After my last post the fog settled in.  We have had a little sun since then, but not much.

As usual, we’ve met nice folks here.  John, the captain of the fishing vessel the Mary F. came to our aid early one morning while we were moving the boat along the dock.  We got to talking and he offered to take us over to the other side of the peninsula, to downtown Coos Bay.  The next day we drove over with John and his son and got a nice tour – and some sun!  It’s frequently sunny over there when it is foggy here.  On the way back we stopped to pick blackberries, and we got a bunch.  We enjoyed a berry cobbler as well as the berries themselves for dessert a couple of nights.

We also met Daryl, Captain of the Pisces (a motor-sailing fishing boat).  Daryl catches albacore that is then canned.  He gave us some of his product, and wow! It is very delicious and much better than mainstream canned albacore I’ve had.

We got both of the bilge pumps working.  The automatic pump needed a new check valve and the manual pump hose had a crack.  It’s always something!

Several days ago we left the guest dock and moved to a slip – it’s a little more peaceful here.  We thought it would be a good idea for the crew to get out a bit, so we rented a car and toured the area a little.  We went south to Bandon and north to Florence.  Both are really cute little seafaring towns.  The 101 highway through this area has beautiful views of the sand dunes, forests, lakes and the sea.

We are planning to leave here this evening for Newport, OR; it’s about a 19 hour trip.  The weather hasn’t “laid down” like our fishermen friends have told us it would this time of year, but it’s not looking too bad.

Delicious albacore

Coos Head

Blackberries!

This is what it looks like most of the time here.

Enjoying Bandon – and an IPA.

Enjoying the Oregon beach

The historic 101 bridge at Florence. If you want to come through with your boat, you call 2 hours ahead and they will raise the drawbridge for you.

Lunch in Florence – Ranger IPA for Ralph and Manny’s Pale Ale for me. Lunch also included a couple of pub burgers.

Umpqua lighthouse

Local scenery

View of the Oregon dunes

Our neighbors, the Coasties