Yachats

Beach North of Yachats

I spent a lovely weekend in Yachats last weekend.  It was made all the lovelier by the spring storm that arrived while I was here, bringing rain and winds and that familiar coastal feel.  Having not seen rain since I honestly don't know when, it was refreshing.  One could almost feel and hear the forest sucking up the moisture. Unfortunately, very little of it made it over the Cascades, Central Oregon remains parched.  It looks to be a long, dry summer.

 

Tide Pooling

More Beach Scenes

View out of a Shallow Sea Cave

 

Alder Springs Trail

Looking down into the Whychus Canyon from Alder Springs Trail

It was a perfect early spring day for a hike and I chose Alder Springs Trail.  I had been here before, but I did not go all the way to the confluence of the Whychus and the Deschutes that time.  This time I did and it turns out to be one of my new favorite places.  So much to see along this trail through a canyon oasis.  It is just starting to green up and spring sights and sounds were everywhere.  I will be back.

Looking up the Deschutes toward the confluence

The Deschutes River 

 

Whidbey Island

Looking across the Admiralty Inlet toward the Olympic Mountains

A couple of weeks ago I got to spend a long weekend on Whidbey Island. So close to Pugetopolis, but still fairly rural it is an island of contrasts.  Inland, it is largely covered in dense second growth forests, with modest homesites cleaved from of the thickets while along the many miles of shoreline are the view properties of urban second home owners. We enjoyed a few days in one of those view properties, with it's spectacular sunsets and the soothing sound of waves lapping onto shore.  We also enjoyed a couple days of road cycling.  Whidbey's a great place for road biking.

There are large eagles on Whidbey Island!