2010 UPDATE:  I am sorry to say that my wife and I (DandL CREATIONS) will not be in Winchester Bay this year.  We're going to miss that wind and cloudy days, for sure.  My wife has had health issues since last summer and we can not venture far from home.  We really enjoyed our month long trips to Oregon.  Thank you everybody.  I am in the process of writing a book about our 17 years selling at festivals and I expect it to come out in the fall.  If you wish to be on our 'mailing list' of people who are interested in purchasing the book please email me at book@starvingvendors.com and I will contact you when the book is available.  Thank you.

July 17-19, 2009.  Winchester Bay, OR.
After we left the Oceanfest last year in Winchester Bay, I said that we would never be back here.  But I was wrong because once again we are doing the event.  Each year , the winds have been treacherous and we always have strong gusts forcing us to weigh down our canopy in a way we never had to before.  We enjoy the area. so we decided to come back. 

THE OREGON COAST.  We have taken many vacations up along the entire Oregon Coast and it's a beautiful drive from Eureka (CA) all the way up to Tillamook and Astoria.  I have many memories from those trips.  Now, we return each year to do several events up there during the summertime, when it's much cooler and more pleasant than California.  I hope that you will follow our journey over the next 25 days as we move from show-to-show.  I plan on taking some pictures and placing them where appropriate.  Enjoy.

July 15.  The drive from Hayward to Winchester Bay, OR.  Distance:  545 miles.  We left at 4:00AM and just as the sun was coming up, we merged from Highway 505 to I-5.  It was just after 6:00 and we could already feel the temperature rising. 

DOUBLE TROUBLE. TWO TIRES BLOW!!. After we passed Redding and approaching Exit 710, I heard one of my tires going flat.  I looked in my left rear view mirror and began to slow down until I stopped right at the exit.  I hopped out of the motor home and took a look at the tire.  Yah, the tire was totally shredded.  I happened to look at the other tire and it was destroyed also.  Two flat tires.  Enough to drive you batty, hah.  I got on the cell phone and called AAA and they said that they wouldn't be able to fix it.  So they put me in touch with Schwab Tires in Redding.  At that point the CHP pulls up.  I told the guy where I was located.  The CHP directed me to a safer location around the exit and that is where I sat for 1 1/2 hours (9-11:00AM).  When the guy finally came, he took care of the tire and he told me what happened.  Awhile back I had these tire valve extenders placed on the air connections on the tires so it would be easier to air up.  Well, the outer one popped somehow and the air came out, flattening the tire.  The remaining tire went flat because it couldn't support the weight.  A double play.  Un#($#$believeable.  Picture of valve coming soon.

It was a warm day in Northern California with temps around 105, I would say.  We took exit 119 in Oregon and headed toward the coast.  After we reached Coos Bay. we continued north through North Bend and saw that it was getting breezy.  When we reached Lakeside 10 miles from Winchester Bay. it was quite foggy.  When we arrived at the parking lot here next to the harbor,  it was quite cool.  Refreshing, though.

THE DRIVE up here was nice on Highway 5.  Mostly curves and a lot of hills from Lake Shasta all the way up to where we exited in Winston.  These people in Oregon are worse drivers than back in the Bay Area.  (or maybe they are FROM the Bay Area)  Was driving down a two-lane street in Coos Bay and I was behind a guy going 10 MPH.  (one idiot)  I looked at my rear view mirror and could see somebody behind me IN THE SAME LANE AS ME.  I put on my signal and began changing lanes.  Suddenly he darts around me just as I get into the other lane and then honks his horn going by me.  Idiot#2.  Afterward, he got into a left hand turn lane.  I rolled down my window and yelled out to him "I'm bigger, I get the right of way."  You see, you can yell at people in Oregon, but if you do that in CA, you'll get shot.  Know what I mean?

We will spend each night in this parking lot that allows RV's to park for $11.00 a night.  I have a nice view of the harbor, boats and people fishing in front of me, along with a probable sunset..... quite foggy.

JULY 16.  Setup day.

MORNING MADNESS.  I had a very solid sleep.  I closed my eyes just after eight o'clock and awoke around 5:15 when it was beginning to get light outside.  Still a bit foggy.  We had breakfast and then drove over to the area where the festival was to be at 9:30.  They had previously stated in their correspondence to vendors that set up time would be 10:00, but there was nobody to give us our space numbers.  The lady finally came at 11:45 and told us that we had to set up at 12:00.  Uh uh uh.  Last year we set up at 10:00; the year before at 12:30.  Confusing, isn't it?

