2013-10-02: Heceta Head Light
Heceta Head Lighthouse has a 56-foot tower that sits 205-feet above the ocean. It was first illuminated in 1894.
2013-10-02: Sand Dunes
Along a stretch of Highway 101 south of Florence is a huge area of sand dunes. As we were traveling along the highway we noticed that the sand dunes were beginning to encroach on the road. We wondered if this was a result of the huge storms that passed through the area.
2013-10-02: Elephant Rock
We took a drive along scenic Beach Loop Road stopping along the way to see elephant rock,...
2013-10-02: Howling Dog
...howling dog and...
2013-10-02: Face Rock
...face rock. The legend of face rock has been a part of the Coquille tribal lore for many generations and was told by Old Indian Mary. The story explains some of the rock formations, among them howling dog and face rock.
2013-10-03: Beaches
The beaches around this area are just beautiful.
2013-10-03: Woods of the West
We visited Woods of the West, a small myrtlewood factory owned and operated by Tom Olive. We were given an in depth factory tour by the owner himself and learned how the wood is processed and the pieces are created. It was very informative.
2013-10-03: Art 101
Art 101/Washed Ashore is an organization that creates larger then life marine sculptures constructed entirely of plastics found littering our beaches. How would you like this jelly decorating your house?
2013-10-03: Boardwalk
The boardwalk along the harbor is decorated with many wooden sculptures depicting marine life like this sea lion. There was a really cute bench that looked like a dungeness crab!
2013-10-03: Coquille River Light
Coquille River Lighthouse was commissioned in 1896 to guide boats across a dangerous bar. It was decommissioned in 1939 following improvements of the river channel. Today the lens has been removed and it serves as an interpretive center.
2013-10-03: Sunset
Sunset at the mouth of the Coquille River.
2013-10-04: Cranberry Bogs
Cranberries first came to the Oregon coast in 1885 when Charles McFarlin came from Cape Cod. In 1946, Ocean Spray extended its cooperative to include the west coast and the cranberry rush began. Today there are some 1,200 acres of bogs in the Bandon area thus giving it the title of Cranberry Capital of Oregon. Unfortunately we were too early this year to see the bogs flooded and harvested.
2013-10-04: Cape Arago Light
Cape Arago Lighthouse stands 100-feet above the ocean on an islet. Its light is perched atop a 44-foot high tower and was first illuminated in 1934. It is the newest lighthouse on the coast and replaces structures built on this site in 1866 and 1908 that succumbed to weather and erosion. Today the lighthouse is owned by the Confederated Tribes of the Coos, Lower Umpqua and Siuslaw Indians.
2013-10-04: Shore Acres
Perched on a scenic bluff high above the Ocean, Shore Acres began as a private estate with luxurious gardens featuring flowers, trees and shrubs brought from around the world by lumberman and shipbuilder Louis J. Simpson. His summer home was a showplace but was destroyed by fire in 1921. He began to build another mansion but due to financial losses during the Depression, the house and grounds fell into disrepair. The State of Oregon bought the property in 1942 and today we get to enjoy the gardens the Simpson envisioned.
2013-10-04: Sunset
We had such beautiful weather today I decided I just had to be at face rock when then sun went down tonight. I'm so glad we went because we were rewarded with this fantastic view.
2013-10-05: Fall
As we were coming around Humbug Mountain Head driving on Hwy 101 to Brookings we got to see some incredible fall colors.
2013-10-05: Arch Rock
Samuel Boardman Scenic Corridor is a 12-mile, forested park with a rugged, steep coastline interrupted by small sand beaches. Here we can admire the 300-year old sitka spruce trees and gaze at the amazing rock formations. One of the most incredible formations was Arch Rock, a squat, flat-topped formation 500 feet out to sea.