I had a rainy couple of days on the coast, but it was so indescribably beautiful. There were some amazing sights that I didn't get pictures of, but the entire shoreline really reminded me of Maine.
I started in the Coos Bay area and went to Face Rock and Bandon. So. Many. Sea Birds. Puffins have returned to Bandon, but I didn't see any, and I missed the pullout at Haystack Rock so I didn't see them there, either. I drove all the way up the coast and ended at the Astoria Column (which crosses over with the Lewis and Clark Trail - next entry)
My halfway point was Newport, and I had dinner at the Sylvia Beach Hotel. Built in 1912 it has themed rooms based on famous authors, and has a restaurant (Table of Content) that is ranked best in the state.
Table of Content features local ingredients (the asparagus for the soup was purchased from the Farmers' Market that morning), and when you make your reservation you're told the days entrees and make a selection. The dinner is family style, and I was at a table with a mother/daughter and husband/wife. They were excellent dinner companions and the food was delicious.
I didn't take a single picture of the food, but my the menu was cream of asparagus soup, mixed greens salad, Harissa chicken (other entree choices was a pork schnitzel, salmon, or vegetarian something - nobody at my table had it). The shared sides were a pea/pea tendril salad and a noodle/onion dish. There were 2 kinds of fresh bread and vanilla cheescake with strawberries for dessert. So good.
