Day 7 - Newport

There is something about getting up with the sun and having that first cup of coffee in the fresh air that only true campers appreciate. I noticed a few other campers up and sitting outside reading with a coffee serenaded by the chorus of noisy crows. We had a beautiful campsite and though close to the beach again, it was very dry and sunny in the morning. Big full pancake breakfast (major Husband Points) before heading off into Newport and beach exploration, for the day. Kay phoned Scott and Linda's daughter, newly married and now pregnant, who lives close by and we arranged to meet for coffee late morning.
Newport is a mix of new commercialized town center, old fishing port in Yaquina Bay and old beach houses along the ocean. We discovered some fabulous older hotels right on the beach where you could get a room with a balcony and fireplace overlooking the beach - and we decided to come back - during the stormy season even better! We explored the ocean beach and discovered a Vietnam Memorial for 24 local young men who had died in the war. A flutist was playing inside a glassed viewing area while we read the memorial inscriptions. Mixed in with the ocean breeze and sound of the surf it was unexpectedly poignant.
We met Shawnee and Roger at the local library and they lead us to a quaint local coffee house where we sat outside and introduced ourselves. We had a wonderful conversation and learned that Shawnee was due in 6 weeks, Roger teaches biology at a local college after working for Oregon State Parks for 10 years. He is an avid fly fisherman and misses his former north west Oregon fishing spots. He recommended I read the book The River Why. They were great fun to meet and talk to.
We had a tailgate lunch at the Yaguina Bay Lighthouse, explored the dark, stoney beach and marvelled at the seals, cormorants, common murres and a lone pelican. The shorebirds were in tightly packed colonies on rock outcroppings and wedged into crevices all around the cliff face.
We stopped at a local Roque Beer Brewery on our way home and sampled 4 types of beer in a wild west type setting on location. Then home for a halibut barbecue and early bed! Whoopie!