Day 2 - Portland, OR to Eureka, CA

Too many miles, too many hours. A quick check of the TV weather showed snow everywhere. Snow in Portland and further South in the valley is not unusual, but eight inches at Tillamook on the Oregon coast? What’s that about?

After a quick continental breakfast we were off, not even stopping for a Starbucks. Unheard of. Although it snowed off and on from Portland to Roseburg, about 178 miles, the roads were mostly just wet. The only problem was passing trucks, which sent up rooster tails of spray leaving me in a fog. We did manage a stop in Salem for a pair of Starbuck’s best.

Roseburg turned out to be decision time. After checking ODOT, CalTrans and the Oregon phone line (511), we decided trying Interstate 5 over the Siskiyou Mountains and down through Mount Shasta would be inviting disaster. Instead we headed for Bandon on the Oregon coast. It was only when we began seeing trees lying across the road did we remember the weather reports of 80 MPH winds. Chain saws were busy opening one lane around trees for all us crazy people on the road that morning.

Bandon was a much needed rest and walk about, while the Bandon Fish Market provided a great lunch of clam chowder and beers. The rest of the drive to Eureka was a breeze and the Oregon coast, even on a gray overcast day, was a very nice drive.

After checking into our motel we headed to Marie Callenders to split a sandwich, bowl of French onion soup and a couple of beers. 490 miles today.