Goodbye Brookings—Hello Winchester Bay

Last night was the first clear night we had in Brookings.  We were treated to a beautiful sunset.

This morning we got up and headed to Winchester Bay.  We stopped at a pullout and I took this picture.  It is so nice to have a clear day.

We stopped at Meyers Beach and got these pictures.
 
We arrived at Winchester Bay RV Resort around noon.  This is the view from the front door.

This is the view from the marina across the way.

We drove down towards the crab pier and I took this picture of where the Umpqua River empties into the Pacific Ocean.  That triangular area at the top of the picture I found out is an oyster bed.

We needed to drive back into Coos Bay to get some things at Wal-Mart that we have be unable to get anywhere else.  On the way we stopped at the Umpqua Lighthouse.

This is also a whale watching station but we didn’t see any whales.

On the way to Coos Bay we passed by some of the dunes that this area is famous for.

They have a lot of off road activities for ATVs in this area.

This is the bridge over Coos Bay.  It is only a two lane bridge.
     
After we shopped and were on the way back, Wayne saw a sign for Clausen Oysters.  We decided to drive down the bay road on the Coos Bay side of the Bay and see what it was about.  The lady explained the whole process to Wayne.  Those oyster shells that you see stacked on the right side are put in a very warm water vat to the right of them with oyster larva.  When they are growing they are transferred to the Bay really close to the bridge where they stay until they are grown.  Then they are harvested and processed all right there.

Tomorrow is supposed to be another beautiful day.

Memorial Day

Soon after we awoke this morning we were treated to a bagpipe serenade.  The man who was to play the bagpipes at the Memorial Day program was tuning up and we got to enjoy a preview.

  

On the way back to the coach Wayne took a picture of the Great Dane who is in the trailer in front of us.  Trouble didn’t want to have anything to do with him.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

We went over to the boardwalk at the port for the Memorial Day Program.  Several of the participants were already seated behind the tables and a Marine Corp group were standing over to the side.

They had folding chairs set up for the spectators and there was quite a crowd.

After the posting of the colors and the opening prayer, the bagpiper played for us.

The women of the DAR unfolded the American Flag,

displayed it and then refolded it.

The flag and some flowers were then presented to an older woman in the audience.

They then presented roses to the Gold Star Mothers and to all of the mothers who had children currently serving in the armed forces.

The veterans were called up by service to place flowers on a mock grave of a soldier.  There were lots of participants.

Wayne went up when the other Air Force veterans went up.

 

The Marine Corp gave a rifle salute and played taps.

The bagpiper played Amazing Grace and we had a closing prayer.  This is what the “grave” looked like with all the flowers.

It was a very appropriate way to spend Memorial Day.

Azalea Park

We arrived at the park and the first thing we saw were not azaleas but these beautiful white trumpet lilies.

As we walked up the walkway we were greeted by this statue of children playing.

 

Looking around this open area you get the idea of some of the variety of colors.

Of course there are the pinks that I was familiar with.

 

But there are also yellows, oranges, purples and whites.

I never knew that azaleas came in so many colors.

        

There were many pathways that lead in different directions.  One led to an open air concert stage.

There was also a place with seats to rest.  Two of them had mosaic designs in them.

We took close up pictures of some of the azaleas.

 

It was a perfect afternoon walk in the park.