Winter Break

Looking at the extended forecast we noted a four day window for sun and decided to head to the Southern Oregon Coast. We always feel like we are heading back to Memory Lane as we lived in Elkton for a time and the little town was magical for two folks just getting off the sidewalk in L.A. but that is another story.
On the way we stopped to have coffee with friends who have a home on the green green Umpqua River......in historic Scottsburg. The river is always lovely to gaze upon and we spent a very nice hour sipping and looking and catching up with each other's lives. K.R. and Jeff always have winter projects set up and they make interesting items from hooked hangings done in Pendleton wool to beaded bags aka Indian style. K.R. told me to be sure and see a huge collection of Indian baskets at the Trees of Mystery in California so I mentally filed that one away.
In the charming small town of Reedsport we bought locally fished and canned albacore. It is gourmet stuff and you can't quite go back to Starkist once you have eaten this.....the only thing better would be fresh caught and cooked on a cedar plank aka Indian style.
Bandon was another stop...love my little towns and I made a quick tour of the Cranberry Candy Factory and bought a bag of assorted chocolates while Mike read at a little cafe in the sun. We looked at the cranberry bogs as we left town and drove thru Port Orford....which has become a arts mecca yet still charming and small and then Gold Beach. I noticed a nice looking resort with a huge indoor heated pool and spa as well as hot breakfast and ocean view so we quickly made it our headquarters for three nights while we went exploring redwoods in California.
That evening we went across the highway to a charming old home turned into a restaurant and enjoyed crab and steak dinners before turning in on a long but great day...did I mention it was warm enuf to just have a light jacket on? Truly we found the banana belt and I was looking forward to sun , ocean and light for a few days and to be out of the gloom and grey of a normal Oregon Winter.