Oregon

We arrived in Oregon rather late in the day with just enough time to get our fifth wheel set up, have a bite, and put our feet up for a bit after a long day on the road. The staff at the KOA were welcoming when we pulled up and got us checked into a lovely site. The campgrounds were a welcome sight after our last industrial park stay. This KOA is set in the woods, removed from city life and offers a peaceful atmosphere.

The RV sites have full hookups, enough room to fit our 39 ft toy-hauler, park the bikes, and have a sitting area. There is overflow parking for vehicles close by if needed at no extra cost. The resort also offers tiny cabins, some with small kitchen areas and some without; these would be perfect for a biker's destination to stay overnight. There is a tenting area. They have bathrooms with showers and an onsite cafe that operates in the summer. The campgrounds are located a quick drive to town, 4 km down the road from Lincoln City.

Camp grounds and RV site

We started our next day with a hike on one of the local trails (The Knoll) to the top of a bluff that looks out over the entire city of Lincoln. Spectacular views as far as the eye can see.

The Knoll Hike

With hungry bellies, we made our way back down to our truck and headed off to find Pelican Brewing located one town over, 10 minutes away in Siletz Bay. Set right on the ocean with a patio overlooking the most spectacular view, the cozy atmosphere on a rainy day may make you never want to leave. We enjoyed a beer flight, a bite, and of course that view, snapped off a few pics, and made our way back to town to grab a few groceries and stop at the beach, which to our delight had pelicans hanging about preening themselves, splashing, and putting on a show.

Pelican Brewing and views

Day 3 - We hit the road early and made our way to a little town called Seaside. The drive was nothing short of spectacular and picturesque. I could not help but think how amazing this road would be on our motorcycles. Unfortunately, it was a bit windy and rainy that day, so we left them behind and traveled by truck.

We ate lunch at Mo's located on the waterfront and enjoyed more spectacular views of the beachfront. The food was great, and before I could even take a sip of my drink, our food arrived, talk about fast service! We finished lunch and enjoyed a stroll up and down the sidewalks, admiring the cute shops, bought saltwater taffy, and did some window shopping.

After leaving Seaside, we made our way down the coast, visiting beach after beach, each more impressive than the last. There were so many cute little seaside towns to stop at that had cute shops and places to dine, coffee huts, and food trucks. We stopped at the popular Haystack Rock, parking was a challenge but worth it. Our last stop in Pacific City aligned perfectly with the most beautiful sunset dropping down behind Chief Kiawanda Rock, lighting up the evening sky with an amazing show of orange, making for a beautiful autumn sunset.

The Town of Seaside/ Haystack Rock/ Cannon Beach and Kiwanda Rock in Pacific City

Day four - We opted to relax at the RV and get some house cleaning done.

Day Five - With rain again in the forecast, we decided to leave the bikes behind and take our truck. Thank goodness we did, as we traveled down the coastline, we drove through numerous patches of heavy rain on and off during the day. There was one area we passed through named Cape Foul Weather which we had a laugh about as rain beat down on the window so hard we could barely see and could understand how it got its name.

We did get some periods of clear skies that aligned perfectly with our stops at the Sea Lion caves, a couple of state parks, a stop for lunch at Rogue Brewing, and a stroll along the Newport waterfront. Finding the sea lion dock was not hard; all you have to do is follow the sound of obnoxious loud barking as they battle each other for prime napping spots. It's quite a sight to see these large masses of blubbery beasts all piled atop each other, shifting, wiggling, and biting their way through each other in hopes to find a spot to rest. If you've never been, it's a must-do while in Newport and made up for there being no sea lions at the sea lion caves that day due to the season and their being gone until mating season. Beautiful murals line the streets, and there are plenty of fun and interesting shops and places to eat.

Sealion Dock/ Newport/ Sea Lion Caves/ Rogue Brewing/ Devil's Punchbowl/ Oregon Bridges, wildlife and Coast Line

Day 6 - FINALLY.... SUN and just in time with only a couple of days left in Oregon to ride our bikes. We made our way back towards Newport as the drive the day before had miles of coastline and views to ride alongside. We made our way to Yaquina Head and Yaquina Bay lighthouses which on a motorcycle had a $3 entry fee, $7 for cars but given we plan to visit numerous parks across the states over the next 5 months, we opted for an annual pass that cost $80 and would get us into all the National Parks and Federal Recreational Lands.

The lighthouse was lovely and set on a bluff overlooking 360 degrees of gorgeous landscapes. Seabirds could be seen on the rocks below. The entry to the park is located next to the Yaquina Bay Bridge, which offers a beautiful lookout spot and picture op. There we met two lovely couples and fellow travelers from Kelowna, BC, and Washington State and had a nice exchange about RVing and common interests. Thank you for the pictures, Kim & Dave / Bill & Joan, enjoy your travels.

We headed back to Depoe Bay where we had earlier passed a cute little brewery set right across from a popular whale-watching hot spot during the Grey Whales migration season. Unfortunately, no whales that day for us, but we did score an awesome new t-shirt for Bill at the Depoe Bay Brewery. The clam chowder and popcorn shrimp were fabulous! With the day getting late and the weather cooling off, it was time to make our way back to the rig to warm up.

Day 7 - One last enjoyable day soaking in this beautiful coastline before we pack up and roll out to make our way across the rest of Oregon towards California. It's been a fabulous stay, and we loved the Oregon Coast. We will certainly be putting it on our map again to visit in the future.

We found getting around easy. Coming in the fall, we avoided the summer crowds, which was nice. Less traffic, easier parking, no wait times in restaurants, or long lines to wait in.

Our thanks to KOA Lincoln City staff, Shane and Traci, who made us feel so welcomed and our stay that much more enjoyable. Oregon you're a pure delight!

Bill & Cat