Waldport, Oregon—about the halfway point along Hwy 101 in Oregon. The intention for a couple day’s stay turns into almost two weeks. The boys and I get in a lot of beach time. We find one beach, Neptune, that if we go early enough we are the only ones there and the rocky cliffs on both sides are steep enough and reach out toward the sea far enough to keep two wild wiener dogs contained. I let them off leash to run their little hearts out.
August 11th. The sky lowers and a light but steady rain falls. The boys, ever adaptable to what is placed before us, are content to curl up and nap. I read and nap.
By early afternoon the sun makes an appearance and we have a glorious rest of the day in which to enjoy this beautiful area. I find a patch of blackberries and pick a few for my breakfast cereal tomorrow morning. Charlie picks salal berries, but none make it into the berry container!
We spend our nights bouncing back and forth between Governor Patterson State Park near Yachats (pronounced yaw hots), Cooks Chasm, and a parking area beside Highway 34 in Waldport. Our days are spent on our favorite beach at Neptune State Park, and other beaches farther south.
Our nights at Cooks Chasm are a mix of soothing and intense sounds. The surf pounds the lava rock and sounds like booming thunder as the sea works its way between narrow channels, lava rock overhangs, and shallow caves. It pushes its way up into a hole in the rock to shoot spray up in the air as the force of the water pushes toward the rocky shore; The Spout. As the tide drags the sea back I am soothed and lulled into a sense of peace until the thundering crashes begin again.
COOKS CHASM BLOW HOLE
Thors Well is a bit farther out at Cooks Chasm, and the sea boils into it from below— up, and over the rim of the large round hole in the lava then gets pulled back out as the tide makes its backward pull. The well becomes devoid of water, and the fascinating scene repeats over and over in the ancient rhythm of the sea.
Thanks for stopping by! Hugs, Shawna and the Boys
CURRENT READ: The Extraordinary Life of Sam Hell by Robert Dugoni
Wow, beautiful. My cousin’s favorite place is Yachats..she has two miniature schnauzers that run the beaches too.
It is turning into fall here and the temperatures are much nicer during the day…nights down to 35 out here and the heater gets tuned on for a while to warm while I laze a little. LOL…Almost filled the wood box yesterday..That is coming!! Have a great week..
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I could go for some 35 degree nights, but don’t miss toting firewood. LOL — fall is taking root here, too. Yes, it’s coming.
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Hi Shawna, I’m so glad I’m following your adventures again. Your words are so discriptive I feel like I can see and feel what you are experiencing. Stay safe, Karen
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Thank you Karen! It’s great to have you following our adventures. Not all my posts get that descriptive treatment. Sometimes I need to post and just don’t feel like it so it’s one, two, three, done. I have considered going back and rewriting on occasion, but then it wouldn’t reflect how I was feeling on that particular day, so I leave them alone. This is my journal of our journey, too, so want it to be reflective of my feelings at each point in time. Welcome aboard!
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Wow. I’m enjoying following you on your great adventures. Beautiful descriptive narrative. I hope to see you this winter somewhere in Arizona
Jeannette
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Thank you Jeannette! I am glad you are along for the ride, and I hope to see you soon!
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The Oregon coast looks really rugged and beautiful in a wild sort of way. Are you paying for camping or are you able to find free spots? Love your boys!
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Thank you Adrienne, they’re pretty special to me.
Free spots can be hard to find, but they are out there. If it’s not private property or state property and it’s not posted otherwise, Oregon allows you the use of pullouts along the highways to park for the night; park, not actual camping. Keep your stuff inside your vehicle and keep the area clean. Leave early and go play on the beach!
Another option if you’re just looking for a place to park for a few days are the casinos. They allow free parking.
Most Wal-Marts along the coast , and really most of Oregon, do not allow overnight parking anymore. The one in Coos Bay had signage, but there were RVs on the east side regardless so maybe they’re just looking the other way.
Some of the smaller airports rent space. Tillamook Airport comes to mind. $10 a night, and it’s close to the military museum and the cheese factory. Consider fairgrounds, too. The marinas are inexpensive at an average of $16.
Most of the dispersed camping I located was too far inland for me, but it might be great for someone else.
The state parks are expensive and it’s only a stroke of luck that you would find a site in one during peak season without a prior reservation because most are booked months in advance.
A lot of the state parks charge a day use fee/entrance fee, and at $5 a pop it pays to buy Oregon’s yearly pass for $30. Good for entrance into any state park and good for an entire year.
Hope this helps.
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