This day, Thursday April 2nd, had the best weather forecast of the week. The temperature was supposed to get up to 54F [12C], and be mostly sunny. The forecast turned out to be correct... it was a wonderful day, and we really enjoyed being outside. I understand that back home in Edmonton the temperature is near the freezing mark, and they were enjoying some fresh snow...!!!
We set out in the morning and headed south from our rental house in Newport. Our first stop was near Cape Perpetua, at the Devil's Churn. After a brief look here we continued on to Neptune Wayside a little further south. Here we wandered around on the beach for a while, but all the exposed rocks were at and above high tide line, so there was little marine life in the pools. We continued on and stopped at the viewpoint overlooking Heceta Head Lighthouse and I took a couple of photographs here. There were lots of sea lions far below us in the water, barking loudly. The girls saw a gray whale spouting in the distance.
We packed up here and headed into Florence. We had a great lunch at a Mexican restaurant called Ixtapa. After lunch we headed back north. We stopped at the Heceta Head Lighthouse. A small creek called Cape Creek passed under a spectacular arch bridge before spilling into the ocean beneath the lighthouse. We walked up to the light house and got a tour, just as they were closing down for the day. It was really cool with an ancient looking spiral staircase that ascended up within the 4 foot thick brick walls. Originally the light was operated with a weight mechanism similar to a grandfather clock, that kept the light rotating. The light itself consisted of 5 oil wicks inside a massive fresnel assembly that focused the beam. We were intrigued to learn that each light on the coast had a unique light that varied, not only in color, but also in duration. This allowed sailors to not only avoid the rocks, but also to navigate by the lights. The light has not officially operated since 1963, when it was taken over from the Coast Guard by the State Park Service. Originally constructed around 1880, today it runs on an electric motor and a light bulb.
After our tour of the lighthouse we wandered down onto the beach below. It was fairly busy with a lot of people about. I took a photograph of the historic arch bridge over Cape Creek, and then a second shot of the creek spilling into the ocean beneath some Sea Stacks. The girls explored some of the rocks and tide pools as it was approaching low tide.
After we packed up here we continued on north back towards the house at Newport. We made one last stop at Seal Rock. By now it was low tide, and the girls were able to climb around on the rocks at water line. There were lots of anemones and a few sea stars here. The waves were somewhat erratic and everyone ended up with wet feet. This is a migratory bird nesting site and there were lots of gulls and seabirds on the cliff overhead, as well as a few brown pelicans. By the time we packed up here, it was getting to be late in the day. We made a brief stop for a few groceries and then returned to the house just before sunset.
The Devils Churn, at Cape Perpetua
Neptune Wayside at Cape Perpetua
Heceta Head Lighthouse
Sea Lions in the surf at Heceta Head
Cormorants and Mures at Heceta Head
A brief walk through the trees bought us up to the lighthouse at Heceta Head. The park interpreters were gracious and took us on a brief tour into the lighthouse, even though they were technically closed for the day.
From up at the lighthouse we had a great view down onto the beach and the Cape Creek Arch Bridge over Cape Creek.
A view of Cape Creek from beach level.
And... our last stop of the day at Seal Rock.
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