Scott, ma and I had a great time at the coast during the holiday weekend. We stayed at the same little motel, Trollers Lodge, in Depoe Bay my family used to visit when I was a kid. The motel had a lot of kitsch charm such as the beach-themed decorations in the rooms (with price tags in case we decided we HAD to have the lighthouse or seashell lamps). We'll keep the motel in mind for future beach trips.
Saturday: Yaquina Head Lighthouse, Newport Bayfront
 Picture 485 copy.jpg Originally uploaded by sweber4507. |
 Picture 497.jpg Originally uploaded by sweber4507. |
 Picture 517 copy.jpg Originally uploaded by sweber4507. |
 Picture 478 copy.jpg Originally uploaded by sweber4507. |
 Picture 512 copy.jpg Originally uploaded by sweber4507. |
 Picture 513 copy.jpg Originally uploaded by sweber4507. |
 Picture 216.jpg Originally uploaded by sweber4507. |
 Picture 305.jpg Originally uploaded by sweber4507. |
 |
We finally visited the Yaquina Head Lighthouse in Newport. Scott and I tried to see this classic lighthouse in previous trips, but it was either closed due to construction or we arrived too late in the day. The park is now run by BLM and is called the Yaquina Head Outstanding Natural Area. I thought the huge, new interpretive center was overkill (it's larger than the lighthouse itself). However, the lighthouse restoration was impressive and it was my first time inside the lighthouse. We then took the new trail to the tidepools. I thought the tidepools were just a colorful as the ones we saw in Hawaii.
 Picture 166.jpg Originally uploaded by sweber4507. |
 Picture 061 copy.jpg Originally uploaded by sweber4507. |
 Picture 063.jpg Originally uploaded by sweber4507. |
 Picture 610 copy.jpg Originally uploaded by sweber4507. |
We then visited the Newport bayfront and watched the sea lions sleep. The sea lions took over a boat dock in the middle of the fishermen's boat docks and canneries. It was a little too real when we saw one sea lion vomit all over itself and sleeping companions then go back to sleep.
Sunday: Sea Lion Caves, Oregon Dunes, Heceta Head Lighthouse
 Picture 932.jpg Originally uploaded by sweber4507. |
 Picture 841.jpg Originally uploaded by sweber4507. |
We drove south to the Sea Lion Caves and the dunes. The Sea Lion Caves is a cheezy tourist trap featuring an elevator that desends 200 feet down to a huge cave that is home to sea lions. Unfortunately the viewpoint in the cave is limited to one angle. Worse, an annoying fence makes for poor pictures. There were a few sea lines on a distant rock; however, most of the sea lions were outside enjoying the sunshine. While the cave itself is impressive, the sea lions on the Newport bayfront were more interesting to watch.
 Picture 1041 copy.jpg Originally uploaded by sweber4507. |
 Picture 1029 copy.jpg Originally uploaded by sweber4507. |
 |
We walked the Oregon Dunes Overlook trail in the Oregon Dunes National Recreation Area. I've always wanted to walk this trail through the dunes to the beach, but never had the time during prior visits.
We were all out of shape for the hike. The trail signs said it was a half mile to the beach, but halfway along the trail we ran into another half mile sign so it may have been a mile(?). Either way, hiking in deep sand is hard.
We drove down to Coos Bay just to see what it was like. I was hoping for a tourist-friendly area to have lunch, but I didn't see anything appealing (other than The Mill Casino). Coos Bay looks like an old logging city that had seen better days. We (well, I) were really hungry so we ate at what has to be one of the fanciest Arby's I ever visited.
We then turned around and headed back north stopping at the bridges and viewpoints Scott chided me for not stopping at on the way down. There are so many beautiful bridges along the Oregon Coast Highway that it's impossible to stop at each one.
 Picture 1656, originally uploaded by sweber4507. |
|
 Conde B. McCullough Memorial Bridge Originally uploaded by sweber4507. |
 Picture 1649 Originally uploaded by sweber4507. |
The Conde B. McCullough Memorial Bridge (Wiki) (aka "Coos Bay Bridge" or "North Bend Bridge") from a distant approach looks like an ugly green truss bridge like Astoria's long Astoria-Megler Bridge (Wiki). However, on a closer drive-through, it is a beautiful cathedral-like bridge with many appealing architectual details. It definitely competes with Newport's arch Yaquina Bay Bridge (Wiki) as one of the largest and most visually appealing Oregon coast bridges.
 |
|
 beach at Heceta Head Originally uploaded by sweber4507 |
 me at Heceta Head Originally uploaded by sweber4507 |
The Heceta Head Lighthouse was an unexpected surprise on our way back north. At first glance from the highway, it seems like just another cute lighthouse. However, the park is spectacular. The Cape Creek Bridge (Wiki) is impressive. Its stacked arches reminded me of the Roman aqueduct (Wiki). The lighthouse was impressive and the lightkeepers house was really cute -- it's now a bed and breakfast. The highlight though was watching the incoming tide surf through a rocky channel below the light house and crash into rocks. Although the park was pretty crowded, Scott and I seemed to be the only couple that ventured onto the rocks.
Monday: Depoe Bay Fleet of Flowers, Whal...Boat Cruise
 Fleet of Flowers banner on Depoe Bay Bridge Originally uploaded by sweber4507 |
 Coast Guard boats leads Memorial Day Fleet of Flowers out of the Depoe Bay. Originally uploaded by sweber4507 |
On Memorial Day we watched Depoe Bay's Fleet of Flowers from the bridge. After a lengthy and inaudible ceremony, the Coast Guard led a fleet of about two dozen flower-covered boats into the ocean. The boats were supposed to form a circle, but the waters were a little too choppy. A Coast Guard helicopter dropped a wreath into the middle of the boats followed by the boats dropping their flowers. Unfortunately they were too far out too see much and by then we were really cold from the wind.
 Whale Cove Bay Originally uploaded by sweber4507 |
 another tour boat races our boat to the harbor Originally uploaded by sweber4507 |
 Depoe Bay Bridge from the dock Originally uploaded by sweber4507 |
 Whale Cove Bay Originally uploaded by sweber4507 |
After the ceremony, we took a one-hour whale watching tour. We didn't see a whale due to the choppy waters. After his second failed whale watching attempt, Scott is convinced there are no whales and its just a ruse. However, we always enjoy a boat ride.
Over all, it was a nice, relaxing time. I'll post Scott's beautiful pictures soon.
UPDATE 1: Added some of Scott's (aka sweber4507) brilliant photos. I'll add more as he uploads the rest.
UPDATE 2: Posted a selection of Scott's photos, re-arranged photos, and edited post.
No comments:
Post a Comment