During our recent trip to Utopia, we spent a day at the coast. It was very rainy the whole week we were out there, so I wasn’t expecting much in the weather department. Amazingly enough, the rain pretty much held off for most of the afternoon.
We headed to Newport and of course ate lunch at Mo’s. They still don’t offer an all-you-can-eat bowl of clam chowder, so I had to order it family style again.
After we ate we went out and walked around on the docks and stuff. There were tons of sea lions laying around all over the place.
Giant sea slugs. These creatures are fascinating yet kind of disgusting at the same time. And their bark. Good lands, that could get annoying after awhile. Here, listen for yourself.
Listen to the sea lions bark (89kb, wma).
We drove down to the beach, but the tide was way way up and there was no beach.
The billows were rolling that day, the sea was tempestuous.
We drove to the lighthouse, I forgot was it was called. Unfortunately it was closed for renovation. I want to go back and tour it. So instead we went down to the tidepools right next to it.
We drove down to Depoe Bay next, the smallest harbor in the world. It was getting dark by then. The sea was still roiling.
We stopped at a couple shops for the ladies, then we headed for home. We stopped in Albany and ate at Pings for supper! That was wonderful as always.
10 Responses
January 26th, 2006 at 7:48 pm
I especially like that last shot with the sun going down and the neat lighting, that is cool. SG
January 26th, 2006 at 10:19 pm
OR is awesome, Tom!
…when it doesn’t rain.
January 26th, 2006 at 11:24 pm
Rain, Rain, Rain…..oh! I almost forgot that Oregon has dry rain. So when we were there, in your Utopia, I just brushed it off. Now we are home again, -35 and light snow. At least I don’t have to brush off the rain. I’ll take the cold any day! John
January 26th, 2006 at 11:52 pm
The pictures are beautiful! And Mo’s Clam Chowder is the best! I have such great memories of going to the coast. Grandpa and Grandma took us to the lighthouse the last time we were there, but it wasn’t all that great, just a lot of stairs going around and around in a very small space, and far too many people trying to go up at the same time as a large crowd was trying to come down. It’s beautiful though.
~Jewel H.
January 27th, 2006 at 1:38 am
Very entertaining blog, as usual. Who’da thunk that one would have the privilege of hearing the very same sea lions bark that you did? I do like your “giant sea slug” renomenclature. And yeah, along with my bro SG, I like that sunset shot. Best of all was running into the big group of y’all at Ping’s that night! :-)
EG
January 27th, 2006 at 1:51 am
The Sea Slug Singers is one choir that I could harmonize with!
CD
January 27th, 2006 at 10:10 pm
Wow, Tom!! That is almost exactly the order we did it last time we visited out there: Mo’s, Lighthouse(whoops, closed for renovation) then tide pools. Amazing!!! OR ROCKS!!
January 28th, 2006 at 1:39 am
We were along the coast(Bandon, Florence, New Port,etc) this past summer and we ate at Mo’s for the first time.
Was the lighthouse Heceta Head?
January 28th, 2006 at 3:04 pm
Kill all the sea slugs!! And the seals, too, for that matter. I can’t stand them at all, plus they eat way too much salmon and other fish that the fishermen should be getting. Can you tell that I’m more than a little bitter? GRRRR.
I just talked to my dad a few minutes ago, (he and mom are out at the coast for some kind of meeting) and he said that it’s very stormy out there right now and the Spouting Horns are shooting water clear over the road onto the buildings on the other side!! I think they’re in Depoe Bay or Newport, I can’t remember for sure. Dad said he’s never seen it like that before.
The Baritone
January 30th, 2006 at 1:16 am
I believe the lighthouse is actually Yaquina. I REALLY miss being only 1 1/2 hrs from the coast. There’s nothing like a good storm at the beach, as long as I am in my ocean view hotel or rental home. :) I still prefer fresh oysters to clam chowder. Dad makes them on the barbeque (still in the shell) then we eat them dipped in melted butter. Yu-uh-uh-uummm!