Along the Coast from Brookings to Florence, Oregon

We left the wonderful City of Brookings behind and headed toward our next destination, Florence, Oregon. We planned on staying just south of the city at the Thousand Trails Preserve at South Jetty. This area of Oregon is noted for it's abundant sand dunes and is popular with the sand buggy crowd. Our grandson loves it as well as it is also known for sandboarding, which is snowboarding only on the sand. I tried it and nearly broke my neck! We still had a great time though.

Leaving Brookings, U.S. 101 begins to climb and swings along the coastline. Some parts were rough but it appears Oregon DOT was hard at work getting these sections repaired.

The Oregon coast offers spectacular view around every turn. Fortunately there are many places to pull off and enjoy the scenery.

Another view point and a Kodak moment. Do they even make film anymore?

I'll let the following few pictures speak for themselves as they say a picture is worth a thousand words.

We stopped at a rest stop to stretch our legs, let Jasmine smell the roses and enjoy the views.

Entering Gold Beach we were treated to looking upon the Isaac Patterson Bridge. Named after the Oregon Governor, it was built in 1930 and is a prime example of art deco. It has seven 230' deck arch spans and nine girder sections to complete it's 1898' length. It carries four lanes of traffic across the Rogue River which empties into the Pacific just west of the bridge. 

Jet Boat rides up the Rogue are very popular tourist attractions.

Continuing north, we will pass Port Orford and then swing slightly inland until the City of Bandon, where we will go further inland until arriving at Coos Bay. 

 

 

 

 

As we approached Winchester Bay, we caught our first glimpse of the famed sand dunes.

U.S. 101 winds down and away from the Pacific near Clear Lake, just south of Winchester Bay and Reedsport. 

Clear Lake is primarily fed by snow runoff from Mount Washington and nearby areas. The runoff filters through 20 miles of underground caves before emptying into the lake. It is said to be one of the most exceptional freshwater dive lakes in the United States.

A diver approaches a tree submerged approximately 3,000 years ago when a volcano created Clear Lake. The trees are remarkably preserved due to the cold temperature of the water. They are about 100' underwater.

(Author of photo is unknown)

If you get to Coos Bay, be sure to visit the Railway Museum. Railway and logging machinery are on display along with the 1922 Baldwin steam locomotive seen here. Engine 104 worked the logging industry along the Oregon coast until the 1950s. Southern Pacific Caboose #1134, behind the engine, worked the Coos Bay/Klamath Falls run until the cabooses were retired.

Leaving Reedsport, we crossed the Umpqua River and continued our now short journey to South Jetty.

Settled into our campsite at South Jetty.