Day 99 - The Oregon Coast (Highway 101), OR

We left the Redwoods on another foggy morning and headed North to the Oregon border. Whilst there was a damp feel to the air as a result of the fog, it wasn't particularly cold whist we were in the Redwoods, when the sun came out and burnt through the fog, it was actually really warm. We were colder at night in the Sequoia National Park.

As soon as we went over the Oregon border, we noticed cannabis sellers, some even just a few feet from the border line. In 1973, Oregon became the first state to decriminalize cannabis and in 2015, selling of marijuana in licensed dependencies became legal. 

We traveled along the 101 coastal road in Oregon from the border with California to the Oregon Dunes National Recreation Area where we were spending the night. The road was full off offshoots taking you to different scenic lookouts and beaches. Unfortunately the fog meant that many of these were just a sea of white but we did manage to find a couple views in between breaks in the fog. 

The Whale

A not so good view

We had hoped to stop off for a lunch in a town called Port Orford. We drove along the main high street and couldn't see anywhere to stop so we headed out to the Lifeboat Station for the view of the shoreline and to stretch our legs. It was a very quaint and pretty fishing town but a bit of a funky vibe from the interestingly decorated stores and homes. It was just a shame we couldn't find a bar or cafe to stop off for a little longer. 

We continued along the 101 to Bandon. This was a slightly bigger town and a lot more touristy. We enjoyed walking around the harbor which was full of art work and sculptures, watching people crabbing on the pier and checking out some of the unusual shops. This town had a really nice mix of old school sea side town with a modern and interesting twist. 

The journey from Bandon along the 101 took us through some huge lumber yards, piled high with what looked like pine trees. It was sad to see so many trees lying there but then our wood has to come from somewhere and at least it is more sustainable than other materials like plastic. 

Our final stop before the Dunes was another town along the 101 called Coos Bay. We weren't planning on heading into this town, we were actually looking for somewhere to fill up the growlers. I had read online about a brewery located in this town called 7 Devils Brewing Company which did really good beers and had a really nice ethical approach to its business. We stopped to check it out. Whist Lee tried a couple of beers to help him decide which ones to put in the growlers (of course), I had a lovely locally produced coffee, just what I needed before the final drive to the campsite.