Wednesday, May 2, 2018

Tidepooling at low tide

Finding sea creatures

Brookings, Oregon was a great stop with its mild climate which is extraordinary! Overlooking the Pacific Ocean and protected by the Cape Ferrelo headland, Brookings-Harbor is warmed by the “Chetco Effect” and faces south to catch the sunshine. Brookings-Harbor is known as the “Banana Belt” of the Oregon Coast.
 
The only reason we stopped in Brooking was because we had 4 days without plans after making some changes earlier. It worked out better than we could have hoped.
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Amazing sea stacks along the coast as we drove north in search of crab on a rainy day.
Cape Sebastian
 
We had unsuccessfully gone to the fish market in search of Dungeness Crab. A drive up the coast to Gold Beach seemed like a good idea on a rainy Saturday. The rain got heavier as we drove north but we had rain gear.
Success at Gold Beach a 2 pounder!

They cleaned and cracked the crab for us. We just needed to make a salad and Puglisi bread and we were happy campers. 



Arch Rock at one of the many stops along the 101.



Tide pooling in the morning at low tide.





 
Every morning brought a different find as we walked the sandy beaches listening to the crashing waves and seagulls. On our last morning walk, the waves stopped briefly at low tide and then started building again.
Along a narrow coastal strip from Smith River, California up to Brookings, Oregon, a handful of farms grow 95% of all Easter lily bulbs for the potted plant market. I was surprised to see fuchsia growing wild. It seems just about anything will grow here.
 
 Starfish party

Anemones


Our ride on the 101 was shorter than planned. The logging trucks on the way to the mill that the town was built around made us rethink our plan. The bike path had steep ups and downs and backroads were under construction. I was ok with not riding as the wind was picking up.
 
We are enjoying our slower pace this year than last. Our drives are much shorter and stays a little longer. Now 60 miles to Port Orford.
 
 

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