Oregon: Northern Coast & the Lewis and Clark National Historic Park 🏄♂️
Our last stop in Oregon on the northwest coast was busy and included a few firsts! Jayden joined the ranks of the west coast surfers. We saw our first wild Bald Eagle of the trip! We had our first attempted squirrel invasion to the RV. Peyton caught his first Rock Fish (and 2 more). All in all an amazing stop at the beach, and what a beautiful set of beaches! 😎
The Oregon Coast is something to experience and we took advantage in the AM low tide, checking out the clamming with about 50 locals in the misty sunrise. Sunsets on Cannon Beach and some epic cove surfing on Sandy Beach Cove only added to the mystic of the coastline. There were Bald Eagles at the beach and rivers so we saw more than our first of the trip yet each was a treat to see soaring in the wild. We also got a visit from a group of seals diving through the surf and some less poisonous snakes seeking sun on hiking trials. Found some starfish and anemone in tide pools and even got to see some glow under a UV light. Will have to return to the coast soon because it was loads of beautiful fun!
Cannon Beach sunset was amazing!
The large boulder called Haystack Rock on Cannon Beach creates a rock laden space along the otherwise smooth sandy beach. This also means tide pools and barnacle covered rocks between algae covered rocks so its both slippery and sharp but very much worth exploring!
If you ditch the shoes and tolerate the cold water you can find some starfish and anemones, which glow under a UV light. Pretty cool and explains why my saltwater fish tank friends often have backlights on their tanks.
This is Seaside Beach on the south-end near Sunset Point. The entire Seaside break is smooth, long sand but at the point rocks line the end of the beach and again some more tide pools.
Tillamook Trail Head just south of Seaside Beach.
Seaside Beach during low tide in the misty morning. The carnage is evident with crab parts and sand dollars picked apart by gulls and locals out with clam diggers and buckets all over the beach. I saw many full buckets headed home for a clam bake. The length of the beach was also something new. At low tide the water was about ¼ mile from the actual tideline so the tides on the west coast are quite different for this FL beacher!
Oswald West State Park is the home of Sandy Creek Beach. It’s absolutely stunning and something out of a movie or story book. You hike in a little under a mile through some old and new growth Sika Spruc to find this old smugglers cover with a long rocky point to the north. We had a strong north wide so this was the best surfing and the locals showed up to prove it. Tony, our local surf instructor through Cleanline Surf told us it’s the best and he gets full EXPERT cred for that choice. Jayden’s first time surfing and he got the most epic spot to learn.
Tony taking Jayden out for his first lesson. It’s a big learners board and Jayden got up on his first wave. Fell on a few in between of course but a great introduction to surfing… he’s hooked!
Jayden road this one all the way in!
Is Jayden posing… or about to fall :)
Surfer brain was shared as the state you enter after getting completely drained surfing… Jayden may have had surfer brain before starting but he definitely has new found respect for the power of the west coast waves!
The rocks offered a spa-like recharge between surfing session :)
North end of the cove was beautiful rock striations and had a few small caves.
Pano of Sandy Beach didn’t capture the full effect but was pretty cool shot.
Carrying the board out may have seemed like punishment but oddly Jayden did better leaving when he was tired and exhausted than hiking in… Maybe we crossed a respect threshold :)
Oregon coast and Astoria are where the famous explorers Lewis and Clark reached the Pacific on their expedition from the Missouri River. Their cartography and cataloging of plant/animal species was maticulous and their exploration forged the way west for America. Sacagawea and York (Clark’s slave who was freed after the journey were tow of the main reasons for the trip’s success. Fort Clatsop was the expedition’s winter home prior to returning east and there is a great National Historical Site there with a good education on the expedition and key members of the trip.
Fort Clasp replica.
Statue of Sacagawea and her son on her back. For this not aware, her baby made that journey too and in addition to helping lead the expedition, Sacagawea was a full-time Mom. This is Robert our youngest and we had trouble keeping him on the park path… serious respect Sacagawea!
The Historic Park grounds are gorgeous and if you ever make it be sure to walk the trails down the Netul Landing. We saw this Bald Eagle fishing and building a nest about a ½ mile down the trail. Neat treat!
Fort Clatsop Jr Rangers confirmed!
Astoria near the mouth of the Columbia River and the Pacific Ocean. We’re by the old Pilot House and saw a Pilot Boat out on the water guiding in a larger ferry.
Astoria-Megler Bridge we crossed on our way north into Washington.
A retired Pilot Boat near the Maritime Museum.
All we are going to say is Goonies!
Its a museum but also in Goonies!
Goonies flags in many of the shops along downtown strip.
After crossing into Washington on our way north this intersection was fun to navigate… had to take a picture so I could ask my civivl engineering friends… what is the theory on this exchange? Mt. Saint Helens, Mt. Rainier and some PBA friends to find around Seattle!
