From: casarollnotes.blogspot.com
Tim and Linda Bunyan
Tim and Linda Bunyan
We have the month of October before our return to Sacramento. We plan our Travel Tours to end by November 1 to be with Angela and Lee and our Grandson Jeff for Angela's birthday in November. We spend the holidays with Jason and Erin too. They have reserved Carmel Valley RV Ranch for Thanksgiving this year to include our in-laws John and Barbara. We are going to meet up with each of their rigs in tow in Carmel.
From Mike and Paul's house in Semiahmoo (Blaine) Washington [northwest corner of Washington state], we have planned to visit our Mazatlan neighbors Mike and Judi Phillips at their Bend, Oregon house.
Along the way, we spend a week at our membership RV park: Paradise Cove at Rockaway Beach, Oregon, and a couple of quick overnights. It is about 450 miles and we've some time to enjoy the Oregon coast.
Cabela's Parking Lot: We find a space on the outside perimeter of the parking area with 'some privacy'. Woodstock can walk about along the trees. Perfect timing as this week the sign at the door says: "Flannel Festival". I bought a couple of flannel shirts!
Onto the Columbia River Highway, the bridge is a scene of high industrial use.
There are still many trees remaining.
A cruise ship comes to Astoria!
Nice views. It is peaceful and nice to be here. This is one of our Membership RV Parks. We stay here for the 7 days we are allowed. 
Thru Astoria (Lewis & Clark's camp area). The Columbia River Maritime Museum filled with history where the Columbia meets the Pacific Ocean!
SMALL PLACES hold huge stories: Suomi-Hall Finnish Brotherhood (if these walls could speak). Preserving local heritage extends back over 130 years. Its mission to promote the organization first served as a sanctuary when Finns flocked to Astoria in the late 1800s after their home country experienced horrible famine and economic collapse. They came here in their native tongue and learned English as a second language. Today its membership is over 200. Similarities between Finland and Astoria are their experience back in their home country of dairy farming, logging, and fishing.
Some say 'because it's just like Finland' is why they came.
The Finnish Brotherhood connects with the community by hosting events each year open to the public. Look to "The Kaleva" an epic Finnish poem for those history buffs. Also in Astoria is the Public Library designed by Finnish architects Ebba Wicks Brown and the Tapiola Park.
The Astoria-Megler Bridge, 4.1 miles steel cantilever through a truss bridge across the mouth of the Columbia River to Point Ellice. (where Lewis & Clark crossed from "Station Camp" in WA across to Oregon on the Columbia in their canoe.
Paradise Cove, Rockaway Beach, Oregon
This is our site. We love our site along the shoreline of Neskowin Beach, Oregon.
October is near the close of the season so we have the place to ourselves.
dock for all kinds of fishing....and strolling.
Of course, "Look for Tillamook on the Rind" when along the Oregon Coast one must stop at Tillamook. We stop for the ice cream. It is covid safety guidelines in place with safe spacing.....forming a line to the very best ice cream!.
This is the kite store in Newport, Oregon (driving through). Stayed here last year for 5 interesting days.
We are inland in Corvalis where the Beavers are the athletic teams that represent Oregon State University. We drive around town; the Fall colors are brilliant.
Sunset.
We travel out to the unpretentious seafood store & eatery: The Fish Peddler recommended by Cousin Diz and Vicki. A great place in beautiful Bay City, Oregon to enjoy fresh oysters!
The Morning Star ship played an important role in strengthening the community of Tillamook and establishing the dairy industry in the county. For 110 years values of Farmer-owners is the journey of working toward Dairy Done Right.
History: The first European settlers find the wet, cool climate perfect for raising dairy cows. Farmers had butter and milk to sell but hauling it over rough mountain roads takes so long, it would spoil,
The fastest route to Portland is by water, so they built the Morning Star
to carry their dairy goods to market.
The beautiful Oregon Coast.
It is time to turn towards the east, inland thru Corvalis where our Mazatlan friends, Rod & Audry live, and then onto visit Mike and Judi in Bend, Oregon.
The Barn at Tamarack Springs. A place for weddings.
It is across the street from Les Schwab where we pulled in to have our tire repaired. There was a nail found in it. No charge and no long delay.
It is October; this is quite the photo!
We drive to Albany where Rod & Audry live. We planned to stay at the Elks Lodge; however, we find it closed with a large boulder blocking the entrance to the parking lot.
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We have contacted Rod & Audry (they are in Mazatlan) and they extend their driveway at their house in Albany, Oregon for a quick overnight stay. They are not at their Oregon house; they are at their beachfront condo in Mazatlan! We visited with them last year. Rod and Audrey are generous and welcoming toward us to stop at their house.
Inland about 50 miles is the Willamette Valley filled with meadows and wineries. Rod and Audrey live in the pastoral area which makes for a pleasant surrounding and contrast to their 2nd home in Mazatlan.
Inland to Bend, Oregon
