2011-10-06: Stormy Sunset
Since we had a bit of sun today we headed to the beach to see what kind of sunset there might be. It was what I might call a "stormy sunset".
2011-10-08: Yaquina Head Light
Yaquina Head Lighthouse stands on a costal headland that was formed by an ancient lava flow and extends one-mile into the ocean. It was first lit in 1873.
2011-10-08: Seals
Harbor seals live here year-round. It was fun watching them soak up the sun. We were also lucky to spot a pod of whales not too far from shore as they spouted and sometimes showed their backs and flukes.
2011-10-09: Depoe Bay
Depoe Bay is named after Charlie DePoe, a Joshua Indian who received allotments of land here in 1894 when his Reservation was closed. The bridge was completed in 1927 and expanded in 1941. The harbor was dredged in 1950.
2011-10-09: Waves
With all the storms we've had, we have witnessed some "angry" seas. While we were in Depoe Bay, there was an exceptionally high tide and the waves were crashing into the sea wall and actually spraying onto the sidewalks. It was an incredible sight.
2011-10-09: Otter Crest
We took the Otter Crest Loop and stopped to admire one of the many McCullough Bridges along the Oregon Coast. Concrete arches married with Gothic, Tudor and Art Deco details characterize McCullough Bridges.
2011-10-11: Yaquina Bay Light
Newport is unique in that it has two lighthouses - one on the north end of town and one in the south on Yaquina Bay. This light was active from 1871 - 1874 and was then relighted in 1996.
2011-10-11: Yaquina Bay Jetty
Waves strike beaches at an angle and create a current that travels parallel to the shore moving sand along the coastline. Jetties diffuse this action by interrupting the movement of sand which keeps harbor entrances open.
2011-10-11: Yaquina Bay Bridge
The construction of the Yaquina Bay Bridge began in 1934 as part of a WPA project. It was completed in 1936 and is another example of a McCullough bridge.
2011-10-13: Covered Bridge
Donated labor of local residents and Lincoln County funds of $300 provided a bridge across the Yaquina River at this site in 1893. In 1926, the third bridge, a covered bridge was built at a cost of $4000. In 1983 it was renovated to what you see today. Not much activity occurs at Chitwood anymore. Several stores, a post office, a telephone office and several houses once surrounded the Chitwood Bridge. They were all supported by a booming logging industry.
2011-10-13: Toledo RR Museum
The steam locomotive, known as "One Spot", was delivered to Toledo, Oregon in 1922. The 90-ton steam boiler type engine was employed her entire life in logging service in this area. The engine was retired in 1959 and is on display at the Yaquina Pacific Railroad Museum in Toledo.
2011-10-13: Oyster Farm
Driving back to Newport on the road along the Yaquina River, we found where the Oregon Oyster Farm was raising their oysters.
2011-10-13: Sunset
Finally a real Oregon coast sunset!
2011-10-13: Compass Rose
Someone had taken a considerable amount of time drawing this compass rose in the sand (I wish I could say it was me).
2011-10-13: Color
After the sun had set, we were delighted to see the color in the puffy clouds.
2011-10-14: Friends
We met up with Deanna and Frank, friends from our camping club, here in Newport and got to share our favorite lighthouse with them. Yaquina Head Lighthouse is Oregon's tallest lighthouse at 93-feet high. It took 370,000 bricks to complete the lighthouse.
2011-10-14: Top
We climbed the circular staircase to the top of the lighthouse much as the old-fashion light keeper did. After 114 stairs we got to see the first order Fresnel lens up close and personal.
2011-10-14: Down
As Frank and Al descended the tower, we decided that coming down was as much of a challenge as going up.