Oregon Coast! Day Ten!

 

July 16, 2026: It was a quiet night on the side of the one way road called Otter Crest Loop. A nice change from the traffic noise of 101!

I woke up early as usual and around 6am a white van pulls up and parks across the street where the cliff is. Is this the same white van from last night? It's white, but I don't remember details. I watched through the openings in my window covers. OMG! It looks like the same man! He gets out and walks to the cliff looking at the scenery. I really don't know. It's early in the morning, foggy, and truthfully, I was too busy last night waiting for a break in traffic to notice what he looked like other than older, slim, and short white hair. It looks just like him! I watched until he left. If he would have started toward my van, I would have grabbed my chef's knife and he would have been done with. LOL! He left. Later I saw his van at another overlook parking lot. I figured we were both heading north, but I hope not to run into him anywhere for fear of what I might say to him. I'm not into confrontations especially since I hate people on a good day.

The weather is cloudy, cold and drizzly. Well, I didn't want 100 degree temperatures so I can't complain! I drove to Lincoln City, but couldn't find anything to see. Continued to Neskowin where there was supposed to be a "ghost beach". In photos there were pieces of driftwood standing upright. I saw two. Not impressive. Nice beach with an island I walked around. Got to the far side and it's either try to walk on sand-covered wet rocks (TRAUMA RECALL!) or wade through a foot of water. I opted to walk all the way back around.

The beaches are starting to look the same...

Island

Walkway through wet rocks.

Barnacles covering the base of the island.

So even though I was a little disappointed not to see ghosts, the universe rewarded me...with a $20 bill! It was just laying there on the sand. There were people in the distance in every direction. For a moment I considered maybe I should chase them down one by one and ask if they were missing money. That sounds like a stink risk: perfume, detergent, body spray, hair garbage. No. I'll keep it. Then I thought, If I keep it, will that bring bad luck? I don't know where I got this karma retribution worldview. I think if I keep it, I'm just $20 richer!

Then I drove the gorgeous green countryside to McMinnville along highway 130 with single lane bridges all the way. All day I was passing signs for covered bridges, but I didn't stop. I was told by someone I might like to live in this town so I wanted to have a look, but the fields of toxic agriculture surrounding the town and the stench of fertilizer made me turn and run. So I headed to Salem.

Salem was weirdly disorganized. Or maybe that was Google Map's fault? Anywhere I wanted to go I felt disoriented with routes through strange neighborhoods and districts circling through repeating streets. It felt like a neverending maze. It was also very congested which didn't help with Google's directions. "Turn right immediately!" Ah, there are two lanes of bumper to bumper cars HOW am I supposed to over to the right? 

I went to the Kettle Chip Factory because I read online they give tours. Since I don't eat their potato chips I considered this might be a stupid idea, but since I was there, why not? Well, the guy who answered the high-security door didn't know anything so I left. Why do they need a high-security door on a potato chip factory? Maybe it's not a potato chip factory at all, but some secret government department planning nefarious activities?

I headed west to Tillamook and I hoped the Tillamook Creamery knows they have tours!! I was told by a swimming woman in Coos Bay to stay at the Blue Heron French Cheese Company. They have a huge grass field that serves as an overnight parking lot where one can stay for five days. FREE! So I followed directions and checked in during business hours to get my pass and the girl at the counter asks me if I'm a member of Harvest Host? No. (Not interested.) She proceeds to tell me I have to be a member in order to stay. Ah, no. Not according to online. I thought, Oh! Not again! Not some silly employee not having any clue what is going on. She tells me the manager will know and calls her over. The manager was lovely. Confusing, but lovely. She asked if I was a Harvest Host member. NO. She says that's fine, they charge, but we don't. I was so confused by these people, but eventually she said, "Yes, you can stay for free. No need to be a member of Harvest Host." People honestly make me want to scream. Thankfully I can keep the screaming silent and in my head while I continue smiling sweetly. I got my dashboard placard and I am good to go! Hooray! Lots of other nomads, mostly RVs, a few buses, and some vans. Not sure if this is a good idea, but for a day or two I might be able to tolerate parking next to others like sardines.

