© 2011 Lydia Hinshaw
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| We had to take the state of Oregon's word on the view |
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| Looking down on the fog at Cannon Beach |
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| Sea lions circling in Newport's harbor |
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| Tufted puffin at the Oregon Coast Aquarium |
YACHATS, OR -- The Oregon coast is spectacular, when you can see it.
Five years ago, on our first visit to this area, we were blessed with perfect weather. A year ago, when we came back, we had only a few moments of good views. And that has been the case this week as well.
Every morning there is a thick coastal fog that lasts all day. A few hundred yards inland, the sun is bright. Drive to the top of a hill, and there are plenty of those in these parts, and you can stand in the sunshine and look down on where the Pacific is.
Even if you can manage to combine coastline and sunshine, the fog-bank lurks just offshore, hiding rocks and lighthouses.
Tuesday night the fog lifted about an hour before sunset, but it was back by morning.
Five years ago, on our first visit to this area, we were blessed with perfect weather. A year ago, when we came back, we had only a few moments of good views. And that has been the case this week as well.
Every morning there is a thick coastal fog that lasts all day. A few hundred yards inland, the sun is bright. Drive to the top of a hill, and there are plenty of those in these parts, and you can stand in the sunshine and look down on where the Pacific is.
Even if you can manage to combine coastline and sunshine, the fog-bank lurks just offshore, hiding rocks and lighthouses.
Tuesday night the fog lifted about an hour before sunset, but it was back by morning.
The thick humidity creates other problems too. We are accumulating an inventory of wet items that will never get dry, until we reach a laundromat or another climate. Towels damp from the shower. The large plastic bags we put over the firewood and the beach chairs at night, and then have to cover with new bags to keep the previous bags from getting the van wet in the morning.
The alternative to this would be to leave the firewood and beach chairs in the van, and have Prince Charming sleep outside, as he is easier to dry that firewood. I have not been able to sell him on this plan.
Wednesday, looking for something to do that did not involve moving around inside a cloud, we made our traditional visit to the sea lions who spend the fall and winter in Newport Harbor, where we also ate fresh seafood for lunch along the sunny waterfront, half mile from the ocean.
The alternative to this would be to leave the firewood and beach chairs in the van, and have Prince Charming sleep outside, as he is easier to dry that firewood. I have not been able to sell him on this plan.
Wednesday, looking for something to do that did not involve moving around inside a cloud, we made our traditional visit to the sea lions who spend the fall and winter in Newport Harbor, where we also ate fresh seafood for lunch along the sunny waterfront, half mile from the ocean.
Later, we visited the Oregon Coast Aquarium, also in Newport. Though the fishy part of the thing was interesting, we were both captivated by the exhibit of tufted puffins, brunette birds who sport two blonde pony tails.
The aquarium is also far enough from the beach to enjoy sunshine. We spent most of our time there snapping happily away with our cameras. The weather has been a bust for photography too.
The Oregon State Parks along the coast are wonderful, and we’ve camped in three of them so far and visited several others. If only we could see the scenery!
The aquarium is also far enough from the beach to enjoy sunshine. We spent most of our time there snapping happily away with our cameras. The weather has been a bust for photography too.
The Oregon State Parks along the coast are wonderful, and we’ve camped in three of them so far and visited several others. If only we could see the scenery!
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