Along the coast of Oregon

We had decided to travel along US Route 101, continuing from Northern California into Oregon and eventually into Washington State.  This is the coastal road and bears many names like the Redwood Highway and the Oregon Scenic Coastal Highway.  It will mean missing many places but will offer opportunities like our last camping spot in CA, a state park called Patrick's Point SP.  

We chose the high end camping area so we could have a view of Agate Beach from the van.  It was worth the extra dollars, and we enjoyed the light and surf patterns during sunset our first evening.

The ranger at the gate told us about the part of the park where we could get first-hand sightings of Sea Lions and Seals.  Early the second day of our visit, we headed along the Rim Trail, along the coast, 

anticipating what we might see and hear at Palmers Point.  The barking noises came to our ears much before the sighting of the Sea Lions.  The larger ones are called Stellar Sea Lions.

This was quite a thrill! We had seen the California Seals earlier at Point Arena and now had wonderful experiences with the wild Sea Lions calling for their mates.

Along the trail there were other interesting things to see.  Like the Western Trillium and the Banana Slug.

And we continue to be blessed with lush vegetation and fun spots for a joyful moment...

Our site provided a visit from a friendly bird that has always been one our favorites from Baxter State Park.  That is the Gray Jay.  I almost jumped up and down when I saw it the first time.

It came closer for a better look and a hopeful chance to steal something to eat. Not on our watch however, and the Steller Jay was also watching along with the rabbit.

As often happens, we met a nice neighbor-camper, Cork, who gave us lots of helpful ideas about the miles ahead and we wished him well as he entered the land of retirement.  So we said goodbye to him, and to Agate Beach Saturday morning.

We stopped to visit a Yurok Village replica that was near the exit of the park.  We had read about it and didn't want to miss seeing it. 

         One of the houses. (I worried a bear might use the door too)

           Hand carved boat from Redwood

         Appeared to be a root cellar

The village was actually built by some of the native people who still live in this area and were invited by the park to built this replica.  It sits in the middle of a beautiful forest of Sitka Spruce and Douglas Fir.

Eventually, we headed north on our familiar US Route 101 and it wasn't long until we began to see changes. First was the sign to say we had entered into a new state.

We needed to fill the van with diesel fuel, and noticed that gas was cheaper almost immediately.  

The highway took us very close to the wild and amazing Pacific and the coastline was dramatic and thrilling.  Wish I could really share all we saw and as we saw it, but here are a few shots.

There are so many things to see and places to visit so we are spending today looking over the maps and books and deciding which spots we will choose.  The book we got from the State Visitor Center even tells us where to go to (hopefully) see the California Gray Whale now on migration from Mexico to the Aleutians for the summer.  A 10,000 mile migration!  Another treasure hunt!  Love it!

Funny footnote...Latona just hanging around!