a month, we had a bit of early morning snow, 2 days of high winds, one all day rain fest and some short durations of misty rain. But, mostly, we had blue skies and fluffy clouds.

We drove to the Coupeville-Port Townsend ferry as we really dislike Seattle and I-5 traffic. We spent the night at Fort Casey state park then boarded the ferry the next morning with our reservations. The drive down 101 to our next campground was scenic as always and we spent our second night at Potlatch State Park. We had a Senior Off Season camping pass for Washington State Parks so camping was free less the $75 pass fee.


Washington state ferry Coupeville landing
Potlatch State Park

 

[BLand Cruiser]

That's good looking dog. Nice camper, too!

 

[seeNik48]

Days 3+4:

Our next destination was Damon Point by Ocean Shores, a touristy town on the Pacific Ocean. We had verified reports of agates to be found. Our campground was Ocean City state park just north if the town. We stayed there two nights as it was free (Senior Pass) and relatively uncrowded.

We stopped in Montesano to check out their historic county courthouse.

We found two agates, a Jasper and a “pretty rock” after a 4 mile RT slog along the sandy beach. The waves are soothing. Pretty area but too full of tourists and a large casino.

Damon Point


Ocean City state park

treasures

Grays Harbor County courthouse in Montesano, WA.

 

[seeNik48]

Days 5+6:

We made a 175 mile dash to the Oregon Coast to avoid the weekend crowds from Portland. 101 wanders inland after Aberdeen south to cross over the Megler-Astoria Bridge across the Columbia River into Oregon.

We managed to find an unclaimed tent campsite at Cape Lookout state park southwest of Tillamook by the Pacific Ocean. It is a large campground and the sites are close together but shrubbery blocks the view of your neighbor. We were just a short walk to the sandy beach. We fell asleep to the sound of crashing waves.

The next day, we drove south where we found a few handfuls of smallish agates and jaspers at one of Lincoln City’s many beaches. Gravel was scarce and small.

For the second time, we were stymied by the reservation system. Oregon Coast state park campgrounds are all by reservation now. We broke our rule and found an RV park near Lincoln City. Wapiti RV park was a typical independent campground with full hookups and monster RVs parked close together. They did have a tent site without hookups but near the road. It was in a beautiful setting and has 4 elk herds. We saw 53 elk that evening.
Rose Ranch southwest of Raymond

Willapa National Wildlife Refuge

Megler-Astoria Bridge over Columbia River

Lookout State Park beach

Lookout State Park campground

Beach near Lincoln City, OR

 

[seeNik48]

Day 7:
Again, we had to drive more miles just to secure a campsite. Oregon State Park Campgrounds are amongst the best and since this was a sunny weekend, the sites filled quickly. The reservation system works against those of us who are wanderers without any set destination. USFS and state forest campgrounds are few and crowded, too. Dispersed sites that we used previously are now posted or have been taken over by the homeless. I did find one last site 175 miles away at Cape Blanco State Park south of Bandon. It was an electric site with water which we don’t need but no tent sites were available.

This is a beautifulply wooded state park campground with lighted paths to the bathrooms. Best of all, showers are free (are you listening Washington?). There is a drivable trail to the beach which you share with free range sheep. You can also drive in the beach as we watched a Jeep cut through the driftwood to drive on the hard packed sand.

Along the way, we drove across Oregon’s beautiful Art Deco bridges. We also stopped at Lost Creek Wayside and Yachats.
Newport bridge

Lost Creek Wayside

Yachats River dumping into the Pacific

Overview on way to Cape Blanco


Reserved site at Cape Blanco state park

Our backyard


Road and path to Cape Blanco beach

Overlook to Cape Blanco

Cape Blanco beach

 

[goldtooth]

Been to most of the places you have listed. It seems that Cape Blanco is always foggy. Great trip so far!
nate

 

[Old Desert Rat]

When it's not foggy, it's either raining, or you have to lean into the wind, or both.