At the Newport Cafe just off Highway 101 in Newport, Oregon, we opted to try the Super Ultimate Monster Burger. Guy Fieri would have loved it!

The Monster was a homemade burger made with 8 pounds of ground beef seasoned with spices, topped with cheese, lettuce, tomato, onions and pickles, ham and 8 fried eggs in a huge homemade 10 inch burger bun topped with sesame seeds and spread with a special thousand island dressing. 

At $55 dollars it could feed us all!

We sat outside the cafe on a bright yellow picnic bench, traffic whizzing by on the highway, and tucked into our Monster Burger. Giggling at the absurdity, we sliced it like a giant cake and ate and ate and ate. Then we ate some more. Then we realized we weren't even half way through the burger. We gave it a good shot, but we knew we would have to leave some behind.

This whole adventure had us roaring with laughter. Henry thought it was Instagram worthy so we took loads of photos.

My poor tummy will take a long time to recover!!!

Or. Or. Or. Or.

Henry had fun pronouncing "The Port of Port Orford" emphasizing the "or" sound in an American accent. We all had fun with it!

A small, active fishing port located between Gold Beach and Coos Bay on the Southern Oregon coast, Port Orford is an artistic haven with a rich history steeped in fishing and logging.

First we stopped at Battle Rock Beach on the outskirts of town where Henry and I enjoyed a leisurely cheeseburger and coffee respectively at the Redfish Restaurant, sat out on the sun drenched patio, perched on top of the sea bluffs overlooking the bay. Kim meandered down to the grassy park below, to a lone bench overlooking the ocean. We all spent a happy hour or so basking in the autumn sunshine. In the distance we could see some brave surfers riding the waves that seemed to be growing, becoming more menacing as we watched. We could see the 101 carved into the cliff where the tall pines seemed to drop off into the ocean, winding its way into town. At the bottom of the steep cliffs, the wide sandy beach was met with bleached logs and bedraggled seaweed strewn across dark pebbles to mark the level of the high tide.

You could hardly tell where the sky met the ocean as the marine, sky and cerulean blues mingled together at the horizon.

​Next we moved down to the natural harbor and the busy dock, home to 30 working fishing boats. We saw the two huge yellow cranes mounted on movable, homemade dollies used to hoist the local fishing vessels up or down, out or in, to the water below. The mobile "dolly dock" at Port Orford is one of only two in the US and one of only six in the entire world. It was quite a sight!

Not only is Port Orford known for fishing, but also the export of local timber, particular the Port Orford Cedar which is renowned for its spicy aromatic scent and healing properties, particularly sought after in Japan for building shrines and temples. We saw evidence of the logging industry throughout Port Orford which had a wide array of timber yards. Trucks loaded up with huge trunks passed through town, North up to Astoria or South down to San Francisco or Los Angeles. You could even smell the trees in the salty air.

We stopped for gas in town and discovered it was so much cheaper than California!

On the way back to the trailer we once again stopped along the way to take in the breathtaking scenery. The waves were huge on the journey home, maybe 15-20 feet high in some places. 

We are all familiar with McDonalds.

​Or are we?

McDonalds is consistent, you know what you're going to get, it's the same all over the world. It's a little piece of familiar, American comfort wherever you go. Same old, same old.

Or is it?

Food aside, McDonalds restaurants can be tasty little nuggets of extraordinary architecture and decor, just as I discovered on today's Route 66 trip.

At Barstow Station, California on Route 66 there is a McDonalds that includes a train carriage, bringing Mother Road nostalgia and charm to the Macky Dee experience. It is a unique stopover that pays homage to the idea of taking a driving break to savor an inexpensive meal with family. Barstow Station is the site of a cultural center with shops, information and even a small museum. Chug-chug-chugging through the drive-thru was a fantastic experience. Toot! Toot! Yes, the burgers were the same, just as expected, however, the building, the train carriage and the experience was completely unexpected. I have never seen anything like it! 

This McDonalds represents the spirit of adventure and exploration in America.

When visiting California, you have to eat, at least once, at In N Out Burger. 

Henry's first job when he was in High School was at In N Out Burger where he worked part time for two years. He wore the cute paper hat, black trousers with a short red apron pinned at the back with what looked to me like a giant kilt pin.  It was the best of times it was the worst of times.

After finishing High School, Henry declared, "I'll never work in fast food again."

The lure of the famous and delicious burgers still draw him in though, and he in turn, draws us in too. Henry knows all the alternative menu choices which is kinda cool. He recommended the jungle fries so we went with that!

​In N Out Burger is an integral part of the burger culture in America and its only found in a few states. It's the food of choice for the glamorous attendees of the Oscars in Los Angeles. After long hours posing on the red carpet and then watching the ceremony unfold, they end the night at In N Out burger, breaking their diets with glee. 

The signs are usually very tall and can be seen from any nearby road or highway to lure passing travelers. I particularly love the signage because it has the flavor of Googie architecture most commonly seen on Route 66 with hints towards the futuristic space and atomic ages of the 60's; stars, flying saucers, boomerangs, rocket-shaped parabolas, atoms and of course, arrows. 

It's uniquely and iconic California.

The Oscar goes to...