The blueberry thief showed up and parked in the back. I didn't think I'd see her again since I was making all these side trips. Hopefully I can avoid her so she doesn't throw her dog in my van again.

As you can see from the above photo, it's still cloudy, cold and drizzly. Sometimes in the afternoon it'll clear up, but not today. It's so damp here!

Oregon Coast and Corvallis: Day Nine

July 15, 2026: IT'S THE MIDDLE OF JULY ALREADY!!! Time is flying by!

I walked the Jackson Frazier Wetlands boardwalk in the early morning hours. Drove to the Osborne Pool which is nice, but crowded. They have a dedicated lap pool with six lanes, but three of them the swim team use for practice. Nice dressing rooms, but the showers are closed for remodeling. The lobby didn't smell like chlorine because the indoor pool is also being remodeled. Only the outdoor pool is opened. So only three lap lanes were available and they were filled. I left.

I visited the First Alternative Natural Foods Co-op. OMG! It's wonderful! It's huge compared to most food co-ops which always seems like a desperate afterthought, struggling for relevance in a small town. I threw all caution to the wind, bought a gluten-free PIE and proceeded to eat the whole thing without hesitation. It was a small pie, but.... Banana cream isn't my favorite, but at least I had enough common sense to NOT buy the chocolate cream pie. GLUTEN-FREE! So rare! Still, I did not feel good after eating it!

I interrogated the very friendly cashier about living in Corvallis and she had nothing but good to say. She did say it gets really busy in the fall when students come back for college. I didn't realize it was a college town. She said it might snow once a year and rain during the winter, but not as rainy as Washington. I looked at her and said, "How did you know I was from Washington?" I think she's psychic. I checked Zillow. Housing is EXPENSIVE in Corvallis!!! Way over what I can afford for either sales or renting!

I drove to Avery Park to relax. Nice park, however, although there are signs that say "NO OVERNIGHT PARKING". Odd. I don't think that rule applies to the many homeless living there. In every direction there was a tent or just a bunch of sleeping bags in a pile with people still in them. There was one van parked in the parking lot and clearly it was there all night...or maybe all month. I headed to Newport on the coast. Lovely drive through the countryside with temperatures around 70 degrees.

Newport is very congested. Lots of traffic. It has a wonderful co-op called Oceana Food Co-op. The gardens outside were exquisite. I miss nasturtiums. One of the most unnecessary items I have stored in this van: a jar of nasturtium seeds! I'm hoping someday I'll be able to plant them.

I drove to Moolak Beach which is about ten minutes north of Newport, and braved the incredibly steep trail to the sand (TRAUMA RECALL!). I had to carefully scoot on my butt part of the way as the sand-like gravel was rather slippery. What am I thinking? I couldn't help it. The sand and ocean were beckoning stronger than trauma recall!

Climbing back up the cliff was much easier. Gorgeous views, warm sand, cold water. 

Next went to Yaquina Head Lighthouse and got in FREE with my America the Beautiful Pass. Hooray! I love free and that pass has paid off so many times!

What was spectacular was the beach below made up of rocks that had been polished with the waves! The sound of the surf pulling and rolling rocks was SO RELAXING!  Be sure to listen to the video below all the way to the third (largest) wave as it pulls back and rolls the rocks! I loved it. I could have sat there the rest of the day just listening!

But again, TRAUMA RECALL! I gingerly tiptoed across the rocks steadying eat step for stability. (I laughed when I saw this sign. I especially liked "Sneaky" but "Slippery" resonated with me more!)

One nearby woman saw the TRAUMA RECALL all over my face and said, "If you need to grab me go ahead!" She shared with me how her daughter broke an ankle sliding into first base and has had a difficult time recovering. She was afraid of breaking something, too, but there we were being adventurous!

I went back to Newport and parked down by the Vietnam Veterans Memorial and gazed upon the Newport Beach. No beach walking this time. I was pretty tired and the wind was cold in late afternoon.

