Amazing natural beauty abounds along the Oregon coast. Wildflowers are everywhere. We saw so many ocean creatures that we had previously only seen on tv or at an aquarium. We spent three nights in Oregon. Two of those days we traveled right along the coast on renown scenic Hwy 101. One night we stayed at Fireside Inn in Yachats and one night at Ecola Creek Lodge in Cannon Beach. Both were outstanding stays where we could just walk out on the beach and explore.
Sally loved the homey feel of our room
My attempt to make an artsy photo of the apples in the sunset.
Had a little set back today, woke up to low tire pressure and had to go find a Discount Tire.
On the road again and headed for the coast... spotted this herd of elk
I had to turn around for this roadside beauty... Sulfur Flower
Sea Lion Cave has been a tourist attraction along Hwy 101 for about a hundred years. The Sea Lions are wild and come and go from the caves at will.
Outside the cave was a different story... Multitude of sea lions were out sunning themselves on the rocks.
Another popular spot to soak up some sun rays.
Wild and craggy Oregon Coast near Cape Perpetua Lighthouse
Cape Perpetua Lighthouse
Thor's Well at low tide....
Cook's Chasm - short walk from Thor's Well.
Slow as a snail ,,, He didn't need to worry about being stepped on since I was the only one on the trail on this cold drizzling morning
This scene caught my eye... The salt spray tolerant plants
Horsetail
Sea Lions in harbor at Newport
Kurt - check out free range chickens - Gumbo and Jumbo would be right at home.
Sea Anemones are sometimes referred to as Sea Flowers
Wonderful tour of Tillamook Creamery - We got a kick out of the fact that the local high school sports team is the Tillamook Cheese-Makers.
Cheese is cut blocks into 40 lb blocks and sent for aging
40 lb block of aged cheese returns for packaging.
Haystack Rock at low tide at Cannon Beach
Large Ochre Starfish
California Mussels
Woody Chiton
Starfish attacking Mussels while sea anemones close their eyes.
Try to spot him.... These tiny shore crabs can hide quite well in the multitude of creatures in the tide pools.
Notice how the Ochre Starfish wraps himself around the mussel and using all those tiny little suction cups under his arms he pulls open the clam to eat the inside.
The base of Haystack Rock is a awesome marine ecosystem and the top is an avian sanctuary which is home to eight species of nesting birds.
Bitter brush is an invasive plant species that has taken over the roadsides in Oregon.
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