Ramblings on the Oregon Coast

Traveling on the Oregon coast is a feast for the senses. The air is fresh and cool. The scenery always catches the eye, both on a large scale and in smaller scenarios. The ocean roars, untamed and vigorous. Birds and other wildlife abound. It's never the least bit dull here. I came upon this barchan dune just south of Gold Beach. This dune is only three or four feet high, but there are sand formations of identical shape in the Sahara that soar hundreds of feet into the air, shaped by the same process. See wiki for details.

My friend Wendy visited Oregon for the first time, and loved it. What's not to love in the summer? In six days we explored the Columbia Gorge, the coast, the Cascades, and Portland; we visited wineries, Timberline Lodge, and hiked in the rainforest, along the coast, and in the city. All cool. Here Wendy's at a covered bridge near Lincoln City.

The view from our condo at Lincoln City, with the sun lowering in the west over the tranquil Pacific.

We hiked the trail to Cape Lookout, north of Lincoln City. I remember the first time I walked here. It was on a stormy November day in 1977. The wind was howling in exposed areas, blowing sheets of rain horizontally. At the start of this trail, deep in the woods, it was calm, but overhead the 150 foot Sitka spruces were swaying...an eerie vibe. But, not last Sunday! It was sunny and warm, almost hot in exposed areas like this.

The southern Oregon coast is rather isolated, far from the urban areas of the Willamette valley. But it's probably the most spectacular part of Oregon's shoreline. This pic is in Samuel Boardman state park north of Brookings.