Thurs. Oct. 16, 2014: Getting to know Newport

Today we did accounting work in the AM at home, then went in to town to visit the Oregon State University Hatfiled Marine Science Center

Then we discovered a new work place at the Hallmark conference center and hotel - nice location right on the beach just over the bridge to the north.  We attended a Chamber of Commerce mixer this evening in the hotel's lobby just for the fun of it.  Smoked salmon appetiers ( among other items) and a couple frienldy people.

We left early to return home and listen to the Giants will game 5 and beat the St. Louuis Cardinals 4-1 in the NLC finals on the radio.  Good night!

Tues. Oct 14, 2014: Our baby boy gets married

Today Curt and Sarah Whillance got married in Cheng Mai, Thailand with a tour guide and the local government officials in attendance.  Cant wait until we can celebrate in person when they get back to England and have a party with their family and friends.  

Meanwhile, here is picture from last thanksgiving time when Curt and Srah wer in our area.

Wed. Oct 15, 2014: Relaxing tax day

We were not troubled by tax return extensions this year yeah!!!!  Instead, we worked a bit at SOuth beach campground - today we got a small assignment since the park is not very crowded these days- we helped out with one Yurt - we are epereinced Yurt cleaners from last year.

Sun. Oct 12, 2014: Harvesting huckleberries

The trails around the campground are full of huckleberries right now and we have been harvesting them and putting in the freeqer in batches.  Good on cereal and in smoothies.

Tonight we went back to Sandbar and Grill in Nye beach for the 2nd time to watch the Giants play.

Fri. Oct. 10, 2014: Rouge Ales and the Giants on TV

Tonight we went in to the Newport Bayfront and Roge Ales Pubic House to watch the Giants play the Cardinals.  We parked across the street in front of a really cool fishing town mural - makes you glad to be on shore!

Thurs. Oct. 9, 2014: Hike on the Jetty

Today was an off-duty day, so we decided to work at Starbucks in the morning, then take a hike fron our campsite out to the South Jetty in the afternoon.  The jetty provides a safe passage for fishing boats and the NOAA research ships who call Newport their home port from the Yaquina River and Bay out to the ocean.

The campground is to the south ( left side) of the jetty.   We can hear the waves, from the campground, but there are wide dunes that would not be workth it walk over so we walked from our campsite along the bike path north about half a mile to the jetty and did a little trash pickup along the way.

Then cntinued inland to the bridge and bay.  Tsunami awareness is a really big deal around here.  If you feel the ground shake ove immediately to high ground!!!

Wed, Oct. 8, 2014 - Depoe Bay OR

Today we were OFF DUTY in the park, so drove north 17 miles to the worlds smallest harbor -

Depoe Bay, which is a popular whale watching town.  We had lunch on the edge and saw several whale blow spouts out to see- it is Grey Whale migration season  they are swimming south close to shore, so pretty easy to see if you are patient.

There is a State Park building between the road and the ocean bluff

where people can take shelter from the wind while looking at the whale exhibits

and talking to the state park host volunteers - the couple we met today is staying at a different local campground, Their job is called Interpretive Host and they provide whale watching information to the general public during their 4 hour shift.  Something interesting to think about for the future.  There are also lighthost hosts nearby.  Hmm......

Tues. Oct. 7, 2014 - Work work, Win game 4 of NLDS

I did accounting work in the motor home and Mike did camp host work in the park until it was time to find a venue for watching Game 4 Giants vs. Washington Nationals.  We had a couple false starts, but landed at a comfortable place - the Sand Bar in the Nye Beach district -

very near the ocean in town.  We saw the game, had dinner and enjoyed the W-Fi to download books and podcasts onto our phones ( our Verizon plan cuts off on the 9th of every month and by this tiime we are watching closely so as not to go over our 20G of data, so complimentary wi-fi is good)

Mon., Oct. 6, 2014 - Scotch Broom task force

Only three move-out sites assigned today, so it is time to "find something to do".  We are supposed to work 4 hours per day when on duty.  We have decided to be peremiter and interior trail monitors for trash and Scotch Broom - the invasive weed that is a subject of attach by park officials and volunteer all along the west coast.

We found a forest of it in the sand dunes between the park and the ocean / jetty - too much to make a dent, but we had some fun pulling it easily out of the sand ( the small ones, anyway)

Sun. Oct. 5, 2014 - Busy work day in the park

Lots of move outs today - we were assigned 18 sites in the HI loop.  Mike took a break mid day to go the harbor in town to get us some shrimp to put in the Jambalaya he made for dinner.  I did laundry complements of the State Park -there is a washer and dryer in on of the bathroom buildings that we all get to share.  No one was on the calendar today so I did 4 batches.  

Oregon has its act together when it comes to recycling.........

Sat. Oct. 4, 2014: Oregon farmers market

We got our campsite assignment about 9:00,then drove in to central Newport to the thriving farmer's market we discovered here last year.

