The Marvelous Southern Oregon Coast

I drove up the Southern Oregon coast as far as Bandon today. This section of the Pacific shoreline is not as publicized as many others. It's remote...about 300 miles from Portland, 400 from San Francisco. There are only a few resorts, and only one large town...Brookings. Yet it's prettier than almost any other seaside region from Canada to Mexico. Perhaps Big Sur is more spectacular, but this coast is awesome in its own right. There are hundreds of picturesque offshore rocks; many fine, isolated beaches strewn with masses of driftwood; and miles of peace and solitude.

This pic of an arch and the one above were taken in Samuel Boardman State Park, just north of Brookings. In addition to the awesome views, trails wind through the dense coastal forest, alternating between nestling in the woods and emerging at fine vista points.

Today was cool and overcast, more typical of midsummer than mid September, when it's often sunny and warm. But the coast is fine under any weather conditions. On a gray day the atmosphere becomes brooding and reflective, but very peaceful, especially considering that there was little wind.

A cloudy day with an unusually tranquil ocean is a good setting for taking abstract photos, where the land, sea, and sky blend together. This rock looks somewhat like a shark's tooth.