{"id":39887,"date":"2022-08-01T08:10:10","date_gmt":"2022-08-01T14:10:10","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/adventuresoflupe.com\/?p=39887"},"modified":"2022-10-01T20:34:45","modified_gmt":"2022-10-02T02:34:45","slug":"roman-nose-mountain-coast-range-sunset-bay-oregon-8-31-21","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/adventuresoflupe.com\/?p=39887","title":{"rendered":"Roman Nose Mountain, Coast Range & Sunset Bay, Oregon (8-31-21)"},"content":{"rendered":"

Part 2 of Day 26 of Lupe’s 3rd Summer of 2021 Dingo Vacation to the West Coast!<\/em><\/p>\n

3:34 PM, 65\u00baF, near Dunn Ridge Road<\/em> – Yup, a pond here alright.<\/p>\n

I know where we are now, Loop!\u00a0 Back to the RAV4!\u00a0 We’re real close to the top, but there was a better place to park <\/em>just a little way back.<\/em><\/p>\n

Only 0.1 mile NE, SPHP parked the RAV4 again at a large flat spot on the N side of Dunn Ridge Road.\u00a0 A primitive side road headed off into the trees.\u00a0 Not the way to Roman Nose Mountain<\/span><\/a> (2,840 ft.)<\/span><\/strong>, but blue sky was visible between the tree trunks.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Parked just off Dunn Ridge Road.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Didn’t you say that we aren’t likely to see much from Roman Nose, SPHP?\u00a0 Want to check out this side road?\u00a0 Maybe we can see something right here!<\/em><\/p>\n

Fine with me, Loop.\u00a0 Lead on!<\/em><\/p>\n

A short distance in along the side road, the amount of sunlight streaming through seemed to confirm that there really ought to be some kind of a view.\u00a0 However, before even taking a look, an oddity was noticed ahead at the base of a moss-covered tree.\u00a0 At first, SPHP mistook it for trash, but upon closer inspection, a sign was next to a 3 foot long stick wrapped at both ends with duct tape.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Venturing in along the side road. Oddity<\/strong> (L of Center) directly ahead. Photo looks N.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

What does the sign say, SPHP?<\/em><\/p>\n

The Holy Shell Ball Bat “From whence you came, you shall remain …”<\/em><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
The Holy Shell Ball Bat “from whence you came you shall remain”<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Holy Shell Ball Bat!\u00a0 Is that what this stick is, SPHP?<\/em><\/p>\n

Does appear likely that’s exactly what we’re looking at, Looper.<\/em><\/p>\n

And what is a shell ball, SPHP?<\/em><\/p>\n

No clue, Loop!\u00a0 Never heard of a shell ball or bat before.\u00a0 Must be an Oregon thing.<\/em><\/p>\n

“From whence you came you shall remain” sounds like a prophecy, or a threat, SPHP.\u00a0 Do you think this shell ball bat is magical, like some kind of an enchanted weapon?<\/em><\/p>\n

Hmm.\u00a0 Well, hard to say.\u00a0 To tell you the truth, Loopster, it doesn’t look all that marvelous to me, but the sign does say it’s “Holy”, so it might be blessed, or sacred.<\/em><\/p>\n

Or cursed, SPHP!\u00a0 Could a shell ball bat be like a type of wizard’s wand?\u00a0 Those are really rare!\u00a0 Maybe we’ve found a powerful artifact!\u00a0 Any idea how it might work?\u00a0 Conjure me up a few squirrels, or a T-bone steak!\u00a0 Even summoning a shell ball might give us an idea on what it all means.\u00a0 A shell ball might be like a crystal ball, and we could see into the future!<\/em><\/p>\n

Wizard’s wand?\u00a0 Maybe, but if so, it’s a well-disguised one.\u00a0 Rather unusual for powerful artifacts to be associated with duct tape, I’d say.\u00a0 Sorry, but I don’t know how it works, Loop.\u00a0 Doesn’t appear to have an on\/off switch, or any place to swap out batteries.\u00a0 Gotta admit, a crystal ball could come in pretty handy, though.\u00a0 Hold my beer, Warren Buffett, Elon Musk!\u00a0 My Dingo and her shell ball are gonna show ya how it’s done!\u00a0 We’d be rich!<\/em><\/p>\n

