EMPIRE LAKES

Whilst we were driving around we discovered this really cool place called Empire Lakes. It is a park that is right in the middle of Coos Bay. It is really beautiful. The paths, for the most part, are asphalt so just about anyone can enjoy it. Rather than bore you with my drivel I'll just let mom's do the talking for me today. Enjoy!

©Kinsey Barnard Photography

Snow, Lions, Tigers & Pelicans

Well, wow, it was snowing this morning in Florence. Can you imagine that? And, right now it is raining like crazy and Clementine is back to rocking and rolling! We are warm and cozy though as mom finally wised up and got us a little space heater.

Today we took a really long walk down the beach at North Jetty. We went until we came to a creek we couldn't ford without getting real wet. On the way back it started to rain and we got drenched again!

Yesterday we went down to a place called Bandon where there is a petting zoo. Naturally, I wasn't allowed in. I could tell, by my nose, though there were a lot of guys I woulda liked to have mixed it up with in there.

Mom said it was kinda sad to see those beautiful animals in such small enclosures. She said you could see it in their eyes how sad they were. I suppose it beats getting shot by poachers but boy am I glad I can be free.

After the petting zoo we went over to Shore Acres and Sunset Beach. Boy that's a really pretty place. Mom wants to go back there after this storm goes through cuz she thinks the waves there will be fantastic! Also, down there was another lighthouse called Cape Arago Lighthouse.

Until next time ....
LAKOTA SUNRISE

©Kinsey Barnard

Florence Beaches & Rainbows

Yesterday we took a really long walk from the north jetty toward Heceta Head. It was really great except that we got absolutely drenched. The rain really came down. I didn't mind so much because that beach had so much good stuff on it to smell. It was my kind of nose candy! There were also lots of other humans walking on the beach in the rain and they all had dogs! I had a great time meeting them all. This Oregon place is pretty darned dog friendly it seems to me.

After the rain storm passed there was a perfect rainbow. Too bad mom didn't have her wide angle lens so she could have gotten the whole thing. It was something!

Also, while we were out there we were buzzed by a coast guard helicopter. That was kinda cool!

It's been cold pretty. Well, not by Montana standards but this marine air is pretty cold even though the temperature isn't that low. We have had frost in the morning.

©Kinsey Barnard

Newport to Florence, Honeyman Park & Lake Cleawox

Yesterday we packed up our gear, well I supervised, and headed down 101 to Florence. We have a cousin who lives there and we are going to spend Thanksgiving with her.

We were greeted with sunshine on our drive south. It was very pleasant. Mom commented that she thought this part of the Oregon coast was the most picturesque we had seen yet. But, we didn't stop for anything just steam rolled right to Florence. We be going back up to the spots we scoped over the next couple of weeks. There's alot to see here.

Basically, mom and her cousin Marilyn wasted the whole darned afternoon and I got zero hiking in. What a couple of chatty cathies!

Today wasn't much better. We went to Marilyn's for breakfast where another chatathon ensued. I was left to brood in the back of Shadow. They were afraid I might eat Leo the African parrot. Heh, heh, they mighta had a point! :)

Luckily, Marilyn had to go to Eugene to pick up her daughter Sarah and there wasn't room for all of us to go so mom had to take me out.

Just a little way south of Florence is a park called Honeyman Park. Goofy mom calls it honeybun. Anyway, we hiked for a couple of hours and the photos are of Lake Cleawox in that park. I almost caught something in the bushes along the lake. It was pretty big too but took off when I pounced. Always being on a leash my pouncing skills are greatly hampered! I think it coulda been a beaver because we saw several trees that had been felled by those rascals.

After Honeyman we went a little further south to the Tyler Dune Trailhead in the Dunes National Park. But, it is a fee park and it was late so mom didn't want to shell out. We did meet an very nice lady that told us where to go to get an annual pass. It was starting to add up all these entrance fees. Anyway, we went where the nice lady told us and got a year pass for $35. We'll get our monies worth for that one in no time. In fact, I dunno why mom didn't get one of those days ago! Duh!

After getting the pass we headed on home.

Until next time Lakota Sunrise

©Kinsey Barnard