June 13 - 18, 2023
Newport, Oregon
Port of Newport Marina and RV Park is another repeat location. Last time we joined my BFF and her hubby for a few days, including the 4th of July fireworks over the water.
This year we're enjoying the beauty of this area on our own. An all asphalt park with narrow grass strips, 50 amp FHUs and decent WiFi. No problem connecting our satellite, easy utilities and level site, it's a safe, clean option right on the marina. Like every other place, the cost has gone up too.
As we wander up and down the coast on these perfect blue-sky days I think we should have found our home-base over here. Then of course I remember that these blue skies are not the norm for most of the year and that I'd likely not survive the dreariness of coastal living. When we win the lottery we'll just add a summer place "over here" :-)
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| Ahhhhh.... |
It's nearly impossible to choose a "most beautiful" section of the Oregon Coast, but way up on the list is Yachats to Florence. The basalt formations provide an amazing playground for the waves with high winds feathering the spray ever higher. It's mesmerizing - and very chilly in that wind!
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| Cape Perpetua |
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| One of a few blow holes at Cape Perpetua |
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| Thor's Well |
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| Thor's Wow!! |
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| I love that there are so many state parks, view points, trails and access points along Hwy 101. And so little development! |
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| Hecata Head Light - one of the most photographed spots on the coast. We always think of our dear friends Jim and Diana when we see her - they were wonderful hosts here during our visit in 2017. |
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| For the next three weeks the beacon is turned off intermittently for maintenance of the roller and gears that turn the lens - thus the "closed blinds" at the top. |
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| Big Creek enters the Pacific. |
Back in Tombstone Jeff contends with another afternoon of drama as fire is moving fast near the house. "Get ready to evacuate" is in effect, and he's packed up the essentials. No need to check for any updates, he can see it unfolding from the kitchen window!
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| Thankfully several runs of slurry-drop contain the fire just beyond the house. |
Crisis averted, we're always grateful for our local fire fighters.
Friday morning we watch the fog move in and obscure our bridge views. Unlike world-dulling smoke we've dealt with in the past, we both enjoy the mystery of moving fog. Might as well check it out to the north!
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| When Lt Talbot and his exploration party made camp here in 1849 he noted only about 85 remained of the local Yacoma tribe who fished the Yaquina River and lived along its banks. |
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| Depoe Bay Scenic View Area - the squawking of unseen gulls is surreal in the mist. |
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| Otter Crest is a narrow one lane road with several small coves tucked against the trees. |
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| Beautiful Ben Jones Bridge |
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| Hwy 101 on one side and the Pacific Ocean on the other, yet it feels like a secret in the forest. |
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| Cape Foulweather is the first location named by Captain James Cook during his exploration of the Pacific Northwest. The visitor center overlooks Gull Rock. |
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| Wow! View from the lookout at the visitor center. |
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| At low tide the Devil's Punchbowl is all bowl and no punch. Still a beautiful location. |
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| Moolack Beach - I love the drama. |
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| Our view at lunch in Depoe Bay. |
Saturday is usually our stay home day, but with rain expected for our last day on Sunday we head up the Yaquina River for a little forest exploring. The sun peeks in and out all day, and with almost no one else in sight it's a great day to play.
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| "Behind" our RV park, the river is lake-size. |
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| The Lora de Newport fades into the landscape. |
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| I love the hanging flower baskets that are prevalent along the coast. These along the docks in Toledo are some of the prettiest I've seen. |
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| Birds and lapping water are the only sounds. |
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| I'm reminded of the dramatic forests of the Natchez Trace in Mississippi. |
We spend our last, drizzly day at home, very happy we're only moving 78 miles south Monday for more time along the Pacific.
At the top of our very long list of blessings are the dads we also call sons. Happy Father's Day to the amazing daddies of our adorable grands!
What a beautiful post Jodee. I love everything about the ocean and your captures sure make me want to be there right about now! Sunny days, foggy days, windy days, high tides, low tides…it just doesn’t matter! There is absolutely no way to pick out a favorite in this group…every single photo tells a different ocean story. Love the dads…what a wonderful tribute to all of them.
ReplyDeleteThanks Gay, glad you enjoyed coming along! It's an incredible place.
DeleteFire near your house in Tombstone?!! That's scary. So glad the firefighters were able to contain it. I know how you love the Oregon Coast...we do, too. It's so seductive for those few months of summer perfection (along with the Washington Coast and the San Juan Islands). We always had to remind ourselves of the reality of nine months of gray, chill, wind, and rain to keep ourselves from moving there. I agree with Gay—your Father's Day tribute to Bill and your family is wonderful. :-)
ReplyDeleteI check the weather in Tillamook throughout the year to remind myself how many days there are with no sun! Thankfully they put down the fire before it got to any structures :-)
DeleteI love the Oregon coast, the husband--not so much. I'm thinking you shouldn't leave Jeff at home alone any more--first a car drives into your house, then he has a vehicle accident, now a fire! :) :) And none of it was his fault! Those hanging baskets are gorgeous--lots of moisture out there to keep them happy!
ReplyDeleteJeff would agree with you! One of the things I love about coastal living is all the healthy gardens and hanging baskets.
DeleteA wonderful post to the fabulous Oregon Coast. It's not just beautiful, it's accessible and filled with photo and hiking ops. And some good seafood too :)
ReplyDeleteI also agree that you did a great job of saluting the fathers in your life.
Yes, the seafood is wonderful. I forget what a difference really fresh makes! Thanks, they're special men :-)
DeleteThe Oregon coast is one of our happy places too and we often wondered if we could put down roots there. Then the dreary, foggy skies roll in and we know it would not work. BUT....a summer base, wouldn't it be fun to be neighbors?
ReplyDeleteIt would be absolutely so fun!! So much to do and see and eat and drink here - they would be great summers :-)))
DeleteThanks for sharing Jodee, such wonderful pictures and the narratives are perfect!
ReplyDeleteWell, I sure screwed up, that’s me above that commented!
ReplyDeleteThat anonymous thing is a pain! Wonderful that it was you :-)) It adds to our fun that you're along for the ride.
DeleteA fire very near your house? Is that what I understand you to say. Oh my. Hope I'm wrong. Love your lottery attitude and a second home on the Oregon coast. Your pictures are simply gorgeous and someday I really must do the Oregon coast. I just wouldn't have a clue where to stay and can Winnona really go down highway 101? Sweet pictures of all those dads. Hope they had a wonderful day.
ReplyDeleteYou're not wrong. The house was under evacuation preparedness for a few hours. You would love the beaches, but you'd need to be here in late July and August to be warm enough :-) We love the cooler temps but I know you like it warmer. And Winnona is the same size as our rig so she'd do just fine!
DeleteYour photos along the coast are spectacular and share all the faces of coastal living. On sunny days it is the place to be. Too bad that isn't the norm. The foggy is definitely something to witness as it moves around eerily. We visited this area for the first time while waiting for our turbo part of come in in Eugene. It was HOT there and we had a ten day wait. So we headed to Florence. What a great choice. Thanks for taking me back to all the fabulous sights we saw. Lovely Father's Day tribute to your sons and Bill.
ReplyDeleteI didn't think we'd make this a regular route, but we just can't stay away! Glad to have you along as always :-)
DeleteThank you for this coastal delight/tease. Would be a nice summer home. Isn't that what you're doing? At my current rate, I might not see until fall. Love your family.
ReplyDeleteWe've wanted to be here in the Fall but never made that happen yet. I hear there's less wind so might be a nice option!
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