Tuesday, November 03, 2009
Oregon Coast
Cape Perpetua, north of Florence Oregon and near Yachats, offers some of the best views of the Pacific Ocean in Oregon. You can drive to the top and take a very short walk or hike the (very approximately) 2 mile round trip forested trail from the Cape Perpetua Visitors Center via the Campground and up to this fantastic Oregon Coast View.
Don't miss Devils Churn which has it's own parking or is only about a mile round trip walk from the Visitors Center at Cape Perpetua. At Devils Churn the sea rushes into a confined space created by an old volcanic lava flow and the wave action can be spectacular, especially in the winter and during storms.
Don't miss Devils Churn which has it's own parking or is only about a mile round trip walk from the Visitors Center at Cape Perpetua. At Devils Churn the sea rushes into a confined space created by an old volcanic lava flow and the wave action can be spectacular, especially in the winter and during storms.
Tuesday, October 06, 2009
Oregon Coast
Oregon Sea Anemones and Mussels at Florence Seashore
Saturday, December 13, 2008
Global Warming not coming soon to the Oregon Coast
As I watch Wunderground for their predictions on the upcoming Storm of the Millenium (OK, it hasn't been a long millenium yet), I'm putting this into the perspective of someone who has been in Florence for almost 21 years.
We had a big snowstorm the first year, which was the most in more than two decades. Then it went boring for about a decade, but I'm pretty sure we've seen more snow in our second decade in Florence than in the first. Last spring we had some extremely late snow (April) and we kept burning wood in the livingroom stove until almost the Fourth of July. Getting snow almost two weeks before Christmas is another astonishing prospect.
All this puts me in the global warming skeptic camp. This is not the same as being a denier. I really don't know whether there's an underlying trend and I'm seeing an anomaly on the cool side that will be overwhelmed by warming next year or the year after. But twenty years after the first alarms were sounded, there is precious little evidence.
The Oregon Coast "way of life" does face challenges. There's too much litter. People are losing their homes. Gorse and scotch broom are too prevalent. I feel the need to pick my battles and frankly, worrying about the still imperceptible rise in sea level isn't in my top 10 list.
We had a big snowstorm the first year, which was the most in more than two decades. Then it went boring for about a decade, but I'm pretty sure we've seen more snow in our second decade in Florence than in the first. Last spring we had some extremely late snow (April) and we kept burning wood in the livingroom stove until almost the Fourth of July. Getting snow almost two weeks before Christmas is another astonishing prospect.
All this puts me in the global warming skeptic camp. This is not the same as being a denier. I really don't know whether there's an underlying trend and I'm seeing an anomaly on the cool side that will be overwhelmed by warming next year or the year after. But twenty years after the first alarms were sounded, there is precious little evidence.
The Oregon Coast "way of life" does face challenges. There's too much litter. People are losing their homes. Gorse and scotch broom are too prevalent. I feel the need to pick my battles and frankly, worrying about the still imperceptible rise in sea level isn't in my top 10 list.
Thursday, December 04, 2008
Tragic Death on Oregon Coast. Fiance washed to sea at Proposal Rock near Neskowin, Oregon.
The Oregon Coast was the scene of a very tragic death this week when a bride to be from the Phillippines, only 3 days into a trip where she was to marry an Oregon man, was swept out to see literally minutes before the man was to propose to her at Proposal Rock near Neskowin along the Oregon Coast.
Her fiance, an Oregonian from the area, wanted to propose at Neskowin's "Proposal Rock", a popular place to pop the question along the Oregon Coast. The tide had receded enough for the couple to make their way out but a large wave about 3 feet knocked the small woman down and swept her out to sea. Rescuers were on the scene in minutes thanks to a call from a local on the beach but the woman has not yet been found and is presumed dead.
The Full Story
Oregon Coast City Guide
Her fiance, an Oregonian from the area, wanted to propose at Neskowin's "Proposal Rock", a popular place to pop the question along the Oregon Coast. The tide had receded enough for the couple to make their way out but a large wave about 3 feet knocked the small woman down and swept her out to sea. Rescuers were on the scene in minutes thanks to a call from a local on the beach but the woman has not yet been found and is presumed dead.