For a powerful artifact, it does look pretty plain, SPHP, although you might be right about it being disguised.\u00a0 Maybe that’s so it can be left around like this in plain sight without having to worry about it being stolen?\u00a0 Kind of dangerous to do that, though.\u00a0 If shell ball is a game, and we were players, we’d just grab it and go!\u00a0 The wizard would be flat out of luck!<\/em><\/p>\n

Well, cry me a river, holy or evil wizard!\u00a0 That’s what you get for leaving your powerful artifacts cluttering up the forest!\u00a0 A place for everything, and everything in it’s place!\u00a0 That’s what I say, Loopster!<\/em><\/p>\n

So are we going to take it, SPHP?<\/em><\/p>\n

No, I don’t think so.\u00a0 Let’s just leave it.\u00a0 Says Holy, but maybe it is cursed, Loop.\u00a0 It’s already preventing us from getting to Roman Nose Mountain.\u00a0 C’mon, let’s have a look at the view, and get out of here!<\/em><\/p>\n

Alright, SPHP!\u00a0 But let’s remember this place.\u00a0 Never know when having a Holy Shell Ball Bat might come in handy!<\/em><\/p>\n

Despite all the sunlight streaming in, the view from the Holy Shell Ball Bat proved merely a tree-broken one of low hills beyond the Kentucky Creek valley.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Kentucky Creek valley<\/strong>. Photo looks NNW.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Returning to Dunn Ridge Road, Lupe followed it SW back up to the pond N of Roman Nose Mountain.\u00a0 Small, yet scenic, the pond was green and still.\u00a0 SPHP collected several Lupe treasures strewn about.\u00a0 Dang messy wizards!\u00a0 The American Dingo then pressed on, following the road W.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
At the pond 0.1 mile N of Roman Nose Mountain’s summit<\/strong>. Photo looks SSE.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

A short distance beyond the pond, there was a much more open view than the one to be had back at the Holy Shell Ball Bat.\u00a0 Rumpled green hills featuring a patchwork of clear cuts stretched away to the N.\u00a0 Lupe might have been seeing the backside of some of the same mountains she’d seen only yesterday from Marys Peak<\/span><\/a> (4,097 ft.)<\/span><\/strong>, but SPHP couldn’t positively identify any of them.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Looking NNE from Dunn Ridge Road.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Just beyond the viewpoint, Dunn Ridge Road curved SW, starting down into a dark forest.\u00a0 A side road climbed toward a similarly dark opening where a sign was visible on a gate.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Dunn Ridge Road (R), road to Roman Nose Mountain summit (L). Photo looks SSW.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Lupe went up to the gate.\u00a0 The green pond was visible from here, looking quite nice, but the sign attached to the closed gate was of more interest at the moment.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
The pond as seen from the gate. Photo looks ESE.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
At the gate. Photo looks S.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

A no trespassing sign, SPHP?\u00a0 That would be disappointing!<\/em><\/p>\n

Hah!\u00a0 Not at all, Loopster!\u00a0 Says “Dingos Welcome!\u00a0 Surveillance provided for your protection.\u00a0 Enjoy your stay on Roman Nose Mountain!”<\/em><\/p>\n

Dingos welcome?\u00a0 Wow!\u00a0 I like Roman Nose Mountain already!\"\"<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n

Beyond the gate, the gravel road went through a short stretch of forest, soon leading to a field of tall yellow grass.\u00a0 A couple of big towers were already visible up on top of the mountain.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Beyond the gate. Photo looks S.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
Summit from the edge of the field. Photo looks ESE.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Why, we’ll be there in no time, SPHP!\u00a0 Nothing to this mountain!<\/em><\/p>\n

That’s because we parked so close to the summit, Loop.<\/em><\/p>\n

Might want to remember that technique in the future, SPHP.\u00a0 Some of these mountains we’ve been climbing on this Dingo Vacation have been doozies!<\/em><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Heading up! Photo looks E.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

3:58 PM, 73\u00baF, Roman Nose Mountain<\/span><\/a> (2,840 ft.)<\/span><\/strong> <\/em>– An impressive array of towers, antennas, and small buildings were contained within a chain link fence.\u00a0 Unfortunately, the true summit of Roman Nose Mountain was part of the complex as well, and Sherlock SPHP cleverly detected several faint clues that maybe even American Dingos weren’t entirely welcome inside the fence.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Arriving at the summit region. Photo looks SE.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

