Road trip Oregon

Once we headed north on I-5 from Corning we were heading into infrequently explored territory. We've driven this way a few times but now we were prepared to see it through "road trip eyes."  To do this we brought along a library of roadside geology and road trip suggestions. 

We spent the morning admiring the beauty of Mt. Shasta as we drove along and even took a side trip somewhere looking for an ice cream stand that Calvin had visited as a child. Sadly no luck finding ice cream.

Near the town of Remote, Oregon we stopped for a leg stretcher at this covered bridge.

And after a little more back roads driving we arrived in Bandon, Oregon with a lovely little cottage right on the beach.  This is the view out our back door.

We took a walk along the beach looking for Face Rock, a sight not to be missed in Bandon.

We tried without success to find the Face Rock in our walk along the beach, but when we circled back along the road we found the Face Rock overlook and here clearly is the Face Rock. Look for the profile of a girl looking to the sky.

After our walk we settled down to watch the sunset.

The next day we drove along the coast stopping at the light houses along the way.  There are a lot of lighthouses along the Oregon coast. This is the Coquille River light house just north of Bandon.

Next stop was the Umpqua Light House which is distinctive because it has a red light.

We stopped next in Florence for lunch and a stroll around the town.  4th of July was in full swing with pie eating contests and people already camping out in the drizzle to find the best spot to watch the fireworks over the river

Draw Bridge over the Suislaw River

Much to Calvin's delight we stopped at one more light house. The Heceta Head lighthouse had a really beautiful light keeper cottage that is now a bed and breakfast, but it was booked long ago for the 4th of July so we continued on.

We spent the night at Tolovana on Cannon Beach.  Once again we had a lovely evening walk on the beach to Haystack Rock, a not to be missed sight here.

Also a "not to be missed sight" here on the Oregon Coast

No fireworks for the 4th of July here at Cannon Beach.  Haystack Rock is the nesting site of the Tufted Puffin, a very cute little bird, and apparently they don't like fireworks.