Bullards Beach State Park

I had a few days between ending the school year and beginning summer school. So, I finished up with my classroom in the late afternoon and drove to Manzanita, Oregon to spend the night in a cheap hotel. The next morning, I drove down Highway 101 to Bandon, Oregon. The drive took about 6 hours, at a very relaxed pace. Bandon is one of my favorite coastal towns in Oregon and I often choose to stay at Bullards Beach State Park. The downsides of this park are that the sites are definitely NOT private and they cost about $24 a night. I was a little bummed about listening to the neighbors tv (in their giant rv) until my brain worked out that I could play my Pandora stations on my iphone! So I (very quietly and respectfully) played my "what a wonderful world" station while sipping blackberry wine and eating the most delicious cookies from a little bakery in Old Town Bandon by the fire. HV Cellars makes fabulous blackberry and cranberry wines. I highly recommend them for fireside sipping!

However, there are also upsides to a state park. I spent very little time at my site and a state park is a pretty safe and secure place to leave your belongings for the day. Especially since I'm in a car with a broken window that will not roll up! Considering that every loop in the park has a retired couple watching over the sites, it's as secure a place to leave things as you're going to get camping with a car open to the world! And did I mention that state parks have showers? Hot showers? I love camping and I love camping out in the middle of nowhere... but I LOVE hot showers! I'm working on this issue for future adventures. Another upside is also that everyone I've come across is very friendly, very willing to stop and BS for a while and very happy to lend a hand (or a match, if you forget to pack them!)if needed. It's interesting (and sweet) that whenever I camp alone, the hosts and other campers all stop by to see if I need anything, if I'm doing ok and if I need any help taking that tent down all by myself! LOL :) I have not yet met another woman camping alone in my travels, although I'm sure they're out there. You get very interesting reactions from people, I'll tell ya.

One of the things that I love about the southern Oregon coast is that it is never crowded. Especially from my perspective, having grown up on the East Coast. I don't have to walk very far at all to be completely alone on the beach. I spent two wonderful early evenings, leaning against driftwood and reading while waiting for the sunset. Such an absolute luxury for me!

I spent the first day sleeping in late, shopping in Old Town Bandon and then walking to the beach for sunset. Old Town Bandon is full of restaurants and shops, but not as touristy as those on the northern coast. There's a long dock where you can rent pots and catch crab - or just bother those that are trying! I was chatting with a family, when a harbor seal popped up in the water behind them. Cutest thing EVER, but the kids were completely unfazed. Turns out the little cutie had been trying to steal their bait and they were ready to wring its cute little neck!
I spent the second day sleeping in late (yes, this is a must when I'm camping!) and walking to the Coquille River Lighthouse.

It's a nice walk from the campground to the lighthouse along the river - SO relaxing! Then I packed up my tent (yes... all by my little self!) and started off for my next destination.