CRESCENT CITY, CALIFORNIA.

THURSDAY, 23rd JUNE.

Our first call this morning was to Shore Acres State Park, about 4 miles from our motel at Coos Bay.  On a scenic bluff high above the Pacific Ocean, Shore Acres began as the private estate of shipbuilder Louis J. Simpson, however, financial losses during the Depression caused both house and grounds to fall into disrepair and in 1942, it was purchased by the state of Oregon for use as a public park.  The garden features year-round displays of floral and scenic beauty, including about 800 magnificent rose bushes.  After an enjoyable stroll through the gardens in the ever increasing gloom, we drove to nearby Simpson Reef viewpoint from where we could see a large colony of sea lions lazing about on the rocks.  We could also see a pair of raccoons (we think) frolicking about amongst the rocks in the shallow waters.
The old town of Bandon was our next port of call.  We stopped at a cafe for brunch and ordered biscuits and gravy which seems to be a popular menu item here and one we'd promised ourselves we'd try.  It was served with ham and egg, the gravy was more like a sauce than gravy but quite tasty.  While in Bandon, we checked out "Washed Ashore", an organisation which builds and exhibits aesthetically powerful art to educate a global audience about plastic pollution in oceans and waterways and spark positive changes in consumer habits.  The sculptures made from rubbish removed from beaches are totally amazing.  We managed to have a stroll through the town before the rain, which had been threatening, began to fall.
We continued our drive south along the US101, called the Pacific Scenic Byway....unfortunately, because of the continuous drizzle which was heavy at times,  we weren't able to see much of the scenic coastline  but stopped when we could to admire and photograph.  Once we got close to, and then crossed the border into California, the rain stopped!