We drove west out of Portland on routes 26 and 6 towards Tillamook and the Oregon Coast. First stop was Barview Jetty County Campground in Rockaway Beach OR.

This was a large county park within a few minutes walk to the uncrowded beach.

Right at the entrance to the park was a food truck, very convenient.

Here comes the train!

The Heisler Steam Locomotive built in 1918, chugs along the Tillamook Bay coastline  at a pulse-quickening 10 mph

5 rivers flow into Tillamook Bay, and that mixed with the salty water of the Pacific, creates a rich environment for wildlife.

Huge piles of oyster shells at an amazing price of $30 per dozen. Don’t understand the price as they’re fresh out of the water and in Atlanta we were paying $10

Eight miles south was the Blue Heron Cheese Company, specializing in Camembert and Brie cheeses and also a wine tasting area.  The smoked brie was excellent. Outside they had a small petting farm as well as free RV parking, which we considered, but it was on grass and it had rained very heavily.

Samples galore.

Just down the road from the Blue Heron was the Tillamook Creamery a very popular stop.

We watched the cheese packaging process and tried samples

Then we tried some delicious Tillamook ice cream, with this “dude looks like a lady” visitor.

Just west of Tillamook were beautiful cove areas of Oceanside and Netarts

Oswald West State Park overlook.

Haystack Rock is in Cannon Beach, appropriately named for a cannon that washed ashore. Many people use shingle for the houses which adds to the character of their small community.

This was a nicely decorated Italian restaurant on the main street

At the tip of the coast is Astoria the oldest American settlement west of the Rockies and the back drop for the movie The Goonies, and other films. We drove to Coxcomb Hill to the 125 foot Astoria Column, built in 1926 which has 14 murals made in the Italian sgraffito technique (etched concrete)

This is the mouth of the Columbia River, from here the Oregon coastline is 360 miles long before it reaches California.

This port was full of canneries in the early 20th century, but now there’s just one non working site remaining which is the old Bumble Bee canning factory on Pier 39.

A very informal museum showing videos of the fishing and canning process and the old equipment used in canning tuna and salmon.

Back to Barview Jetty and it’s fabulous sunsets

What we have learned so far about the Oregon coast:

1. There are as many dogs on the beaches as there are humans

2. Seafood, like crab, oysters, salmon, and halibut are prevalent, unlike Alaska

3. Ciappino is a delicious seafood stew, and is served in every eating establishment