Oregon Coast

Note:  Pictures to come but some of our readers just couldn't wait for this post!

We woke up in Sunset Bay State Park to fog and what appeared to be some rain but I think it was just moisture coming out of the fog.  It was Sunday which means the priority was doughnuts so we managed to get up, showered and on the road before 9:00.  Our plan was to dump the tanks since the next 5 or 6 nights would be spent at friends' houses.  Oddly, there was no dump station at the park, so with full tanks we headed north in search of Sunday breakfast.  After a couple of false starts we found some doughnuts and coffee for Greg.  Doughnuts out here are a bit different, as you can see in the picture below of Bella’s big foot doughnut.  

Yummy!

After a couple of maintenance stops we headed back onto 101 to drive to Newport, our next destination.  We got to see the Oregon dunes but decided not to stop as it was still cold and foggy and we wanted to get to Newport by lunch.  Our Portlander friend Shelly had given us some recommendations for what to do in Newport including bringing her some Chipotle Ale from The Rogue Brewery.  I had found a Marine Science Center that I wanted to stop at for the kids so we had big plans.  

Turns out, the brewery was right next to the science center.  Win! We had lunch at the Brewery; I got the Irish Lager and Greg tried the Good Chit Lager which the waiter commented was an excellent pairing for his albacore tuna sandwich.  While eating lunch Greg researched dump station options.  After noting all of the stops along I-5 would be south of our destination, I stumbled upon one in Newport, at the marina.  Which turns out to be directly within 100 feet from the brewery.  Win, win, win!  And it was free.  

With empty tanks we headed over to the Science Center which was a great and had tons of hands on exhibits and touch tanks.  Bella fell in love, with their octopus, Sashay.  She had to find out if it was male or female, it was female.  Even though Sashay slept the whole time, Bella didn’t want to leave her side.  Kellen’s favorite exhibit was the wave machine where you could build little Lego buildings and watch the tsunami wave knock them all down, Greg liked that one too.  

We hit some traffic coming up 5 into Portland.  I guess we had forgotten that it's Summer and a Sunday and we are back in an area with actual large populations.  Lots of folks returning from weekend/week long getaways!  We made it to our friend's  Shelly and Dave's house around 7 pm.  Just in time to enjoy some evening time with good food and drinks on their patio.  Shelly is my birthday twin and our good friend from our days in Chicago.  She's been living out in Portland for about 10 years and married Dave 7 years ago.  They have a very cute little girl Ava, who is about to turn 6.  It's always so nice when you have a friend you haven't seen in years and you just fall right back into the friendship.  

We set up the RV right on their street in Portland, which was kind of funny.  Urban camping.  Or Urban urban camping.  Whatever.  We've never slept in the RV while in a city, but it worked out just fine!  It cools down nicely in Portland at night and so after awhile it was cool enough to need a blanket and there was a very nice breeze all night long.