After enduring a very long, very rainy drive from Crater Lake to Roseburg, I feared the entire day might be a wash.  I knew the odds were against me, but I decided to take a chance, and head back over to the coast.  I didn’t know if I could make it in time for sunset, or if there would even be a sunset.

The quickest route to the coast involved a short drive south on I-5 from Roseburg, then a 75 mile (or so) trip across OR Rte. 42.  I feared this would be a tiring, slow, mountainous drive, that might take more time than I had left.

Thankfully, I was wrong.  Route 42 is an easy drive–and a beautiful one.

I didn’t stop to take many pictures, because I was in a hurry.  But I did make one stop at the Sandy Creek Covered Bridge, built in 1921, and now preserved as a pedestrian walkway.

This is the newer bridge, that now carries Route 42.

As it comes out of the coastal mountains, Route 42 drops into rolling farmland.  When you reach the pleasing small town of Coquille, hang a left on Rte. 42S, an alternate route that takes you alongside the peaceful Coquille River.

A funny thing happened as I came nearer to the coast.  Notice the sky?  For the first time today, it’s actually blue!  Could a good sunset be just up the road?

Note: This trip was first published in 2007.