As I headed to Otter Crest Loop for some overnight parking, I pulled into the Moolak Beach parking lot. As I'm leaving this white van starts to turn right into me! I'm frantically motioning for him to keep going because there is another entrance not fifty feet north and there is no room for him to turn right where I am stopped at the stop sign. Well, he's a man. And true to his dickhead nature, he's impatient, entitled, reckless and hostile on a good day. Our vans missed by inches, but I have no idea how! My window is open. I scream as loud as possible, "YOU DUMB FUCK!" I continued waiting at the stop sign to exit, but I could see him get out of his van and take a photo of the back of my van. WHY? Does he think swearing is illegal and he plans to report me? Or does he plan to turn himself in for reckless, offensive driving and wants to write me a formal apology? More than likely he'll post it somewhere because he's too cowardly to allow me to state my point of view. I really hate people, but men are on the top of my hate list! I hate it when people cause me to ruminate in anger for too long!

Oregon Coast Side Trip: Day Eight

July 14, 2026: I awoke with no trees on top of my van! Hooray for the simple celebrations in life!

I drove to Bend and although Google Maps wanted me to stay on the main highway, I saw a sign for "SCENIC ROUTE" and headed up the Santiam Pass on Highway 242. True to its claim, it was scenic!

The road was smooth as silk, maybe new, no potholes or cracks, like a park road, and the first section was gorgeously, densely wooded. It had plenty of twists and turns and at times was very narrow, but little traffic early in the morning. At the top were lava fields with walls of lava rock on each side of the highway!

At the apex of the mountain was a castle-like observation tower built in the 1930s of these lava rocks. It had these awesome arched windows that framed the various mountains: Three Sisters, Mt. Washington, and Mt. Jefferson with a bronze circular guide to tell you which was which and a rock-carved plaque below each window.

Mt. Washington

Three Sisters

The drive was beautiful especially early in the morning. Well worth the side trip!

I drove through Sisters to Bend. In the morning it was a very pretty town, but later in the afternoon it became congested with tourists. I did errands in Bend. Visited Discount Tires which was not a good experience. I think I'd prefer Les Schwab, but they don't have stores in Arizona!

I attempted to swim at Juniper Pool which is supposedly the best pool in Oregon. It's huge, and the outdoor pool is actually under a removable awning, but the chlorine was so strong I decided against it. (Is it just extra dirty?? Hmmmm....)

I finally found the Old St. Francis "hot springs" but I think it's just a soaking pool and looked more like a beautifully tiled bathtub than a hot springs. Also highly chlorinated. After reading that fact about chlorine, I'll never be the same! By that time the temperatures outside had climbed to 95 degrees so soaking in heat wasn't as appealing. I had an urge to go back to the coolness of the coast!

I stopped just east of Corvallis to park overnight at the Jackson Frazier Wetlands parking lot. It was quite popular with cars in and out going for evening walks or walking their dogs, but once the sunset it became really quiet.

Oregon Coast Side Trip: Day Seven!

July 13, 2026: Overnighting at Blue River Reservoir on this tiny country road was quite possibly the quietest night I've had in Oregon. No traffic all night and the boating parties went home yesterday afternoon. So nice!

In the peace of the morning, I cleaned out the van. I try to do this once a month by emptying out the innards, dusting or washing every surface, and vacuuming the carpets and fabrics. I haven't done it for a while since I avoid doing it if parked on dirt or grass for fear of ticks or other bugs. I don't want any kind of bug infestation. Periodic cleaning deters bugs, mice, and mold. Mold loves dust.

At this time I also go through every tote to see if there is anything I haven't used and garbage it. There are things I am storing for my future home like baking dishes, ceramic containers, bowls, art, lightbulbs and now a bag of hubcaps. I really wish I could find a base so I didn't have to store all this unnecessary stuff in the van which takes up too much space! I ruminated and worried about my mosaics being stored in a woman's garage in Tucson. She said she'll only store them for a year. Well, a year is almost up! Then what do I do? This causes me too much stress and I've almost made some bad decisions buying property just to have some place to put those mosaics!!

Today is a lazy day...

I have a pile of books here in the van. Some of them I get from  the free shelves at libraries and I keep them handy should I come across a little corner neighborhood library. I love those. I stop and look whenever possible and exchange books I've read for new (used) books. This way I don't have to spend money on a book I have no idea if I'd like or not, and I can keep the books as long as I need until I feel like reading.

