Oregon to Vancouver

After visiting the redwoods, we returned to the coast to locate a campground before dark - without real success. We ended up in the marina area of Brookings, OR. While the location was promising, we learned that all the stores, shops, restaurants and pubs closed at 8:00 p.m. Since it was about that time when we pulled into our RV spot, we were fortunate to find a small cafe that served a delicious clam chowder, fried clams, and oyster sandwiches.

Brookings, OR

After a long day of traveling the California coastline, walking amongst the redwoods, and hiking about Brookings looking for dinner, we slept in and slowly headed our way north along the Oregon coastline. The coast was very majestic and the weather cooperated (unlike most of California) so we had terrrific views.

Oregon coast

Along the coast, we stopped at one of the world's finest golf resorts, Bandon Dunes. Mark and Mason camped out and made a picnic in the RV park while I visited the clubhouse, course and pro shop. After collecting some mementos and a score card, I climbed a high dune and took pictures of the clubhouse and course.

Bandon Dunes clubhouse and course

Following the picnic in Bandon Dunes, we continued up the coast to the very quaint fishing village of Florence where we bought some Dungeness crab and fresh oysters. Since the prior evening's accommondations did  not meet our previous standard, and because it was our last night along the coast, we searched early for a small, very secluded and beautiful camp spot. We were rewarded with a 15 space campground in an Oregon state park along Rock Creek, less than a half mile from the ocean. Our campground spot was the most beautiful of our trip. It was the last spot on a straight line into the woods and the nearest available camping spot was over 100 yards away.

Rock Creek, Oregon coast

The following day was the informal mid way point for our trip. We left camp reluctantly and left the coast for Mark's home in Vancouver, WA. The majority of the day was spent cleaning the RV, our clothes, and re-stocking with groceries and supplies so we were ready for Susie and Brayden's arrival.
Mason and I had a very plesant evening with Mark, Gina, Tony, his girlfriend Kathy, Jennie, Mark's 4 year old grandson, Zakari and some local firends.

Tuesday morning, Mark cooked us an excellent breakfast and sent us on our way for the other Vancouver. The trip was uneventful until we reached the border. While getting Mason's student visa posed no problems, apparently a personal transgression in 1980 (when I was about Mason's age) sparked the interest of the Canadian Border Patrol. After some discussion and an extra $200, they deemed me safe enought to allow me to enter their country.

After our excitement at the border, we cruised the final 30 minutes to our RV site in Burnaby, left the RV and set out for the University of British Columbia (UBC). It took us an hour of train and bus, but we finally arrived on the spctacular campus of UBC. Mason was able to get his check-in completed and we went to see his new dorm room. He will be staying in a brand new dorm this year, with a view of the ocean and the mountains from his top floor room - very nice!

We explored the campus all afternoon, took care of logistics and then headed for Granville Island for some seafood and beverages. We ended the first day in Canada with a few hours of live blues. The Vancouver music scene is spectacular. Mason is going to love it here and I hope I can come back often to visit.