Posted June 21, 2022 – Narrated by Carmen
“Alis volat propriis”
As we move north toward Alaska, we never know what we will be up against. Conditions are rarely what the guides project.
Currently, we are dealing with flooded campgrounds due to the early Spring melt. Entering southern Oregon in early March, we were prepared for harsh weather but not the thrashing we took.
The Oregon coast drew us in from California and spewed us out upon Washington, our bones stripped clean of any ideation that this wild, romantic land was ever intended for mere men.
From the moment we pulled into Brookings we felt miserably and ineffectually human. The gloomiest Spring since 1945 was a fine howdy-do.
Freezing temperatures, constant rain, hail, snow and deafening winds would continue for at least eight more weeks, pounding in the message on the old California/Oregon border, “Welcome to Oregon. Enjoy your visit” (Italics mine).
Like most Californians, we adore Oregon. Many of our dearest San Diego friends moved to The Beaver State to stake their claim to a different way of life.
All have fared well. Oregon welcomed them, enfolded them, steadied their anxious hearts and rewarded opportunity with abundance.
The State of Excitement blew our socks off too, and returned them sopping wet without so much as a sunbeam to dry them out.
It seemed we were always online ordering woolen this and rain-proof that .
Still, it wasn’t all a wash. Oregon is gorgeous, even when she sulks …
and storms …
Into The Redwoods
From Eureka, the rain never let up. Traveling the 101 …
we passed through the redwood forest to …
Brookings
Trying to squeeze into a hillside nook beneath the pines at Harris Beach State Park made us feel like newbies. That sickening crunch sound we heard didn’t boost our confidence either. We stopped and investigated but never saw what hit her, so we actually gave it another go.
After giving our poor Beauty the old one-two, we abandoned that site and chose another.
Later, when our stomachs settled, we walked back to the scene of the crime. Looking high, low, and every inch in-between we spotted no sign of the offending branch.
This mysterious pounding just goes to show that even after six years of living in Beauty we are mere babes in the woods.
Jim called Vinnie Lamica to pre-order parts for repairs when we return from Alaska. Then we made a champagne-worthy dinner to console the bitterness of defeat.
“Cheers. It could have been worse,” served as our mantra on those precious walks between the endless succession of storms.
Since living in Beauty, we’ve learned that there is no ideal place to live, but we could spend more time in Brookings.
My Aquarian mama called me her little mermaid, and I guess she knew me well because most places I love are either nearly under water or in a Tsunami zone.
I think, I could never tire of this fascinating seashore which looks like a rock convention …
complete with bad toupees …
Watching the seagulls scrap for a living in the waves provides hours of riveting comedy and drama.
After the agony of the trailer damage, events in Brookings continued better than expected.
For our second week, we had The Beast’s diesel turbo replaced. We braced ourselves for bad news. Big jobs like this often reveal other jobs that need attention. Drawn by the rave reviews and sterling reputation of the team at the Brookings Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram dealership, Jim made the appointment weeks ahead.
They handled The Beast with the utmost care and even gave us a fabulous loaner car to cruise the coastline over the weekend.
“Things were bad, now all is well,” is a pervasive theme of this magical tsunami ravaged landscape.
Brookings is the only place in the United States to sustain an arial bomb attack by a Japanese fighter in WW2. That was news to us. The library, which was undergoing renovations, allowed us to view the peace memorial.
It was a bit too early in the season to witness the full glory of Azalea Park …
but the weekend Farmer’s Market was a favorite haunt …
as well as Misty Mountain Brewery …
and the patio room at Chetco Brewing Company for those rare sunny afternoons …
when we had a hankerin’ for some fine vegan chow.
Chetco is a treasured neighborhood spot where locals buy each other beers and chalk it up to friendship.
Thanks Brookings. We needed that.
Coos Bay
Pulling out of Brookings …
we drove the 101 …
to Coos Bay …
our second home on the Oregon Coast.
