Last year we spent a week backpacking a good section of the central Oregon Coast. Amazing scenery, albeit some blasting winds at our backs at times.
This year we’re wrapping up Oregon Coast hiking with a week at the southern end. However, instead of backpacking we’ve settled in at an amazing Airbnb near the Oregon/California border and are day hiking some of the better sections. We still get great scenery and good exercise, but are in comfortable beds at night rather than in tents. And restaurant or home cooked food is much better than dehydrated backpacking food.
Day 1: Whaleshead Beach to Lone Ranch
Click here or on the picture to the left to see Laurie’s Relive video of our first day on the Oregon Coast Trail: Whaleshead Beach to Lone Ranch
Day 2: Arch Rock to Whaleshead Beach
Click here or on the picture to the left to see the Relive video of our second day on the Oregon Coast Path. This was the longest, and hardest day. Watch the profile on the video.
Day 3: Arizona Beach to Sisters Rock
To see Laurie’s Relive video of our shortest hike, but the one with the most sea life, click here or on the picture of the arch rock to the left.
Brookings, Oregon
Brookings, the southernmost town on the Oregon coast is noted for being the only location in the lower 48 states to be attacked by a Japanese aircraft during World War II. In September of 1942–less than a year after the attack on Pearl Harbor, a Japanese submarine launched a floatplane loaded with incendiary bombs. The two crew members flew over the coast and dropped two bombs to the Northeast of Brookings. The goal of the raid was to create forest fires to tie up manpower and damage lumber. Fortunately, a fire lookout spotted the fire. A quick response and damp conditions in the forest meant the raid caused minimal damage. Twenty days later they again dropped two bombs, with negligible damage.
Twenty years later Nobuo Fujita, the pilot, was invited to Brookings. He was assured that he would not be tried as a war criminal and came to serve as the Grand Marshall of a local parade. Fujita presented the 400 year old Samurai sword of his family to the city as a symbol of reconciliation. He died at age 85, shortly after the city of Brookings made him an honorary citizen. A great story of former enemies becoming friends.