Portland Trip

2014 Portland Trip Day 2 Tuesday July 22

Today's portion of trip is between
Eureka, CA and Florence, OR
We are heading up the coast of Northern California and Oregon

Eureka, CA to Florence, OR -- 268 Miles Today seemed long. Perhaps still tired after yesterday's ride or perhaps it is time in the saddle rather than miles that enervate. The highways today were not nearly so high-speed as yesterday
We awoke in Eureka at the Comfort Inn Humboldt Bay The day is starting out overcast. Eureka, overcast? Who would have thought? Had breakfast and then headed over to Redwood Harley-Davidson Of course, I have been there many times before but I need ome poker chips They had not begun stocking them on previous visits. And, yeah, yeah, I admit it, I did buy a couple of t-shirts
Heading up 101, just south of Orick there is an open field where the elk like to play A doe and her fawn were grazing right next to the highway but fled as we approached	First stop on the way north was in the tiny town of Orick We stopped in front of the Orick Post Office I needed an "O" city photo
A water shortage in California? In Humboldt County, you'd never believe it.!	next stop was Klamath We found the Klamath Post Office I needed a "K" city photo
It is surprising the number of Native American institutions in Northern California Most are casinos, about every 50 miles or so, and some are other enterprises
We drove past the Trees of Mystery Paul Bunyon and Babe This might be the first time I have gone by without stopping But there is not much there there unless you have time to hike through the woods or you really need a momento (made in China).
Similarly, we buzzed through Crescent City
Near Brookings, Oregon we stopped at a roadside rest stop For some time I had been hearing a little different sound on the bike. Checking, I found the right muffler was loose. I tried to tighted the clamp but it would not move. Not a dire problem, planned to stop at a HD dealer in Coos Bay anyway.
I love the Oregon coast although some may find the fog a little off-putting The climate is good for some things, I guess Lillies are among those
Gold Beach We stopped in at the Chowder House at Pacific Reef and had a cup of their clam chowder It actually had real chunks of clam. Mmm, mmm, good. Gold Beach is the home of the Arch Rock Brewing Company More about this at dinner time, below
Coos Bay Highway 101 Harley-Davidson I need a pin and chips and a muffler clamp They were really terrific, got a tech working on the bike within about 15 minutes Alas, the muffler input pipe is worn and cannot be clamped securely and they do not have a replacement in stock. Actually, though, the way it is designed, there is no danger of it falling off, just a rattling sound and some minor, errant exhaust noise until I get home
we arrived in Florence and had a wonderful dinner at a place called 1285 Restobar on Bay St Someone is a little camera shy We both chose the herb encrusted hallibut. Terrific. I had a glass of the Gold Beach Arch Rock Brewery Porter. It was very good, dark but mellow. Settled in for the night at the Comfort Inn Florence Same chain as last night in Eureka, but just a shade less nice