The highest ground outside the fence was maybe 3 to 5 feet lower than the true summit, but the Carolina Dog insisted this was close enough for Dingo work, enabling her to claim a peakbagging success.\u00a0 Discovering a “Roman 2” survey benchmark attached to the top of a square concrete block W of most of the complex helped make it all official.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
On the concrete block the survey benchmark was attached to. Photo looks SE.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
Roman 2 survey benchmark.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The highest ground Lupe could actually get to was along a cliff at the SW corner of the fenced-in area, where a couple of electronic doodads were actually outside the fence.\u00a0 Despite what SPHP had read online, Roman Nose Mountain actually had sweeping views to the S from here.<\/p>\n

No towering peaks in sight, but a vast expanse of lower hills and ridges was on display.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Looking SE.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
View to the SW.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

However, this viewpoint was cramped for space.\u00a0 Loop found a roomier one farther W.\u00a0 A bit lower, but the view was just as nice, and this was a better spot to relax for a while.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
By the W viewpoint. Photo looks SSW.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
The big view. Photo looks S.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Sunny and pleasantly warm!\u00a0 Not a cloud in the sky, although definitely some of the usual smoky haze present.\u00a0 After checking out the views, Lupe and SPHP sat together in the tall yellow grass, soaking in the Dingo friendly Roman Nose Mountain ambiance.\u00a0 Beautiful trees ringing the mountain’s W, N, and E perimeter completely obscured whatever views might have been in those directions.<\/p>\n

Lupe’s traditional summit hour was only half gone when SPHP made an unexpected announcement.<\/p>\n

Hate to cut and run, Loopster, especially from a mountain harboring a Holy Shell Ball Bat, but maybe we should?\u00a0 Thought on the way in that we might easily find a decent road going S from here, but didn’t see anything from Dunn Ridge Road that I’d really trust not to wind around forever.<\/em><\/p>\n

Why is that a problem, SPHP?\u00a0 Are we in a rush to get somewhere?<\/em><\/p>\n

Yeah, sort of.\u00a0 Thought we’d visit Sunset Bay near Coos Bay and Charleston along the Oregon Coast this evening.\u00a0 Maybe scramble around on some rocks, and enjoy another sunset at the beach.\u00a0 That sort of thing.\u00a0 Would that interest you, Loop?\u00a0 It’s a bit of a drive.\u00a0 Might be lucky to get there in time for sunset, even if we leave now, but I think it’s still possible.<\/em><\/p>\n

Glad you spoke up, SPHP!\u00a0 Been enjoying Roman Nose Mountain, and I also hate to leave a place that’s so Dingo friendly, but Sunset Bay?\u00a0 Yes, that sounds awesome!<\/em><\/p>\n

Time to wrap things up here!\u00a0 After a final appreciative glance at the view to the S, RAV4 bound, Lupe bid farewell to Roman Nose Mountain.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
About to head out.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
In the tall yellow grass field. Photo looks N.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
Farewell, Roman Nose!<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

7:18 PM, Oregon Coast, Sunset Bay<\/em> – Got here in time!\u00a0 Sun was still up, but conditions weren’t what SPHP had envisioned.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Sunset Bay<\/strong>. Photo looks NW.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Hmm, too bad, Loop!<\/em><\/p>\n

What’s wrong, SPHP?<\/em><\/p>\n

Was here with Xochi a long time ago, Looper.\u00a0 We went around the S side of the bay out to the open ocean where there were a bunch of awesome big rocks to scramble around on.\u00a0 Can’t do that now, though.<\/em><\/p>\n

Why not, SPHP?<\/em><\/p>\n

Xoch and I went while the tide was out, Loop.\u00a0 Had to race the tide when it came surging back in to avoid getting submerged.\u00a0 But it’s already up now, so we can’t get over there.\u00a0 The route is underwater.\u00a0 Probably too late in the day, anyway.<\/em><\/p>\n

So we don’t get to be swept out to sea and drowned?\u00a0 Gee, what a shame!\u00a0 Guess we’ll just have to enjoy the sunset, SPHP.<\/em><\/p>\n

