Comments:

What camera am I using?: the Canon G7X Mark II, the best point-and-shoot camera that exists. I don’t want a big camera with lens options anymore. It has to fit in my pocket.

What is Reno like post pandemic?: In October 2019 when we stayed overnight, the casinos were practically deserted and there were homeless camps along the river easily visible from the Marriott Courtyard. Downtown Reno was a depressing place. This year we stayed in the brand new Marriott Aloft at the airport and didn’t even go near downtown I suspect the pandemic hasn’t helped things. Reno just happens to be a convenient stopping point on the route home.

The Journey Home

Nothing much to report. Day one we traversed the Oregon mountains, often going above the snow line. We had lunch at McDonald’s in Sisters, OR. We passed through Bend. We stayed over night in Klamath Falls. Interesting fact: Klamath Falls has no waterfall.

“When you first hear the name Klamath Falls, you may immediately think of a waterfall. Which makes you like most people. We hear it all the time: Where are the waterfalls at? How did Klamath Falls get that name? And what are the best known waterfalls near Klamath Falls that I should visit? Some of these are complex questions. Thankfully, we will take a little time to answer these questions, so you can be in the know when you are in Klamath Falls. Klamath Falls was originally founded in 1867 with the name Linkville, after the nearby Link River. The name was changed to Klamath Falls between 1892 and 1893. The word Klamath is derived from the indigenous people that lived on the land. While the word is not actually thought to be of the language of the people, it has come to symbolize them. The local Klamath people referred to the region by the Link River. Since it was an odd phenomenon as it would flow upstream when the south wind blew. The Klamath word for the phenomenon, Tiwishkeni, loosely translated meant “where the falling waters rush”. It was from this that the word Falls was added to the name, Klamath Falls. Klamath in reference to the people and Falls in relation to the Link River phenomenon. The falls of Klamath Falls are more of a cascading fall or water rapids along the Link River that can still be glimpsed today. During much of the year, you can see a set of whitewater rapids along with one or two cascading waterfalls along a ledge on the east side of the river channel. For the best views, we recommend visiting in the spring, when water from the Upper Klamath Lake overflows and makes the rapids more noticeable. While the falls may not be what you immediately consider a waterfall, when you do glimpse the falls of Klamath Falls, you can easily see how they received their name.“

We made a couple of stops to view the snowy mountains. The roads were dry and clear. We did have one interesting sight – a blue jay. He thoughtfully posed. I can’t remember the last time I saw a blue jay.

Day two, Monday, was a relatively short jaunt from Klamath Falls to Reno. The highlight was supposed to be burgers and shakes at The Oney Frosty in Town in Adin, California where we had delicious burgers two years ago. Alas, it is closed on Monday! Instead we had very good burgers at the Courthouse Cafe in Susanville, California.

Day three was a long trek on back roads from Reno to Las Vegas. Once you hit Las Vegas, the traffic is terrible. We did go buy the gorgeous new Las Vegas NFL stadium. We stayed at our usual Marriott Residence Inn on Las Vegas Boulevard but past the airport and far from the hustle and bustle of the strip. We got burrito bowls to go from Chipolte and ate them in the room at the Marriott.

Day four was the five hour drive home from Vegas to Scottsdale. Aside from a stop at McDonald’s in Boulder City for breakfast, there were no stops. We were home by noon

Dingle in October? Maybe.

To those who have left comments: Thank you all for your comments. We read and enjoy them all

Now we are winding down. Saturday night will be our last night in Depoe Bay. We’ll leave early Sunday morning for the three-night journey home – night one in Klamath Falls, Oregon, night two in Reno, and night three in Las Vegas. The ride is interesting because it’s all on non-Interstate, mostly two lane roads. We had planned a short stop on the way to Klamath Falls at Crater Lake National Park. That’s off the table as the rim road there is still blocked by snow and closed. Lassen Volcanic National Park would have been an option, but the drive through it is also still closed from the winter snows.

