Here we were able to experience spectacular scenery and natural wonders. We saw Cooks Chasm where water rushed through a crack in the basalt that the sea had eroded...

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The rugged Oregon coast is so picturesque and begs the photographer in me to click photo after photo with no two being the same.

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Yaquina Head is a narrow, coastal headland extending one mile into the Pacific Ocean. This 93-foot lighthouse is Oregon's tallest and was completed in 1873. It has a first-order Fresnel lens that is visible 19 miles out to sea. It flashes 2-seconds on, 2-seconds off, 2-seconds on and then 14-seconds off. The light pattern of a lighthouse is kind of like a fingerprint.

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We were lucky to spot a whale playing in the water quite close to the head. We were amazed too at the number of pelicans on the rocks. The ranger said that the murres had recently left with the pelicans arriving soon after.

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The Yaquina Bay Light is located at the south end of Newport. It is the second oldest standing lighthouse on the Oregon coast but was in service for only 3-years before the commissioning of brighter Yaquina Head Light.

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Newport Harbor is one of the most photographed in the country. The classic design of this large, half-moon bridge arches beyond a working bayfront that combines its fleet of fishing and charter boats, seafood processors, restaurants, art galleries and family attractions. Here you can find oyster beds, seals and sea lions.

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Our campground is across the street from the beach. Unfortunately we weren't able to find much in the way of shells or sand dollars here but we got to stroll the beach...

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...watch the sun go down . .

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...and enjoy the color and reflection on the water.

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Our day trip south today took us through Waldport. Here at the mouth of the river we found a pod of harbor seals taking their mid-day siesta on the sand.

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...the view from 803-feet above the sea...

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...and the small town of Yachats from the Cape Perpetua overlook.

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Today we headed out to Agate Beach where we assumed we would have an afternoon of beachcombing for agates. Needless to say we were surprised to find an 8-mile stretch of white sandy beach. Upon further inquiries we were told that the sand covers the bountiful agate area in the summer and the waves wash the sand away in the winter. Oh well, no treasures but a beautiful view of Yaquina Head Light.

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Today found us heading north again to Depoe Bay, the site of the world's smallest navigable harbor and the home to whales year-round. We were lucky to see quite a few of these sea mammals - we even got to see some whale-tail as they dove (although I wasn't able to get a photo).

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This 'spouting horn' is always fun to watch as the ocean shoots into the air in a true demonstration of nature's power.

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This area has panoramic views - it is said you can see some 37 miles away on a clear day. Captain Cook named the promontory in 1778 on a day of particularly inclement weather. According to what we read, Yaquina Head Light was supposed to be located here but was placed in it's present location by mistake

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Devils Punchbowl was a sea cave but the constant water action finally caused the roof to collapse leaving what we get to see here.

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As you can see from the photos today, a marine fog has moved in making it cooler here as well as obliterating some of the view. I decided to stop and get a photo of Yaquina Head light in the fog. In case you haven't already guessed, this is one of my favorite lighthouses.

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Conde McCullough designed many of the beautiful reinforced concrete bridges in this area in the 1920's. Each bridge is unique with the arches married with Gothic, Tudor or Art Deco details. This one spans the 360-foot chasm at Rocky Creek.

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We were amazed that this huge whale came into this cove at the Rocky Creek Bridge. We guesstimate that the whale was about 40-feet long!

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According to the history we read, in the 1800's Nye Beach was an area where people came to enjoy the shore and salt water swimming pools. We were told that this building, which is now a co-op art gallery, was where they changed their clothes.

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