Our journey today continued north on US 101. In all honesty, my two favorite roads in the U.S. (and perhaps anywhere we have travelled) are US 101 and CA 1. The section of US 101 that goes along the rugged Oregon coast is particularly spectacular (and fun to drive if you like lots of hair pin turns and ups and downs). All along the coast are hundreds (if not thousands) of small islands that are part of Oregon’s wildlife preserve and host innumerable species of birds, marine mammals and plants.

Along the shore, for about 40 miles, you have the Oregon Dunes that are over 100,000 years old; the youngest being formed about 7,000 years ago. The dunes are the product of millions of years of erosion by wind, rain and surf. The ever present winds blow the sand off the beach and pile it up into huge dunes that reach as high as 500 feet above sea level and are ever shifting and changing shape. The dunes also provide habitats for many species of birds and plants. They are a fascinating sight and a must see for anyone traveling in the area.

Further up the coast is the Cape Meares National Wildlife Refuge. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service introduces this refuge as follows: “Old-growth forest surrounded by a tumultuous ocean set the primeval scene at Cape Meares National Wildlife Refuge. Its cliffs support thousands of nesting seabirds, a pair of Peregrine Falcons, spectacular views of the roiling Pacific and its inhabitants.” I could not have said it better. It is truly awesome. At the north end of the Three Capes scenic route is the Cape Meares light house which is open to visitors.

As our destination for the day was Astoria, OR, located at the mouth of the Columbia River. We arrived about 6 PM and found lodging for the night. We found a funny little joint that served fabulous fish and chips for our dinner. Afterwards, we read our stories and tucked in for the night.