Thursday

Cloudy, rainy morning with red flag warnings – no boats allowed out of the harbor. Rough seas. That was the forecast for all day Thursday and Friday. We got walks in between rain squalls. I included a picture of a deserted downtown Depoe Bay. We didn’t do anything save for going into Newport for a last lunch at Local Ocean. We had exactly the same things as last time. I forgot to take pictures save for one of my pan friend oysters after I had already eaten half of them. Lo and behold, when we left the restaurant, the sun came out. But by the time we got back to Depoe Bay, it was raining steadily again.

Click on the galleries below to bring up scrollable windows with full size pictures – the gallery previews show just thumbnails of the pictures

As is often the case, the weathermen got it all wrong again. By cocktail hour the sun was shining brightly and we enjoyed the sea views while sipping our drinks. Here are a couple of videos of what we watch every afternoon.

Friday

Sunny beautiful day. Still a red flag warning out with rough seas. We continued winding down. We went to breakfast at the Surf Rider. Then late morning we drove back to Toledo. Elaine had seen some artwork at a gallery that was closed when we were there. She called, and they were to be open on Friday. She bought three pieces while I played with the gallery dog. I’ll post pictures of what she bought when we get it on our bedroom wall at home. You can get a hint from a picture below.

Other than that, we drove by the Newport harbor area on the way home. Then we did nothing really. We watched the fourth of the “Murder In – – – ” series on Mhz. This one took place in Aquitaine in the Bordeaux region.

Then it was the usual cocktails under the sun on the balcony. The temperature in Depoe Bay never got above 60 degrees while we were here. It was usually in the upper 40’s for our morning walks. But on the balcony, shielded from the wind, facing southwest, with the setting sun shining on the ocean and reflecting on us, it feels like 80 degrees. We enjoyed the balcony immensely. We had another gorgeous sunset.

Next posting will be somewhere on the road or possibly the day we get home (Wednesday).

The day started out beautiful like yesterday. The forecast called for clouds by early afternoon. But the sun stayed out all day through sunset. I took my usual early morning walk (7 am), this time out to the point again instead of into town. See my long shadow?

Click on the galleries below to bring up scrollable windows with full size pictures – the gallery previews show just thumbnails of the pictures

Then we took a ride. First stops were at two overlooks on the Otter Crest Loop to watch the mighty Pacific a bit. Look closely to see the rainbow effect in the bigger picture in the middle.

Then we drove into Newport, then inland to Toledo. Toledo was a prosperous timber town for many years. The railroad even came here, and they have a small but fun railway museum. It still has two huge timber processing plants, one owned by Georgia Pacific. But the town is forlorn now. It has aspirations to be an art town, and it does have some interesting galleries. But downtown is mainly empty storefronts. Some have been transformed into “ghost galleries”. The Chamber of Commerce displays art work in the windows of empty stores. Love the drinking fountain with a dog extension.

Scenes Around Toledo

The Toledo Railway Museum

Then home for a late lunch, naps, ocean watching, and cocktails prior to getting takeout from Tidal Raves. Calamari Fritti with Cilantro Lime Sour Cream to start. Elaine had Herb Crusted Pacific Rockfish with smoked salmon potato cake and a shrimp caper cream sauce. I had Cioppino (clams, wild shrimp, crab, and fin fish in a tomato herb broth). We had Tillamook marionberry ice cream for dessert.

Monday

Overcast, foggy, and rain.  Dull day.  No pictures.  The highlight: lunch at Local Oceans.  We split the usual grilled calamari salad.  Then I had the BEST pan friend oysters and fries ever.  Elaine had the BEST fish and chips in America.  She chose lingcod over rockfish or halibut.  (The best fish and chips elsewhere were at a restaurant in Portstewart, Northern Ireland and at a takeout stand at Manly Beach in Sydney, Australia.

Tuesday

Cloudy morning with the standard separate walks to start the day.  Before noon it had all cleared off and we had a brilliant sunny day that lasted right through the night.  We visited four spots, starting before the sun was out and took a ton of pictures.  Enjoy.

