Follow S.E. Schlosser's trip to Oregon in search of ghost stories, supernatural tales, and of course, Bigfoot! The author takes you day by day through a typical research trip as she discovers the supernatural side of Oregon, in preparation for the writing and publication of the 15th book in the Spooky Series: Spooky Oregon, coming in September 2009.

Day Nine Replica of Lewis & Clark's Fort Clatsop. Photo credit: S.E. Schlosser, copyright 2008. Still feeling a bit wrung out from being sick, I took it slow in the morning. We got out around 11ish, and had a nice scenic drive to Astoria, where we had lunch at a place called Pig N' Pancake! How's that for a name?!? Basic Diner fare. Then we drove out of town to Fort Clatsop, a replica of the fort where Lewis and Clark stayed the winter they came to the Oregon coast. Very cool. Mom was given a little 3-wheeler seated scooter to drive around the grounds. She looked very cool, and she had a good time with it once she figured out the controls. That's a fun alternative for her when walking gets too tough on these trips. We also stopped at the Bald Eagle overlook at the wildlife refuge, and saw everything but eagles!! After dinner, I did laundry and took a walk along the Columbia River path behind the Comfort Suites hotel in Astoria, to the local dock - where I took pictures of the sea lions and birds and ships passing under the large bridge and into the river proper. Then a soak in the hot tub and bed!! Day Ten Haystack Rock. The yellow dot is a person! Photo credit: S.E. Schlosser, copyright 2008. Today was a travel day with lots to see! We stopped first at Cannon Beach visitor center in the pouring rain to get directions to Haystack Rock -- the third largest free-standing sea stack in the world. Then I drove there in the pouring rain and I was the only one who dared the wet to go see it and take pictures. It was magnificent! Huge free standing monolith, with "needles" or splinter rocks beside it - each of them huge in their own right. The tide was almost out, so I got to walk right up to the rock and take photos. The rain stopped while I was there, and an old lady had me take her picture with the rock. While she was asking me, a wave swamped the sand where we were standing, and we had to make a run for higher ground! I loaned her my furled umbrella to use as a walking stick over the loose rock at the foot of Haystack Rock, since she was just recovering from a broken leg! Then I took her photo and wandered back to the car. Dad met me at the entrance to the beach, saying he was worried that I'd been swept away by a big wave, since I was so late getting back to the car! The Octopus Tree at Cape Mears. Photo credit: S.E. Schlosser, copyright 2008. Our next stop was the Tillamook Cheese Factory, where we watched cheddar cheese being made, ate lunch and had yummy homemade ice cream. Then we drove west and south to the Cape Mears Lighthouse - which I thought was haunted but wasn't!! There I hiked up to the Octopus tree - an oddity Sitka Spruce that grew 6-7 tree size limbs from a very low base instead of the usual one massive trunk. It really did look like an upside-down octopus! The rest of the trip we stopped at scenic spots to gape at the scenery and take pictures - including Cape Foulweather which was the first point of land British Navigator Captain Cook saw on the Pacific Coast, back in 1778! It was at this historic moment, the ship was hit by a sudden storm, which is why it now bears the name Foulweather! We finally came to the Whaler Motel in Newport, Oregon, our resting place for two days. Each of our rooms had a gas fireplace and a small kitchenette and amazing views over the ocean!! I walked down to the beach to take pictures of the lighthouse and enjoy the water. Then a swim in the pool, a soak in the hot tub and bed. A nice day, in spite of the rainy periods! Day Eleven Puffin at Oregon Coast Aquarium. Photo credit: S.E. Schlosser, copyright 2008. We went to the Oregon Coast Aquarium today, since a huge storm at sea with 19-foot waves made whale watching or fishing impossible. Lovely exhibit with seals, sea lions, otters and puffins! The puffins were my favorite. What funny birds with bright orange beaks and funny yellow feathery wisps on their heads. We also saw an exhibit about odd fish, which was cool. Huge Japanese crabs that can be eight feet long! Like a sci-fi film. After eating a dismal meal at the cafeteria at the aquarium, never eat there, we went to the haunted Yaquina Bay Lighthouse. Muriel, the ghost, was a sea captains daughter who visited the abandoned light with some friends. Leaving her handkerchief in the house, she went back to fetch it and disappeared. The only thing left of her was a pool of blood - and the handkerchief! Her ghost still haunts the lighthouse to this day. I wandered around the house and light, had a talk with one of the park volunteers about the house, and then watched a short film about the history of the lighthouse. Yaquina Bay Lighthouse, supposedly haunted by the ghost of Muriel. Photo credit: S.E. Schlosser, copyright 2008. Then Mom, Dad, and I drove to the Yaquina Head Lighthouse four miles to the north. It was out on a long isthmus, surrounded by huge freestanding rocks with thousands of murres (black and white birds who waddle upright like penguins but can also fly.) After walking around the lighthouse, I went down to the cobble beach (lots and lots of little gray stones) and took pictures of the seals who were playing in the stormy surf. We had dinner next, and then a relaxing evening in those lovely rooms by the sea at the Whaler motel. I put the fireplace on and read, took a swim, and accompanied Mom on one of her little "trips" to search for a vending machine that sold water. She is so funny, shuffling her way to the front desk to get change, involving the girl on desk that evening in her search for state quarters, and finally meandering down to the machine to buy a bottle of water, with a very funny monologue about life with Dad, her grandchildren, and observations about all her favorite trips. A fun end to the day! Spooky Oregon Travelogue: Days 1-3 | Days 4-5 | Days 6-8 | Days 9-11 | Days 12-13 | Days 14-16 About the Author   |   Awards   |    Sources   |   Spooky Books   |   Stories A to Z   |   Reprints/Permissions Comments? Email us at webmaster@americanfolklore.net © S.E. Schlosser 1997 - 2008. This site is best viewed while eating marshmallows around a campfire under a starry sky.