This gorgeous new campground, Bay Point Landing, built on the site of the old paper plant, was highly recommended by our kind neighbors at Dillon Beach.
The sites are as generous as any state park. Every facility and amenity is provided for a long comfortable stay, a weekend get-away, or a large-group meet-up.
As Accuweather predicted, it rained every day of our two-week stay, but not all day long. We kept an eye to the sky for opportunistic moments to kayak across the bay for a hike on The North Spit …
and to auto-tour the stunning coastline …
and stroll through the estuary …
play a little corn hole …
or bask in the sun …
We seized a spectacular day for a top-notch lunch at Tokyo Bistro …
and an afternoon at Mingus Park.
Our Airstream neighbors next door recommended we try Chuck’s Seafood for the freshest fish in town.
Rain or shine, the shops were always open in this most hospitable seaside town.
And if the rain got us down, Seven Devils was there to pick up our spirits.
Thanks Coos Bay!
With rain predicted for our travel day, we hitched up on our last night at Bay Point Landing Campground. Sure enough, we pulled out in the rain.
But the weather slowly cleared and we enjoyed the iconic bridges and views.
Blue Heron French Cheese Company
Blue Heron French Cheese Company, a Harvest Hosts location – where we stocked up on local wine, produce and brie – provided quiet overnight parking.
The rain predicted for the previous day caught up with us on the picturesque drive through Tillamook …
to our final Oregon destination …
Seaside
Jim secured a hunting-permit reservation in advance. Our tag-team strategy to secure a quiet and private space in this a busy, suburban campground was a success.
Learning more about the Lewis and Clark expedition was the two-week plan.
These travels across the USA have awakened our interest in American history, and particularly in the life of Meriwether Lewis who’s somber death place we found, one rainy morning, on The Natchez Trace in 2017.
Monument for Meriwether Lewis on the Natchez Trace, Mississippi
The outlet stores at Seaside were an added bonus.
The museums and shopping served us well as the weather turned exceptionally gnarly.
Hiking the scenic trails and kayaking the river didn’t pan out, but how often do you get to cast your eyes on a chocolate sea? The curious biological phenomena is perfectly healthy …
and reminded us of the strawberry milk river we saw in Granite Creek in Wyoming.
Seaside is an historic town with a focus on recreational tourism …
The indoor amusement park, arcade, restaurants and beach are the main attractions …
We enjoyed the hip coffee lounges and drive-thru’s
and the innovative breweries in a repurposed jail …
and in the old town cinema.
And what a pleasure to walk the promenade along the historic beach …
The icy chill in the air pointed out our aches and pains. Feeling old makes me ruminate (Beware! Old Person Ruminating. Proceed with extreme caution!)
What Lewis and Clark accomplished was extraordinary, but they are not ancient figures. And, as the world reconsiders the solvency of boundaries, conquest and treaties, their story seems current.
The Seaside History Center Museum
and Butterfield Cottage brought that squishy issue of age and the passage of time close to home.
The articles in the collection – call them obsolete, vintage or antique – were once a part of our activities, our daily lives, and are now being rediscovered by young people.
Discover is such a wide-ranging word. We substitute it for “learn,” “found,” “revelation” and “realize” – as in, “I discovered I was out of gas” and “Mittens helped me discover I am not a cat person.”
Discovery is both personal and generational. The word “over” inside the word “discover” is a clue that discovery is a repetitive exercise because knowledge is fleeting and often hidden.
Lewis and Clark did not discover Oregon. They knew Oregon was there the whole time, right at the end of the Oregon Trail which was also always there, by a different name. Their journey is the marvel, and how they opened the territory to western migration.
Dignity and respect have no boundaries. For those who will hearken and obey her wild and winged spirit, the wonder and mystery of Oregon is still open to fresh discovery.
