Tuesday, April 28, 2020

Brookings, OR (4/19/2020)

Brookings is another small (population around 6500) town on the Oregon coast, not far from the state's border with California.  It took its name from the President of the Brookings Lumber and Box company who founded the town in 1908.  Lumber operations are still conducted nearby, but the area consists mainly of retirees and California commuters.  Winters are markedly warmer here than other coastal areas, caused by warm winds that sweep down from the Klamath Mountains.  Tourist agencies like to call it the "Banana Belt".

In 1942, the town was the first continental U.S. area to be attacked when a small Japanese plane, launched from a submarine, dropped an incendiary bomb in an attempt to start a major forest fire.  Obviously, the Japanese military had not researched average rainfall in the area.  Only minor damage was done.  More destruction was inflicted in 2011, when a tsunami caused by an earthquake in Japan did extensive damage to the harbor.

Incidentally, the pilot who bombed Brookings was invited back for the 20th anniversary of the event.  He presented the city with his family's 400 year old samurai sword as a token of friendship.  (I'm guessing everyone ducked when he took it from its case.)  The town made him an honorary citizen shortly before his death in 1997. (Retribution at last.)

The shoreline near Brookings is similar to the rest of southern Oregon's coast.

 

 


 Unique rock formations include the Natural Bridges and Rainbow Rock.



The bridge over Thomas Creek is the highest in Oregon at 345 feet.  Sorry, but I failed to gt a full view of the chasm beneath the bridge.


There is a sizable fishing fleet based in the Brookings harbor, formed by the mouth of the Chetco River.  I drove both banks of the river in search of scenery, but didn't find much.





I did find beautiful landscaping in some of the residential areas, including one hedge trimmed into the shape of a mother whale and her child.  You'll notice Mama's water spout.






One residence has a rather whimsical, and distinctly nautical, design.


On my drive back to Port Orford, I went up on a mountain road to get a different perspective of the coast.






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