Coos Bay

 

A trip to Oregon would not be complete without a visit to the coast. The sculpted shoreline is a work of art, wildlife is plentiful and the Dudes always vote an exuberant “yes” for an opportunity to play on the beach. We chose Coos Bay for no other reason than it happened to be directly West of where we were in the Crater Lake area.

 

 

left and below: Rock erodes but plants manage to hang on.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

We took many walks on the beach which provided hours of entertainment. We found tidal pools to explore, interesting shells to collect, lots of stinky kelp and seaweed to wade through, giant pieces of driftwood to climb and even a dead sea lion to investigate.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

left: Now that’s a piece of driftwood!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

We happened to be in an area that hundreds of sea lions call home. Gulls, Pelicans and Loons were also plentiful and they were all competing for space on a few sea stacks just offshore.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 right: Harlequin Ducks.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The scenery was amazing which made it hard for me to put my camera away.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

left: Cape Arago Light.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Someone started a “rock sculpture garden” on one of the beaches and the Big Dude wasted no time getting involved. We had to drag him away after his 4th sculpture.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Across from our campground was the launching site for Malcolm Forbes transcontinental balloon flight and just up the hill, we visited Shore Acres State Park. What started out as a private estate is now a beautiful botanical garden. They were busy placing thousands of lights throughout the gardens in preparation for their holiday festival of lights (is it the holiday season already?)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

left and below: Shore Acres State Park.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Coos Bay turned out to be a great place to sample the Oregon Coast. The weather cooperated, the wildlife entertained, the scenery kept my camera busy and the Dudes couldn’t think of a better way to spend their “school day”.

 

 

“Every time we walk along a beach some ancient urge disturbs us so that we find ourselves shedding shoes and garments or scavenging among seaweed and whitened timbers like the homesick refugees of a long war.” Loren Eisley