We left Harris Beach state park which is just 1 mile north of Brookings and it’s just 10 miles to the California border.  We had made a trip into bookings the night before since we knew California’s gas was going to be much more expensive.  Almost into California we stopped at a way site to take a picture and I dropped my phone.  It broke the glass which on this particular phone means I couldn’t access it anymore.  We got into California.  Visited Jedidiah Smith redwoods state park and then went into Crescent City to visit a Verizon store to see about fixing my phone.  They were able to take the phone card out of my phone and put it into my nexus 7. My tablet isn’t set up to be a phone but I will be able to make it work. 
We drive thru some Spectacular Redwood forests and land at Bear Creek casino for the night which is just outside Loleta California. 

That’s A Big Tree

We have been moving pretty fast,  we are not sure where we are going from here and Harris beach state park is Beautiful and has cable tv.  All of these were good reasons for staying another night.  I am really glad we did this beach is gorgious.

History and the beauty of the beach.  We started the day by walking out to the cape blanco lighthouse for a tour and a history lesson. 

Our tour guide

We then visited the Hughes house which is an ornate house built in 1898 not far from the light house which has been restored and preserved just like it was back in those days.

We then wander down the coast with our final destination being Harris beach srate park.  This part of the oregon coast has got to be the most beautiful on the whole coast. 

What kind of a beach trip is this?  We are 48 hours into this trip and i realuzed i havent even been on the beach yet.  So todays the day for sure.  We stopped at face rock beach in bandon.  This is a BEAUTIFUL beach. 

Long sandy beach with huge rock formations everywhere and tide pools among the roch formation.  A beachcombers paradise.  We walked for a couple of miles one way playing in the surf and taking pictures. 

Unfortunately we cant stay all day we have to keep mobing.  Off the see the Coquile lighthouse (pretty boring)

and the bandon march wildlife refuge.  The refuge had several viewing spots and was long on history of the area and sort on wildlife.  Then the big decision of the day .. No not whats for dinner .. North to stay at the casino or south to a campground.  Bunny won … Off to cape blano campground.  It got 8 stars in the book…i was willing to settle with doubling down on my pair of 8’s at the blackjack table…
We find a spot close to the beach and imediately we are greet by dwight the local lighthouse host with his red cup.  We are still not sure what was in that cup.  But he reassures us that this part of the west coast beach is the most beautiful.  We secure the rv and off to see for ourselves.  I have to agree.  It is a beautiful beach .. But i m thinking face rock beach was just as nice.  I forgot got to mention why they called it face rock beach .. Have a look …

Do you see her? Bunny decides to go back to the rv .. I go for a long walk on the beach.  I walked from one end of the beach to the cape blanco light house.  I am not sure if there is a way back up to the campground from here.  I followed this couple and they just went up this grassy hillside … So i followed .. We all made it up .. I later found the path up the hill which we all had walked past.  Back to the rv for dinner and bed …

Day 2 starts in the casino in Florence.  Our destination today is a visit to a park from my past.  My dad took me elk hunting with him awhen i was young.  We stayed at a park call Laverne park.  I wanted to revisit that park to see whars changed.  We looked it up on the garmin and found 2 routes.  One was 34 miles and one was 13 miles.  Knid of confusing so we just put the address in and put our trust on the garmin gods.  We were on a curvy little 2 lane road which then turned to gravel.  It was only 11 miles to go .. How long can this gravel road last?  Well turns out this short cut is acyually a logging road.  It was shorter but it was slow and a little bumpy … I hope cruise america osbt following our blog.  Also the locals were using the road for some kind of jog a thon.  So we were dogging potholes and joggers.  Luckily we didnt run into any log trucks.  Anyway we finally got to a paved road and 4 miles later found Laverne County park campground.  It really hadnt changed much from my memories.  I located the big bend on the Coquile river where i caught my first salmon. 

Also walked to the falls where my dad would watch me try to catch salmon with my hands as the salmon jumped the falls. 

The park is much more beautiful than i remember.  We got a spot right next to the river with the sound of the river in the background. 

The park host stopped by and we swapped stories for an hour.  He said that a month earlier the fishermen were elbow to elbow pulling salmon out of the river.  The next morning we walked around the park once more and it was off to Coquile.  This time we decided to take the long way.