Today I felt like reading and it's a story about a vampire. I realized too late it's a romance. Eeeewww! I've had this book for maybe a month? I can't remember where I found it maybe in a little town in eastern Oregon? Anyway, I open it and there is a bookmark of Vincent van Gogh with Sunflowers on his jacket! Nice bookmark - double sided which is unusual and clearly higher quality than one without a double side. I love getting gifts from the universe. I feel a little bad that someone might not have realized they left the bookmark in the book when they donated it, but like I said, I cannot remember from which community I found this book and I'm not going to spend $40-$100 in gas to try to return it to its owner. So I'll be thankful and then pay it forward eventually.

I stayed at the Blue River Reservoir again. As I'm laying in bed for the night I hear a loud crack and crash. OMG! I looked outside but didn't see anything except the wall of dirt/cliff across the road. All of a sudden I'm paranoid a tree will fall on my van! I'm not being unreasonable! It could happen. Wouldn't that be a nightmare? Would it push me off the ledge, over the cliff, into the reservoir 100 feet below? Damn, the useless things I worry about!

Oregon Coast: Takin' a Break: Day Six!

 July 12, 2026: Once the highway 101 traffic died down, it was a very quiet night. I woke up at 5am. I love this time of the day. People still sleeping. No traffic. I feel like I have the earth to myself. The photo below is the morning view of the coastline. The clouds and drizzle are finally clearing, but it's time for a break from the gray and damp.

I drove south, back to Florence, and headed east to Eugene on highway 126. Did a bee line to Whole Foods for a shot of civilization. It's so nice when they have a meat/fish counter and I can buy one piece of stuff instead of huge packages that just go bad since I don't eat it fast enough.

Then on to the Amazon Swimming Pool which opens on Sunday at 11:30. It's big, but so darn crowded! There are no reservations so the line outside started around 10:30am. Way too chaotic and noisy with lap swimmers, water walkers, hoards of screaming kids and many lanes of the swim team practicing. I did my 45 minutes and got the hell out of there. But I couldn't smell any chlorine! I recently read the smell of chlorine isn't really the chlorine, but the chlorine mixed with sweat and other human excrements so the stronger the smell, the dirtier the pool. I find that hard to believe. I'm sure chlorine right out of the bottle stinks. I don't know....

I planned to go to Bend, but found a nice pullout on a little road past Blue River Reservoir that goes to the revervoir's official campground.  I washed my Goodwill clothes that still stink (third handwashing) soaking them in Borax. I washed my rims that no longer have hubcabs because one fell off and I won't spend $50 on a hubcab so I took them all off. Washing the rims did not make them look better. Then I ate blueberries and gazed at the view:

It's much warmer here at 80 degrees and the sun is actually out!

Oregon Coast! Day Five!

 July 11, 2026: In the morning I walked a lap around the dog park then through the town of Reedsport. I left early on Highway 35 to an organic blueberry farm (Estill Farms) for some u-picking!! Google Maps took me to who knows where and I parked under their sign and tried to call but no one answered or returned my call. Then on the way back I found the blueberry farm. HUGE blueberries covering the bushes! Easy to pick, and oh, they were so tasty! I babbled the ear off of the woman in the row next to me. Her name was Yvonne and she grew flowers. I intended to pick about a half of a bucket, but I was talking so much I wasn't paying attention. I picked 10 pounds! At $3.50 per pound (for organic berries!!) that was $35!! Thankfully they fit in my refrigerator!

I then headed to Florence to a very, very busy laundromat, but the only one in town with top loaders. The parking lot was filled including three vans and two campers. They had seven top loaders and five were broken! The incredibly nice laundry lady said it's really difficult to get parts for the older machines. So that explains why so many in other laundromats are broken!

I met another van woman doing her laundry. It was fun to talk to someone else living in a van. However, I'm not sure why van women think I want their dogs in my van. They always walk right up and either throw the dog in my van or let it jump in. Would it be fine with them if I jumped into their vans uninvited? 

