Today we drove from Crescent City, through the resort town of Fort Dick (HA!) where there is a State Correctional Institute that must employ most of the 938 people who live in Fort Dick. The weather is not sunny and we are not enjoying the clouds and fog. We did, however, enjoy seeing a gianormous paper mache looking statue of Paul Bunyan and his blue balled bull, Babe at the Trees of Mystery tourist trap in Klamath, CA. No, we did not take advantage of the "awe- inspiring interpretive trail" but merely mocked Paul and Babe and drove on.
Shortly thereafter we entered Oregon and the sunshine for a brief period. The coastline was gorgeous and we stopped at an overlook where we saw a huge granite "rock" with an arch carved into it by the ocean. Afterwards we drove into Coos Bay where we stopped at the brand new visitor's center and spoke to a sweet little man, about the age of Methuselah, and a retired couple who lived in their RV traveling the country. They would soon go to Costa Rica for 3 months to lecture and lead birding groups at a resort. We were momentarily jealous until we remembered what we're doing for the next 3 months, 3 years, forever.
Methuselah sent us to his favorite seafood restaurant, Fisherman's Grotto, in the fishing village of Charleston. Their fresh fish of the day was tuna and we ordered it lightly seared. Unfortunately, it came fully cooked and we wondered had we ordered it medium would it have arrived as tuna jerky. It was, however, the freshest tuna we have ever eaten and was very yummy. Next to the restaurant and guarding the bridge was a very large wood carved statue of Charlie the Tuna, so we should have known the tuna would be fresh.
Further along the coast road we stopped at a rose garden, which was somewhat lacking when compared to the gorgeous roses growing around Pleasanton, CA. Maybe the thick coastal fog blanketing the area choked the roses' growth. The large group of sea lions that supposedly inhabited the area also seemed to be missing.
On the way back to Highway 101 we stopped for gas and learned that in Oregon you are not allowed, by law, to pump your own gas. A boon for gas station attendants!! Since I hate pumping my own gas, I love this law!!!!!