The “Airstreaming to Alaska” series
- Chapter 1 – San Diego to Malibu
- Sun Outdoors San Diego Bay – Chula Vista, California
- Malibu Beach RV Resort – Malibu, California
- Chapter 2 – Malibu to Morro Bay
- Morro Bay State Park – Morro Bay, California
- Chapter 3 – Morro Bay to Santa Cruz
- Santa Cruz Harbor RV Park – Santa Cruz, California
- Chapter 4 – Santa Cruz to San Francisco
- San Francisco RV Park – Pacifica, California
- Chapter 5 – San Francisco to Eureka
- Vinnie’s Northbay Airstream Repair – Wilton, California
- High Water Brewery (Harvest Host location) – Lodi, California
- Harmony Wynelands (Harvest Host location) – Lodi, California
- Van Ruiten Family Vineyards (Harvest Host location) – Lodi, California
- Four Fools Winery (Harvest Host location) – Rodeo, California
- Lawson’s Landing – Dillon Beach, California
- Mia Bea Wines (Harvest Host location) – Redwood Valley, California
- Johnny’s at the Beach – Eureka, California
- Chapter 6 – The Oregon Coast
- Harris Beach State Park – Brookings, Oregon
- Bay Point Landing Resort – Coos Bay, Oregon
- Blue Herron French Cheese (Harvest Host location) – Tillimook, Oregon
- Seaside RV Resort – Seaside, Oregon
- Chapter 7 – The Strait of Juan de Fuca
- Washington Land Yacht Harbor Airstream Park – Olympia, Washington
- Salt Creek Recreation Area – Port Angeles, Washington
- Chapter 8 – Victoria, British Columbia
- Weir’s Beach RV Resort – Victoria, British Columbia
- Chapter 9 – Victoria to Mackenzie
- Riverside RV Resort – Whistler, British Columbia
- Big Bar Rest Area – Clinton, British Columbia
- Walmart Parking Lot – Prince George, British Columbia
- Alexander MacKenzie Landing – Mackenzie, British Columbia
- Chapter 10 – The Alaska Highway
- Northern Lights RV Park – Dawson Creek, British Columbia
- Former Prophet River State Park – Peace River, British Columbia
- Hay Lake – Fort Liard, Northwest Territories
- Northern Rockies Lodge and RV Park – Muncho Lake, British Columbia
- Liard River Hot Springs Provincial Park – Liard River, British Columbia
- Chapter 11 – Yukon
- Watson Lake Visitors Center Parking Lot – Watson Lake, Yukon
- Teslin Rest Area – Teslin, Yukon
- Norsemen RV Park – Atlin, British Columbia
- Hot Springs Campground – Whitehorse, Yukon
- Real Canadian Superstore Parking Lot, Whitehorse, Yukon
- Gold Rush Campground – Dawson City, Yukon
- Chapter 12 – Top of the World Highway to Chicken, Alaska
- Downtown Chicken Cafe and Saloon
- Chapter 13 – Tok to Valdez
- Tundra RV Park – Tok, Alaska
- Gulkana River Rest Stop – Gulkana, Alaska
- Bear Paw RV Park – Valdez, Alaska
- Chapter 14 – Glacier View to Anchorage
- Grand View Cafe and RV Park – Glacier View, Alaska
- Alaska Raceway Park (Harvest Host location) – Palmer, Alaska
- Ship Creek RV Park – Anchorage, Alaska
- Chapter 15 – Kenai Peninsula
- Heritage RV Park – Homer Spit, Alaska
- Marathon RV Campground – Seward, Alaska
- Chapter 16 – Whittier to Talkeetna
- Williwaw Campground – Whittier, Alaska
- Talkeenta Camper Park – Talkeetna, Alaska
- Chapter 17 – Denali
- Riley Creek Campground – Denali National Park, Alaska
- Chapter 18 – North Pole to Chena Hot Springs
- Riverview RV Park – North Pole, Alaska
- Chena Hot Springs Campground – Fairbanks, Alaska
- Chapter 19 – Tok to Haines
- Fast Eddy’s Restaurant Parking Lot – Tok, Alaska
- Gravel Turnout – Beaver Creek, Yukon
- Gravel Turnout – Destruction Bay, Yukon
- Haines Hitch-UP RV Park – Haines, Alaska
- Chapter 20 – South to the Lower 48
- Gravel Turnout – Haines Junction, Yukon
- Teslin Rest Area – Teslin, Yukon
- Jade City Parking Lot – Jade City, British Columbia
- Mehan Lake Rest Area – Bell II, British Columbia
- Fort Telkwa Riverfront RV Park – Telkwa, British Columbia
- Walmart Parking Lot – Prince George, British Columbia
