Day 5: Coos Bay

Crazy day for weather. Wild wind last night, so raucous it woke us up, but no signs of it this morning. In fact, blue skies appeared early, as forecast, but it's been off and on all day. Not to be deterred, we set off to explore Cape Arago Highway, anyway, a very lovely piece of road that winds along the water south from Coos Bay out to Cape Arago. Very scenic.

A&H at Cape Arago Lookout

Cape Arago Lookout

At the end of the road the views are spectacular, and as at Umqua Lighthouse SP yesterday, on days when the conditions are right, you can see whales passing by. Conditions weren't right today, but we did see many seals and sea lions lounging about on the rocks of Shell Island, as if they were poolside in Palm Beach, not perched on jagged rocks with Pacific Ocean surf crashing wildly all around them. A few cormorants, gulls, and a heron were also enjoying a bracing day at the beach, so we got a little birding in as well.

Just another day at the beach.

The sea lion on the rock is actually asleep and the rock is actually 20-30 feet above the waterline.

Then a stop at Sunset Bay where a few hardy surfers were riding the waves and A & H built a noteworthy sand structure and chased a few waves themselves.

On the way home we stopped at Charleston for some clam chowder, which was tasty, but not The Perfect Bowl. So the search will continue for that.

And what visit to a casino would be complete with out a meal at the buffet? OK, we know, a visit to the casino isn't really mandatory at all, but here we are, and for some reason H has become enamoured with the buffet concept, although no one knows why. The buffet (7.99 -- Saturday night only, kids under 5 are free) was more popular than we had imagined, and when we arrived the dining room was already full and people were lined up half way around the casino waiting to get at it. We decided to give it a pass, but H was distraught, inconsolable, beyond destroyed at the thought of missing this opportunity he had been waiting for his whole life. So we waited. And waited. And waited. And finally entered the hallowed doors of the buffet. You can imagine how delicious it was. Do not ask for details. A feels she can probably wait another 20 years before going to another one. I'd probably say 30, but that's being glib. H, on the other hand, was thrilled. And for someone who can be a loud, rude, uncooperative wacko at the drop of a hat, he was brilliantly mannered and completely charming the whole time. Is this all it takes? A $7.99-all-you-can-eat buffet?

Note to self: . . . what? I don't know what is learned from this. I guess it's about motivation. If the prize is worth it, anything can happen. (Trump? Really?)