Oregon Vacation

Sally and I vacationed along the Oregon coast with Dave and Dian Wallis. We have had many amazing vacations together through the forty or so years that we have known each other and this vacation did not disappoint. We flew into Portland and drove south to start the vacation in the coastal town of  Florence.  This trip was sparked by our common love for hiking, lighthouses, interesting foods, nature and beach combing. We drove the famous Hwy 101 along the beach ending our coastal journey at Cape Disappointment in Washington. 

 The view of Siuslaw River Drawbridge from Mari's Kitchen. Mari's is the kind of establishment where the locals eat. Everyone was super friendly and even helped with menu recommendations. 

 

Mari is Hungarian and she fixes traditional dishes from her homeland. 

 

Heceta Lighthose in the distance

 

Heceta Lighthouse from beach

Cluster of Sea Anemones in a tide pool

Ochre Sea Star

This almost closed anemone reminded me of the eye of a dragon (Game of Thrones)
 

Pulled over to capture this scene.... The way the light and shadows played in this landscape made it my favorite.  

Miles and miles of  beaches

 

Tons and tons of male Sea Lions at Newport Wharf - Males stay together for eleven months a year. For one month during late spring, all these males will swim south to find  females and mate.

Very noisy sea lions barking at each other

  

Full grown males can weigh a ton. They might be stinky but look at those cute faces!

 

blue sky and blue water
 

Cloud Bank rolling in

The Pacific water is too cold for swimming.

Hiking to Munson Falls

Munson Creek State Park

Munson Creek Falls is tallest waterfall in Oregon's Coastal region - 315 feet

Coppertips in sand dunes at Oceanside Beach State Recreation Area

Sea Anemone in a tidal pool at Oceanside Beach

Ochre Sea Stars clinging to the rock

Sea Stars feeding on California mussels. They surround the mussel and pry it open to feed on the inside soft body.

Cape Meares National Wildlife Refuge - cold and misty

Cape Meares Lighthouse

At Meares, short hike to Octopus Tree - Sitka Spruce with unusual shape

 

Rockaway Big Tree Trail -I am making a hand sign that I learned from the grand kids.

Osprey Nest at the top of a huge tree on Big Tree Trail

Trail side Fuchsia flowers

Pronto Pup - (original Corn Dog) created in 1935 in Rockaway Beach, Oregon

Pronto Pup is crusted with pancake batter instead of cornmeal 

 

More Oregon Beach

I have at least a hundred more beach photos..... but I'll make this the last one!
 

North Head Lighthouse at Cape Disappointment, Washington

North Head Lighthouse

Lighthouse selfie
 

Cape Disappointment at the mouth of the Columbia River

Amazing Foxglove blooming

Cape Disappointment Lighthouse built in 1856
 

 

Beautiful Bindweed flower is closely related to Morning glory. Isn't it glorious?

 

 Sally wanted a hoodie with a catchy name and she finally found it at Cape Disappointment.

Shipwrecks around mouth of Columbia River

While in Astoria, we feasted on seafood at South Bay Wild Fish House. I had Fry Bread topped with dungeness crab. Sally had pink shrimp/dungeness crab cakes.

 

I was the only one in our group that wanted to walk up the hill to find the house from "Goonies" movie. Success!