Evergreen Aviation and Space Museum

Tuesday June 19, 2010

We were up fairly early this morning and headed out of Beverly Beach State Campground, once again headed north toward Lincoln City, OR. We were able to find a parking spot in Depot Bay so we stopped for a few minutes to take a couple of photos. We got rained out so back in the rolling caves we once again made for Lincoln City. The prognosticators had called for rain today and for a change they were right on the money. Just north of Lincoln City we took route 18 toward McMinnville, OR. It rained on us off and on until we got there.

We made the decision to stop at the Evergreen Aviation and Space Museum in McMinnville several days ago, so here we are. We had stopped at the museum in 2001 or 2002 just after it first opened because we wanted to see the famous “Spruce Goose” which was built by Howard Hughes Aircraft in the mid- 40s. We had heard there were a number of changes and additions and wanted to see what changes had been made. Lots! We arrived at 10:45 and promptly took a guided tour through the aircraft museum that lasted about an hour and a half. The tour guides are volunteers many of whom have flown in some of the aircraft in the museum. The guides are very knowledgeable, and very interesting.

We broke for lunch in the rolling caves at about 1 pm then headed back for more.

We went to their large screen theater (read that IMAX) and watched a 3-D movie called Air Races. It was enjoyable and we got to sit down in a comfortable seat for a while. We shed our 3-D glasses and headed for the space portion of the museum almost immediately.

The tour guides covered the difference between the U.S. space program and the Soviet program. The Soviet program was covered through Sputnik and the first manned orbital flight. The US program was covered from the first launch into space, and the lunar landings, through the shuttle program.  The tour guides were very good. It was like they were excited to be there and pass on all of the information they could.

The whole museum is really well done. From the replica of the Wright Brothers Flyer to the SR-71, on the aircraft side and the V-2 rocket to the space shuttle and sky lab rescue vehicle on the space side, everything is just fascinating. When the 5 pm bell rang at closing time they had to drag Barney out of the Spruce Goose area and lock the doors to make sure he didn’t get back in.

There is also a Wings and Waves water park on site, and a 747 airplane sitting on top of the building. Looks like it is used as part of the water slide area.

We are settled into the rolling caves for the night in an obscure part of the parking lot which they kindly allowed us to use for the night.

It has been an exceptional day.

We’ll chip out some more tomorrow. Over and out.

More Lighthouses

Monday June 18, 2012

We didn’t hurry to get up and around this morning. No one was anxious to leave the beach-front campsites , even after a walk on the beach this morning. Check out time was 1 pm and we finally got up and ready to go around 11 am. Of course we had time for pancakes and eggs.

We headed north again on route 101to Newport, OR. Our first stop was at the Yaquina Bay State Park for a tour of the Yaquina Bay Lighthouse, and of course a stamp for our lighthouse passport books. This lighthouse was only in service for 3 years, from 1871 to 1874. Then it was decommissioned due to its lack of visibility at a distance. The state refurbished the lighthouse and the keeper’s house but the light is no longer in the tower.

We made a short stop at Walmart in Newport , as well as a quick stop at Taco Bell for a little energy boost.

We drove a few miles north of Newport and visited the Yaquina Head Lighthouse. This lighthouse and the VC is under the jurisdiction of the BLM. The Yaquina Head Lighthouse is still in use and the combination first order Fresnel lens and 1000 watt light is visible approximately 30 miles at sea. (On a clear night) We were able to go up to but not into the light platform. We could go high enough to stick our head and shoulders into the light level and get a good look at the lens, light and reflector. It was very interesting. Of course we got our lighthouse books stamped at the VC.

Agate Beach is at the north end of Newport. The 2011 Tsunami in Japan washed part of a floating dock away from the Japanese coast and after a number of months at sea it wound up on Agate Beach in Oregon. We could see it from the bluff going to the lighthouse and took a few pictures, but didn’t stop at the beach.

Through all of our fiddling around Wilma was able to get a few blogs posted and get us up to date.

We drove north on 101 through Depoe Bay, OR. It is a very short strip of tourist trap shops, and has some whale watching or fishing charter sales shacks, and has a place or two that make salt water taffy. At the sea wall in front of the parking strip you can really get sprayed by some of the waves that crash in on stormy days. We would have stopped but couldn’t find a place to park the rolling caves. The one area that we could park had a sign saying “no vehicles over 5 feet tall”—so--- We drove on to Lincoln City and stopped at the outlet mall to look for a couple of things for the kitchen in the rolling caves. We couldn’t find anything we had to have. We discussed what we would do tomorrow and decided to go back south to the Beverly Beach State Campground. It has been a number of years since we stayed there so we went back hoping they would have a couple of spots for the night. Luckily we were able to get adjacent spots. God is good to us.

Once we got in and located, we all jumped into the Rubble-mobile and dashed back to Newport for a dinner of fish and chips at the Newport Cafe. It is a little local dive, and dinner was delicious, so now Wilma doesn’t have to have a major tantrum.  We are now back in the Beverly Beach Campground and are settled in for the night.

We’ll pound out some more tomorrow.

God nott (good night in Norwegian)

A No Nonsense Day

Sunday, June 17, 2012

Probably our shortest travel day ever! Made it 16 miles north.

Still in the Rock Creek Campground, we got up and underway earlier than usual and headed down the road about 5 miles in the fog to the turn off for a viewpoint. The road took us round and round up a fairly steep hill where we hoped we could break through the fog, but alas, this is the view from the top:  We could hear the ocean below, but could see only fog.

Twisting back down the hill, we stopped about a quarter mile on up the road for the Devil’s Churn overlook. It was churning, but nothing spectacular. You can see some spray from the waves here:   We drove a few more miles and went along the coast through the town of Yachats to see this: This went on for about a mile. Just up the road we drove into a campground to check it out, but it wasn’t our style so we continued up the road about a mile and checked at another campground.

The ranger there told us we were probably too early to find any empty spots, but gave us a map of what would be vacant by 1 pm, if the people in them didn’t decide to stay. It is first come first served in non reserved sites, and if you are in them, they’re yours. He said the best two spots were available for one night only.

We drove out to see them, and didn’t pass them by because they were both empty!

This is about as close to the ocean as you can camp any where we know of. There is just a fence separating us, and that is to get the vegetation rehabbed. We just have to go about 20 feet from the Rubble mobile to find the foot path out there. Absolutely spectacular. We are very blessed to enjoy these spots! Needless to say we have enjoyed several walks on the beach, and just sitting around the campfire to enjoy the view. What a treat.

Maybe today we can finally get enough signal to post all the pictures!