Click on the galleries below to bring up scrollable windows with full size pictures  –  the gallery previews show just thumbnails of the pictures

Gleneden Beach

Not a beach we visit often, but we drive by it almost every day.  You cannot see the beach from the road. Wolf tracks on the beach? A dog, I’m sure.

Fogarty Creek Beach

The closest beach to our condo, a five minute ride away.

Fishing Rock Park

You saw this place in pictures last week under overcast skies.  It’s magical when the sun is out and you venture all the way out on the cliff.  There isn’t even a sign on the main road for this Oregon State Parks maintained beauty.  You just have to know it’s there.

An Elaine Panorama

Boiler Bay Overlook

This is the closest overlook to our condo, just a seven minute walk away.  It’s wonderful for viewing when the sea is rough.  Today the seas were unusually calm.

Another Elaine Panorama

And then there was four hours or so on the balcony.  Cocktails. Hors d’oeuvres. We saw a whale fully breach – a rarity. Why no pictures of whales, you ask?  Big ocean and they pop up suddenly, usually with a blow of air and a slight view of their back or tail as they dive.  You’d have to be incredibly lucky to have your camera pointed at the right spot at the right time.  Cocktails were grand.  Dinner was leftover ravioli.  The sunset was magnificent.

Cloudy in the morning. Brilliant sun all afternoon. Busy day! The day in pictures.

Click on the galleries below to bring up scrollable windows with full size pictures – the gallery previews show just thumbnails of the pictures

What I see every day on my walk in the morning.

Bird Island – a rock island visible from our balcony that is the breeding ground for thousands of fledging sea gulls and cormorants. The fledgings in the thousands fly every evening near sunset to land a short way away in the ocean and then return to the island 30-40 minutes later. You can get closer to it from the huge World Mark time share resort next to us. In the last picture I look back to our building – we are on the second floor.

A Walk on Avery Creek Beach

A Visit to the Old Yaquina Bay Lighthouse and new Coast Guard Watch Tower (Should I have eaten those razor clams at breakfast?)

A Visit to Devil’s Punchbowl Overlook

Two pretty normal but unexciting days. Since we’ve seen most everything here we need to see over the years, we are just enjoying being near the ocean.

Friday was overcast all day and rain started around dinner time.  We didn’t do much.  We went to the Surf Rider Inn located on a bluff above Fogarty Beach for breakfast.  I was looking forward to oysters and eggs.  No oysters on the menu.  Damn them.  Instead I had fried razor clams and eggs with has browns, a side of bacon, and toast.  Elaine tuck with a more traditional sausage and eggs.  Good food in an almost empty dining room with nice views of the ocean.  I always loved fried clam (with bellies, of course) and steamed clams. But I had never had Pacific razor clams before. A bit long, a bit tough, but excellent with tartare sauce and a little Cholula hot sauce.

Other than that, we hung around the condo.  We watched the second episode of “Murder In – – – “, a French series of murder mysteries.  The first took place in Colmar.  This one was in Oleron, an oyster raising island on the French west coast not far from the Île de Ré, a similar island where we once stayed.

Saturday was bright and sunny for our walks. Depoe Bay has been relatively quiet during the week, but everything was filled up for the weekend.  Again, we had a quiet day.  Not a lot of opportunities for pictures.  Seamus, my Acura, told me that I needed a new battery in one of my key fobs.  It had to be Elaine’s since I more recently replaced the battery in mine.  I ordered a two-pack of CR-2032 batteries from Walmart and we drove into Newport to pick them up from curbside pickup.  No need to even get out of the car.  While in town we stopped at a market and bought some Mo’s clam chowder stock and some milk (and some oyster crackers).  We went home and devoured it for lunch.  We stopped at Devil’s Punchbowl for a look see but the lot was filled with weekend wind surfers.  We’ll go back next week.  Cocktails were on the balcony as usual with a nice selection of smoked steelhead and smoked salmon with brie and crackers. Dinner was the rest of the chicken breasts wrapped in bacon that we imported from our stop at Costco in Eugene on the way here.

Tomorrow is another pandemic day. I’ll be back with a blog post on Tuesday morning.