We returned to the ocean today, and had a glorious ride up what I will now refer to as the Pacific Coast. It seems that some readers – well, one, to be exact – feel that my comments about a certain state starting with the letter “O” are so fulsome that she suspects we are being financed by that state’s tourism board. Harumph. Evidently she has not paid proper attention to my references to dreadlocks, vagrants, tattoos, unbridled veganism and other food fetishes, combined with a prior knowledge of the pace I believe life should have – particularly in a restaurant. But all that aside, the climate here allows for an incredible lushness and massive amounts of greenery that are quite overwhelming.
We started our adventures at a roadside attraction that is quite an operation – a privately operated access to the Pacific Coast’s major sea lion habitat. These sea lions live in an ancient cave in the winter, and then wander out to the beach to mate and raise the youngsters in the spring.
An elevator descends 200 feet to a viewing spot for the cave, which had one herd occupying its chief rock today. Views from the cave areas are stunning, as is the vista of the beach. These sea lions are much prettier than their California cousins. Just proves that too much sun isn’t good for you. We also passed by the lovely Hecata Light House, said to be the most-photographed light house in the country, but I’d like to see them prove that.
We continued up the PACIFIC coast to a place called Cape Perpetua, so named by Captain Cook. What a lovely view, and a wonderful walk through great-smelling woods. We have now learned that there are no pine trees in the O state, thanks to a Park Ranger who heard us talking about the lovely pines. We meant that in a generic sense, of course, but he had to inform us that what we were fondling were spruce branches. Now we know.
We had a wonderful fish lunch at the Luna Sea restaurant. (Get it?) Forgot to take pictures, but promise to start capturing the varieties of clam chowder we are now sampling and rating in the O state. For those who wonder, you would recognize the O species as New England in chowder terms.
We then took our refuge for the night at the Overleaf Lodge in Yachats, where we have the ocean pounding near our windows (and fireplace). No real beach, but a lovely coastal walk among the pines. Those two gulls chatting remind me of us. Smells great; sounds great. You just have to love the Pacific Coast.