Earlier I offered her some of my blueberries and she said, "Yes." Not five seconds after I gave her a baggie of blueberries she asked me if it would be OK if she gave them to some man...???!!! WHAT???!!! I was livid! So incredibly RUDE. Why not just wait until I leave and give them to him? Why take them if she didn't want them? Why would she think my gift to her was to be given to someone else right in front of me? Why not wait until I'm gone and the do it? Just the question was rude. The guy loudly thanked her for the blueberries and I loudly said, "YOUR WELCOME" back. I've never met another woman living in a van who wasn't absolutely obnoxious, self-centered, condescending or just rude in some way. Probably from spending so much time alone? I wonder if I'm as socially inept?

I drove around Florence, walked to the market, then headed north along highway 101. I stopped at Bob's Creek beach. I walked on the beach and attempted to walk on rocks with pools of sea water, but it brought on TRAUMA RECALL...it felt too slippery. I had my high top hiking boots on which makes me feel secure, but...

Then I drove just south of Yachats to Thor's Well which is a collapsed cave that spurts water with the waves. The hike was only .4 miles on a paved walkway which is good since my ankle, knee and leg have been hurting. The weather was cloudy and drizzly. The walkways were wet. TRAUMA RECALL!! as I very carefully tiptoed down the path making sure I wouldn't slip.

I briefly watched as they carried someone out on a gurney and again, TRAUMA RECALL! I wonder if the person broke their ankle? Eeeewww! Beaches will never be the relaxing experience they once were!

I spent the rest of the day eating blueberries. I parked on a pullout on highway 101, but I really need to stop parking on the highway. It's so noisy with all the traffic. Unfortunately, I really don't want to drive on a dusty, dirt road up into the middle of no where to camp either. I think I'm tired of the gray, cloudy, drizzly days and noisy highway. Tomorrow I'll drive east.

Oregon Coast! Day Four!

 July 10, 2026: Awoke to clouds. Walked the boardwalk and passed a woman saturated in perfume. WHY??? WHY, I ask?? I find these people pathetically self-centered and lacking in self-esteem at the same time. It has to be a mental illness to have such a toxic addiction.

I came upon this bit of passionate graffitti while walking. Another daily reminder of where I am. I'm more inclined to cross out the yeast. As beautiful as the Oregon Coast is in the summer, I know during the winter with dark, cloudy days and constant rain, mold is an epidemic here. So toxic.

And then there is Ford. Another horrible experience. I get there 30 minutes early for my appointment. The service agent who was so helpful the other day is dismissive and condescending. This odd schitzophrenia is unnerving and my spidey-senses spiked. Is this change in personality because he knows he's about to try to screw me over? Another young guy who I think was a mechanic says they might not be able to rotate my tires because the van is too high. Excuse me? I didn't call in for an appointment. I showed up in person with the van that the service agent looked at. He couldn't tell me this two days ago? 

I said, "They only reason I'm here is to get a tire rotation." I was absolutely horrified. I'm so tired of these auto MEN manipulating and conniving to get me to spend money by luring me into the shop under false pretenses, "Oh, but we can do your oil change instead". 

I look over at the asshole agent and ask, "Can Les Schwab rotate my tires?" He said, "I don't know." He told me days ago that Les Schwab will have to balance the tires. It seems his information is selective when it's convenient. Then he told me because of the type of tires I have, they will more than likely wear out earlier than normal around 30,000 miles. 

I said, "I'm already at 30,000 miles and every mechanic I've encountered in the last couple months has told me they have another 30,000 miles to go!"

He looked at me like I was stupid and said, "How could you have put 30,000 miles on them? You've only had them a year."

I replied, "I drove to Alaska last year and across Canada, and then across the United States." I guess I caught him in another lie.

So I left! I walked out. Got in my van and drove next door to Les Schwab. Yes, they can rotate my tires and they don't have to lift it off the ground to do it, but they might not be able to do the oil change. I was having a meltdown at this point from all the man manipulation. So I asked them to rotate and balance the tires and if they can get to the oil and filter change, that would be good or I'll just go somewhere else for that. They did it all! Not sure why these people always create so much stress. This isn't rocket science.

So my van is actually running so much better! No loud noise! No sputtering up a hill! All these problems I've had in the last year and a half is because of the bad tires that one dealership sold me!! They also need to be rotated all the time, twice as often as I would normally do. In another month, I'll replace the tires.

