After leaving Redwood National Park we drove north on US 101 and stopped in three towns: Charleston and Lincoln, both in Oregon, then across the Columbia River in Long Beach, Washington. The Oregon coast is breathtaking with steep cliffs, rocks (boulders, really) strewn about the shore and ocean, lots of marine wildlife and great access to all of it. Oh, and don’t forget the maritime layer – fog as those of us not from the Pacific Northwest say – and the typical mid-60s (F) daily high temperatures.
We went kayaking in a little protected cove off the Pacific Ocean, exploring during low tide looking for sea creatures. No Joe or Jane photos; We haven’t been willing to risk my camera or our phones on an ocean kayak trip yet. We saw starfish, sea urchins, sea anemones, crabs, some tiny moon jellyfish, and many different types of sea plants. Additionally we saw some amazing rocks. Some were uplifted by tectonic forces and others eroded by surf, wind, and rain into beautiful shapes and colors. The photo below I found online available for no charge. We saw a number of ochre starfish on our kayak trip. The biggest were about 6-7 inches across.
Next we went whale watching with Whale Research EcoExcursions, LLC in Depoe Bay, Oregon. We went out in 24-foot Zodiac boats to watch 40 foot, 40 ton gray whales. We were toy size for them. We saw whales, but none of them breached for us. Most gray whales summer near Alaska; however, the smart ones cut the trip in half and summer in Depoe Bay where they feed in the kelp beds on small ghost shrimp. The whales are generally found in the first few hundred yards from shore, feeding and doing whale things which includes swimming around aimlessly, blowing mist in the air from their two blow holes, and spreading their bad breath…..it is really stinky. It was a great couple of hours on the water!
Several miles inland from Lincoln City, Oregon is a 3-mile hike to Drift Creek Falls. This is a beautiful 75-foot waterfall, reached by walking over a suspension bridge (seen in the upper right of the photo below). Besides the falls the hike includes ferns, mosses, and some big trees.
Cape Disappointment in Washington was named by English Captain John Meares, who explored the cape in 1788, but could not locate the Columbia River entrance. After this failure, he named the point Cape Disappointment. All things considered, he was probably lucky not to recognize The Columbia River, because he likely would have tried to enter the river. That may not have worked out so well. Due to constantly shifting sand bars, the Columbia River entrance is considered one of the most hazardous harbor entrances in the world. Since 1792 approximately 2000 ships have foundered or gone down on the Columbia River Bar or nearby. This has led to the Cape Disappointment US Coast Guard Station averaging between 400 and 500 rescues per year, making it the busiest Coast Guard Station in the country.
We stayed in Long Beach, Washington for 4 nights. Long Beach is a tourist town located on the 8th longest beach in the world – 28 miles long. The touristy part was nothing special and pretty pricey. The area is blessed with natural beauty, lots of fishing opportunities, hiking, bike trails, and camping.
The Oregon/Washington coast is beautiful and has lots of outdoor activities. However, this is not a swimming beach (unless 58-degree water is your idea of a great swimming hole). From whale watching to kayaking to hiking to fishing it is easy to stay busy and have fun. From a food and drink standpoint, there are tons of great craft brews and delicious seafood. Jane’s favorite was the grilled shrimp and cheese sandwich. If you go, don’t forget some long-sleeved shirts and long pants for your beach trip.