Backroads of Oregon II - Day 7

Friday, August 10, 2012 - After a buffet breakfast at Red Lion, I loaded up the car and hit the road.  I found the Virtual: Historic Fish Wrapper (GCC6FF) before leaving town.  Altogether I found five Virtuals, four Traditional Caches and two DNFs today.  I found caches on DELORME p.51, p. 58, p. 65, p. 66, and p. 67.

Somehow I missed visiting two lighthouses: Heceta Head (1894) near Florence and Cape Blanco (1870) at Cape Blanco State Park, a few miles north of Port Orford on Hwy 250.   I should have visited the Hughes House also inside Cape Blanco State Park.

The historic Hughes ranch house is a two-story, 11-room house solidly framed of 2x8 old growth Port Orford cedar. The rectangular structure with cross axial wings, has more than 3,000 square feet, and was constructed in 1898 for $3,800.

The house is open for tours from 10:00 a.m. - 3:30 p.m., except on Mondays, from April 1 to October 31.  A prime example of late Victorian architecture, the Hughes ranch house is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Port Orford is the most westerly incorporated city in the contiguous United States.  The Lighthouse on the Cape is the farthermost point west one may drive in the contiguous United States.

Battle Rock was the site of the historic battle between the first landing party of white settlers (Captain Tichenor's crew of nine men) and a local Qua-to-mah band of Athapascan speaking natives.   The event of June 9, 1851 was the beginning of the settling of Port Orford.

Wreck of the Mary D. Hume at Gold Beach, Oregon.

Natural Bridges on the southern Oregon Coast north of Brookings.

The Thomas Creek Bridge is the highest bridge in Oregon.  Its 345 ft. height (higher than the Golden Gate Bridge) spans 970 ft.

The Chetco Community Public Library, in the southern coastal city of Brookings, Oregon, offers over 66,000 items for circulation in their new, spacious facility.  And, more importantly, a restroom.  I tried to find the nearby cache but was unable to do so.  I purchased a Baja Pork Sandwich at Subway in Brookings which I ate by the largest Cypress tree found in Oregon.

I drove through the Jedediah Smith Redwoods State Park.  Lacking good deep harbors, the redwood coast drew little attention until fur trapper Jedediah Strong Smith arrived overland in 1828.  Smith explored the redwood coast for a better route between the Rockies and Pacific.

I drove Hwy 101 south into California and then northeast on Hwy 199 to Selma, Oregon.  I stayed the night in a trailer at Lake Selmac Resort about 10 miles north of Cave Junction on US-199 N/Redwood Hwy.  Bedding and towels were provided.  I ate a couple tacos with a side of salsa and a side of sour cream at a cafe in Selma.