Bay City Branch Marion Barr Library, United States Travel Journals & Blogs

John Bickerstaff USA eclipse 2017
- Aug 11, 2017, 12:03pm · ☁️ 16 °C Altitude: 10 m
  United States Oregon Tillamook County Idaville Squeedunk Slough 45.48333, -123.8433345°28’60” N 123°50’36” W
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Day16
Ice cream for lunch.
August 11, 2017 in the United States ⋅ ☁️ 16 °C
Really misty morning - could barely see the sea on my morning run. The 3 arch rocks looked as if they were floating on clouds. Had an extended soak in the hot tub. Then on to the main event - taking in all that Tillamook has to offer & first stop was the Tillamook Cheese Factory. The visitor centre was supposedly good for free cheese samples, fine ice cream & fudge. Not a bad combination though they'll do well to compete on any front with Cornwall. The factory visit was unavailable due to the visitor centre being refurbished so we were left with an exhibition about cows & then a queue for the cheese. 6 samples - 2 mild, 2 more mature & 2 messed around with. Was all a little rushed. Had to move on to the next because the person behind would be waiting. The cheese was fine apart from the messed up stuff - why put pepper & jalapenos in? Wandered through the shop to the ice cream area - 1 scoop $4 - 3 scoops $5. Financially it was a no brainer. And as for the size of the scoops - could see why there were so many fat arses around here. My blueberry, stawberry & vanilla combination worked well but boy was it filling. And Liz battled gamely with the huge chunks of chocolate in her mint choc & raspberry white choc mixture. No other lunch arrangements were required. Tellingly at the cash registers there was a range of indigestion medication available.Read more
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John Bickerstaff USA eclipse 2017
- Aug 9, 2017, 11:31am · ☁️ 17 °C Altitude: 9 m
  United States Oregon Tillamook County Barview Lifesaving Creek 45.565, -123.9545°33’54” N 123°57’0” W
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Day14
Deer & I - equally scared.
August 9, 2017 in the United States ⋅ ☁️ 17 °C
Had phoned up the bike guy last night & though he'd completely forgotten about it he assured me he'd be out at 8.30 with a bike. Was a little skeptical but nonetheless waited in anticipation. 8.30 came and went, bike routes were prepared & I was all set. I was all for getting on phone when up rolls a big 4WD. Happy days. Sorted out the paperwork - laid back round here - no helmet, lock or repair kit. Not needed - we'll see. He proceeded to give me all sorts of tips for routes & places to go. Liz was taking advantage of the facilities - washing hair & clothes so free to go. While the bike would win no awards for modern gadgetry it would do & having a mountain bike on these roads was definitely for the best. First turn off our road - dirt track. Sign of things to come. Steady climb upto Cape Meares & then a road block. Pondered whether that meant bikes. My thoughts were interrupted - a lady checked I knew where I was going & confirmed bikes were ok. Pushed on through the misty forest towards Bay Ocean City spit - an off road track on the site of a resort washed into the sea by erosion. Unfortunately no remains but a fine cycle ride along the bay to a secluded beach. Saw a steam train and scared the shit out of a deer - some blue thing hurtling towards it - it bolted scaring the shit out of me. On the way I bumped into the lady again - her name was Sydney and she gave us some local tips on eats. Also recommended the Tillamook County Fair & in particular the Pig & Ford race. One to figure out there...Read more
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Traveler Sommerurlaub 2019 - Roadtrip
- Jun 23, 2019, 2:00pm · ☁️ 16 °C Altitude: 9 m
  United States Oregon Tillamook County Idaville Neilson Slough 45.48447, -123.844345°29’4” N 123°50’39” W
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Day16
Tag 16 - Waldport bis Tillamook
June 23, 2019 in the United States ⋅ ☁️ 16 °C
Nach dem Frühstück sind wir in Waldport aufgebrochen und gut auf der 101 durchgekommen. In Tillamook haben wir an der Käsefabrik Halt gemacht, Käse probiert, der Produktion zugeschaut, Käse gekauft und ein Eis gegessen. Das war ein netter kleiner Zwischenstopp.Read more
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Elvis Lives Elvis Lives Tour
- Sep 16, 2016, 10:18pm · ☁️ 15 °C Altitude: 8 m
  United States Oregon Tillamook County Barview Kincheloe Point 45.549, -123.9510845°32’56” N 123°57’4” W
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Day123
Thar Be Whales
September 16, 2016 in the United States ⋅ ☁️ 15 °C
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We continued driving down the Columbia River gorge and turned left back into Oregon before heading down the coast. After a fish & chip lunch at a British pub we'd been told about by a ranger hundreds of miles away, we stopped at Fort Stevens SP and biked the civil war and World War 2 base, with its cunning disappearing guns, before ending up soaking in some sun on the beach & examining the Peter Iridale wreck.

Oregon has got the State Park (SP) system just right. The entirely public coast (no private beaches here) is littered with day use and camping areas, and the secluded sites set amongst beautiful ancient trees are bliss. The fact that they have great free hot showers is an added bonus.

For lunch we pulled off the road and started building our sarnies when a grey whale spouted just off the headland. They were so close we didn't even need our binoculars so we watched as half a dozen fed themselves against the sea cliffs whilst we munched on our butties.

We visited the Oregon Coast Aquarium which was only allowable (by Jo) as they no longer keep Orcas or dolphins. It is actually where the whale who inspired Free Willy was kept until they attempted to reintroduce him into the wild. They took him to Iceland & although he didn't completely integrate with the local pods, and still sought human company, he lived for 4 years in the wild before dying of natural causes. We also learnt that over 50% of the Puget Sound salmon-eating Orcas were captured to sell to parks around the world & although it is now illegal it's believed that their numbers are too low to recover. Anyway they now concentrate on education & conservation, they had very cute sea otters there which we were saddened to find out that they are officially extinct in Oregon.

We stayed in a couple more gorgeous SPs but I've got a touch of the man-flu so I'm not feeling like springing into the bracing sea (I've also passed it onto Jo so we're not the happiest of campers at the moment...) On the 4th morning we woke to sea fog shrouding a few miles inland that didn't look like it was going clear so took our leave and headed inland. We ended up in a lovely spot off the scenic highway down by a river.Read more
Pete Moore
Remember Monterey, Jo?
9/18/16Reply
Diane Carter
Remember that there are throngs of us living vicariously through your adventure. Take a deep breath & know that there are less interesting places to be. You are loved and prayed for by many of us. This too shall pass. I admire both of you for following your dreams. I'm 4 chips into pa
9/19/16Reply
Diane Carter
Sorry, technical difficulties... I'm 4 cups into following my own dreams. Jo, I miss you! The second floor isn't the same without you. God bless both of you. Keep me posted...🐝😇
9/19/16Reply
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Traveler 2021 Summer Adventures
- Jul 16, 2021 · ☁️ 63 °F Altitude: 46 ft
  United States Oregon Tillamook County Idaville Neilson Slough 45.484581, -123.84272945°29’4” N 123°50’34” W
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Day42
Tillamook Creamery
July 16, 2021 in the United States ⋅ ☁️ 63 °F
Took a drive to see what we could see in Oregon. Went to the Tillamook Creamery a supposedly 'must see stop'. (https://www.tillamook.com/) Saw how they make huge batches of cheese, had a crappy fast food type lunch. I do like their yogurt but this is just a run of the mill tourist attraction. HoHumRead more
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