Oregon Coast Update

Yes, there is still an Oregon Coast. It has not yet been taken by Tsunami, despite Weber's posting of the inevitable. And it remains gorgeous.

It's been three days since I posted, so here is an update.

I did get that 6-mile run in on Monday. At three miles out, I ended up at Rocky Creek State Park, right on the water's edge. There I found a couple sea lions playing in the water. The run was beautiful, but had a negative effect on my achilles tendon. When I woke up on Tuesday, I could hardly walk. It's feeling better now (the magic of beer), and I believe another run is in the cards for tomorrow morning.

While I was running, Weber spotted the first whales from the comfort of our living room. I was jealous, but then spotted them while she was showering. It's pretty amazing to see these huge things swimming by so slowly (they travel at about 5 mph). And then they flip their tales up when they sound. It is very impressive.

Monday included a drive up north through Lincoln City and then to Tillamook. The Cheese factory. Good stuff. For a cheese lover like me, watching tons of blocks of white cheddar move along a conveyor belt is enough to keep the heart pumping. Or, as Weber said, it may be enough to completely block the arteries.

Next we took a little trip to Cape Meares on the coast. Another beautiful setting with a lighthouse for a bonus.

We headed south through a couple small coastal towns. One included a stop by the beach where, at a picnic table overlooking the incoming waves, we had coffee and, oh yeah, the chocolate peanut butter fudge we, for some reason, purchased at Tillamook County Creamery Assn. The second town involved us viewing a couple of vehicles on the beach and deciding, well, if they can, we can. So we drove out on the beach. Not something we do every day.

We got back to the condo just in time to pop open the cover on the hot tub to catch the sunset. Fortunately, the water was already at a toasty 103 degrees (a pleasant surprise). We poured some wine, jumped in and watched as the sun did its evening thing. Beautiful! I could do this every day.

Tuesday involved a nice long hike along a great trail through an extremely small portion of the glorious forest to Drift Creek Falls, which drop 75 feet to the creek below. What's interesting is that you view this waterfall below you from your vantage point on a suspension bridge 100 feet above the creek.

After this adventure, it was back to the condo's hot tub to sit and relax a while. A beer, some reading and spotting a whale or two finished off the late afternoon, before preparing to head out to dinner. Another great day.

Today was similar to yesterday. A different hike was taken. Again, we headed north and hiked about 7-1/2 miles--6 (out and back) along a forest service road up a "mountain" followed by 1-1/2 (again, out and back) on a wonderfully forested trail to Cascade Head, a point of land right at water's edge but well above the ocean with an unbelievable view.

I'm glad we have taken this trip!!!! I suspect I will be sad to leave.