Newport, Oregon: Another rainy night and we needed the furnace this morning. Surprised the dang thing still worked. Running clothes on, and ready to hit the streets - the skies opened up even more and we both decided to wait it out. By noon, we both decided to get dressed and head into Newport for some grub.
We drove to the Historic Nye Beach area, on the north side of the bridge for lunch at Nana's Irish Pub because we heard good reviews, and wanted to try Nana's for ourselves. This grey day was the perfect weather to enjoy a pint in a cozy pub
Breakfast of Champions!
Locals and tourists were dropping in for a coffee, a pint or lunch.
A stormy cold day calls for a hot cup of Country Tomato Soup with Irish Soda Bread.
Or better yet - a steak and mushroom pie, topped with puff pastry. We enjoyed our lunch and had good service from very pretty waitresses at Nana's Irish Pub.
After lunch, the rain stopped (for a moment) so we walked two blocks down to the boardwalk above Nye Beach.
From Nye Beach, you can look north to the Yaquina Head Lighthouse.
A gull was sitting on a fence post on the boardwalk. He wasn't afraid of us at all. Maybe he was hoping for a hand-out?
The gull was a willing portrait sitter.
The bird remained calm even when I handed the camera to my much-taller companion. DT captured this pretty photograph.
I don't know about you... but I think four photos of a gull are plenty.On our way back to the Magna Peregrinus we made a few stops. First was to the Yaquina Bay Lighthouse (not to be confused with the Yaquina Head Lighthouse a few miles north. (The word is pronounced Ya-kwin-ah. Don't try to pronounce the word as you would if it were Spanish, because it is not - Yaquina is the name of the local Indian tribe.)
The pretty Yaquina Bay Lighthouse sits at the mouth of the Yaquina River. It has been completely restored by volunteers and is open daily from 12-4p. It is free to visit the lighthouse, but donations are accepted. (If you are in your RV, drive past the front of the lighthouse - all the way around the corner - and you will find a large gravel parking area.)
The rooms on the two floors of the house have been restored and furnished with period pieces. There are four bedrooms upstairs and the kitchen had running (if you call a hand-cranked pump running) water. In the basement, the volunteers operate a little gift shop.
From the Yaquina Bay Lighthouse, it is possible to see the entire channel from Yaquina Bay out to the Pacific.
From the parking area, the view south is of the pretty Yaquina Bay Bridge. (Our motorhome is parked on the other side of the bridge, behind all those boats.)We made one last stop - just because the sun was shining (for about fifteen minutes) - down to the waterfront in Old Town Newport. This area has shops, "museums" and restaurants (all very touristy) - but it is also a busy working fishing and crabbing port.
The charter boats were just returning, loaded with halibut and happy fishermen!
While-you-wait fillet - the charter company will also vacuum-seal your catch.
Sea lions love to sleep on the empty docks in Yaquina Bay.
I can't even count how many sea lions are on the docks, rocks and in the water in Yaquina Bay! Noisy! Stinky! Wonderful!
The view is great from the wharf too - the bridge framing the mouth of the bay.That was the end of the sun for the day. It has been raining steadily all afternoon. We did not exercise today (I think this is the third time My Driver has missed a day in three months!). We will remain in tonight, watch the Mariners, observe Shabbat and I will actually roast a chicken!
Until my next update, I remain, your soggy correspondent.
RV Park: Port of Newport RV Park. Large paved sites, pull-through and back-in, wifi, cable TV, bathhouse and laundry. Directly on the marina with views of the bridge. Walk to the Oregon Coast Aquarium and the Hatfield Marine Science Center - and the Rogue Brewery and Pub. We are paying $35 per night.