Expect the unexpected - Fort Stevens State Park

Expect the unexpected the unexpected is the motto of the day.

When on the road you never know what to expect - You can always find something good, even in the bumps that might slow you down.

Today started out as a disappointing day, but again God has take care of us.  We left Cape Lookout on the way to Olympic National Park in Washington and the brakes on our RV were sounding very rough and making funny squealing noises.  With all of our mountain driving and sandy dusty roads, we knew it was the brakes and we needed them looked at.  With these winding up and down mountain roads with large drop-offs on the side of us, we couldn't take the chance and just go on.  You become in a vulnerable situation, as you don’t know who is honest and who isn't so you just chance it.  It is basically a large truck with 6 wheels.  The first place recommended us elsewhere and we went with it.  The front brakes are good but the back 4 are shot and need new shoes and rotors.  Not a cheap job by a long shot, but we are better safe than sorry.    

So... we'll be here 3 or 4 nights waiting for the parts. 

 We found Fort Stevens State Park, which is a lovely state park nearby.  It’s a pretty park and plenty to do.   It was the low 40’s here in Oregon last night. 

While looking over our itinerary, we changed our mind on Mt. Olympic and decided to go to Mt. Rainier instead.  It was closer and on our route to Glacier.

Thursday afternoon – We got our RV fixed today and just picked it up and all seems good. We are leaning toward heading to Mount Rainier in Washington in the the morning, but will check weather and road closing before we head out. 

  For now, thank God we found the problems before we drove off a cliff so we’re still a happy camper.    

These are some of the places we visited while being detained.

Here is a little about Fort Stevens Park where we stayed

This little squirrel was outside our campsite daily.

The called them chipmunk squirrels

The Peter Iredale wreckage sits on the beach in the state park

The Peter Iredale was built in 1890.  She was in service for 16 years and would soon have been retired had she not run aground.  She was part of the Pacific Coast Wheat Fleet, (24 ships in the fleet) transporting grain from the Pacific Northwest to Australia and coal and wood to England.

After the wreck the fleet was diminished.  Sea losses, low sales and the advent of modern steamships all took their toll.

On October 25, 1906, with an empty cargo hold and only 28 days out of Salina Cruz Mexico, the Peter Iredale ran aground.  Bound for Portland and a new load of Cargo, Captain H Lawrence offered his crew a bonus if they cut five days off the normal sailing time.

Perfect sailing conditions allowed them to make good time and the crew anticipated a rewarding voyage.  Nearing their destination, they encountered a strong southwest storm.  The captain gave the order to stand off the mouth of the Columbia River.  A few hours past midnight, the ship was lost as a gust of wind pushed here into a surging mass of waves breaking on shore.  The ships bottom raked the sand, crashing sections of the main mast, rigging blocks and tackle onto the deck.  Tossed in the surf, the ship struck bottom for good, the remaining masts snapping as she came to rest.

Miraculously, no hands were lost during the thundering shower of rigging pounding the deck.  The ship however was declared a total loss.  For the most part, the wreck of the Peter Iredale was unremarkable, merely reflecting navigational problems in bad weather.  Her fame came as a popular attraction that lives on as a well-knows landmark on the northern Oregon coast.

5 miles away we visited the Lewis & Clark Exhibition

Our president says it all:

The object of your mission...the Pacific Ocean - Thomas Jefferson

Before we leave Oregon, I have to say...

Oregon has polite road signs,

They have NO SALES TAX

and they still pump your gas in all stations, even

at Costco.

The car is running great and

we are off to Mount Rainier!  Whoopee

.