In and Around Newport

Unbelievably, this part of Oregon has been having its nicest weather in years. Since we arrived on Saturday, it's been in the mid-70s which, the locals tell us, is a heat wave. Not to be negative but it goes bad again tomorrow. I haven't been warm since we left Pensacola, unlike some folks who are lounging in the sun in southern FL -- and you know WHO you are. I've worn every one of the long pants I own. Did someone say SHOPPING?

We have enjoyed walking the docks and watching the boats come and go into the bay and out to the big water. The boats are interesting in that most of the small (and large) vessels have high freeboard in the front like tugs. You don't see any new boats around here. Many of the 100+ at the marina (part of the area where we're staying) look like they should be in junk yards.

We were able to make a number of the above observations while sitting in a 2nd floor window at a resturant in the Rogue Brewing Co. Now when we first rolled in on Sat. and saw the building that says "Rogue Nation Armory & Basement Roguesonian Museum" we looked at each other and said, "Oh crud (or something like that), we've found the survivalists who aren't in Montana and they're right where we're staying." It turns out that 'Rogue' is a fabulous brewing company that's won oodles of awards for their beer and other spirits (which we haven't investigated yet). They also have a dandy resturant on the second floor of the brewry that looks over the pass to the Pacific and the marina and, yes, you have to make your way through the operating brewery to get there. It's a dump but they're the only resturant within miles that is licensed to sell Kobe beef (burger = $18). The fresh salmon is rumored to be fabulous and we shall see.

Last night we drove an hour and a half to meet the kids at the Spirit Mountain Casino to watch the NCAA finals. It was not, of course, a happy ending for Michigan State. You would think that with all the tuition money so many of us funneled into the school, they could win a title for us. Obviously, they didn't think about that. So anyway, smack dab in the middle of no place Oregon, we go around a bend and there's a casino that looks like it should be in Las Vegas. Huh.

The big news of the day is that, just like the boat, we had to have a traveling RV repair person out to figure out why our big slide doesn't roll in like it should. Yes folks, it was a motor gone bad. If I didn't know I was in a land cruiser, I would think I was on the boat. Long about 4 stops ago, one of us had to start pushing the slide in to 'help' it along. Now guess which one of the 2 of us was inside pressing the button to bring in the slide and which of us was outside in the dark and the rain/cold pushing the 9,000 lb. slide. Yeh, well, I finally caught on to that one and a change of responsibilities has been made.

If the repair person doesn't come back today, we're off to explore the beaches, try to sight a couple of whales and maybe see/smell the sea lions.