Oregon and Oregonians Take 2

The plan for this blog was for it to be a regular journal for the Apiarist and the Educator to inform friends and family of the random travels that make up their 2014 North American Odyssey. Keeping a blog will also remind them of just what they did, saw and enjoyed during the trip. It’s easier for the Apiarist to use technology (i.e. laptop) and any that have tried to decipher the hieroglyphs that would appear in a diary would agree. When you add the knowledge and intellect of the Educator and a few photos you end up with something that gives a fairly accurate and at times entertaining record of the events. Now all that is good until there is a disagreement!

No not between the Apiarist and the Educator!!

A disagreement between the Apple and the Apiarist!!

THE APIARIST LOST!!!!!! So was a section of the blog!!!!!!!

Now where were we? That’s right it was Oregon!

How could Oregon live up to the grandeur of the Redwood coast of California? As it happens Oregon has grandeur of its own! After spending a little time drooling over an immaculate shiny black late 60's Thunderbird parked next to the Exterrable we left the Blue Coast Inn and Suites, which had provided fabulous accommodation!

Equally grand hemlock, cedar, spruce and firs had replaced redwoods and California coast and we went from trees to the Oregon coast back to trees and to the Oregon coast. Life itself is grand!

If it was possible things got even better for the Educator when she spied a little track that led to a stunning, secluded black sand beach complete with a great looking cove for snorkelling. Heaven! But when the obligatory testing of the crystal clear waters showed the temperature to be somewhere between brrrr, frrrigid and f##%^&## (that’s freezing,) a quick change to the bikini stayed well and truly on the back burner. Oh well, it was an energetic walk down and back!

Our wraps  & salad lunch didn’t fully satisfy our hunger and The Rough Guide to the USA gave us the advice to seek out “Griffs on the Dock” where we enjoyed sharing a bowl of ciapinno which is a tomato based soup full of shrimp, fish, scallop & crab. Seeking out this quirky little restaurant was well & truly worthwhile. http://www.tripadvisor.com.au/Restaurant_Review-g52023-d1501651-Reviews-Griff_s_On_The_Dock-Port_Orford_Oregon.html

Just before we reached our destination for the night we saw one of our favourite signs and we veered into a Wine Tasting! Good wine and good advice was served by a Kiwi expat!!

We spent the night in a SMOKING room at the Rodeway Inn! Compromising way too much to save money taught us a lesson, but then life is a learning experience and we passed yet another of its tests. At least the washing machines worked better than motel’s wifi and we were able to resolve a small problem with the Educator’s School emails so it wasn’t all bad news as we left.

We took one of the Kiwi’s (remember him) suggestions and our first stop was the Oregon State University’s Hatfield Marine Science Centre. http://hmsc.oregonstate.edu/visitor/exhibits-and-events It was great! Lots of aquatic information, lots of aquatic animals, and a great library and all for a donation.

Florence’s waterfront was the next destination and we enjoyed the mix of eclectic galleries and funky gift stores complete with numerous things we’d love to buy, if we had the money and room in our cases. Hunger pangs were increasing as we passed the cornucopia of eateries and we took another of the Kiwi’s suggestions and chose “Ocean Blue @ Ginos. http://www.oceanbleuseafoods.com/ Great suggestion, The Educator’s bowl of clam chowder and the Apiarist’s seafood stew in a bread bowl were stunning! And at $24 (including tip) it hardly broke the budget.

Viewpoint stops were now our only breaks

as we headed for our first Couchsurfing experience as surfers rather hosts. Becky and Mark were great hosts and if this is to be the general Couchsurfing experience “bring it on”! Tasty salmon salad served with home made salsa & corn chips washed down with a Stump Jump Shiraz/ Grenache was an early but delicious dinner for us and all was very good!

Dance Class for Becky & Mark was the reason for the early dinner and we took the opportunity to catch up on emails and blog before their return. The night continued with a good couple of hours of “chalk talk” as the Educators outnumbered the Apiarists although the discussion was VERY varied and even included honeybees and the variety of issues that are causing problems for Apis Mellifera worldwide. Sleep in our cottagy upstairs room was easy after yet another full and entertaining day!