Trip Report
This was our most interesting trip since last summer's Succor Creek 6-day trip. We spent two nights in a motel in Coos Bay. On the first morning, short of Reedsport, we stopped for 40 Elk.
We visited and lunched at Golden and Silver Falls, up the river NE from Coos Bay. All walked up to the base of each fall and some of us walked up the long trail all the way to the top of Golden Falls. It was a spectacular hike and most worthwhile. Bill Eaton and Frances Newsom, both somewhat limited, made it slow and easy all the way to the top, a real test for each. From there we went down to the new South Slough Marine Reserve Station, by a circuitous route on back roads through Englewood, Libby, and Charleston. Returned to Coos Bay motel by the usual route. The slough headquarters is way up in the hills with a long trail down to the slough which we did not do. Grace Smith told us of a large beech tree on the island which she had seen years before by canoe. All ate out at multiple places, including Moe's. "Family Restaurant" not so hot.
Tuesday we went down to Whiskey Run to see what was left of the windmill farm; not much. PP&L tower long gone and the smaller (50) towers were lying on the ground with no generators in sight. This raised research questions such as: What were the results of the project? We enjoyed a good walk on the beach in fair weather. (It was a beautiful day in contrast to the Monday clouds with drippy, cool weather.) Next we went to Bandon with lunch available in restaurants on the waterfront - a real tourist trap. We stopped in at the jetty for a talk on the rock material; stopped at the renewed cheese factory in Bandon and then went along the Beach Loop back to the motel via the usual route through Coquille, pronounced "Co-quill" by early settlers.
Before dinner, we stopped at the Coos Bay Art Museum and found a large exhibit on Applegate family history. That night some had the evening meal out while others skipped it.
Wednesday morning we went to Cape Arago where the wind and some spray blew like the devil at the exposed lookout point. From there we went to Shore Acres Park, Lumberman Simpson's original large home with beautiful gardens where we heard a good talk by the knowledgeable caretaker. Then we visited Sunset Bay.
Muscle Reef was the most spectacular spot. Here we hiked and listened to a talk by Ewart as he stood on the edge of the reef. We stopped at Pony Village for lunch in the rain, followed by stops at the North Bend Museum and Lakeside on the way home.
Coos Bay trekkers were Muriel Aufderheide, Margaret Baldwin, Mary and Richard Bentsen, Mary Bridgeman, Ingrid Carmichael, Clair Cooley, Jane and John Corliss, Ardis Ebbighausen, Miki Hutchison, Beatrice Lefevre, Frances Newsom, Myrtle Sagen, Lois Schreiner, Grace Smith, Lynn Frost, Mildred Weatherby, and leaders Ewart Baldwin and Bill Eaton.
