Cape Blanco C/G and Lighthouse

Our first stop in Oregon was Cape Blanco St Pk, on the outskirts of Port Orford, and a most beautiful place. The campground, high on a headland (245’) overlooking the blue Pacific, was nestled in the trees and sheltered from the wind. A mile away stood Cape Blanco Lighthouse, towering above the westernmost point in Oregon and the oldest standing lighthouse on the Oregon coast (1870). We hiked to it, tho we about got blown away, and enjoyed a tour. Visited the pioneer Hughes family home (1898) afterwards. Later hiked down to the sand, gaping at everything: The lupines in full bloom, covering the hillsides, a spectacular sight, and Needle Rock, looking more like a haystack than a needle, alive with seabirds.

Up early next morning and down the cliff again to poke around tide pools at the minus low tide - lots of critters. In the afternoon we drove to Port Orford Heads St Pk and Lifeboat Station for a tour of the museum and grounds. Go to: http://www.portorfordlifeboatstation.org/ for more info, esp about the Japanese bombing during WWII. Hiked the Headland Trail to all the outstanding viewpoints - lots of hiking these days! This whole area is beyond description. (Also managed to get in a trip to the library and spend some quarters at a Laundromat. Spied elk on our way to town, and stopped in the road for a river otter crossing with a babe in its mouth!) Neat!