Vacation Day 2

Ahhhh the Oregon Coast ~ such majestic beauty right on our doorstep.

ok first, a few things I forgot to tell you about yesterday; we saw the "D" River! It's the world's shortest!

We woke up this morning, had breakfast at the hotel restaurant, and then drove back up to the first lighthouse we saw yesterday (Yaquina Head lighthouse), about an hour and a half drive back north. We stopped and took a look around since we had more time. Next to the lighthouse was Quarry Cove, a cove that used to be a quarry, but was transformed into a perfect habitat for nature to take hold once more and thrive. It wasn't exactly thriving when we saw it, but it was cool none the less, and a good effort to correct one of man's many injuries upon nature.

We then started making the drive back towards town, we stopped at Yaquina Bay lighthouse which is the only surviving lighthouse (in Oregon?) that is made from wood and has the quarters attached to the lighthouse. It was supposed to be haunted, but after some investigation we found out that the haunting was fabricated back in the 1890's. What a bunch of punks!

Yesterday was the Devil's Punchbowl, today was the Devil's Churn (tomorrow maybe we'll find the devil's teapot). The churn was a fissure/crack in the wall of the cliff that gradually became larger and is now about 50 feet across and narrows to a point about 350 feet inland. We saw it at high tide which is supposed to be when it is at its most violent (except for storms), and it was impressive, especially considering how friggin calm the ocean is up here. I sat right over the churn on a cliff about 150 feet inland and it was just freaky seeing the ocean churn itself into large swells, then come at me only to combine with wave ricochet off the sides to become like an unpredictable storm that I knew would not come closer than a few feet away. Gotta love nature.

Next we went tidepooling, first near Devil's Churn, then at Bob's Creek (no joke) where the creek ran into the ocean. I found this HUGE crab that nearly snapped my fingers off! Look at the picture! I mean come on! is that the scariest thing you ever saw?!

Then after some milling around some old fun beach towns, we headed over to a lighthouse that we knew was haunted (meaning that at least some people thought it was, although maybe not us). By this time we were exhausted, and because of the long hike just to get to the lighthouse, we bagged it and went back to the hotel (after a root beer float of course).

Then after a nap, we were ready to hit the beach. We rode bareback on the beach during sunset, I mean how romantic is THAT!! Of course most people ride horses, not bikes. I have to recommend biking during low tide on a beach to anyone who is looking for a fun workout and doesn't mind spending some time cleaning their bike afterwards. I rode through the waves in about a foot of water, and the sand was all sturdy enough to ride on as long as it was at least somewhat damp! I mean come on! SO GREAT!!

Now we are cuddling up to the History Channel and more homemade BBQ beef sandwiches. fantastic! Tomorrow will have far more driving than stopping, but hopefully fun regardless. See you then!