Friday, June 21, 2013

Midway RV Park, Coos Bay, ORThis morning dawned sunny and clear.  A few clouds moved in here and there, but beautiful!  We drove north along the coastal road to the Sea Lion Caves 11 miles north of Florence.  This cave is the largest in the world—about 12 stories high and as wide as a football field.  We had to take an elevator down 20 stories to the cave. Stellar seals hang out in there.  Just down the road from there is the quaint and beautiful Heceta Head Lighthouse.  On the way north we also ventured up this beautiful river (Smith River I think) and viewed a herd of elk along a beautiful marshland.  Then stopped to see the Umpqua Light on the Umpqua River.  It’s also a great area to view whales.  The Pacific was really calm, but we didn’t see any.  Had lunch at Mo’s right on the Siuslaw River in Florence.  I had blackened halibut and chopped cabbage with a garlic ranch dressing topped with tiny shrimp which was really good.  Mike had oysters on the half shell (yuk) and a bowl of chowder topped with tiny shrimp. Then we were really bad and shared a marion berry cobbler ala mode. No dinner tonight.  71 today and sunny.

Umpqua River Lighthouse

Elk viewing

More of the herd.

Beautiful coast north of Florence, OR.

Another coastal view.

Inside the Seal Cave.

Heceta Head Lighthouse.