I think I want to go for a drive.
–Jamison
Thus started a brief discussion of distance, time, sunset, and snacks.
In just a few minutes, we were on the road to Cannon Beach.
Every day at the beach is a good day!
Stormy Cannon Beach
Monday evening, Suzi and I were relaxing before bed when the lights at the inn blinked. They were out only a couple of seconds and we were glad when they came back on. Unfortunately, not that much later, they went out again … and then stayed out.
We still had internet, so I was able to jump on the power company’s site to learn that there was a powerline issue. This wasn’t a surprise as the wind was picking up. And the power was supposed to be fixed by morning. Sure enough, at 6:15 am, the power came back. Suzi said it came on during the night, at least briefly, but I slept through it.
Although the weather was windy, I wanted to take the shot I’d attempted the day before. Headed south/upwind, I had to cover my mouth with my hands to be able to breathe. My phone’s weather app said the wind was a steady 29 mph with gusts to 52. I believe it.
After getting my picture, we watched the wind and waves from the comfort of our room. We checked out and headed to Second Street to discover the waves again coming up to the sea wall, maybe even higher than yesterday.
At Tolovana we saw waves even higher than yesterday. I discovered that when the waves hit the access ramp wall and steps, they reflect back into the oncoming waves, colliding with soaking spray.1Ask me how I know about the soaking part… ;-) The wind blew the foam into the parking lot, coating the cars’ windshields.
Not wanting to drive after dark through the coast hills in high winds, we headed home early. Suzi checked the maps and said highway 26 was closed, but I ignored her and kept going. I should have listened. We hit the closure at about milepost 15. TripCheck said the road would be closed for another couple of hours.2Long road closures are never good news.
We turned around and checked in for another night. The power was out again, as it was for virtually all of Cannon Beach. Unfortunately, I didn’t have the same luck with the internet and it was too dark to read. It was an early night for me.
More photos and movies the next morning, followed by breakfast at our new favorite breakfast spot. Then we headed home, successfully this time.
- 1Ask me how I know about the soaking part… ;-)
- 2Long road closures are never good news.
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Rainy Cannon Beach
Post-Christmas and the kids are all out of the house this week,1At least, that was the plan… so Suzi and I decided to take a quick trip ourselves. We headed off to Cannon Beach to see the Rock, the tides,2There were King Tides on the 22nd through 24th. and the waves.3 Thirty-five-foot waves predicted for tomorrow! I’ll believe it when I see it and will take pictures.
We detoured to Seaside first but it was so rainy that we barely got out of the car. We didn’t want to walk anyways, so we had multiple reasons to head south to Cannon Beach. We parked at the end of Second Street and saw the waves had pushed logs up near the steps. Ecola Creek entered the ocean much farther upstream. The beach was essentially nonexistent.
We headed to our hotel and checked in. The waves were washing completely over the sand. I wanted to take my standard picture of The Needles, so I ventured to the edge of the sand. I watched as a wave washed up to the grassy dune just south of me. I thought I could run through this “low spot” between the waves and be on the far side to take the pictures. When I ran past where I’d seen the waves wash against the dunes, I saw that it only got worse the farther south I went. I turned and ran back to where I’d started before the next wave came in. Maybe I can get the picture tomorrow at lower tide. Or maybe honkin’ huge waves with potential sneakers will keep me off the beach.
Suzi and I then headed farther south to Tolovana Beach to see that waves were reaching the bottom of the steps down to the beach. We stood and watched this repeat, getting soaked by the heavy rain.
Tomorrow I’m going to wear my raincoat over my puffy coat4And over my vest.
Every day at the coast is a great day!
- 1At least, that was the plan…
- 2There were King Tides on the 22nd through 24th.
- 3Thirty-five-foot waves predicted for tomorrow! I’ll believe it when I see it and will take pictures.
- 4And over my vest.
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Haystack Rock by DALL-E
I wanted to see what DALL-E could create, so I registered an account and provided a simple prompt: “a watercolor painting of sunset over haystack rock at edge of ocean.” These six pictures are the result.
So cool!
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Cannon Beach escape
This past Monday afternoon, Suzi and I made a quick escape to Cannon Beach to watch the sunset. We arrived with less than an hour to spare and parked at the beach end of Second Ave. Barely on the sand, I noted we wouldn’t want to walk very far. After all, those clouds over the ocean indicated rain. Almost immediately, it started showering on us. That is, it was just like we were standing in a shower, small drops coming down hard, at an angle. We were going to be soaked and soon.
