Cape Blanco Never Disappoints!

Monday, September 22, 2014

The last three days at Cape Blanco State Park have shown us another side of the Oregon coast. Last June when we spent a few days here we had divine weather. The days were sunny, dry, with a light breeze, and temperatures in the 60's. Ideal weather for exploring the beaches, tidal pools and cliffs. The campsites here are very private, set back in the coastal woods on a circle, with easy access to the walking trails. We spent our time discovering the timeless beauty of the coast - The Oregon Coast Part 1- Cape Blanco.


This visit greeted us with fog and overcast skies. We've had a few fleeting rays of sunshine, but for most of our time it has been cloudy and very windy. This morning, Tuesday, as we prepare to leave, the forecasted week of rain has started. The trees are dripping, the wind blowing, and fog creeping through the tops of the trees. We will move on today. Sitting in a house on the bluff overlooking the ocean and watching the storms roll through is something I would relish. Sitting in a small RV in the woods with no view and too much rain to get out and walk isn't fun, so we'll begin our trek south and east in order to wind up in Maryland by November.

Foggy walk to Needle Rock

Rainbow sea foam!

One lonely starfish

Seal watching us - Waiting for a treat or just bored?

Cormorant on Needle Rock

Even with the change in weather this visit, the cape has it's beauty and intrigue. We took a lighthouse tour with two of our favorite bloggers, Cheri and Chris from Technomadia. They took a few minutes from their busy Sunday volunteer lighthouse hosting position to meet us. We also met Clarke and Elaine, but missed Nina and Paul from Wheelingit.

Yup, Bright! Beautiful old Fresnel lens.

We spotted orca whales in the cove, heard sea lions barking from our campsite, found a starfish and lots of sea urchins, driftwood, seagulls, and noted the changes the seasons brought to the sandy beaches. The leaves are changing and starting to blow off in today's wind. The winds themselves have shifted from north to south which signals the greater change to winter. Time to go. Enjoy the photos from Cape Blanco.

Amphibolite on North Beach

Barnacles and mussels on glaucophane schist

Black oystercatcher catching mussels

Set of new Scify movie

This critter walked a long way on the beach, an otter seems most likely.

This 2-mile stretch of beach was mined for gold between 1850 and 1940.

Sort of like sunshine

Stranded jellyfish

Migrating ducks

Goodbye for now Cape Blanco...