After all this shenanigans, I couldn't wait to leave Coos Bay. I headed north to Reedsport and parked overnight at the dog park! It's highly recommended online. It was a quiet night other than the yappy dog at the house next door, but eventually even the yapper was brought inside and peace prevailed.

Just before bedtime, I tripped over my rice cooker cord spilling the pot with old food and dirty water all over my rugs!! There have been so many times I almost did this so it's not surprising. When you don't have a whole lot of room to move around, these things are bound to happen. (To date, I still have NOT spilled my urine containers!) I tried to soak up the liquid as much as possible, then stuffed the throw rugs into a plastic garbage bag. I'll need to find a laundromat tomorrow. I can't have wet rugs covered in old food sitting around the van especially in this damp environment.

Day Four has concluded. See you on Day Five!

Oregon Coast! Day Three!

 July 9, 2026: Once the loud-talking group left taking the cackling woman with them last night, it was a very quiet night with a lovely, peaceful morning. I woke early to sunshine and walked the city venturing out on the boardwalk along the bay.

Sunny, cool, beautiful, and the air smelled so clean and refreshing! Coos Bay is a nice town, spread out with wide streets often one-way. It's a little run down with vacant buildings, but Central Avenue is well-kept with street murals and hanging flower baskets.

They have a food co-op that is right downtown (a block away from where I parked) that is well-stocked with everything and a few blocks away a Natural Grocers that, like Whole Foods, is familiar and consistent. The Coos Bay Information Center was horrible, smelling like perfume. I asked them if they had air fresheners and she said no. She asked why and I said, "It smells like toxic perfume." I left immediately with the beginnings of a headache. I was hoping to find out about the music festival this weekend and maybe get some free postcards. Oh well. It's not worth getting poisoned!

Swam at the pool. People are really friendly even if I HATE having to share a lane that is too small. The woman I was sharing with who was incredibly nice decided to back stroke and she kept crossing over into my half of the lane to the point where I had to hug the float line to keep from getting hit. I was so spoiled swimming in Tucson where the pool requires reservations and is so big one doesn't have to share!

Hiked around Mingus Park. The trails go way up into the forest. So beautiful and the air is so clean.

Parked overnight at the 24 hour public parking again. Very quiet night.

Oregon Coast! Day Two

July 8, 2026: Highway 101 wasn't too noisy at night, but every now and then a semi would pull in behind me and idle his engine for an hour. One guy had his talk radio up full blast. Why are they so thoughtless and rude? Like parking on the side of the highway in Alaska, this might get really old. 

When I woke up at the crack of dawn (literally) to another semi behind me, I moved back to the Sisters Rocks parking lot which is a little off the highway. I parked facing the gorgeous view of the ocean. Can you see the little speck of blue at the top left corner? Probably not! But Big Blue is there!

This dashing, adorable seagull kept circling my van hoping for a handout. At one point he jumped on top of my van and it was only then did I exit the van and chase him away...he came back. He's very well-mannered and patient, although relentless. He just stands there close by waiting. And so clean and pretty!

I worked all morning then went for another hike on the Sisters Rocks trail. The tide was out so it was fun to see the whole beach when yesterday it was barely a small patch of sand. However, this time I was on a mission. I love beachcombing. I can't stop myself even though I have no room in this van for rocks or shells. I can't resist the gorgeous white quartz rocks that shimmer wet like little jewels. Yesterday I found a little scallop shell that was so perfect and bright orange. That should have been a clue. I looked inside and didn't see anything until later that night when I washed the shell and there was a little scallop in it! I felt so bad. I tried finding an accessible beach where I was overnighting, but I was parked up on a cliff again. So today I felt obligated to walk it back to its home and throw it in the water. I hope it survived one night in a plastic cup with filtered water!

This is yesterday's tiny beach with the tide out. It's a totally different beach now!

I also hiked a different path today and found a cave with waves washing into the inside of it:

They always look so beautiful on a beach and wet...

After hiking I drove north on Highway 101. I stopped in Port Orford and went to the co-op. OMG! They had fresh Oregon strawberries!! I continued to Bandon. I was always told to visit this town and how beautiful it was, but I wasn't impressed. It was a little boring, but I did stop at the food co-op. Most of the shelves were bare so matching the town, not impressive. Beyond Port Orford the highway goes inland so no more beautiful views of the ocean.

