Port Orford

Last weekend Ginger and I took a drive 30 miles north along the coastal highway to the small fishing port called Port Orford. On the way to Port Orford we stopped at the Ophir Beach State Rest Area along Highway 101. We walked on the beach, which was narrow during the high tide. The large crashing waves created wonderful picture taking opportunities and the beach is great for letting our dog run and play. We had the beach to ourselves so we were able to let her run without a leash.

We arrived at Port Orford about noon and headed down to the port area where the fishing fleet is stored. I say the boats are stored because Port Orford does not have a protected harbor. The fishing boats are hoisted by a portable crane and then parked on cradles in a large flat parking area.

I talked to some scuba divers that were scuba diving nearby. They had 4 fish that they had speared. I asked how the dive went and one fellow told me he was banged up and most of their wet suits had been torn by the strong currents and being thrown on nearby rocks. A fun day of diving had not turned out very well for this group of adventurous divers.

While we were at the port we decided to dine at a little cafe nearby. The cafe is in a small shack of a building that has several purposes. There is a small maritime museum, fresh fish sales counter, gift shop, and dining area. Ginger had the fish and chips. I tried the baked fresh salmon. Both choices were excellent. As we were paying our bill, Ginger asked the hostess if the taffy candy on the counter was for sale. She replied it was free. We each tried a piece and it was really good taffy.

We decided to go to the historic Coast Guard rescue station. This little station was closed in the 1970s and is preserved by Oregon State Parks. It is located on the headland west of town and offers beautiful views of the coast and ocean. A Coast Guard rescue boat is preserved and on display as well as many historic structures. We hiked on several short trails. The trails were lined with Douglas Fir, Shore Pine, various grasses, early springtime flowers, and ferns. Near the end of the trail we located the site where a lookout tower used to stand. A interpretive sign told how the coast guard men would stand 4 hour watch inside the tower and watch for fishing vessels in distress. During stormy weather the lookout would have to stand on the trap door to keep it closed in the high winds. During the December 2007 storm this area along the coast experienced winds clocked at 113 mph.