Salmon Harbor

Driving up the Pacific Coast Highway (101 N) through huge puddles and pea size hale. We cross over the Conde McCullough Memorial Bridge which is frozen and covered with hale - argh - Once across the bridge we come into Oregon Dunes National Recreation Area. The dunes start right after we cross the bridge and is mixed with forests and beautiful views. We pass Clear Lake and roads such as Foggy Height (very appropriate) on our way to Winchester Bay.

Our drive was short this morning and we pulled into Winchester Bay RV in early afternoon. We picked a nice site on the Salmon Harbor side of the park. We can see the boats and lights from Winchester Bay across the harbor. The ocean is on the back side of the park and we can hear the waves crashing against the sea wall (best of both worlds!). It all began in Winchester Bay, long before Europeans came to the Oregon coast, the mouth of the Umpqua River was home to ancestors of the Siuslaw, Lower Umpqua, and Coos Indians. First interaction with the Indians came in the 16th century and by the end of the 18th century trading had been established. Winchester Bay was initially a trading post known as West Umpqua. Later in the 1950's Salmon Harbor was developed to protect Winchester Bay from the Pacific Ocean. Winchester Bay is popular due to it's outdoor activities, great seafood restaurants, and access to the tallest coastal dunes in North America.

Once we were settled in we drove up Rte 101 to Florence. It's raining but we decided to go to Old Town located on the Siuslaw River. Parking on the gravel main street we found Mo's. This is a well known seafood restaurant in the area and came highly recommended by someone we met in Coos Bay. They are well known for their "New England Clam Chowder". We are going to hunt for the best Northwest Clam Chowder...Ken had Slumgullion (chowder with shrimp) and I had oyster stew. The stew was good the chowder...well lots of potatoes. We walked Old Town which is full of canneries, fish processing plants, shops and lots of restaurants. Before leaving we stopped in a candy store and spent some time talking with the owner. All of these little towns are much busier in the summer but we get to meet the real locals this time of year and they are terrific folks.

Leaving Old Town Florence we drove back to camp. Before turning into the RV park we decided to explore Salmon Harbor Rd. It runs along the ocean and ends in the beginning of the sand dunes. Many of the low areas are filled with water but there are still folks on ATV's running the trails along the dunes.

To cold and raw to be outside so we enjoyed our pate, crackers, cheese and fruit for dinner while we watched TV.

Pictures: Along Salmon Harbor Rd (2), Rainy dunes