June

 

{Part 2 -- The Oregon Coast}

 

 

Our vacation continued on the central Oregon coast where we

enjoyed an almost private beach and much cooler temperatures.

 

After being in 90* or higher temps every day, the cool ocean air was a blessing.

 

We rented a house through VRBO and it suited our needs very well.

Our family is too big for one hotel room and we have found that renting a house

for a few days is less expensive than paying for multiple hotel rooms

 for the same amount of time.

Plus, we have the ability to cook our own food and have living space

to hang out in.

 

 

We could see the ocean from the deck but getting to the beach took either walking down

a steep cliff-side path or driving to the end of the road and walking down a few steps.

What option do you think we took most of the time?  :-)

 

Some of our relatives who were traveling through the area

 were able to join us for awhile the first evening

so we took them down to the beach and then we ate supper together

at a local seafood shack.

 

The next day we slowly got ourselves going and went out to explore the area.

Our first stop of the day was at Yaquina Head Lighthouse

which was previously known as Cape Foulweather Lighthouse.

That name should give you a clue to what kind of weather they have out on the tip.

The day we were there it was very cold and windy up on the bluff

but it was clear so we could see the beautiful scenery.

 

At 93 ft. tall this is the tallest lighthouse in Oregon.

It was put into operation in 1873.

 

 

Below the lighthouse was a cobblestone beach with tide pools.

We were there as the tide was going out so everyone was able

to explore the pools and the sea creatures in them.

 

The tidepool access was via a series of steps the went along the cliff.

Thankfully there were resting spots for the trip back up.

 

We also visited the Yaquina Bay Lighthouse at the southern end of Newport.

It was built in 1871 and decommissioned in 1874 when they

discovered that the light did not reach as far north as was needed.

It is the only lighthouse in Oregon with attached living quarters

 

 

 

We had some fine views of the Yaquina Bay Bridge

over which we drove multiple times since our vacation home was

south of the city of Newport.

 

Our last destination while in town was the boat in the forefront of the picture.

 

We were in crab territory and certain members of our group love to eat crab.

The freshest option, other than catching them yourself,

is to buy them straight off the crabbing boat.

 

Then it was back to the house to cook them to a nice red hue.

And to smell up the house in the process.

Some of us chose to indulge in pizza that evening while

others cracked away at crab and made a mess all over the table.

 

We spent another afternoon at our private beach

but it was cold and windy plus the sand was blowing.

 

 

Not your typical summer beach attire but maybe it is in Oregon.

 

The following morning we packed up again and made our way south

along the ocean and then inland.  We had a beautiful drive through

rolling hills and green forests.

It was good to see the other side of beautiful Mt. Shasta.

 

The heat was rather shocking as we moved further inland and south into the central valley.

We had returned to reality in more ways that one.

It was kind of hard to believe that we left our vacation house that morning bundled in jackets

and shivering in the cool breeze.

At this point, we felt like we were headed toward heat-stroke any time we exited our vehicle.

 

**********************

 





 Oregon has some of the most annoyingly slow speed limits.

Despite returning to heat and very dry surroundings,

this sign made us very happy...