Beverly Beach

The Newport grocery store clerk tells me Beverly Beach is a really nice campground. However, before making a final decision on where to stay, I take a quick look at KOA – they have Internet access and other nice conveniences. Although it’s nice the place feels more like a green parking lot. Trees surround the perimeter of the place but don’t divide the camping areas. So you park on gravel or dirt and camp on the grass. I want to sleep in a place that feels like it is removed from civilization.

So the place to sleep is Beverly Beach Campgrounds. As the name of the place indicates it is on the beach. However, I quickly realize this campground is much more developed than Patrick’s Point. The entire grounds are covered in plants and trees but less greenery, as if the forest was thinned. So although there’s distance between camp spots, it’s much less private. And the place is crowded. It feels more like a big picnic but still really nice.

There are no hiking trails so I walk along the beach sinking my feet in the sand and daring to stick them in the icy ocean water. Lots of people are walking their dogs who look like they’re in heaven running around in and out of the water and playing with one another.

On to the Oregon Coast

Northern California and the Pacific Northwest are still experiencing record temperatures. It’s definitely not comfortable, probably in the high 90s.

As soon as I hit the first town in Oregon the gas prices go down. It seems so bizarre that you can’t pump it yourself.

The towns along the coast all appear to be small, some more touristy than others. There’s plenty of beaches along the way. Here’s a couple of pictures.

 

Gasoline Prices

Within 50 miles out of Las Vegas the gas prices had gone up on average of 25 cents per gallon. The same is true for California regardless of whether the town is small, where prices usually seem to be higher, or falls into the category of a city, such as Sacramento. Once in Oregon and Washington the prices immediately went down on the same average as they went up, 25 cents per gallon.

A Most Shocking Discovery
It is unlawful to pump your own gas in the states of Oregon and New Jersey. So when you stop to get gas don’t get out of the car. Just stay in your car and wait for someone to ask you what kind of gas you want and how much.

Money Saving Tip
Some gas stations, mainly the ones in rural areas, charge about 10 cents less per gallon if you pay cash.

Two Tools for Finding Gas Prices Online

• Kim Komando discusses a widget download in her “Cool, Useful, Fun Freebie” article, Keep Track of Rising Gas Prices.
• GasBuddy.com is another useful tool that doesn’t require any downloads. Just select your state from the map, type in your zip code, and, presto magic; gas stations with names, street addresses, and prices pop up.

And of course, there’s many more online resources you can find with a simple search in your favorite search engine.