Fun is Easy for Old Folks

Okay…leaving the hash browns behind we journey on to the small Oregon coastal town of Reedsport.  This is where the Umpqua river empties into the Pacific Ocean.  This coastal area used to be a thriving wood and paper mill area but since the paper mill in Gardener (a few miles north) closed several years ago, the economy has not been as robust.  But fishing and tourism certainly do contribute a great deal to the local economy.

First stop was the local Umpqua Discovery Center.  Located on the banks of the river, the discovery center is a tourist store and a museum of sorts.  There is a large walk-through display of the history and culture of the indigenous people of the area.  Also included is a history and display of the animals and plants of the Umpqua basin.  Unfortunately, they value this information at $8 per person – a little rich for my blood!!  Maybe next time.


Laila and I did make it all the way up the steps to the top level.  It was quite a view from up there. 





Since we were too cheap to pay the price of admission, we took ourselves off to Winchester Bay, just a few miles down the road.  Salmon Harbor on the bay can be a very busy area but there was not a lot of activity today.  There is a BIG tree and a little park at the edge of the parking lot.  Just perfect for a Poppy walk and then a sit in the shade for the old dog.



A few steps away from this little park, Brian spied his Dream-Boat.  Laila was not so sure.

Aww, come on Laila, a little bubble-gum, a little paint and she’ll be just fine.  And a close-up of the wheel house shows that it comes already decorated for Christmas with a live fir tree growing right out the window.


Okay, then, maybe not!!  So let’s decide what we want for lunch.

“I KNOW there’s some lunch in there somewhere.”

“Whadaya lookin’ at?  I eat here all the time and it’s fine!”

Brian and Laila just couldn’t decide what to order.


We finally all settled on the fish and chips at Griff’s.  The fish was fresh right off the boats but I cannot give this place a high recommend.  It wasn't bad, but I like my fish (like my hash-browns) CRISP.  This was more of a sauté with a little bit of bread crumbs.  Tasted okay – just not quite what I had in mind for fish and chips!!  Sorry Griff’s.

As always, Laila and I found a handsome man that we both wanted to claim.


I won so Laila had to find a NEW buoy friend, while Brian found some lovely wildflowers and Russ just caught with a net.


It really was a lovely day on at Salmon Harbor.  Not a wind or a ripple, made for some nice reflections on the water.











Guess I’ll be buzzing along for now…