After retreating to the car, we decided to drive south to Tolovana Beach. Worst case, we could sit in the car and watch the sun go down. When we arrived, there was only a light mist. So we walked out to the beach, took a few pictures, then headed back to the car because of the mist and the cold. We warmed up in the car and rinsed and repeated a few times.
Finally, once again warming up in the car, we decided to drive back north a bit to find a different view of the Rock and the sun. This time, we stuck it out until the sun went down.
Another great day at the beach!
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Tsunami at Cannon Beach?
After a text this morning warning of a potential tsunami on the Oregon coast, I went to KGW8’s Cannon Beach Cam. I watched from about 8:35 to 8:50 am to see what I could see, but didn’t notice anything out of the ordinary.
That’s good news.1Another win for Betteridge’s law of headlines.
- 1Another win for Betteridge’s law of headlines.
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Cannon Beach weekend
This past weekend, Suzi and I visited Cannon Beach to celebrate our recent anniversary. Friday evening, we watched the Rock from our balcony.
The next morning, we relaxed.1Translation: slept in We walked the beach, visited Insomnia, and walked the beach some more. At low tide, we wandered around the rocks. I found a few sea anemones, but no sea stars like we saw before the massive die-off nearly a decade ago.
I think the prior weekend had king tides so the beach was scrubbed fairly flat with clear evidence that the waves had gone all the way to the dunes and sea walls.
Like every time we visit Cannon Beach, Ecola Creek crossed the sand differently. This time it was wide, shallow, and split before it joined the ocean. The rocky bottom of the old creek bed, along with some old stumps, was exposed.
Sunday, I got up a little earlier and caught the sunrise at the Rock. The beach was largely empty, with another photographer capturing the view.
After another walk down the beach and back, Suzi and I decided to explore down the coast a little bit. We visited Arch Cape, Hug Point, and Manzanita. I experimented with a telephoto lens, taking pictures of the spray2A slower shutter speed would have been better. and the cliffs at the north end of the beach.
As we drove back north, it was nearly sunset so we stopped at Tolovana to see the beautiful end to a short vacation.
- 1Translation: slept in
- 2A slower shutter speed would have been better.
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Cannon Beach
Cannon Beach Normally, we visit Cannon Beach shortly after the new year, and then multiple times throughout the year. This year, we tried to go in late January but had to turn around because of snow and accidents in the coastal mountains. Going through my photos, I see that we visited mid-March, and then not again. Until yesterday, that is.
Suzi, Heather, Jamison, and I loaded into Heather’s car, with Gilligan and Oakley in the back with treats.1The treats that they didn’t touch until they got home… We were concerned that it might be snowing (again!) on the pass and wanted to all be in the same car. When we left, it was rainy with no relief in sight. As we neared, we saw blue sky to the west, and maybe only to the north. A wager was placed on whether blue sky would be visible at Cannon Beach.2The blue sky didn’t need to be directly above, but it needed to be more than just a little hole in the clouds. Blizzards were at stake. We arrived to see sufficient blue for me to lose.3Which also meant that I won, right? ;-) And when we arrived, the blue sky *was* also directly overhead.
Some of us got hot drinks and we walked on the beach to the Needles and a little beyond. Another beautiful day at the beach.
We’re making plans for the next visit. We can’t wait as long this time.
- 1The treats that they didn’t touch until they got home…
- 2The blue sky didn’t need to be directly above, but it needed to be more than just a little hole in the clouds. Blizzards were at stake.
- 3Which also meant that I won, right? ;-) And when we arrived, the blue sky *was* also directly overhead.
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Cannon Beach
Today, Suzi, Heather, Melissa, Jamison, Gilligan, and I visited Cannon Beach. Gilligan played fetch and swam the creek.1She’s so tired now that she almost needs help getting up on the couch. Poor puppy! Jamison flew his drone.2Maybe, pictures and/or videos to follow. We all walked to Haystack Rock and the Needles. And I took pictures.
At the Rock, I talked to a gentleman who claimed to have walked through the cave on the side of the rock many years ago. The tide was low enough today to make a quick exploration almost tempting. I also took my picture using the KGW8 live webcam. I’m the person on the far left.
Another great day on the Oregon coast!
- 1She’s so tired now that she almost needs help getting up on the couch. Poor puppy!
- 2Maybe, pictures and/or videos to follow.
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