SETTING UP. We were given space #62 and we drove the motor home down there and began to remove our hardware.....canopies, grids, etc. and proceeded to set up.  We spent the entire day (until 5:30) setting up.  We had to unload a lot of things, but we really took our time.  Because the winds were picking up during the early part of the afternoon, we decided to put up some of the covers to block the wind which I suppose was around 8-10MPH.  Not too bad.  I placed two of our 12-gallon storage containers on my dollie and pushed it about 60 feet to a water spigot in front of a local restaurant and filled up both of them.  I brought them back to our space and strategically placed them on the side where the wind was coming from and tied them to the legs of the canopy to prevent it from going airborne or moving down the parking lot.  A couple years ago we encountered strong gusts which lifted our canopy and grids and pushed it about 5 feet.  Since that time, I have tired buckets of water to all sides.  People here actually tie their canopies to their cars and whatever else is available.  Every year, I see at least 3-4 canopies flipping over and heading down the street.

Today, I only used four buckets and that should be enough.  At 5:15 we decided to close up and head off to our parking spot for the night.  This was a rather nice day....a bit cool, but refreshing.  There were occasional patches of fog.  During the past couple years we have been here, we have gotten some rain.

A JOB UNFINISHED.  We will have to go back there tomorrow morning around 7:00 since we still have a couple more hours work to do.  Today about 18 other vendors were out there during different times of the day setting up and the remainder will get there tomorrow morning between 7-8 AM.  Also, I have a 29-foot motor home and it's difficult finding a decent place to park. 

GOOD MORNING.  TIME TO WAKE UP!!  Last year I parked on a side street around 7:30AM one day after driving over from where we spent the night.  My wife and I closed our eyes and dozed off for a little while.  Around 8:15, I wanted to use my computer, but my battery was low, so that meant I would have to turn on the generator for electricity in order to charge it up.  So, I turned it on and sat down.  Ten minutes later, I heard a loud knock on my door.  BOOM, BOOM, BOOM, BOOM.  I stepped over and opened.  An older guy with a few strands of gray and white hair on his head was there.  "Would you turn that damm thing off.  I am trying to get some sleep."  I looked at him.  "Uhhh exactly what would you like me to turn off," I asked him politely.  He got madder.  "Turn that god damm generator off."  "Oh my gosh," I replied. "I am so sorry."  He then turned around and walked back to his house.  So I am not going to park anywhere near this man. Even if this guy is sitting in his house in a strait-jacket, I wouldn't want to be anywhere near him.  On that Monday when we left Winchester Bay around 6:00 AM (to go to Myrtle Point) I passed by his house.  I was so tempted to slam my horn a few times, but I didn't.

  
Friday, July 17.  Awoke early and we departed the 'camping' area around 6:30 and headed over to the festival.  We dropped off a few things inside our space and then found a parking spot around the corner.  Was able to get on line there and we had breakfast before leaving around 7:30.  It took us a couple more hours to complete our setup and we were ready for business.

WEATHER.  Started off foggy in the early morning and by noontime, the sun was peeking through some of the clouds.  Temps were in the low 70s.  Sales were slow until noontime, but did okay until around 3:00PM, when sales really tapered off  and was quite slow until we closed at 6:00.  We had a little wind today, but nothing much.  Hopefully, it will stay calm the next couple days.  When the wind blows hard our canopy sways....no no...IT ROCKS back and forth to the left and to the right.  If you want to escape the heat from Central Oregon, this is the place...all along the coast.  Fresh air.  Refreshing.



VENDORS.  There is a total of 35 vendors selling merchandise and 9 food booths.  Only thing I had was a bag of kettle korn, which was good, of course.  Lucy made me a couple sandwiches and that was my lunch.  We simply try not to buy food when we are on the road like this.  Had a booth selling "New York Style" cheesesteaks, but I'm passing on that.  Besides, I don't like anything from New York.  I am going to have some good Philly Cheesesteaks at the Coos County Fair.  Best 'show' cheesesteaks I have ever had.  Good.  Damm Good

.

WHAT BOTHER'S ME are these people who drag half their store down to one of these events.  About a dozen spaces from me there is store from Coos Bay that is using up four spaces to sell their stuff.  Problem is that there are a number of similar items there that I am also selling and theirs is a bit cheaper.  The same thing happened in Mount Shasta.  These people next to me have a store a block away and they dragged at least half their stuff over to the festival.  I had people in back of me there selling clothing and hats that they took from their store also.  Do these people have the right to drag their stuff over to these shows.  I know that we all are trying to make money....but give the little guy a chance.

THE FOG IS ROLLING IN around 7:30PM and we are sitting here eating our dinner looking out into the harbor in front of us and another smaller mini-harbor in back of us.  This area is popular with ATV's and off-road driving and there is jeep parked in the space behind us along with some ATV's. perhaps getting ready for a big outing tomorrow.  They have another festival here in a couple weeks related to Off-Road stuff.  There are huge sand dunes from just north of North Bend up to Florence.  Many years ago we went 4-wheeling out there and it was a lot of fun.  We also took a sand dunes tour in Florence a few years ago and it was great.  Try it.

