somewhere along southern coast of Oregon
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I am loosing track of the days.
And my relative sense of time is all messed up.
I look back at these pictures and think they happened a week (or more) ago - and yet.....
it's only been 3 days!
So many new sights, people, and experiences that I think my brain is having a difficult time sorting, storing and cataloging.
I'm not complaining - only observing.
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starting the day - coffee by the bay
near Coos Bay, Oregon
We have been getting into the habit of leaving whatever campground we have slept in early each morning and seeking out a quiet view to enjoy our coffee and breakfast. It has been rewarding to find off the beaten track (at least for us) spots and be totally alone.
Our drive up this majestic coast has been full of surprises. Back and forth we traverse the winding road at the edge of the cliffs, then suddenly down into valleys with tall evergreens separating us from the ocean views, and finally back again, this time at sea level, emerging out upon the beaches that stretch out before us.
It is truly a grand and magical coast to explore. None of the coastline here is privately owned. Some time in the 30's (I believe) the coast itself was declared a highway -
Oregon Coast Highway No. 9
and thus the state became its steward.
This highway was built over a period of many years and the bridges and tunnels that connect all the towns over waterways, into, up and around mountains is itself spectacular. Each deco style bridge we have crossed is beautifully designed and yet sit perfectly within their environs.
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the wild Oregon coastline
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We decided to stop at the Sea Lion Caves in Florence. SO happy we did!
Taking an elevator 200' down through the mountain we arrived in this cave ... filled with hundreds of sea lions. It is the largest sea cave in America and home to the Stellar Sea Lion.
The sea lions lounged, slept and stretched on all the rocks that lined the cave and more sea lions congregated in the surf that crashed in. Between the sounds of the surf and the bellowing cries of the sea lions - it was a looping symphony of echos!
a pod of sea lions
Sea Lion Caves
Florence, OR
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Heceta Head Lighthouse
Florence, OR
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sunset at the harbor
Newport, OR
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Our next stop was Newport. A quaint seaside town that is now the home of Tim's oldest friend, Rand Bishop. Walkable and filled with galleries, this fishing and crabbing town was comfortable and easy to explore. The beach was wide and we were lucky to have clear, sunny skies for the 2 days we were here. The weather patterns were totally in our favor with all the rain happening each night as we slept.
It was great to see Rand and we all got to catch up on the 3 years since we were last together.
Rand, Tim and Milly (the beagle)
Agate Beach, Newport, OR
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"little sails"
Agate Neach, Newport
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At the tide line on the beach there were all these blue glass like creatures - of all sizes, the largest was probably 2 1/2" long. Seems they are Velella, a free floating hydrozoan - yeah, they are related to the jellyfish. Also called "little sail", they are distinguished by the thin sail like appendage that sits on top of them. They are totally dependent on wind and currents and depending on certain conditions ..... end up stranded on beaches. Seems that these little creatures live in all the world's warm and temperate oceans - and this was the first time I had ever seen them!
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Oregon dunes
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Pacific oysters!
dinner in Newport, OR
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I could have walked on that beach at Newport every day and enjoyed it over and over. But, no... I am not moving there. But I would not mind revisiting this coast again - there are over 18 state parks along the coast line alone and 196 overall.
We did see an announcement at one of the parks looking for "hosts". Each state park has a volunteer host/host family. You get to park there for free and you oversee the park for the season........... mmmmm?
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We left Newport early in the morning and stopped at a rest area for coffee and showers. We had been parked on a slope while in Newport so showering in the POD was not possible.
The ride north from Newport took us through even more diverse landscapes. At one point in Wheeler and the towns around Nahalam Bay we felt like we had left the state totally. Wide rolling farms of cows, cattle, sheep, donkeys (!!) - I felt like we were in the Alps.
I even had 2 bald eagle sitings! One was perched along a small river tearing into its morning meal. The other was at the very top of a pine hanging out over the ocean below.
SO cool!
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a rest stop for lunch
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Just north of Cannon Beach we headed inland, and up over another mountain range (seemingly meager now at only 1800 feet) and into the NW reaches of the Willamette Valley to Banks, OR.
Here we will visit TIm’s sister, Ellen and her husband, Robert for 2 days.
all is well.
and really - why worry about time.
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