My Lebanon friend M had told me she was going to the beach today with her former sister in law R. But this morning she called about 11 and asked if I wanted to come.
With more incredulous heat today here plus a nasty overcast of smoke, I immediately said yes.
I'd done my chores early and also delivered traps to the place I trap Thursday morning and gotten a form signed for anesthesia release another place I'll trap for Monday. So, why not go.
They picked me up about 1:00 and we zipped over to Newport. We went to Nye Beach which is right downtown and it was tough to find a parking spot. Crowds of people on the beach, in the parking lot, and all up and down the streets, and anywhere you turned.
We went for a long walk on the beach and waded in the edge of the water, sat on the sand awhile, well I took a nap, then we came back to M's truck in the parking lot. R wanted to stay, hang out at the car, go back and forth to the beach.
I couldn't see it. It was crowded, there was zero privacy and I confessed to both of them this was not my scene at all. We discussed then where to go.
We headed south of Newport about 6 or 7 miles to Ona Beach. What a lovely place that is, and not crowded at all. There is an asphalt path from the parking lot through a picnic area situated along Beaveer Creek. The creek curls around to enter the ocean. A wooden bridge allows pedestrians to cross the creek to the beach, which is broad and flat.
We plopped down against some logs in the sand and just sat around awhile. It was cool here, although earlier there had been some smoke haze. The temps in Newport, on the coast, were nothing like they were achieving over in the valley, where I live.
We started home when the sun got low in the sky but didn't get home til about 9:30 p.m. The cats all acted as though I'd never been gone and probably napped all day.
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| The sun as it disappears behind the marine layer. Taken from the Newport Bridge. |
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| Meandering Beaver Creek |
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| M against a log in the sand at Ona Beach |
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| Beaver Creek as it heads into the Pacific |
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| The marine layer, made attempts to move in, was pushed back, tried again, finally succeeded as we were leaving. |
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| R contemplates life at Ona |
Pretty darn nice day!
The second beach sounds MUCH more to my taste. I am so glad that you went, and glad you had a lovely day. And of course the cats said 'you were gone? We didn't notice'. Though mind you ours complain when we got out. Complain about neglect.
ReplyDeleteWas so MUCH better. There are so many beaches north and south of Newport there's no reason to go to the crowded tourist one. Ha, the neglect charges cats see fit to pursue, through shunning and other behaviors.
DeleteHow terrific that you had such a nice day, and found a nice alternative to Newport. I'm sure you had some nice chats too. The viaduct looking bridge is impressive. Mind, this blogger recently visited Newport and I guess it is popular because it is very nice. http://ishouldbelaughing.blogspot.com/2023/08/well.html
ReplyDeleteI'll have to check their visit out, Andrew. Newport is fairly close to where I live, about an hour's drive. I've gotten a bit tired of it over the decades. And rarely go to Newport beaches.
DeleteI see he has a couple photos of the Newport bridge he took while there. That's the bridge I took my sun photo from. The Yaquina Head lighthouse, he has photos of, there were three cats there. I didn't trap them but a Portland group tried, have no idea if they succeeded.
DeleteSmart idea to move to another beach. I'm not into crowds either and your second spot looks just right.
ReplyDeleteYeah it was so much better than the downtown beach.
DeleteI'm so glad you got out with friends. It sounds like it was a nice day once you got away from the crowds.
ReplyDeleteIt was really nice. Wish I was still over there. It's 103 today here.
DeleteSounds like a fantastic day
ReplyDeleteI had a great time.
DeleteWonderful! I never heard the term 'marine layer' before. Thanks for teaching me something new! :D
ReplyDelete