75.
Horse shows offer glimpse at rural life.
Local
youth find plenty to do in the summer on the South Coast, especially
those
interested in horses. Horse shows are great fun and open to the
public.
4-H’ers from all over the county compete for high point awards, ride
for
the best placings, gallop at top speed and keep smiles on their faces
all
day long.
There
is always a cook shack with real horse show flavor. The price is
always
a good deal and people usually do not have to belong to any special
group
to compete or to watch.
The
excitement is free to everyone. The season has already begun. Schedules
of
horse shows can be found at many places including tack shops, feed
stores,
and the Oregon State University Extension office in Coquille. Or,
visitors
can stop by one of the arenas in the area. In Hauser, there is the
George
Riley arena, or south of Coos Bay, the Family Four Stables on U.S.
Highway
101 South. The fairgrounds in Myrtle Point also are a good place to
catch
a glimpse of local riders and their equines during the Coos County
Fair in August.
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76.
Coastal towns love to share Fourth of July celebrations with out-of-towners
Bandon
Bandon’s
Annual Old Fashioned Fourth of July Celebration 2000 starts with a parade at
11:30 a.m. followed by a fish fry, beer garden and music, all leading up to the
grand finale of fireworks, which begins at dusk on the jetty located past Old
Town on First Street to Jetty Road, 347-9616
Bay
Area
Food
and fireworks begin July 3, 2000 with a celebration including fireworks at The
Mill Resort & Casino, North Bend, 756-8800 or (800) 953-4800.
The
Fourth of July Celebration 2000 at Mingus Park held from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
includes a fishing booth, vendors, live music, great family fun and more. The
Mayor’s Firecracker Run/Walk begins at 9:30 a.m. with a 1-mile run and the 4K
run/walk at 10 a.m.
The
fireworks display at dusk is over the bay Coos Bay, 269-0215, (800) 824-8486
Brookings-Harbor
The
Old-fashioned Fourth of July Celebration 2000 will include a chili cook-off and
a watermelon-eating contest from 1 to 3 p.m. with fireworks on the beach at 10
p.m., 469-6087.
Florence
A
fireworks display over the Siuslaw River can be watched by traveling just over
the bridge through old town on Bay Street. Call Gail Sissons for Old Town
activities at 997-1646.
Gold
Beach
Festivities
including music prior to a community fireworks display will be held at the port
of Gold Beach at the mouth of the Rogue River. A picnic in Buffington Park
located on Caughell Street is planned. (800) 525-2334 or 247-7526.
Lakeside
The
Independence Day Celebration takes place the weekend prior to the fourth of
July. On July 1, 2000 the celebration will include an on-going street fair by
the county dock and park, plus numerous new additions to the entertainment
line-up. On July 2, special events include carnival games, relays and a
barbecue, all leading to the fireworks shoot-off at dusk. 759-3981
Port
Orford
The
Jubilee Celebration 2000 includes pancake breakfast, parade, food and craft
booths, ending with fireworks at dusk. (541) 332-8055
Powers
Independence
Day Celebration on June 30, 2000 and July 1-2 with fireworks over Powers Pond at
the Powers County Park at dusk on Saturday, July 1 and a three-day White Cedar
Days celebration. Activities include a baseball tournament all three days at the
Powers Lions Baseball Field. Friday is Kids Day and includes a kid and pet
parade at 11 a.m., a petting zoo, carnival activities and a teen dance that
evening at the VFW Hall. Saturday join in the White Cedar Days 10k, 2.5-mile
walk and 1-mile kids run or enjoy the main parade at 11 a.m., an antique car
show, dunking booth, vendors and more. 439-3508.
Winchester
Bay
Watch
the fireworks display over the bay at Salmon Harbor. Bring your supper and
tailgate in the marina parking lot. The annual car cruise is also planned.
(541)271-3495.
Return to 101 Things to Do on Oregon's South Coast
77.
Want fish? Don’t have a boat? Go fishing anyway
Warm
sunny days are perfect for jetty or surf fishing.
Live
sand shrimp makes good bait for catching surf perch or striped bass from the
beach. It also works well for hooking lingcod or rockfish from the jetty. If the
fish aren’t biting on the shrimp, a jig head and rubber worm work well, as do
squid, clams and mussels.
Some
fishermen prefer to use a surf pole, which is usually between nine and 12 feet
long, and 15- to 20-pound test line when fishing from rocks, jetties or the
beach.
It’s
a good idea to bring warm clothes. There’s often a brisk wind at the height of
summer. The only other things necessary are a bucket or other container for your
catch, a fishing license, a little bit of patience and a lot of common sense.
Also, sneaker waves didn’t get their name from being predictable. Watch your
step and watch the ocean. Wave surges can be dangerous.
78.
