A Warm January Escape

[krussell]

While the rest of the country was recovering from the artic blast of last week, much of Oregon was unseasonably warm and drier than usual too. I had been watching the weather for most of the week, considering an escape if things came together. At about 2pm Friday I decided to go for it. I didn't have a plan except to head for the coast and do some exploring. Friday was a quick ride designed to set me up for a great Saturday. I shot down I-5 to Eugene, then across 126 to Florence. Rained off and on the entire way. I hit the Best Western in Florence. I think I was one of about 5 customers in the hotel. The front desk suggested I give the bike the waterfall view secure parking, so I did.

 

 

By the time I got the bike put away and had a shower it was 6:30 so I headed to Old Town Florence for dinner. This was a mere 10 minute walk across the Siuslaw river bridge. A few minutes in I realized how completely dark it was and wished I had a flash light. I decided not to go back, and used the headlights of passing cars to negotiate the sidewalk of the bridge. I decided to try The Waterfront Depot based on google maps reviews that were quite favorable. The place was packed, but I ended up with a seat and enjoyed some excellent Jambalaya. I highly recommend the restaurant.

 

http://thewaterfrontdepot.com/

 

Any place that has a comprehensive menu recorded in chalk on a large board one wall can't be too bad. The walk back was a little more challenging, given there was much less traffic along with the lingering effects of two pints of Trumer Pils.

 

Saturday came quickly and I was on the road by about 8:00. It was about 50 degrees. I headed down the coast on 101 to just south of Coos Bay, where I turned on to 42 and headed toward Powers. It was wet everywhere, but not really raining. There were a lot of folks fishing along the road to Powers. I decided to give National Forest 33 a try, and see if I could make my way to Gold Beach on the coast. It started out like many of our forest roads.

 

 

And continued along the river. I was watching the road, sneaking in views, and having a great day. Once I passed Powers there was no traffic at all.

 

 

I saw a little parking area and a trail sign for Elk Creek Falls. I was a very short walk, so I just left on my riding boots and headed up the trail. It was very pretty, green everywhere.

 

 

Just a few minutes from the road were the falls.

 

 

I lingered a few minutes, listening to the sounds of the falls, and taking in scenery. Then back down the trail where my trusty steed was waiting.

 

 

More wonderful riding and lots of curves and views along 33. I came across a place where there had been a slide, along with an attempt to contain it. There is so much water this time of year, it's almost as if the whole coast range will slide in to the ocean. The road was super slippery, and I kept a sharp eye on that boulder as I snuck by.

 

 

A little further and 33 does a sharp turn across the river and starts to climb. This was my last shot of the river.

 

 

The climb begins, headed toward about 2000' at the top. There is about 10 miles of gravel at the very top, it was in good shape. In a couple of places where you could see that the water just flowed across the road in heavy rain it was slippery, but there were clear indicators of color before you got to them.

 

 

The road narrowed in places, with rock wall on side, and drops to the other. It was foggy below, so you couldn't really see the bottom of the valley.

 

 

There were lots of mini road side water falls, this one had a lot of water disappearing below the road.

 

 

It was mid afternoon at this point, with the temp indicating 58 degrees!

 

I stayed on 33 through Agness, and took a quick side trip to the Agness store hoping for a diet coke. They were closed, but I'm going back tomorrow for sure!

 

 

Nearing the coast I came to this bridge and grabbed a shot of it from the top...

 

 

as well as the bottom.

 

 

I headed down into Gold Beach, then up the coast to Bandon. I had stayed at the Best Western Face Rock there which has an excellent restaurant, so I went back. I wasn't paying much attention when I check in, it was dark, and I was looking forward to a shower and dinner. The restaurant, Bandon Bills Grill, was being renovated! Bummer. There isn't anything you can walk to, so back on the bike to town. I just hit the grocery store for a few things, then stopped at a place on the docks on the way back to the hotel. I got a crab cocktail, and they put delivered this huge scoop of fresh crab. Quite delicious, I figured it wasn't so bad after all.

 

I was a little slow leaving Bandon on Sunday, but nearly made the sunrise.

 

 

Not far north of Bandon I turned off 101 on to Beaver Hill Road, and a few miles later I took a county forest road that was a dead end about two miles in. It was along a ridge, and I was enjoying the view immensely.

 

 

Back to Beaver Hill Road, then on to Seven Devils State Park for an ocean view and then north on Seven Devils Road toward Bar View. There was a few miles of gravel, no mud, no gravel, etc. I always enjoy finding shots that show the road to come, like this one.

 

 

Not much further along, at an altitude of about 400 feet, I passed this boat. I'm sure someone has a story about how it got there.

 

 

I headed west on Cape Arago Hwy and came to Sunset Bay where there were a few surfers playing.

 

 

From a roadside view point I grabbed this shot of the Cape Arago Lighthouse.

 

 

And I also snapped this rock. I like the courage of the lone tree.

 

 

I put the camera away for the trip, as it was time to head home. I headed back to 101, north to Waldport, across 34 to 20 to Kings Valley Hwy and then north into Portland. I rolled in just as the GPS switch to post sunset backlighting.

 

It was a great trip, I needed the time alone exploring, I call it my therapy.

 

Oh, forgot, two and one half days riding, about 1/2 of that in drizzle or rain, but in the middle of JANUARY. We get lucky pretty often, seems especially so this winter.

[Bruce H]

Nice Kevin,

 

You will have to give me a heads up next time as we just missed a bit. I also left on Friday but went as far south as Brookings. Rode the Lost Coast loop on Saturday and then home in the evening.

[Traveler1]

Great shots, great roads. Thanks for sharing

[BFish]

great report. thanks for sharing.

[Dietrich]

Thanks for sharing. Great shots!

We are not that lucky here weatherwise. This kind of amazing "therapy" will have to wait for a few more months.

[Matts_12GS]

That was great, thanks! I gotta go ride out there one of these days.

[Highway41]

That was great, thanks! I gotta go ride out there one of these days.

 

I'll go with you.

 

Place looks mystic and there is Free Beer Tomorrow to boot.

[Paul Mihalka]

Great ride, great report, great pictures!

"Free beer tomorrow" Looks to me that sign stays in place and every day it says you can have one tomorrow

[Morris Elsen]

Thanks Kevin,

 

I do miss Oregon so ...

 

 

[BobsST]

Yep - the Waterfront Depot is our favorite in Florence. We've never had anything but the crab encrusted halibut w/ chilli cream sause for $11.00. The River House in old town is also a good place to stay. You are tempting me to get the bike out.......

[Bob Palin]

Nice! I need to get the RT out, maybe I can sneak in a ride donw 12 tomorrow, snow forecast all week after that.