- 100 Mile House Municipal Campground – 100 Mile House, British Columbia
- Mt. Paul Golf Course (Harvest Host location) – Kamloops, British Columbia
- Crowsnest Vineyards (Harvest Host location) – Cawston, British Columbia
- Final Chapter – Lessons Learned
- Philosophy
- Preparation
- Planning
- Mileposts (the book)
- Roads
- Weather
- Camping
- Cash and Currency
- Clothing
- Food
- Wildlife
- Bugs
- Fuel
- Dump Stations and Potable Water
- Pets
- Internet Connectivity
- Hiking
- Cycling
- Kayaking
- Damage
- Dangers
- Canada Border Crossing
- US Border Crossing
- General Observations
- Serendipity
- Final Thoughts
- Our Camp Sites
If you want to see the exact route we travel, click here.
*photos in this post (unless otherwise noted) were taken and copyrighted by Living In Beauty.
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Oregon has been very unpredictable this year. We’re in the central valley and received measurable snow in early May.
Hey Rod!
The bizarre weather followed us up into Washington and Victoria. Fair weather finally blessed us about two weeks ago. It’s lovely here in Yukon!
Thanks so much for being with us!
Safe & Happy Travels!
Carmen@LIB
Wrote you back when you posted about your e-bikes, we had similar experiences and decided to move forward with the Dolphins with your generous discounts! Have enjoyed following you up the coast, starting with the Chula Vista RV park and the bike trail. We just returned from staying there and doing the entire bike trail loop, thank you so much for the suggestion! (and the e-bikes) We have friends that are full-timers in a 23 foot Airstream that are campground hosts up in Harris Beach, wonder if they were on duty when you stopped in? If they were up there I’m sure you would have met them, Pat and Jerri are very outgoing and I’m sure they would have introduced themselves. So enjoy your postings and learn so much about the local attractions should we ever get a chance to make it to any of your destinations. Thanks so much and safe travels!
Hey John! Greetings from Yukon!
We would have loved to meet Pat and Jerri! Maybe they will be there next time we are in Brookings.
Congratulations on your new Dolphins! That bike trail in Chula Vista is fabulous. Hopefully, they will continue improving and enlarging it.
Wonderful to hear from you.
Safe & Happy Travels!
Carmen@LIB
one day….
… and I hope you have perfect weather.
Safe & Happy Travels!
Carmen@LIB
Nobody warned you of “Spring” weather in Oregon
🤣💨🌊☔❄️🌥️ … And repeat only scrambled
Now we know, Kaarin 🤪
And we will find out what it’s like in September in a few months!
Safe & Happy Travels!
Carmen@LIB
I loved this one because of the ups and downs.
Nancy!!! ♥️
You make your plans, evaluate your choices, and what happens, happens. Even up here in Yukon we are still contending with the unusual wet weather, but we have no problems compared to the people who live up here. They are being flooded out of their homes and businesses due to the heaviest snows in over fifty years. We toured Teslin today and many homes around the lake are flooded out – and the water is rising. We feel fortunate to be able to re-route and change plans as necessary as we view The Great North which is more beautiful than we ever dreamed!
So great to hear from you!
Safe & Happy Travels!
Carmen@LIB
As an Oregonian, I found this to be such a beautifully written description of our lovely state! Wonderful photos, too…
Thank you, Kim! We love your BEAUTIFUL state! You are so fortunate to live in Oregon. If a few details of our lives had turned out differently, we might be proud Oregonians too. We are impressed with how each coastal town has a distinct character. We fully intend to spend more time in Oregon.
