Crescent City has a large harbor, so there is a lighthouse! I've taken MANY shots of lighthouses over the years on the west coast, it seems that they have a somewhat similar building. This one reminds me of the light at Cabrillo National Monument.
I was driving along a breezeway that goes by the marina, but there are seals! It must have been too early for them as they were sleeping.
There were some large fishing vessels in port this day.
They are fitted out with hoist and nets and big lights, interesting. I suspect all the fish I've been eating has been caught on one of these.
After a quick trip to Walmart (haven't seen one of those since Grand Junction, Colorado!)
On the way I drove by a Chipotle! I'll be having dinner there!
When I finished that part of the day, I followed the signs to a lovely park and a closer view of the lighthouse. The shore here is loaded with driftwood and everywhere there are people hunting for agates.
There is a long breezeway here, a lovely flat surface. I thought it might be nice to have a walk, UNTIL I read all the warning signs! Apparently, sleeper waves come in high and strong. Strong enough to wash you off that lovely walkway. I decided that I couldn't out run such a wave so I would just stay safe in the parking lot!
Back at the hotel, I did laundry. Such a fun activity, NOT
As always happens I had to reload the suitcase and get ready to leave the next morning.
I am never in a hurry to get out of any hotel and the trip to Gold Beach is short-like maybe 50 miles!
I stopped near Bandon, Oregon for more costal photos. The coast gets rockier and the water colder the further North you go. I really liked this formation, if you look closely you can see a keyhole just left of center.
So many pictures of the Pacific.
I arrived way too early to check in but I did go by the hotel and ask for a walk-in room. I am temporarily disabled with difficulty walking, there is no way I could carry luggage up stairs! I had a bowl of amazing Clam Chowder for lunch. (I remembered this place from my trip in 2010.)
After that I took myself to the Visitor's Center, still without location services on my phone I needed a MAP! Most of the town of Gold Beach is high above the actual beach and the road down is quite steep, about halfway down I remembered the road from 2010 as well. Kelsey (one of the shelties before Quinn) and I parked in their lot and walked on the beach, one evening we even sat and watched the sun set from there. The ladies in the Center were very nice. A couple of days later they helped me navigate my way inland. Loaded with a map I took my first walk on the beach, lots of lovely rocks here, Hum. I left Gold Beach with a bag of pretty rocks, no agates though.
The view from my private balcony! I had a lovely room there. With the door open to the balcony you could hear the surf and feel the breeze it was wonderful. I think Gold Beach is my favorite place this trip. While it is a tourist destination, lots of hotels and restaurants, it isn't as commercial as many other places. There's the amazing Clam Chowder at the Porthole restaurant-I might have eaten it more than once!) I had to hunt for places to shop but I did find a fun Christmas shop there.
My last evening there, my last photos from Gold Beach. I will miss you.
You are certainly having a lovely adventure. Clam chowder sounds delicious, it was probably much better than what we get here in the Midwest.
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