ENTERTAINMENT.  None.  Okay with me.  They had some kind of helicopter rescue demonstration going on out in the 'mini-harbor.'  This really doesn't seem like a festival though.....maybe similar to a bazaar or something.  My entertainment was when I raised up my satellite dish and watched the last 3 innings of the Red Sox game.  (They won 4-1).
 

STUPID PILLS.  A mother and daughter came into the booth and the girl was interested in one of our animal backpacks.  She had purchased one last year and I told her that we only had one left.  I explained to her that I tried to purchase (wholesale) a few weeks ago and the company said that they were completely out of stock and would not be getting any for awhile.  They bought the remaining backpack.  For some reason I had left the company's name tag on it and they looked at it.  The mother told the daughter..."Here's the company right here.  We can look them up on the Internet and call them up."  I didn't say anything....I had already emphasized the point that the company did not have any more.  Beside, they wouldn't be able to buy one anyway.  Only wholesale purchases.

 

Saturday, July 18.

 

Awoke somewhat early this morning.  Had a very heavy fog this morning which produced a lot of mist.  The ground was very wet and I was told that it was so heavy earlier that you couldn't even see across the street.  It can get that way over here.  We have had quite a bit of fog during our stay here.

 

We went over to our booth around 9:30 and opened up.  It was quite foggy much of the morning and had times when the sun almost peeked out from behind whatever.  Not much wind during the morning.  Sales were better this morning and there was a decent-sized crowd during the early part of the afternoon.

 

GETTING COLDER and windier after one o'clock and sales began to slow down.  It became colder throughout the afternoon and the winds were blowing fiercely, reminding me of last year when is was rocking our canopy left and right.  The fog stayed with us throughout the day and affected sales dramatically.

 

HAVING FUN WITH THE PEOPLE.  There was a couple that was standing outside the booth.  Both of them had on the same exact flowered shirt and each had on blue jeans and white socks; different shoes, though.  Had to be serious tourists.  Nobody local would want to be seen looking like that.  The lady picked up one of our tote bags and asked "how much?"  I looked at the two of them.  "That's five dollars.....two for eight."  She said "thank you," but I guess it went over her head.  At least I thought it was funny. 

 

One lady picked up one of our decorative yard sticks and asked 'how much?'  I told her two for $5.  3 for 7; 5 for 10; 11 for 20; 23 for 40; 48 for 80.

 

There was a cute teenager, perhaps 17-18 wanting to buy one of our bags.  She was with her father and sister and she must have spent ten minutes just trying to convince her father to buy the bag for her.  I was standing about ten feet in back of them.  She put up a good discussion with her dad and eventually he gave in.  I sell a few items to kids...wooden swords, snakes, etc., and I would say that 19 out of 20 parents tell the kids that they can't buy.  Can you imagine how many times a parent has to tell the kid 'no' throughout the length of the show?  That is the most popular word I hear.

 

TOO COLD for us, so we decided to close up at 5:45 today.  There was hardly anybody walking around and it was rather chilly and windy there.  The weather forecast did say 74 degrees and partly sunny.  uh uh uhhhhh.  My wife kept complaining about the cold and I kept telling her that on Wednesday when you are sitting in the hot sun in Madras (not India) and it's 95 degrees you'll be wishing that you were back here.  On Monday we are going to Madras, approximately 235 miles from here for the Jefferson County Fair.

 

AFTER CLOSING UP, we walked over to the motor home and drove over to our parking area, where we would spend another night in the fog.  I was hoping to see a nice sunset over here, but it doesn't look like it this time.  Still having problems getting on-line around here.

 

Sunday, July 19. When I looked out the window of our motor home when I woke up, I did not see the usual fog.  Too good to be true?  During the night I heard the wind blowing quite hard and I would keep picturing our canopy flying away.  Had a good night's sleep and drove over to our parking spot around 6:45 and the sun was coming up.  Super!

 

Had some eggs and potatoes for breakfast and it was delicious.   At 9:30 we headed over to our space and opened up.  It was rather slow in the morning, as always on a Sunday.  We had fewer people than on Saturday and there wasn't much buying anywhere.  Completely different crowd today.  Couldn't figure them out.  Lots of dogs though.  Sales were less than one-half of what they were on Saturday and this was the best weather we had during the entire festival.  No fog all day long, but the winds sure as heck picked up during the afternoon and made it difficult to pull down. 

 

This has to be the windiest show that I have ever done.  Overall, the weather was pretty good except for that heavy foggy mist we had Saturday morning that almost felt like rain.  Over the past two years we had a bit of rain during the event.  We will probably be back next year.  Now, on to the next event - Jefferson County Fair in Madras.

 

 

Please check out other events on our 2009 Oregon Trip: