Spout at Depot Bay

Photo by Tamberstone

There is a crevice in the molten rock on Hwy 101 in Depot Bay, Oregon.  At the end of the crevice is a hole.  When the water comes in at just the right velocity, it shoots water up the spout. Each time I’ve driven by, MY WHOLE LIFE, I’ve never seen it.

UNTIL TODAY!!!! Except, It wasn’t all cheery like the photo above. My boys and I ventured out of the car during gale force winds and sheets of rain. In the time it took to get three shots, my entire back side was soaked. I could have wrung out my jeans and made a couple of pots of tea.

First a spray shoots up, followed by a jet of water. These shots aren’t the best, they are taken from the inside of my raincoat, and the timing is poor. BUT Since it is the first time I’ve seen the famous spout actually spouting – ya.  You get to see it too!

 

Waves - Storm and Calm

I suppose one would have to know the difference to appreciate why we love going to the beach during the storms. It is worth the Rain Coats and Wet Toes. :)

Here is a view of Roads End, more near OceanLake district on a calm evening. There is s storm off shore, but the ocean is like glass. This was taken with my cell phone, and I couldn't get the timing of it between waves to show it looking flat.



Here is a a picture 2 hours after high tide in the same spot, when 25 foot waves were reported.

I am standing in almost the exact same spot. Only about a foot closer to the rock wall by the parkin lot. It feels like the waves are going to crash over you, the noise is definning.

Freezing Rain?

Our friends in Central Oregon have freezing rain. Literally. The Locals Say our rain is freezing, but the boys don't seem to mind.


January 7, 2010 Siletz Bay Looking at Hwy 101 in the background.

Sitting on Driftwood at Siletz Bay. The Dry Sand is SOOO far out after the last storm. I got these handy ear covers from a friend here in Lincoln City as a 20 Yr Anniversary Present. She got Nathan a Gray Pair also. NICE. Listening to a little Chris Rice this afternoon in my head phones. :)

Jon making a house. :)

Siletz Bay

We ventured out to 51st street again today.
It never fails to amaze me at how a landscape can be changed after a storm!
The normal walking path is changed, brought closer to the spit by at least 150 feet. CRAZY.
Areas that we were unable to see before are now heavily laden in Agates and Treasures.

Today - we picked up shells. There were so many that we were walking on them, smashing, cruching, cracking.
Still unable to pick up a few white and yellow/clear agates.
SO many Red Jasper Rocks that it felt like a luxery to walk over them all, choosing not to bend over and pick them up!



12/7/09 Siletz Bay, One Peanut Butter Container.

Notice that it is the size of my index finer. Pretty Large for an Oregon Coast Shell. :)

I'm still in love with the tiny clear guys!

Once in a Blue Moon

Several things were churning up a good show on the Central Oregon Coast for New Years!  First was the Blue Moon, which happens when there are two full moons in a calendar month.  The next was the highest expected high tide in over 10 years or such, a 9.7. Then there are two crossing storms, a warm front and a cold front passing over each other.  Snow brought several inches in the foot hills, ready to thaw and flood the rivers.  Coastal flood warnings started going out concerning Friday since the previous Monday.

So – today, we had to jump in the rig ad run to our local jaunts. Estimated 25 foot swells and high tides are enough to get us excited. We talked about the moons pull on the tides, the bubble that gets drawn across the ocean and then pushes up on the beach higher and higher.  Jon said it was like the magnet face, pull the magnet and the shavings move around. Moon/Ocean/Earth same thing.

 
I never could get a good shot of the tide up to the wall, but it was . . .
 
Loud really just can’t describe the noise of these breakers! The Rip Tide was incredible. I’d love to know how much sand gets pulled out to sea.

And even at high tides that wouldn’t even allow one to walk on the beach at all, the boys still found agates. . . .

 
With the ocean churning at the walkway and rock wall, the boys found a spot where someone must have emptied their pockets on the way to the car .   . Pretty nice agates in the bunch.

 

We saw a Glass Float on the Beach!!

Finders Keepers is a part of tourism in Lincoln City, Oregon. This year 2010 glass floats will be distributed throughout 7 1/2 miles of beaches that line the town.

Sunday Morning, after church, we stopped by a favorite spot.  Hubby dropped off Jon, I and the pup and then drove north to another outlet to pick us up.  I didn’t want to dawdle, there were quite a few people on the beach, the dog couldn’t be off leash, so we took the low tide path, hard sand, to quickly walk up north on the beach.

When we reached the walkway to the parking area, two ladies were holding the most beautiful blue glass float, about the size of a cantaloupe cradling it like a baby. It had the number, signature, and sticker for Finder’s Keeper’s.

I can not explain adequately in the limited vocabulary I seem to muster the joy and excitement of even seeing one of these beauties. Knowing, that maybe, if I had taken the soft sand path, we might have found one. I thought I’d feel jealousy and remorse of taking a different path, but the joy and amazement of seeing someone else find one was thrilling. She said she’s been looking “for years”, which is the common statement.

Knowing that the rumor mill has told us they often find balls in this stretch of beach, and now seeing one – amazing.

After they walked up the road to their home, I had the wish that I had been bold enough to ask for a picture, but the adrenaline rush kept the thought from my mind, like finding a rare bird and trying to memorize the characteristics to look it up later.

So – hopefully you can see the joy and excitement on my face! The Hope is Alive to finding one myself!

Happy Anniversary

Here are the waves from December 23, 2009, my 20th wedding anniversary.These photos are from my cell phone, so not too detailed. Still, even with the most expensive camera to be had, I don't think one can capture just how beautiful the day was. My cheeks are sun kissed, bones still warmed from the sun. Met a few more locals, I can still smell the salt air. Found ton of agates on the beach, 2 hours after high tide, even facing a setting sun. Fabulous!