What a pleasure to have you along on this tour to Alaska!
Safe & Happy Travels!
Carmen@LIB
Thank you for the lovely journey through Oregon.
It is our pleasure, Teresita!
How wonderful to have you on board for this wild coastal journey 🌊
Safe & Happy Travels!
Carmen@LIB
Especially loved the ethereal Native American music
Miss you guys
Let’s have a Zoom happy hour soon
Jim ♥️ OMG you would love Yukon! Sam would constantly have her sketch book out. It’s raining right now and we have a great view of Weather Mountains (The 3 Aces) and Teslin Lake. This is the home of the Tlingit people and today we saw a fascinating film about George Johnston, a Tlingit elder and photographer. This lifestyle is a wonderful bridge to Native American culture and history. The music is from Jim’s spa-music collection that he used to play in the office. He’ll share it with you. It would be nice with some Apple Pie Hooch on your patio … which I miss SO much! We will be able to Zoom in Alaska with our unlimited data.
xoxo,
Carmen
Seems like you had a typical spring Oregon experience…🤪. The coastline is spectacular and the seaside towns wonderful … but as you say, there is no perfect place to live, [except perhaps in an Airstream.]. Happy continuation – wishing you some warming sunshine – now that summer has officially arrived maybe you’ll get some, along with a bit of internet. We’re back from France this week and already north-bound to try to escape the worst if summer’s heat and smoke; then back across the pond in mid-September for a few months….. see you in ‘23! Joe and Ronnie
Joe & Ronnie 💕 I think you two have hacked the perfect-place-to-live issue better than most of of us, but yes, Airstream is the platinum standard. As record keeping goes, this was the wettest and snowiest Winter-Spring in almost 50 years on the west coast. Many of the campgrounds we hoped to stay in are under water. Fortunately, there is plenty of high ground in Yukon. We’ve been camping along the roadsides mostly and enjoying it quite a bit. Nothing like a good quiet pull-out on the Alaska Highway.
We miss you two. BTW, we’d love to introduce you to our LeSix Group in San Diego – Francophiles, all. We’d have a wonderful time!
Best to you for the remainder of ’22 and we hope to see you sometime, somewhere on the road in ’23.
Safe & Happy Travels!
Carmen@LIB
Wow, your travels are never dull 😉. But you clearly are making the best of what the planet throws your way. Once again, a great trip update…stay safe and have fun!
Hey Carl! 💕 I’ll bet you’re finding some good summer kayaking locations! I still miss Ocracoke … (sigh) … something about that place.
It’s a wet and wild trip, but we signed up for it and we’re thrilled to be up here 💦🏕
Thanks for keeping us in your sights.
Safe & Happy Travels!
Carmen@LIB
Oh my….eight long weeks of rain and fog and storms. Still, as always, you found the beauty. We lived in Oregon for more than 25 years and have spent a lot of time on the coast, including some epic long coastal journeys when we started full-timing. We lucked out in late spring several years ago with a month of perfect weather. But that is unusual.
So glad you’ll have another opportunity on your way back from Alaska! You’ll discover the secret that all Oregonians know….September and October are the best weather months on the coast. Safe travels!
Hey Laurel!
Yes! That’s exactly what we were thinking. We’re hoping for dry, cool conditions on the way down. But it really hasn’t been all that bad, it’s just that we’re not used to wet weather almost every day. But we’re learning 😂 Many people who move to San Diego complain that there’s never any rain. So it’s all what you’re used to and are prepared to deal with. I’ve learned that umbrellas are pieces of junk. A good hoodie that ties down snug with a kayaking hat does the trick.
Thanks so much for being with us, Laurel. You get it!!!
Safe & Happy Travels!
Carmen@LIB
My great great uncle sat on the jury of the death of Meriwether Lewis. The court in Tennessee was trying to determine whether he was murdered or committed suicide. It was an interesting trial. I’ll have to look up the verdict. Their contribution to America was astounding.