A coastal tour isn’t complete without time out for painting scenery
The
artist visiting the South Coast will have no trouble finding inspiration. With
hundreds of miles of pristine coastline, several picturesque harbors and crystal
clear streams and rivers running through almost every community, an artist is
rarely stymied for a subject.
The
hard part is finding the spots that have not been photographed, painted,
sketched or otherwise immortalized by every other visitor.
One
option is to tag along with the Bay Area Artists Association during its seasonal
“paint-outs.” The first of this season took place at Shore Acres State Park,
south of Charleston on Cape Arago Highway, as part of its Mother’s Day
activities. Those interested can call the Coos Art Museum, 2167-3901, for
contacts in the association.
Getting
off the beaten path is another option. The road connecting the Smith River area
north of Reedsport to Highway 38 between Elkton and Drain is a wonderland of
moss-covered trees and seasonal waterfalls.
For
other ideas, try calling art supply stores or the Coquille Valley Art
Association (396-3294) or the Pelican Bay Arts Association (469-1807).
Return to 101 Things to Do on Oregon's South Coast
79.
Paddling for relaxation, exercise
Canoeing
and kayaking are rapidly growing activities on the South Coast and with good
reason.
Lazy
rivers and opportunities for easy paddling abound.
Near
Coos Bay, Isthmus Slough can provide a relaxing and quite afternoon of paddling.
Further
south, the Bandon Marsh National Wildlife Refuge provides 600 acres of calm to
choppy water on the south side of Coquille River Bridge. In addition, the
Coquille River has more than 30 miles of quiet water to paddle through.
Canoers and kayakers can expect to encounter harbor seals, osprey and
find a resident bald eagle in the Coquille area.
“It’s
a great recreational opportunity,” said Bob Carr, owner of Adventure Kayak in
Bandon. “It’s an ecological and environmentally safe way for those who want
to get out and explore our marine waterways without the sound of a motor.”
Kayaking
and canoeing also provides the opportunity to reach shallow and tidal areas
where a motor boat may not be able to reach.
Carr
suggests newcomers to the area be aware of currents, tides and the wind before
they go out on any waterway. The most common mistake, Carr said, is not
anticipating what conditions will be like.
Carr
said kayakers should wear adequate clothing, a safety jacket with a whistle and
take energy food and water before heading out on any river or waterway.
More of Interest
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80.
Go horse camping at Horsfall Beach
One of the best ways to experience the great South
Coast outdoors is traveling through the dunes on the back of a horse. And hey,
why not turn that day trip into a weekend of fun at one of the local
campgrounds? Wild Mare campground at Horsfall Beach is specifically designed
with the horse and rider in mind. Many of the areas surrounding the site are
wide open, with lots of trails and beach access. There's also an area set aside
for day users to unload their horses and park their vehicles. No off-highway
vehicles are allowed in the campground area. The fees vary for using the area
and some sites within the campground can accommodate up to four horses. A
day-use pass is $5 (and does not count toward a campsite fee) and an annual
pass, which can be used at other areas throughout the Northwest, is $30.
Reservations can be made at the Oregon Dunes National Recreation Area
headquarters in Reedsport or through a ticketing machine at Horsfall.
Reservations are recommended for visitors camping during the tourist season, May
15 to Sept. 15, and can be made by calling toll free (877) 444-6777.
Reservations for Wild Mare campground can also be made at the web
site . Ten of the 12 campsites are available for reservations.
Return to 101 Things to Do on Oregon's South Coast
81.
This huff-puff hike is worth the effort
If
you want to say you’ve been to the top of a mountain, Humbug Mountain might be
the place for you.
The
peak rises 1,748 feet above the shore of the Pacific Ocean about five miles
south of Port Orford and can make for a good outing for hearty hikers.
The
Oregon Parks and Recreation Department maintains a hiking trail to the top of
the mountain, with the trailhead located just off U.S. Highway 101 in Humbug
Mountain State Park.
The
trail winds up the mountain, with the steepest section coming at the start, in a
series of switchbacks.
A
mile up, the trail splits. The shorter, west portion of the trail travels
another 1.5 miles to the top. Hikers also can choose the east side trail, which
reaches the peak in two miles. On sunny days, the west side of the trail offers
stunning views north to Port Orford and Cape Blanco. The east trail winds
through the forest.
For
a complete hike, make the trail into a loop.
Benches
are provided for rest along the way and at the top of the mountain, where hikers
can look south along the shore line toward Gold Beach. Be sure to carry water
for drinking.
Humbug
State Park also includes a day-use picnic area and a campground for people who
want to make the trip into a two-day outing.
The
campground includes showers. The summer fees are $18 for a site with electric
hook-ups and $16 for a tent site. The park has 104 campsites.
For
more information, those interested can call the park at (541) 332-6774.
More Of Intersest:
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