At about 1:00, we did try to go out for a drive but we got a short distance down the highway and turned around at Heceta Lighthouse...the wind and the pounding rain was almost too much for the windshield wipers to handle. We turned around and went home.
By Thursday morning, the rain had stopped and we were able to get out for some sightseeing...yay! We left just before 10:00 and headed south...stopping at a viewpoint for a couple of pictures...
That Heceta Head Lighthouse in the distance (we'll stop there later)...
Our next stop was at the Sea Lion Caves. While paying our admission to go down to the caves, the clerk did say that the sea lions are out in the ocean feeding this time of year...so our admission included a return visit anytime in the next year (doesn't help us much) but the caves were well worth seeing (not quite sure if they were worth the $12 each...) The cows and pups will be returning later next month and the bulls later.
I have a light house on my head...
Path to the elevator that takes you 200' down to the cave...
We took the elevator down to the cave...
Looking down at the cave from the upper outside view point in the next photo...
Series of photos showing the wave action...note the waterfall...
Sea Lion in the surf...the only one we saw...
After we were finished at the caves, we continued driving down the coast to take a look at Florence. We pulled off Hwy 101 and drove along Rhododendron Drive that follows the Siuslaw River...lots of shore fishers out...
We found Old Town Florence, parked the truck and took a walk along Bay Street...
Another "Mo's" restaurant...
International C-Food Market Restaurant...
There's a nice boardwalk that goes along the riverfront...
Dedicated in the memory of Fisherman that risk their lives against mother nature...
After our lovely walk along Bay Street, we were back on the road again...heading back north to Heceta Head Lighthouse State Scenic Viewpoint. We drove down to the parking lot and started our walk up the hill to the lighthouse.
It's a lovely trail with interpretive signs along the way.
A small steam and waterfall...
205 feet above the ocean, the lighhouse is one of the most photographed on the coast. The light at top of the 56 foot tower was illuminated in 1894; the automated beacon, seen 21 miles from land, is rated as the strongest light on the Oregon coast.
After a 2 year restoration, the lighthouse re-opened mid-2013...Read the News Release. One of the Park Volunteers took us inside for a tour...
Up we go...
The light was operating yesterday until the motor packed it in. They hope to have it running by tomorrow...
View from the Lighthouse just below the light...
And back down we go...
A few more pictures as we walked back down the trail...
The historic assistant lighthouse keeper's house (Heceta House, built in 1893) now offers bed and breakfast rentals and facilities for group events. The bed and breakfast is operated by a concessionaire of the U.S. Forest Service.
The tunnel we drove through is at the end of the bridge...right...
The last thing on our agenda for today was Cape Perpetua Scenic Area. We had passed through it on our way to Carl G Washburne State Park and definitely wanted to go back and take a closer look.
We drove to Cape Perpetua Visitor Center and parked the truck. Towering 800 feet over the protected Marine Garden shoreline, the Cape Perpetua Headland is the highest viewpoint accessible by car on the Oregon Coast.
Blue Whale jawbone...
After talking to a Ranger, we headed out to walk on one of the many hiking trails in the park. It was late in the afternoon, so we took the one mile Captain Cook Trail that led from the visitor center down toward the ocean.
Shell Midden area...
The trail takes you by tide pools...
To Cook's Chasm and Spouting Horn - The Spouting Horn is a salt water fountain driven by the ocean's power. The Horn puts on its best show at high tide and during winter storms.
Thor's Well...a hole in the lava shell where water surges out of the opening, then drains back like a hole in the ocean, creating a 360 degree waterfall...very cool.
The first two pictures...the water goes into the well...
...and then drains back...
Instead of completing the loop, we walked back along the ocean (a much better view). Back past the Shell Midden area...
A dead sea lion...ewww...
And back up through the thick vegetation towards the visitors center...
We had an internet signal, so we sat in the truck before leaving the visitor center. We needed to research our next stop since we plan on leaving tomorrow and continuing down the coast. Unfortunately we lost a touring day due to yesterdays storm so we didn't have time to visit Yachats. Gotta be at your next campground before the weekend you know... After deciding on Bullards Beach State Park, we headed back to Carl G Washburne State Park.
Once home, Steve did some prep work outside...flushing the black tank and putting chairs away. Then we hitched up...all set to leave in the morning...
It's a lovely trail with interpretive signs along the way.
A small steam and waterfall...
205 feet above the ocean, the lighhouse is one of the most photographed on the coast. The light at top of the 56 foot tower was illuminated in 1894; the automated beacon, seen 21 miles from land, is rated as the strongest light on the Oregon coast.
After a 2 year restoration, the lighthouse re-opened mid-2013...Read the News Release. One of the Park Volunteers took us inside for a tour...
The light was operating yesterday until the motor packed it in. They hope to have it running by tomorrow...
View from the Lighthouse just below the light...
A few more pictures as we walked back down the trail...
The historic assistant lighthouse keeper's house (Heceta House, built in 1893) now offers bed and breakfast rentals and facilities for group events. The bed and breakfast is operated by a concessionaire of the U.S. Forest Service.The tunnel we drove through is at the end of the bridge...right...
The last thing on our agenda for today was Cape Perpetua Scenic Area. We had passed through it on our way to Carl G Washburne State Park and definitely wanted to go back and take a closer look.We drove to Cape Perpetua Visitor Center and parked the truck. Towering 800 feet over the protected Marine Garden shoreline, the Cape Perpetua Headland is the highest viewpoint accessible by car on the Oregon Coast.
Shell Midden area...
The trail takes you by tide pools...
To Cook's Chasm and Spouting Horn - The Spouting Horn is a salt water fountain driven by the ocean's power. The Horn puts on its best show at high tide and during winter storms.
Thor's Well...a hole in the lava shell where water surges out of the opening, then drains back like a hole in the ocean, creating a 360 degree waterfall...very cool.
The first two pictures...the water goes into the well...Instead of completing the loop, we walked back along the ocean (a much better view). Back past the Shell Midden area...
We had an internet signal, so we sat in the truck before leaving the visitor center. We needed to research our next stop since we plan on leaving tomorrow and continuing down the coast. Unfortunately we lost a touring day due to yesterdays storm so we didn't have time to visit Yachats. Gotta be at your next campground before the weekend you know... After deciding on Bullards Beach State Park, we headed back to Carl G Washburne State Park.
Once home, Steve did some prep work outside...flushing the black tank and putting chairs away. Then we hitched up...all set to leave in the morning...
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