Day 94, Thursday, Nov. 10, Harris Beach State Park, Gold Beach, southern Oregon
I was hoping to get off by 9 am this morning but i worked on my blog and some email and paid the penalty again today because of the sun's disappearing shortly after 4 these days. From now on, no more iPad in the morning.
The drive down 101, the coastal highway, turned quite interesting after Yachats. Spectacular ocean views, interesting little towns. But there was no way i could stop every time i wanted to as a one day trip would take several days. Besides, there is nothing i want to do in the towns and all Donner would be doing is sniffing around for dogs, which he is just as happy doing anywhere. We did stop twice, once at the New River Nature Centre, a wonderful natural oasis where i stopped with Erde two years ago.
My goal today was the Redwood Forest just over the California border. But i knew it would be close because i got a late start. Sure enough, af 4:30 i realized that we would not make it to the campground before 5:10, and with dark setting in at 5, i slammed on the brakes as i was about to pass the Harris Beach State Park just north of Gold Beach (or is it south) and decided to bivouac here in this very pleasant camp right off the highway. Tomorrow we will head to the Redwood Forest and hope that the camp is not fully reserved for those looking for one last escape over this holiday weekend. If it is, or the next day, we will head still farther south so we can get within one day's drive of the spectacular Samuel Taylor State Park just north of San Francisco on Sunday to avoid the inevitable weekend crowds there at this time of year.
Incidentally, on the drive today, we passed the Umpquah Lighthouse Camp where we hoped to camp last night. I could not believe my good fortune in bivouacking at South Beach last night. Not only did i get to experience a new camp,as i am tonight too, but Umpquah was three hours away in daylight, all the few camps in between were closed, and the road at times was pretty risky. This is precisely why i have rules, and why i followed them again tonight despite our being so close to making my destination for tonight.
Donner is settling back into his On the Road routine of sleeping in the Defender during the drive, waking up on,y when he senses the Defender slowing down for a rest break or a treat, and retiring early once inside the tent at night, earlier than usual these days, and after his quota of treats. I guess he has abandoned all hope of returning to the life he left in DC.
More tomorrow.
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