Coos Bay, OR

Well today was an unusual day, and a series of events. Starting off in the ladies room where I found some small stools oddly arranged, strewn towels, a cigarette butt with ashes all over the floor, and a blanket on the ground outside. There is a numerical code to get in. So I did report it, and the clerk agreed that they have issues regarding homeless people setting up camp inside the ladies room. I was a little creeped out taking my shower, but kept myself fully aware.

I proceeded to drive about an hour and a half north, and passed a red Winnabago Travato, giving it a beep-beep... hello, in Langlois. I stopped to visit a hand blown glass studio, finding some exceptionally beautiful pieces. Next thing I know, that red Travato, and their owners Robert and Carolyn, stopped in to say hello inside the gallery. Low and behold I knew of them via Facebook, and my membership with "Travato Nation." We had a grand conversation and shared some stories as they recently finished a 50 month voyage, visiting the entire United States, and were now heading up to Canada. 50 months!!!!!! I'm certainly going to keep tabs on them to learn more about their journey. 

A brief drive to the Clambake and Arts Festival in Coos Bay left me feeling as if I really didn't want to go there after all, while I heard the strange singing of a woman, along with announcements for bingo. It was a tiny event, and I didn't want to be tempted by frybread, and I don't eat clams either. I decided to move on and try to figure out my place for the night. So I found a small pull out parking area with a historical marker, and park benches. I was in the process of preparing lunch when I noticed a man calling out to me asking if I had a cigarette. He was parked next to me the whole time, apparently inside his car. After a bit of an incoherent exchange, he insisted that I was parked too closely to his car. I was parked in my space, but he became hostile, and adamant about this space. He turned on the engine to his Dodge Charger and revved it for several minutes. In the meantime I took the skillet off the stove, secured all my articles, jumped into the front seat and took off, collecting his license plate number. I did report him, and heard from the police after the fact, that this person was very well known in the area as homeless, and mentally unstable. The police commended me for gathering the plate, description, and the fact that I left quickly without confrontation. I listen to my intuition 100% of the time now. I found a marina in Charleston, and walked around in this quiet space.

I want to stay in Coos Bay, which is the most populated town along the coastal highway. Jo Jo is entering his 5th day of diarrhea, and I want to see a veterinarian tomorrow morning. He's doing okay with most of his symptoms being completely normal, but he's having several accidents and not 100%, so I want him to get checked out. 

My last resort is a Walmart stay, and in the end they no longer accept RV campers in this town. So my next last option, was dry camping at the Mill Casino, ($25.00 for the parking lot) which is next to the highway, loud and disturbing. I have yet to be truly successful with free boondock camping along the coastal highway. I see a few options looking ahead, and look forward to doing more boondock camping on the inland journey as I head back home in the future. In the meantime I continue my journey heading north, after a tiring, and rather eventful and uneventful day.



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