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Sunday, February 20, 2011

DAY 38 - REILEY'S RANCH CAMPGROUND - COOS BAY, OREGON AND SOUTH

BEFORE SUN-UP DAWN GLOW

TERRY (RIGHT) AND MIKE WITH "Q-SILVER" (AND SPIA)

MC CULLOUGH BRIDGE IN A FOG BANK BEHIND THE VIETNAM MEMORIAL


COMMENT NOT NEEDED



GENERAL AND PRESIDENT GEORGE WASHINGTON ...APPLIES NOT ONLY TO WARRIORS...

I, TOO, AS MANY READING THESE LINES, WERE THERE AND UNDERSTAND


ONE MAN...DAVID DEWETT...TO REPRESENT THE MANY



BUILT IN 1936...RECEIVING A FACELIFT AS I WALKED THE MC CULLOUGH BRIDGE OF COOS BAY, OREGON


FOR NAM KIA AND MIA


TIDE FLATS


ON THE MC CULLOUGH BRIDGE APPROACH...ACTUALLY MORE DUNES CAN BE FOUND TO THE SOUTH OF COOS BAY, OREGON


DEDIATION PLAQUE


RESTORATION IN PROGRESS...NOTE WHITE POWDER STAINS ON THE SIDEWALK


STAIRWAY AT THE SOUTH END OF THE MC CULLOUGH BRIDGE, COOS BAY, OREGON
ACTUALLY, THE SUBURB "NORTH BEND" LIES BETWEEN THE BRIDGE AND COOS BAY



COOS BAY BOARDWALK - ON THE WATERFRONT


A KETCH TIED UP NEXT TO THE BOARDWALK


SEAPLANE RIDES - $30.00 PER HALF HOUR - AS A 12 YEAR OLD, I PILOTED SIMILAR TYPE AIRPLANE (WITHOUT THE FLOATS)


TUG BOAT...WORK BOAT TO HELP LARGER SHIPS MOVE ABOUT THE HARBOR



MAIN STREET OF COOS BAY, OREGON



COOS BAY WATERWAY UP STREAM FROM THE BOARDWALK



A "LOG GRAPPLE"...PICKS UP AND MOVES LOGS...ONE LOG AT A TIME


AN OLD DOCK ON THE UPPER WATERWAY...CLICK IT

HORSES FOR HIRE...TO RIDE TRAILS...WERE LOTS OF CARS GOING IN AND OUT...



MANY MILES OF TREE CLEARING IS PROGRESSING ON US 101 SOUTH OF COOS BAY...INTERESTING TO NOTE MOST OF THE "SMALL STUFF" HAS BEEN RUN THROUGH A CHIPPER TO PROVIDE NUTRIENTS FOR THE SOIL



Q SILVER ENGINE COMPARTMENT...THAT IS A HIGH-TECH RACING POWERPLANT



Q SILVER COCKPIT



LINES OF A 1930s COUPE



A MOST BEAUTIFUL MACHINE...DESIGNED, BUILT, OWNED AND DRIVEN BY TERRY


DAY 38 – REILEY CAMPGROUND – COOS BAY – POINTS SOUTH

Enjoyed an uneventful night in Spot A7 last night…even a HOT shower.

A word about Oregon Campgrounds: From Astoria South on US 101 to Coos Bay, Oregon, there is at least one Campground every 5 to 10 miles. Some are excellent…some are close to a disaster. There are:

GOOD SAM & KOA These are for Members Only (although non-members are welcome). The facilities are first class in most respects, including laundry. Cost is about $31.00 per night, which includes ALL electricity, water, DUMP at each site, Restrooms and HOT showers, and most of the time, heated swimming pool AND hot tubs. Reservations are accepted.

US NATIONAL PARK CAMPGROUNDS: These are open to everyone. Facilities are normally very good and the cost is about $20.00 per night. Services have NEVER included a swimming pool or hot tub or laundry…all else is equal to Good Sam and KOA. Reservations are accepted.