Linda 💕 What a fascinating family history!
Yes, the mystery of Meriwether Lewis continues. From what I understand the family was never satisfied with the results of the trial and I believe some new evidence is under consideration. It’s an endlessly fascinating and tragic story.
Thank you for being with us! xoxo
Carmen@LIB
Beautiful photos! Sorry about Beauty’s mishap. 😢 But, you can continue your journey north, and get it repaired later. As you know, I enjoy reading and hearing about your great adventures! It also adds to my list of places I haven’t been. Carry on and safe travels! 🥰
Kathy ♥️ Thank you for the kind words of consolation. Oh, we’re over it. In almost seven years on the road – all day, every day – we’re lucky it took this long to have a major boo-boo. That’s what happens when you get cocky in big trees. Lesson learned. But she will be all patched up and good as new before we’re back in San Diego.
Wow! found some new places for you, our world traveller! 🌟 We’ll take that gold star and thank-you-very-much!
Always wonderful to know that you are with us, Kathy.
Safe & Happy Travels!
Carmen@LIB
I represent the Coos Bay, North Bend and Charleston area as the head of the visitor bureau. Thank you so much for showing off the southern Oregon Coast and especially our area so beautifully. Your photos are stunning. If you ever head back this way, let us know and we’d love to say Thank You in person.
Hey Janice!
Wow! We love Coos Bay and hope to return and explore the area further.
Thank you for reaching out. We hope to be in touch in the near future!
Safe & Happy Travels, Janice!
Carmen@LIB
Sorry to see that Beauty got a blemish, but love seeing how you just roll with it. I hope we are that way when we start to full time.
Hey Kathy!
We just got cocky and made several mistakes at once. It was cold, wet and windy. We turned our noses up at a wide-open space with an ocean view – which, looking back, was kind of dumb. Fortunately, it’s just a matter of replacing the dented panels and no interior damage. We’ve had other near-misses, but in all these years on the road in over 400 overnight locations this is the first major boom-boom – and it was in a very thickly treed area. I’m sure others have better records, but we’re not ashamed of ours. Mistakes like this are made when you’re travel-weary – that’s why we prefer light travel days and long rests. Things WILL happen if you are tired. We plan for the bad stuff and celebrate when the worst doesn’t happen! In the grand scheme of things a dent is just a dent. Fix it and move on.
So great to hear from future full-timers! Life is not perfect out here, but it is very, very good.
Safe & Happy Travels!
Carmen@LIB
That looks like a Linotype (hot lead typesetting) machine to me. Spent my 20’s and 30’s working in the printing industry. The noises those amazing machines made were a symphony of clicking clacking tinkling as the operator typed out one line, one column width, at a time. Now dinosaurs. Like me, 71 now, and lucky enough to also have an Airstream. Safe travels to Alaska and back.
Aha! Sounds like you know your antiques 😊
In the 70’s Jim considered the printing business and learned to operate a Linotype. They are miraculous. He took me to a printshop that was for sale and I remember the sounds you describe. I liked the smell of the ink and the sound of the paper as it flew through the process. It’s ironic that today we are paperless. I read on a Kindle. But I miss the sensory experience of the printed page.
Thanks so much for being with us and sharing your memories, Kathleen! It’s comforting to know that if we ever need a job we can always give guided tours at museums 😂
Safe & Happy Travels!
Carmen@LIB
Carmen and Jim,
Greg and I looked at your crumbled Airstream skin and our hearts stuttered since it looks exactly like ours (minus the crumple…currently). I have varying theories as to the cause: stress on the trailer skin internal supports while making a tight backing turn, your invisible branch, and my favorite, a meteorite. Disclaimer: Greg does not support any of those theories.
Take care of one another as always.
Love, Linda
LINDA 💕!!! I’ve been thinking about you!
