Saturday, September 11, 2011

Updated September 11 at 11:00 p.m.

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~Photos~

The first two photos show what is typical of much of Oregon's south coast along with photos five and six. Photo three is a freighter preparing to dock at Coos Bay. A new contain terminal is being built there and the rail link to the Willamette Valley is being upgraded to handle the increase in traffic and allow double-stack container trains to pass through the several tunnels along the route.

Photo four: Fixer-upper, needs TLC, priced to sell, make offer

Photos seven - ten were taken in Ft. Bragg at the motel where the Melee rally is spending Sunday night. On Monday the return to the Bay Area. Chris Obert and his 124 sedan is in photo seven.




~Narrative~

It is approaching 11:00 p.m., so I won't be writing much tonight!

After a nice breakfast provided by our motel in Florence, we departed for Ft. Bragg at 7:45 a.m. Because we stopped several times for photo ops and a little shopping and to take a back road detour, we arrive in Ft. Bragg about two and a half hours later than we had expected.

Today's drive was scenic and the weather was warmer than we expected it to be. The wind was blowing at about 25-30 mph which forced our lunch picnic be held in the car, but the view over the beach and out to sea was great. We were treated to a flock of pelicans skimming along low over the surf, I miss seeing them since they don't seem to appear in the Puget Sound area.

We were able to meet up with the California Melee rally group at their motel. Diana had a long conversation with Chris Obert. He invited us to drop in at his shop in Santa Cruz later in our trip. I spoke with several of the group, explaining the finer points of the new 500. I was also able to have a good conversation with Harley, one of the two organizers of the Melee. He gave me some hints about conducting a budget event and I made a point of thanking him for being the inspiration to hold the Oregon Covered Bridge Tour.

Tomorrow we head to wards San Francisco where we hope to have lunch at Fishermen's Wharf, something we have not done in over ten years. Then its off to Redwood City and the Fiat America meeting.




~Statistics~

Today's starting point: Florence, Oregon

Today's departure time: 7:45 a.m.

Today's end point: Ft. Bragg, California

Today's arrival time: 6:30 p.m.

Miles driven = 431.1

Elapsed driving time = 8 hours 45 minutes

Average speed = 47 mph

Average miles per gallon = 40.7

Route followed today: US 101 south to Coos Bay, Newark Ave to Empire Street, to Seven Devils Rd, to US 101 south to Cal Hwy 1, Hwy 1 south to Ft. Bragg.




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