The coast around Newport, Oregon has a lot to see and do. There are so many interesting formations to see and we played tourists.
Yaquina Head Lighthouse
First up was the Yaquina Head Lighthouse. We parked at the Interpretive Center and walked a paved path all the way out to the lighthouse. The historic Yaquina Head Lighthouse (1872) is Oregon’s tallest, but just one in a string of lighthouses strategically planned along the Pacific Coast to allow mariners to sail the rocky coastline after dark. T(originally called the Cape Foulweather Light at Yaquina Point. There was no real road to the lighthouse back then, just a trail that a horse and wagon could traverse partly by traveling along the beach. Construction materials and supplies had to come by way of sea. The Lighthouse Tender Shubrick, a side-wheel steamer, delivered goods to the small cove just south of the headland, where workers hauled them up the bluff. Tough work!
Don’t miss the steps down to the beach where you can tidepool. This is where we saw all the Velella velella jellyfish. A good common name is “by-the-wind sailors,” or you might prefer the shorter “purple sailor.” Velella is an offshore resident. Winds blowing gently against its triangular, clear sail move the jellyfish. The sail is set diagonally to the long axis of the animal. On our side of the north Pacific Ocean, their sails are set in a northwest to southeast direction. In the southern hemisphere, sails are reversed. As long as the winds blow gently, Velella tack at about 45 ̊ away from the following wind. This keeps the animals offshore. When winds are strong, Velella loses its tacking ability and begins spinning and more directly follow the wind. Strong westerly winds, then, are what drive these animals onto the beach.
Next we walked down to Quarry Cove which seemed to be off the beaten path. You can walk all they way down onto the rock side where all the tidepools are, or into the cove on the sand. It’s best to visit at low tide so you can poke around in all the tidepools. This cove is a hangout spot for harbor seals and we saw a pod basking in the sun on a rock and several swimming around playing.
Devils Punchbowl Arch
The Oregon coast has a seemingly endless supply of rock features along the coast. The surf churns, foams, and swirls as it mixes a violent brew. We took a short drive to check out Devils Punchbowl. Really we needed to hit this spot at high tide to get the full effect but it was still brewing. The ocean slams with a thundering roar into a hollow rock formation shaped like a huge punch bowl.
Our pictures are a mash up of a lot of activities, so enjoy. We tried our arms at disc golf! Let’s just say it might not be our thing.
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