There wasn’t much on the agenda today. For starters we went on a search for WiFi to update the blog. Lynn had researched some locations and we finally found it outside the South Beach Library. It was however giving us fits getting our email, but did permit internet access, so last post was compliments of that connection. We finally got the email working by changing our port numbers in Outlook. The WiFi thing is something that needs to be investigated after this trip. We also need to investigate better blog vehicles. The Goggle Blog we use is not efficient in uploading text and pictures. Ideally, it would allow the updates prepared off-line then simply uploaded as a total file. Sounds like a good winter project!
We spent the afternoon walking the beach in Newport. At low tide we saw some starfish and sea anemones in the tide pools created along side the jetty. Seeing a couple sea gulls fighting over a rather large crab bring a couple of things to mind. First, why don’t we eat sea gulls? Geez, some are the size of big chickens, and they seem to eat well with the crab you see them with. And second, although we do not plan to go crabbing, we were looking at the rules. To keep them, they must be at least 5½ inches across the shell and be a male. Do any of you know how to determine the sex of a crab? No, this is not a dirty joke, although I can think of a few lines to put here….. There is a pattern on their belly you need to look for. If we can find one to photograph, we’ll send it along.
September 3, 2013 – Tuesday
Today is moving day. We are heading south to William W. Tugman State Park, about 75 miles down the coast. If you have your maps out, the park lies just a bit south of Reedsport at Eels Lake, a small lake with a 10 mph max speed. We wish we had the Porta-Bote. As we drove south, the landscape changed from big rocks to dunes. We think Michigan’s are higher, but these are scenic. Highway 101 was pretty twisty much of the way down here.
The weather is quite nice today, hopefully it is starting a trend. Since we had some time, we visited the Umpqua Lighthouse. Built in 1894, it replaced the original lighthouse that slid into the river in 1864. Its purpose is to mark the entrance to the Umpqua River with a unique alternating red/white pattern light. This is still an operating lighthouse, though you can go inside via a tour. It was fueled by kerosene and tended by a Keeper and 1st & 2nd Assistants. Today it is powered by a 1000 watt, 2.5 million candlepower electric bulb. The 1st order Fresnel lens makes it visible 20 miles.
We will be at Tugman for several days, there are several things to see and do in this area.
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