Yes! We must have passed that space a dozen times – even when others were occupying it – scratching our heads trying to make sense of it. The meteorite theory is interesting. A random universal phenomena is more appealing than a creepy supernatural attack. That settles it, I’m going meteorite. Thank you! I feel much better!
So wonderful to hear from you. You and Greg would love this place in Yukon. Maybe that’s why I’ve been thinking of you.
xoxo,
Carmen@LIB
NOW we have to go up the Oregon Coast.
That’s great, Linda! Can we follow you?!!!😁
Safe & Happy Travels!
Carmen@LIB
We were in Teslin last week! The Yukon campground canceled our reservations due to flooding. I hope the water has receded by now.
Hey Lori! So sorry we missed you 😕 Unfortunately, the water is rising. We are camped on the pullout south of the bridge. The authorities removed the “no overnight camping” sign. We’ve been enjoying the town today, but right now there’s a crazy thunderstorm. Are you heading north?
Safe & Happy Travels!
Carmen@LIB
We crossed the border last Wednesday. We stayed at Sourdough Campground one night and River’s Edge Campground for 6 nights. We’re in the Denali Rainbow Village Campground for 4 nights b/f heading to Wasilla for 9 days. We have an appointment to get the windshield replaced in our truck!
Oh no!!! We’ve had a few nicks and have been preparing ourselves for the possibility of having to replace rather than patch the windshield. Be safe out there Lori! We’ve seen some scary roadkill incidents. For us, four hours a day is exhausting enough. The thought of driving south through Yukon during rutting season keeps me awake at nights 🫣
Safe & Happy Travels!
Carmen@LIB
It was a little bit better around Easter. Harris beach is gorgeous
Claudia! Are you an Oregonian? Yes, April was a bit more fair. We don’t regret seeing Oregon at it’s worst weather-wise. We saw many full-time RVers who winter in Oregon – people from up here in Yukon and others from warmer climates. Rain, storms, lightening are an attraction to many. Climate is a matter of preference and what one is prepared for. We expected it and man did we get it!!!
It’s always such a pleasure to hear from you, Claudia!
Safe & Happy Travels!
Carmen@LIB
We are kind of “intermittent full-Timers“. We are Germans living in Germany and come to the US to travel when our work schedules allows it. In April we did the trip from Las Vegas to Portland. We have 5 weeks in summer and plan to see more of the Columbia river and the coast. End point will be the Bay Area. We plan to go to Alaska when my husband retires in 2 or 3 years.
We enjoy following your route, a lot of common interests.
Happy and safe travels
Claudia
Poor Beauty! I am so sorry this happened to her. But, of course she can be fixed. I thought Brookings had mild weather all winter? We visited there in a car years ago and fell in love with the quaint town. But, again, I thought it had mild weather all winter long. 🙂 And, snow? Wow. Flooding now? You guys have hit the gamut, haven’t you? I did see a few pics with shorts and short sleeves. 🙂 Love, the OR coast, so amazingly beautiful.
Hey Brenda! I guess “mild” is a POV depending on where you’re from. Brookings isn’t as harsh as Telluride but is harsher than Sacramento. We loved it. I can see why it’s a growing community with many, many new houses (though most seem to be manufactured) going up along the scenic coastline.
Every single place we have been since San Diego (from December ’21- the present) conditions have been unusual for the locals. But we are able to manage quite well because we can simply move. Unfortunately, many locals do not have it that easy. We just left a town where anyone close to the water lost their house – and many of the houses were very modest homes that had been in that location for generations. It seems that mobile homes and manufactured homes located near the water will become even more common.
Yes, the Oregon coast is a place where I could live out the rest of my days. I love how the locals are so community and conservation minded.
Great to hear from you, Brenda. Thanks for keeping us on your radar! It makes us feel safer to know that others care.
Safe & Happy Travels!
Carmen@LIB
Ouch. Sorry to hear about the beauty mark on Beauty.
Given the glorious photos of your travels, the occasional repair seems worth the price of admission.
Chins up. All will be well.
