Random pictures from the Oregon coast 2018

Oct 3, 2018
Our time is up here at Beaver Creek.  They didn't have a host for September so we stayed an extra month to experience the Oregon coast at the beginning of fall. Tomorrow we move on to the next adventure.  Here's some random photos from the last 3 months.

This is a 4 minute video I just discovered about Beaver Creek State Natural Area, Oregon's 2010 Park of the year.

First sign of fall, out our back window.

Moon set over Beaver Creek.

Sea Lions hauled out on Yaquina Bay.

Visit to Depoe Bay (Whale Watching capital on the Oregon coast) on a foggy morning.

Whale watching tour leaving the "Worlds Smallest Harbor"

Sun rise on a foggy morning.

View of Beaver Creek on a calm day.

Moss grows on everyting.

Early morning walk.

Misty morning at Beaver Creek.

Just another Sun Rise.

Barred owl.

Foggy morning Kayak tour.

Hummer standing guard!

US 101 bridge to Newport OR.

Panoramic view from the Welcome Center deck

2018, year of the Cherries.

Walking the Marsh Trail on a sunny morning.

Joan channeling her inner Swede. 

Beaver lodge on South Beaver Creek.

June, fresh Beaver Scent Mounds, marking their territory.

You can almost see a foot print 

in the fresh mud.

Yequina Bay, Newport OR.

Smile for the camera...

US 101 bridge to Walport  OR.

Riding the Whale Tail.

Start of new board walk on the Marsh Trail at Beaver Creek

One last Sun Rise.

Beaver Creek Kayak Tours.

Well the 2018 Kayak Tour season here at Beaver Creek is history, it's been a good 2 months. No one went swimming (fell out of their kayak) and the weather was very cooperative with lighter than normal winds and only one day starting in a drizzle.

Here's  an aerial view showing the mouth of Beaver Creek.  The next two shots were taken from the position indicated by the red arrow, looking west or to the left in this view.

Paddling in clouds.

 View from the mouth of Beaver Creek on a foggy morning...

... and on a sunny day.

Launching the boats.

Rafting-up at a quiet spot on the creek to listen to the sounds of nature.

Raft-up with Joan holding a Beaver skull and talking about beavers.

Beaver's teeth grow their whole life.  Joan showing a tooth from beaver skull.

Another raft-up with Joan talking about Brian Booth State Park,
birds and plants seen on the creek.

Paddling in the fog...

... and on a sunny day

Rick telling a story about the Spruce Goose and
the Sitka Spruce.

At the take out.

Rick helping customers get out of their boats at the end of tour.

Final presentation showing beaver pelt, trivia about Oregon state flag and 
handing out buttons.

This years button shows J. R. Beaver on a kayak tour. 
Steve, our other kayak host is in the suit.
Mr. Safety that he is, wouldn't get in boat unless he could zip up the life jacket.

Cherries!

Aug. 18 2018

We're in the same campsite we had last year and there's a cherry tree right behind our site.  Last year there were only a few cherries and as soon as they ripened, the birds got-em.  This year there was a bumper crop, the limbs were hanging low with cherries.

One of the rangers asked why we weren't eating the cherries?  I told him we were, there's just so many!!!  We've had cherry pancakes, cherry muffins and one of my favorites, what we call a Cherry Cordial smoothie. Remember the boxes of ultra sweet Cherry Cordial candy you'd sometimes get at Christmas time?

We make it with almond milk, banana, apple, ground flax seed, cherries (of course) and chocolate protein powder.  Once blended we add just a splash of Gingeraid Kombucha (fermented tea) for a little kick.

Or, for a quick treat, just pop a dark chocolate kiss in your mouth followed by a cherry, you get the same effect.

Some nights, we'd be watching a movie and eating cherries like they were popcorn.  Not necessarily recommended...

This little Douglas squirrel didn't look so good, leaning against the fence, holding her tummy and moaning.
Too many cherries?

Alas, the cherries are done for this year...

... but the Blackberries are just starting!!!

Yaquina Head Outstanding Natural Area, Revisited.

July 11, 2018

On Aug. 1 2016 we came to Newport, Oregon to visit friends.  With a day to kill we were playing tourist and Yaquina Head was our first stop.  By this time we were in the habit of inquiring about volunteer opportunities at places we thought were interesting.  It just so happened they had a volunteer leave with a family emergency.  So, we walked in as tourist and walked out with a job.

Now we're back in Newport and decided to visit our old haunt and say hi to the friends we made there.
Here's some pictures...

In true Yaquina Head fashion, the wind was howling out of the north making a pleasant day cold and blustery.

Handing in tickets for the Lighthouse tour.

They have various members of the staff conduct the tours and today we had Kath who's playing the role of a Lighthouse Keeper's wife in the 1880's.

The large containers (called Oil Butts) where the oil for the light was stored.

Demonstrating how the 1873 First Order Fresnel lens (still in use today) can project the light 20 miles out to sea.

Panaramic view from inside the modern day light, still used for navigation.

Looking north, the Marine Layer (fog) riding a stiff  north wind, typical summer day on the Oregon coast.

Looking south toward Agaet Beach and the city of Newport, lost in the fog.