Harris Beach State Park, Oregon
Trip Start
Nov 19, 2007
1
65
165
Trip End
Ongoing
Brookings,
Oregon,
United States
Wednesday, June 11, 2008
We drove up through the northern end of California on Route 101 and entered the town of Klamath, when we passed a sign for Salmon Jerky. "Hold everything!". We did a U turn and stopped into a funky shop run by a Native American who kept handing us pieces of different kinds of jerky on toothpicks. Wow, did we enjoy his '1 day smoked and peppered salmon' and his 'candied salmon jerky'. We bought a few packages of the 1 day variety and all the candied jerky that he had, which was sadly only about a pound.
As we entered Oregon, the view of the coast opened up and the pull-overs with different colored beaches materialized every 10 miles or so. We pulled into the Harris Beach State Park at around 12:00 noon and were delighted to find out that they had openings with full hookups. This park is right on a cliff overlooking the ocean and there are paths and a road that go right down to the beach. We signed up for 2 nights with the thought that we might stay longer.
At 7:00 PM a presentation was given in the outdoor ampitheater. About 20 of us campers showed up. The presenter was a volunteer ranger that has a geological background and he brought lots of rocks, minerals and crystals to pass around while he spoke. He was funny, informative and eager to answer all of our questions about the local geology and the tsumani warning signs that appear along this part of Route 101. It seems that the last tsunami was in 1964 and it's possible that another one is coming from the looks of the underwater disturbances going on off the Oregon coast.
Harris Beach from the cliffs
He told of the emergency plans that are in the works and of the ear piercing alarms that have been set off during some of the tests. Let's hope that everything cools out and nothing ever happens in the tsunami world. The program really made for an outstanding night!June 12th
Took a walk on the beach and through the woodland path around the park. Some of the trees reminded us of huge octopus with their tentacles up in the air.
This evening Jodie felt like chilling out and reading so I went to the 9:00 PM ranger program on bats. The ranger gave a Powerpoint presentation on local and tropical bats that included a fox bat (tropical) that has a 6-7 foot wingspan which the locals use as a food source. She also gave us tips on what to do when a bat gets in your house and you want to get it out. Don't start going after it with a broom, tennis racquet or anything else (I am only mentioning the objects that my friends have used in the past). Open the windows, leave the room (or sit on the floor or against a corner) and close the door. The bat will sense the wind from the open window and fly out (theoretically). Cool presentation- I love ranger programs!
Jodie here....I was finding myself with no appetite, a bit of nausea, low energy and a bit headachey so I took way fewer pix than this magical coastline and wonderful park deserved. After Betsy's success in diagnosing our insomnia from the high altitudes of Yosemite Park, Andy went on-line for me, to discover that even mild altitude sickness shows up with my exact symptoms! Hate to admit any weakness as an adventurer, but there it is....I had a touch of altitude sickness and needed rest at sea level to get back to "me" again. Feeling good ready to be on the road again!
Comments
welcome to oregon
So glad you found beautiful Harris Beach...and thank you for sharing it with us...love,Olivia and Dick
Oregon Cuisine
Could you please suggest a wine which would go well with salmon jerky and sauteed fox bat?