OREGON STATE PARK CAMPGROUNDS: These are open to everyone. Often they offer “YURTs” and Cabins. Never seen a swimming pool or hot tub…otherwise equal quality and services as National Park Campgrounds. Price is usually $22.00 per night.

COUNTY PARK CAMPGROUNDS: Only County Park Campground I found was where we stayed last night…about 8 miles North of Coos Bay. It has NO DUMP facilities; otherwise is equal to State Park Campgrounds. Price is $20.00 per night.

PRIVATE RV PARKS: Too many to count. They appear just about everywhere and seem to have quite a few customers. Stayed in only one…Waldport, Oregon…and I DO NOT recommend it at all, except for the kindness of the management…they really tried to help, but had limited facilities and the restrooms were filthy…could not bring myself to even wash my hands. After finding the worm in the water spigot, I dumped all my water and refilled the next day.. Cost was $29.00 per night.

Rates are obviously Winter Rates…certain to be higher in “high season”.

At 7 am, leaving SPIA in spot A7, walked the 8 miles to the Coos Bay Bridge and BACK to SPIA…that is until Vince stopped and gave me a ride for about 4 miles. Thanked David, the Park Host, for his kindness in reducing my fee…he asked for SAM & ME Face book Address.

Drove SPIA across the McCullough Bridge (it was named in 1981 – fifty year anniversary from the 1936 completion – for the famous designer…see yesterday’s blog). Park SPIA in the CLOSED Tourist Office Parking Lot and walked half way across the bridge…a 19 million dollar “facelift” is underway, so some of the bridge is not available to walkers. Recall I previously mentioned in what good condition the Florence Bridge was??? Did not ask, but I betcha it has already received its facelift.

Then drove SPIA to the center of Coos Bay and parked. Walked back to the Bridge and South down Main Street and along the waterfront…had a bite in an excellent restaurant across from the Marina.

Then filled SPIA’s Propane Bottle…took 3.5 gallons (holds 7 gallons), which was consumed in only 2 nights…it has been VERY cold and the space heater gobbles up Propane very quickly. Keep it turned OFF all day and LOW at night.

We drove to the South Side of Coos Bay, parked, and I walked for 1.5 hours (6 miles) South on US 101. Halfway back was offered a ride by (believe his name is Braden, but could be mistaken…apologize for not fixing it in my memory bank…am trying to remember everyone’s name, but this time I might have goofed).

Drove SPIA out the 6 miles, parked again, and walked South for another 1.5 hours up a very long hill and all the way back to SPIA…Received rides two out of three walks today…lots better than in recent days.

Arriving back at SPIA, a striking Silver Roadster was parked next to SPIA, with the hood up and two rear ends poking out of the engine compartment. Then, two heads appeared revealing a gleaming chrome racing engine…asked if I could take some photographs…sure, why not…so I did. Chatted all the while with Terry, the designer, builder and owner of “Q SILVER” and his companion, Mike. They offered to pose with Q SILVER and look forward to seeing the pic on my blog.

Terry was late for an appointment…I backed off…they got in Q SILVER…engine started on the TDC (Top Dead Center)…and off they drove back to Coos Bay…By, golly, that machine can move…believe the revs must have reached 4 – 5,000 rpm between gears and with straight pipes, made their presence known loud and clear.

Wiped off my droll of envy, started up SPIA and drove to within 8 miles of BANDON, OREGON, our initial destination for tomorrow morning.

DAILY UPDATE: Walked 32 miles. Count 22 miles

SEE YOUR IMPACT.ORG: Credit 22 miles @ $0.02 per mile = $0.44 for the day.

SPIA is parked in a wide spot a few meters off US 101, 8 miles from Bandon. Five Bars on Verizon Signal…must use SPIA for electricity…and again, it is COLD, so there goes another goodly shot of Propane…one consolation…while SPIA is running to create electricity, the motor Heater is going full blast, which helps minimize the Propane consumption.

Am a bit concerned that again, I am not hungry after walking…must force myself to prepare something and not repeat last Summer.

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