The Full Story
Oregon Coast City Guide
Labels: neskowin, oregon, proposal rock
Sunday, November 30, 2008
Oregon Coast Highway Souvenir Folder
Thanks to Flickr user Jasperdo we have a great set of historic postcards up at Flickr showcasing the Oregon Coast.
Click on the picture for more of this neat set which appears to be from 1951 after the completion of the Oregon Coast Highway, still one of the world's most scenic drives.
Bridges along the coast remain one of the state's attractions as they span the many rivers and streams as they spill into the Pacific all along the Oregon Coastline.
The cards list the cost of the Gold Beach Bridge, a beautiful concrete structure over the Rogue River, as $600,000 - millions shy of the budget just a few years ago to paint and restore this beautiful, massive span at the mouth of the Rogue River.
Click on the picture for more of this neat set which appears to be from 1951 after the completion of the Oregon Coast Highway, still one of the world's most scenic drives.
Bridges along the coast remain one of the state's attractions as they span the many rivers and streams as they spill into the Pacific all along the Oregon Coastline.
The cards list the cost of the Gold Beach Bridge, a beautiful concrete structure over the Rogue River, as $600,000 - millions shy of the budget just a few years ago to paint and restore this beautiful, massive span at the mouth of the Rogue River.
Labels: flickr, oregon bridges, Oregon Coast, oregon postcards, rogue river
Friday, November 21, 2008
Heceta light House Bed & Breakfast on central Oregon Coast
One of the things I love about Oregon is how many "Once in a lifetime" experiences you can have here - even on a short trip.
Here at Heceta Head lighthouse near Florence Oregon you can spend the night in the keeper's quarters which are just a short walk from the lighthouse itself.
Some other great lodging experiences in Oregon are the lodge at Crater Lake, Timberline Lodge at Mount Hood, The Oregon Caves Chateau at Oregon Caves National Monument, McMenamin's Estate south of Portland, the Benson Hotel in Portland, the Columbia Gorge Hotel in Hood River, Weasku Inn in near Grants Pass on the Rogue River, and more. All of these offer you an historic attraction and adventure as well as fine accommodations.
Here at Heceta Head lighthouse near Florence Oregon you can spend the night in the keeper's quarters which are just a short walk from the lighthouse itself.
Some other great lodging experiences in Oregon are the lodge at Crater Lake, Timberline Lodge at Mount Hood, The Oregon Caves Chateau at Oregon Caves National Monument, McMenamin's Estate south of Portland, the Benson Hotel in Portland, the Columbia Gorge Hotel in Hood River, Weasku Inn in near Grants Pass on the Rogue River, and more. All of these offer you an historic attraction and adventure as well as fine accommodations.
Thursday, November 20, 2008
Winter on the Oregon coast
My favorite time to visit the Oregon Coast *by far* is the late fall and winter, when the wave action is nothing short of spectacular, especially at places like Devil's Churn, Cape Arago, and the many other rocky shoreline areas.
The surf in winter along much of the Oregon Coast has waves topping 20 feet pounding into the rocks, shooting spray up 100 feet and more. Storms add to the excitement but even on relatively calm days you can find great spots to sit and wonder at the sheer power of tons of water crashing into the rocks every few seconds.
For Beachcombers the Oregon Coast winter brings a wealth of fascinating biology and treasure, especially in areas where tidepools fill with sea anemones, starfish, and other creatures while you're much more likely to find great shells and agates - the variegated semiprecious stones that form in cavities of other rocks and then drop out as stone masses are broken down by the sea.
The surf in winter along much of the Oregon Coast has waves topping 20 feet pounding into the rocks, shooting spray up 100 feet and more. Storms add to the excitement but even on relatively calm days you can find great spots to sit and wonder at the sheer power of tons of water crashing into the rocks every few seconds.
For Beachcombers the Oregon Coast winter brings a wealth of fascinating biology and treasure, especially in areas where tidepools fill with sea anemones, starfish, and other creatures while you're much more likely to find great shells and agates - the variegated semiprecious stones that form in cavities of other rocks and then drop out as stone masses are broken down by the sea.