Lupe wasn’t alone in her plan.\u00a0 A small crowd was here, all waiting for day’s end.\u00a0 Sunset Bay wasn’t all that big, so there wasn’t an awful lot of exploring to be done.\u00a0 A few children were swimming in saltwater laden with dirty-looking black particles.\u00a0 Not terribly appealing, although the setting taken as a whole was fabulous.<\/p>\n

Barepawed, Lupe and SPHP sauntered back and forth along the water’s edge in anticipation of the big event.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
On the beach. Photo looks SW.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
Miss Sandy Paws.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
Wading in the foamy brine.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Wasn’t long before the display of glory ensued.\u00a0 Not a cloud in the sky, so a particularly wonderful result couldn’t be expected, but at least the sun wasn’t hidden, either.\u00a0 The ocean sunset was still exceedingly beautiful, and a rare treat for a Carolina Dog from South Dakota.<\/p>\n

Through the camera lens, the scene was actually rather disturbing.\u00a0 Looked like the American Dingo was here to celebrate Doomsday as an enormous thermonuclear blast exploded over the Pacific Ocean.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
End of the world from Sunset Bay<\/strong>!<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Well, it wasn’t really the end of the world, merely the sublime end of yet another great day of Dingo adventures in Oregon!\u00a0 As the golden orb sank into the sea, the camera’s added thermonuclear effect diminished, revealing a more peaceful scene.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Sunset Bay<\/strong>.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
Day’s end.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

You know, SPHP, the sun actually is powered by thermonuclear energy!<\/em><\/p>\n

True enough, Looper, I was just trying to say that the camera was … oh, well, never mind!\u00a0 Looks like the police and park personnel are here telling everyone to leave.\u00a0 Apparently this joint closes as soon as the sun goes down.\u00a0 They’ll be rolling up the sidewalk any minute now.<\/em><\/p>\n

Banished from Sunset Bay as August, 2021 drew to a close, SPHP drove through the dark maze of unfamiliar streets of Charleston and Coos Bay.\u00a0 Took a while to find it, but soon enough the American Dingo was back on Hwy 101 heading S, searching for a place to spend the night.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Sunset Bay<\/strong>, Oregon Coast 8-31-21<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Links:<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Next Adventure<\/span><\/a>\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 Prior Adventure<\/span><\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

Sunset Bay State Park<\/strong><\/span><\/a><\/p>\n

Want more Lupe adventures?\u00a0\u00a0Choose from Lupe’s Summer of 2021<\/span> Dingo Vacations to New Mexico, Wyoming & the West Coast Adventure Inde<\/strong><\/span>x<\/strong><\/span><\/a>, Dingo Vacations Adventure Index<\/span><\/strong><\/a> or Master Adventure Index<\/span><\/strong><\/a>.\u00a0\u00a0Or subscribe free\u00a0to\u00a0new Lupe adventures<\/strong><\/a><\/span><\/em>.<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Part 2 of Day 26 of Lupe’s 3rd Summer of 2021 Dingo Vacation to the West Coast! 3:34 PM, 65\u00baF, near Dunn Ridge Road – Yup, a pond here alright. I know where we are now, Loop!\u00a0 Back to the RAV4!\u00a0 We’re real close to the top, but there was a better place to park … Continue reading Roman Nose Mountain, Coast Range & Sunset Bay, Oregon (8-31-21)<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":39893,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"nf_dc_page":"","jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1416],"tags":[105,106,1555,26,1560,104,524,1559,1557,1558],"class_list":["post-39887","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-1416","tag-american-dingo","tag-carolina-dog","tag-coast-range","tag-dingo-vacations","tag-holy-shell-ball-bat","tag-lupe","tag-oregon","tag-pacific-ocean","tag-roman-nose-mountain","tag-sunset-bay"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/adventuresoflupe.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/IMG_2574-scaled.jpg?fit=1651%2C1238&ssl=1","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/adventuresoflupe.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/39887","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/adventuresoflupe.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/adventuresoflupe.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/adventuresoflupe.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/adventuresoflupe.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=39887"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/adventuresoflupe.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/39887\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":41329,"href":"https:\/\/adventuresoflupe.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/39887\/revisions\/41329"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/adventuresoflupe.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/39893"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/adventuresoflupe.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=39887"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/adventuresoflupe.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=39887"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/adventuresoflupe.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=39887"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}