We left Bellevue on Saturday and our first overnight was at the Kelso/Longview Elks. It was a convenient stop and most welcome after a miserable drive through heavy traffic and torrential downpours in spots along the I-5 corridor. There are 13 level drive-through RV sites with electric & water hookups, and a dump station. Our site was just long enough that we were able to leave the Jeep hooked up. The lodge itself is conveniently located next to a mall and a Safeway. That evening, there was a private anniversary party but later when we popped in to have a drink, we were welcomed to sashay with the others around the dance floor. Did someone say there would be music and dancing?!
Sunday morning, we continued on to Cape Kiwanda RV Resort, where we will stay for the rest of the week. Cape Kiwanda, close to Pacific City, Oregon, has become our Northwest "Pismo Beach."
We took a route new to us. From Portland we drove west along route 8, then joined route 6 which takes you to the coast through the Tillamook Forest and along the Wilson River. The scenery was pretty, first past verdant fields and then winding its way along the river.
At Tillamook we joined coastal route 101 for the short drive to Cape Kiwanda.
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| fields and forests along route 6 |
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| approaching the Tillamook Forest |
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| rounding a corner for our first sighting of Kiwanda's haystack rock |
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| the back side of the high, steep sand dune |
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| back at his favorite Oregon beach |
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| site 15 |
Here we will stay for the remainder of the week, happy to enjoy our daily beach walks and sunsets. At some point we will attempt to scale the gigantic sand dune to the very top and run back down again.
And we have plans to meet up with the Wynns at the end of the week in Albany at the FMCA rally and industry convention.