Aug 12, 2011 - Five Days of Heaven in Cannon Beach

Hello from Northern Oregon! One of our goals on this trip was to travel to Cannon Beach, Oregon. It is a seaside town about 28 miles south of the Columbia River, which divides the state of Oregon from Washington. I (Cheryl) had been here on previous travels with my family, had raved about it and Dennis had put it on his “Bucket List”. Cannon Beach was named that because of a cannon that had washed up on shore here in 1846 but it is best known for the extremely large rock just off shore. Haystack Rock is home to puffins from April until mid...

Jul 11, 2011 - Cannon Beach and more coastal riding

Our final day of riding out of our Seaside location was along a very twisting highway, Rt. 53. This road was not on the coast, but rather we traveled inland through farm and ranchlands, along a rocky creek and back to the coast highway. It was a super great ride, especially since there was very little traffic and the weather was mild and cool. When we arrived at the intersection with highway 101, we stopped at a small winery, the Nehalem Bay winery, for a tasting of their wines. We were the only clients for awhile, and so we got to talk...

Aug 12, 2010 - Cannon Beach, Oregon

It is our last full day at Cannon Beach. We are well rested and more than ready to hit the road again. I open the curtains, and see with disappointment, that it is misty again. Tom and I walk the beach southbound this time, and weave our way back through the houses. Cannon Beach is an elegant resort, filled with attractive clapboard houses. Many of them are for sale. (The recession is biting here too). Yet every gap is being filled with a new build! After lunch, we head for Ecola State park, affording stunning views back towards Cannon...

Aug 11, 2010 - Cannon Beach, Oregon

Slept until after 9! Suddenly, after wakening up at dawn, and sleeping fitfully through the night, I am sleeping like the dead. 'Mooching' is the order of the day (again). We don't leave the house until after lunch. Then spend the afternoon walking the length of the beach northbound. Then make our way back through the shops and holiday homes. We stop at the Bald Eagle to catch up with emails etc. Then home. Chill, chill, chill. Mags and Andy arrive back from their coastal drive, and we play another game of scrabble...

Aug 10, 2010 - Cannon Beach

Chillax!-a word coined by Jamie during the holidays - chilling and relaxing. A leisurely get up. Andy prepares a delicious cooked breakfast. We do very little; walk up the beach to see if we can book a meal at the famous Mo's (no booking). Walk down the beach to have a drink at The Bald Eagle Coffee Shop, and catch up with emails/social networking. The sun finally comes out, and promises another glorious sunset, but by the time we hit the beach, a low band of cloud gathers along the horizon, and puts paid to that idea.

Aug 8, 2010 - Cannon Beach, Oregon

Up early as usual - but slower rhythms. Leisurely start. Leisurely lunch. Leisurely evening. I like, very much! We head out to Haystack Rock at low tide. When I had shown my children the images of the rock back at school, I had no idea what lay at the base of this structure. The pools around it are teeming with starfish and sea anemones - plus the odd crab. I return to the beach at sunset, and snap some amazing shots of the rock - not through any photography skills - it is a simple point and shoot job. The light and composition is there to...

Aug 7, 2010 - Newport - Cannon Beach, Oregon

I love being on the road. There is something wonderful about turning a new corner...not knowing what is there. Each day has brought new experiences; more wonderful landscapes, just when you think it just can't get any better! But travelling is tiring. And packing and unpacking every day is tiresome! So I am especially looking forward to the next few days. First of all, we are staying put for 6 days. Yippee! Secondly, I am meeting up with my sister, Mags, and her husband, Andy. It will be nice to have some other company - much as we love...

Apr 10, 2010 - Last Day on the Oregon Coast

Our last day on the Oregon Coast was a beauty. We started north in our car to visit Astoria, 25 miles away. It was named after John Jacob Astor whose fur trading company established Astoria. He never came to Astoria. The town was first settled in 1805, making it the oldest settlement west of the Rockies. It is the northernmost Oregon city on US 101, the highway that goes from Santa Barbara, CA and follows the coast from Eureka, CA to South Bend, WA. Astoria spreads up and over San Francisco-like hills and if filled with Victorian period...