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Brookings to Eugene - or possibly further !


After a fitful sleep - Select as many reasons from below as you think .

I did not have enough pillows ,
I haven't been camping for years
I am too old !
I turned in too early
It was too hot

I had an early walk on the beach with my camera to say goodbye to the Oregon coast for a while .I showered, broke camp and went in search of a map of California to plan my route . It seems that although its only five miles away the Oregonians see no need to have a map of California , I mean , Why would you leave Oregon for ?
I failed but got a really good map of Oregon and was informed by two people in the gas station that my search for my perfect place was over as I had found it - Brookings Oregon ! Please note American phraseology creeping in ! I went shopping in Fred Meir for more bedding then in hunt of breakfast went to a local Sunday market . Here I purchased a hand tooled leather Leatherman
To think in England this sweet lady would be shunned as an arms dealer pandering to the base instincts of the criminal classes .

It's good check it out ! sheath from the wife of Jim Clifton . I took a video of her demonstrating another of his innovative products . His site is available here .

Southward through the Inspection station where friendly officers questioned me about fruit and vegetable imports . Obviously of major concern to the state of California !

I took a left onto highway 197 , keen not to stray too far into high tax and spend land and soon realised I was in redwood country Took more pics , The glass clear Smith River really cuts its way deep through the Klamath Mountains . I went into the information center and found I had only skimmed the edge of the redwoods national park and had missed the best bits further south . As I was going north the bespectacled ranger headed me to a consolation prize A unique bog together with a unique fly eating pitcher plant .He said it was a cool exciting place .When I got there I was not that impressed but at least finally laid to rest my childhood fear of carnivorous plants ! I thought the ranger had looked a bit nerdy !

The landscape changed and the temperature rose as i entered O'Brien where as is the law in Oregon I had my gas pumped by an attendant who was as always a useful source of local knowledge . Too hot here and cold in the winter too !
I followed the GPS through the edge of Grants Pass where I got a French Vanilla coffee to counteract the sleepiness caused by the heat . I put aside any passing thoughts of living here when I discovered it goes up to 105 with 100 % humidity . I kept on going and did not look back . Interstate 5 rose higher and higher as is wondered through the foothills of the Cascades. The altitude made the air cooler but the towns are small .Stopped an McDonald's in Tri-city just south of Myrtle Creek for a break and Internet access . I am there now ! Things I have learnt today - no matter how much you think you know you are pretty ignorant of vast and growing areas of human knowledge and experience . Travel defiantly broadens the mind !

I'm back on the road a bit dry and hot till a break at the pleasant town of Roseburg . a happy retirement area . From here on northward the land was greener and more lush and gradually flattened out towards Eugene and beyond to my campsite to the west .
I have to say if it was not for the American roads and buildings this could be prime agricultural land in the home counties .I just loved it .

I was charmed by what I at first thought were a pair of small red squirrels in the bushes . They were chipmunks I think . I later found out that despite the stripes they are squirrels !
I was not so charmed by the swarm of biting midges that plagued position 23 - maybe that's why that section of the camp was deserted .
I shut up the jeep and ran the air con. the swarm cleared - Where were they ... ... . .... . ... By the hot exhaust pipe ! ? Ill remember that trick but I will also ask local advice on bugs etc !

Night night ! Pictures here

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