And those Alaskan roads may provide more rash anyway.
Thanks for sharing your adventures!
Dean
Hey Dean! I hope you’re having a fabulous Summer!
Yes, it’s a just a couple of dents. All will be well. We figured we would have damage from this trip and we figured that cost into this “most expensive vacation we have ever taken” (considering the cost of fuel these days) and it’s worth every penny. Hopefully, there will be no more serious damage (knock on wood). But you can’t believe how dirty the rig is right now!!! Poor, poor beauty! Yesterday we bought a mosquito net for the bedroom … the mosquitos and flies are out for their pound of flesh per day!
Thank you, Dean, for your good wishes, prayers and energy. We accept every ounce of good will and begin each day with good feelings that all will go well. So far, so good!
Safe & Happy Travels!
Carmen@LIB
Yikes about the bad weather. Rain and cold is never fun, but when living fulltime in a camper, it does get really old, really quick. Not sure when you left Oregon, but we arrived one month ago in this state and for the first three weeks, it rained every day and the high was somewhere in the fifties. In June! Now, we are suffering through a heat wave. In a camper without AC… Let’s hope there will be some days in the seventies, before summer really starts here. 🙂
Liesbet!
Yes, when we started out we thought we would use our powers of mobility to catch the fair-weather. But we soon learned how many great places there are to visit that have only tiny windows of opportunity to enjoy short-sleeves. We had to grow our weather testicles and get out there and experience more. Now with climate change, we simply have to be prepared for anything and everything. The 50’s in June in Oregon is just nuts. Was that during daylight hours?! And these heat domes … Those are the things we want to avoid. We need to stay frosty so we can skedaddle when those things are predicted – and often they cover at least half of the country. Climate change may alter our ability to keep the 4-3-2 lifestyle going. We like to travel slow, but sometimes it is necessary to move faster.
Here’s to some cooler weather coming your way.
Always wonderful to hear from you, Liesbet.
xoxo,
Carmen@LIB
Once again, your post is magical. An absolute joy to listen to and look at the accompanying images of the journey. Keep up the good work. You produce the best travel blog on the internet.
Hey Pete!
You made our day again! Thank you so much for being with us. It is our pleasure to share this beautiful lifestyle that turned out to be so much better than we ever imagined.
Our followers are such a blessing to us. You remind us to be safe and give us a reason to treasure each moment. The internet at it’s best, right?
Safe & Happy Travels!
Carmen@LIB
Sorry to hear about your mishap. I’ve seen many rigs in perfect shape, and I have also seen those same rigs never leave the storage facility. If you use your rig enough, eventually there will be some dings and scrapes. Last year was the first time I returned from a trip without having to visit the body shop. This year, so far, so good. I really enjoy your writings and photos, you are an excellent writer.
Rob,
Thank you.
Sorry I haven’t responded till now, but we’ve been without connectivity other than satellite for a couple of weeks.
We really try to take care of the rig because she takes such good care of us. But things happen. We can’t even believe what we’ve put her through in Alaska. We’ve asked more of our Airstream than we thought we would. Fortunately, she’s capable of more than we thought she was!
You are so kind to step in with encouraging words. They come in handy right now. You just can’t know … Well, you will if you stay with us.
Safe & Happy Travels!
Carmen@LIB
Nice blog here! Also your site loads up very fast! What host are you using? Can I get your affiliate link to your host? I wish my site loaded up as quickly as yours lol
Erika, we use WordPress.com as our host site.
What a stunning and captivating read! The Oregon Coast beautifully captures the breathtaking scenery, rich history, and unique charm of this iconic region. Your vivid descriptions and engaging storytelling transport readers to the rugged cliffs, sandy beaches, and picturesque towns along the coastline. I especially appreciated how you combined practical travel tips with personal reflections, making the blog both informative and inspiring. Thank you for sharing such a thoughtfully crafted piece this is a must-read for anyone looking to explore the beauty and wonder of the Oregon Coast!
June, thank you for your kind words. Jim