Holy Toledo

Downtown Toledo

Our Base Camp for the first and second evening of the walk was the Yaquina Bay Hotel in Toledo. The hotel was built in 1920 and is very quaint. A beautiful old piano graces the lobby. We received a warm reception by the hotel managers, Kenneth and Polly Erickson, who couldn’t have been more accommodating.

Just seven miles from Newport, Toledo is six degrees warmer, on the average, and has a lot less fog. Toledo has a vibrant main street and a thriving art community. During World War I the U.S. Army Signal Corps built a huge mill to produce spruce lumber for airplane construction. Today Toledo is home to the Georgia-Pacific Pulp and Paper Mill.

One evening we found ourselves at Pig Feathers BBQ, where I truly thought we found the best barbecue west of the Mississippi. The ribs were to die for. Then I found out that Proprietor, Chief Cook and Bottle Washer, Stu Miller is a former Oregon State Grand Champion of Barbecue. That may explain why the barbecue is so good. His wife Becky is a member of the local art community. You can see her work at Pig Feathers. The next morning we fueled up with a great breakfast at the Timbers Restaurant. You will not lack for a good meal while in Toledo.

Thanks for the warm welcome Toledo. There’s something about a small town, be it Wellington, Texas (my hometown) or Toledo, Oregon. No one’s a stranger in a small town. Toledo, off the beaten path, and well worth the visit.