Picked up some meat, a few vegetables and some fruit for the week

then settled in to enjoy the sunny afternoon and listen to the Giants win Game 2 in an 18 inning nail biter after we cleaned our 15 campsites.

Fri. Oct 3,2014 - Camp Hosts on duty

Our first work day - we get a list of today's vacating campsites from the rangers. checkout time is 1:00,but we can tidy up the campsite when it is vacant.

Today I found scotch broom growing in a sandy campsite - an invasive weed that is on the list of extra projects, so I'm looking for it as I go and will pull and dump on the burn pile.

After camp host work was done,we drove the short distance to Holiday Inn Express where we set up to watch the Giants win Game 1 against the Nationals in first round of playoffs. 

Thurs. Oct. 2, 2014: a tour of our local coastline

Our camp host working days are Fri - Tues, with Wed and Thurs off duty,so we arrived at great time in the week for leisure.  Today we drove south along the coast about 15 miles to our sister campground, Beachside State Park.

Aptly named since it is right on the edge of the beach ( at our park there is .25 to .50 mile walk togetto the sandy edge of the beach).  We wanted to check out the campground internet reception to see if it would be an option for us next time. Turns there is only 1 - 2 bars of Verizon signal, and that is not enough for us to use the computers,so Beachside is a no-go for us. Today, however, we enjoyed the park and took a short nap on the beach.

Next stop was Beaver Creek nature center - another property about 7 miles south of our park which has a visitor center with one on-site camp host ( cool to see Don and Judy who we met at Cape Lookout on our very first assignment there in Feb 2013. They are full-timers who are floating around in the Oregon camp host system and loving it.

Don and Judy did their visitor center volunteer duty and told us where to go 

for a late afternoon hike on a beautiful day.

due west - a distant view of the ocean.  We did not see another person on our hike.  

Oregon in October! 

Wed. Oct.1, 2014: HI Loop host and volunteer orientation

We attended a 3.5 hour meeting this morning with the 13 other camp host couples ( actually, there were a couple singles in the group, but still a lot of people). They give really good training here inthe Oregon State Park system. Ranger Jac chastised me last year for taking her picture, so I will re-post the one I took last year ( didn;t want to risk getting a new one this year) of our fearless leader, Jac,on the right

and Pat with me last year on the left. Pat is here again this year - she said she has been camp hosting every month solid since we saw her here last year - at several different Oregon coast parks.

We went back our our site and cooked lunch

Grilled salmon from Truckee farmers market ( we wanted to clear out our seafood since we plan on getting lots more while we are here) and fresh green beans and mashed potatoes from our last  Truckee CSA pickup ( we're going to miss that!)

We spent soe time in the Newport library this afternoon then looked online to find 

a place to watch the Giants play-in to the post season. We had a great view of the ocean 

                       and of the Giants winning their one-game play-in against the Pittsburg Pirates.

Tues. Sept 30, 2014 - Eugene to Newport and South Beach State Park

We spent the morning in Eugene:  Starbucks for work, Ross for cheater glasses and a cool-weather shirt for Mike, then to Red Robin for a splurge hamburger and french fries lunch. We turned west for for the final leg of the trip - a couple hour drive to Newport and our destination, South Beach State Park.  We were greeted at the kiosk by Ranger Jac - a very lively and efficient volunteer coordinator who encouraged us to take it easy getting set upthis afternoon- check in meeting in the morning at 9:00.

So we  set up our campsite, did a little cleaning, and did take it easy: 

                                    We were here last September.  Then our spot was up front by the main entrance where we saw every vehicle who entered.  This time we have a different job and a different campsite - we are loop hosts for the back 40 rustic campground - the "HI" loop - perfect for us after having spent the last two months at Martis Creek Lake, - the ultimate rustic campground.

At dusk, we took a hike along the 1/2 mile camp trail to the South Jetty- it was a beautiful evening, and we acted like campers for our first night - just enjoying the new surroundings.  No pictures to show for it - again I am having phone issues- this time my phone refuses to accept a charge. It is dead, dead, dead, and I guess I'm gong to have to break down and buy a new one.

Mon. Sept 29, 2014: Weed CA to Eugene, OR

We got a late-ish start this AM due to me taking time to update this blog for the last 5 weeks we were in Truckee. It was such a nice place to spend the summer, I had to make sure it was documented at least a LITTLE bit.  We were so busy enjoying, I didn't write as we went along, but in summary - it was very high on the list of our favorite places we've been so far.

We left Weed about 9:30 and searched out the nearest library stop which turned out to be in Gold Hill, OR near the Rouge River.

The internet was not the best so we only worked there a couple hours. Then continued on to the north - destination Eugene. We stopped about 30 minutes short of Eugene at a nice rest area where we cooked dinner and spent the night.