EASY RIDERS

Wed, 6/2/10. Early a.m. and our first steady rain. Weather channel indicates rain, and more rain, up the Oregon coast. No rush, we'll just sleep some more. Packing up at noon and it's still raining.

It seems surreal driving north in the rain and fog on Hwy101 into Oregon. The Pacific ocean with dramatic rock formations is on the left and the deep green Siskiyou National Forest is on the right.

Stop at the Port of Gold Beach and tour the fishermen direct seafood market. Through Dune City we search for an RV site. Do I hear banjos playing? So we roll further north and there is historic Old Town Florence. We locate the perfect site--Port of Siuslaw Campground and Marina. Nice, quiet, and within walking distance of the river and quaint town. Stroganoff with the leftover ribeye and beef ribs, carrots and peas. Tim has an adventure in store for us tomorrow.

Thurs, 6/3/10. They say it rains along the coast of Oregon Oct thru May. A clear day prompts Tim to check out the towering sand dunes and suggests we rent an ATV. The experience can't be any worse than feeling like you're careening off the road with all your STUFF... I'll ride my own, thank you. There is a 1-mile radius in which to ride and the massive proportions of the dunes measure up to 385 ft or more in height. The scope includes valleys, hills, and islands with forests. Easy Riders....OFF WE GO!

Truly a fun, wild ride! Continue the coastal drive where the elk, sea lions and whales play. And it's raining. Push Rt20E to Rt5N towards Portland to possibly get across the state line to Washington. We make it!

Ms. Garmin lists an RV park that results in a good choice -- Woodland Shores with a riverfront site. Woodland town is over 100 yrs old and one of the 1st communities established along the Oregon Trail. It is quite a place with world-renowned tulip and lilac gardens. The town also marks the south access to the blast zone of Mt. St. Helen's after the 1980 eruption.

The night is quiet and the rainy weather doesn't stop us from grilling outside.

Friday, 6/4/10. Due to the rain and fog, not sure if we will make it to Johnston Ridge Observatory for Mt. St. Helen crater views. On Rt504, stop at the visitor center for exhibits and movie.

On 5/18/80, Mt. St. Helen's blew 60,000 ft of heated ash into the sky. An earthquake, 5.1 magnitude, shifted the earth underneath the active volcano and caused a build-up of steam and pressure. This triggered a massive landslide causing a powerful laterally directed blast. A pyroclastic flow consisting of rock fragments, highly charged gas and super heated steam devastated almost 150,000 acres of private, state and Federal forests.

On our way up the mountain, you can still see areas of gray left from the ash but also the rapid renewal of plants and trees. The rain and fog surrounds us so we turn around and return to a restaurant advertising homemade fruit cobbler..Tim is happy about that.

Katie!... check out an item on the menu!

Zack is happy..he found a playmate.

Late afternoon and we're headed for Seattle. I ask Tim what the dome is for in Tacoma. He says it's for "dome things." I shouldn't have asked.

Dash Point State Park has RV sites in wooded areas so we pick one next to a 1-mile winding trail to the beach. With the setting sun, metal detecting in the sand is fun. Back to the site for chicken, broccoli and wild rice...and roasted marshmellows! Looking forward to spending the next day in Seattle.