I headed next to Coos Bay visiting the Ford dealership immediately and for the twentieth time whined about how the van isn't running well and it creates too much stress knowing something is wrong, but everyone telling me there is nothing wrong. I begged for help! This service agent seemed way more knowledgeable than all the others and sounded helpful. He asked how often I get the tires rotate. I said with each oil change so every 5,000 miles IF the mechanics actually do it which I have found they don't and then lie about it. He said I should be getting the tires rotated every 3,000 miles or my all-terrains will start cupping which will create a whole lot of noise and bad handling. OMG! YES!! Finally someone who knows what they are talking about! He also said the tires are really excellent tires, but too big for the van. He asked if a tire shop sold them to me and I said, "Nope, another dealership." He was shocked at the incompetence as I sat wide-eyed, nodding, and yelling, "YES, I TOTALLY AGREE!" LOL! He also said when his dealership suspects a tire issue, they will actually take the tires off the customer's vehicle, put his manager's  high-quality tires on, and test drive it to see if it makes a difference. No one has every offered that before! I WANT THAT!! So I've made appointments trusting this man was willing to help and not just use me as his next cash cow. It would be such a relief to get all this fixed after a year of torment and incompetent mechanics not knowing what to do! The first appointment isn't for a couple days so I'll be exploring Coos Bay and the environs in the meantime.

I headed to the outdoor swimming pool for some swimming! I recently made it my goal on this adventure to try all the outdoor pools in Oregon. This pool is located in Mingus Park - adorable little park with a Japanese-style garden, bridges, a paved walking path, forest trails, and lots of greenery. Very quiet and peaceful.

Well, peaceful unless you walk by the pool! The Mingus Park Pool did NOT have bugs floating all over! It was really clean, but small with communal showers (eeeww!) and button timers (eeeww!) so you have to try to wash all the chlorine off your body while at the same time punch a button to keep the water coming. That shower water was NOT hot. Getting out of the pool with the cool wind was also very cold. No dressing rooms and the floors were wet and muddy. The swim team ended their practice so a bunch of teenagers hung around screaming and throwing footballs in the water while I'm attempting laps. Then small, screeching children came for swimming lessons. It was NOT relaxing nor to my liking. I fear after eight months of glorious, well-organized swimming in Arizona, nothing will come close! I'll try again tomorrow in the afternoon.

I did swim at 5:30pm failing to realize my towel and swimsuit will not dry in this cold, damp nighttime air. I headed to the only laundromat still open. One dollar for only ten minutes of drying, the machines taking only credit cards for payment, and it didn't even dry my towel completely (but good enough). They did not have top loaders. Not a laundromat I care to patronize.

An obsession I've acquired lately is getting the van weighed at every weigh station. I can't believe it took me a year and a half to learn how to do this and now I'm addicted! I started doing this after too many stupid mechanics tried to tell me my mechanical problems might be because the van was overweight. I argued, "No, it's not!" But I didn't really know for sure. I just know it's not converted like so many others. It doesn't have wood walls, a kitchen counter, a stove/oven, refrigerator, a shower and toilet, nor do I have a husband, two kids and four dogs like some do. It can't be overweight! Problem is every weigh station weighs differently! So which one is right??? 3,500 (my first try during a pounding thunderstorm and I don't think I had all the wheels on the scale!), 6500, 7000, 6900, 6950, 7100??? I'm just taking an average ignoring the 3,500 number. At 7,100 lbs with cargo it's actually about 2,500 lbs under the maximum weight with cargo which is 9550 lbs. I wish there was a class that taught people who own a Ford Transit how to do all these things!

The Walmart here, like every other town in Oregon, is NOT friendly to nomads. They all claim it is the city ordinance. However, there is 24 hour public parking lot right downtown Coos Bay that people recommend although with warnings the homeless mill about in this area all hours of the night. There was a group talking for hours in the parking lot with some woman cackling constantly and loudly. People!! I don't care as long as they can't get into my van and I stay locked in. I'm not sure how "24 hour parking" works? Can I leave for the day, come back at night, and the 24 hours starts again? I have no idea. Once the group left, it was a nice, quiet night.

End of day two on the Oregon Coast!