Tag Archives: Cape Perpetua

Sea to Smoke

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Posted by on in animal and plant life, Community, Hiking and Nature, Inspiration, Matters of Faith, Personal Values, Service Activities, Social, Spiritual, Striving, Travel

July 26, 2024, Weed, CA- The ranger was on a mission, jumping out of her truck and heading down to a clear vantage point, then scanning the ocean with her binoculars. Whether looking for whales, like the ones who cavorted off Cannon Beach yesterday, or maybe some contraband-bearing boats, or someone in distress, she was quite focused and vigilant. Whatever was going on, Cape Perpetua seems to be in good hands.

View of the Pacific, from Cape Perpetua, Oregon.

I made one more coastal stop, down the mountain at Tokatee Klootchman. The name comes from a phrase meaning “pretty woman”, in the language of the Chinook people, who are indigenous to this area. The spot certainly is lovely, but with a narrow entrance that makes it safe only for southbound vehicles to enter. I spent about ten minutes here, saw no whales in the early morning and left after taking a few shots of the beach.

Limestone beach, at Tokatee Klootchman State Park, Yachats (above, and next few photos).

My next long stop was to be in Ashland, for a return visit to two friends there. This took me through some fairly heavy smoke between Winston and Grants Pass. This was due to fires in eastern Douglas County, between Roseburg and Crater Lake. Visibility was not too bad, though, and the air was much clearer, as I got closer to Medford and Ashland.

At the Weahs’ house, all was calm and the air was quite a bit clearer. I got more encouragement, regarding my fifth, and last, major 2024 journey-to the Philippines, in September & October. They filled me in on the Olympics Opening Ceremonies, which took place earlier in the day-as evening in Paris had been a few hours earlier. Stories of visits to the Caribbean and Cote d’Ivoire were a delight, as was the thick crust pizza. The service dog behaved himself.

Once back on the road towards California, I felt it had been a full day, and so pulled into this small town, near the northern slope of Mt; Shasta. Weed (named for one Abner Weed) is quite forested, and will be a salubrious place to rest. Thus, I am at HiLo Motel,in a quiet room in the back.

Balance

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Posted by on in Assistance, collaborating, Community, Hiking and Nature, Inspiration, Matters of Faith, Personal Values, Service Activities, Social, Spiritual, Striving, Travel

July 16, 2024, Yachats, OR- The otherwise congenial motel owner bemoaned the fact that the temperature in this resort town had not topped 55 F today, and that the fog had hung on for most of the day. I can understand the frustration that many residents of the coastal Northwest, at the constant fog and drizzle. Still, for the rest of the continent, such gloom is actually a pleasure. We seek balance, wherever we may live and in whatever circumstances we may find ourselves. Therein lies the choice: Be content with where and how we are, or make adjustments.

Yachats (pronounced YAA-haats), is a small resort town, just north of Cape Perpetua, on the central Oregon coast, north of Florence. The Yatel is a delightful small establishment, with a mini-kitchenette (plates, bowls, cups and glasses, stainless steel utensils, cookware, hot plate, toaster-and the standard mini-fridge and microwave oven). The place is worth the cost, though I know that if I am ever this way again, it would be a good idea to book ahead.

Cape Perpetua, about three miles south of here, is another Oregon Coast gem. The wind gets intense up there, just as it does at Cape Mendocino, way down in California’s Lost Coast region and in many similar spots along the North Pacific. Still, it is a magnificent place, and I noted a huge number of RVs parked in the roadside spots, last night. Here are some scenes of Cape Perpetua, in the clarity of daylight.

Cape Perpetua (Above and next few scenes)
Looking towards the top of Perpetua. (Above and below)

Earlier today, I spent about an hour with two dear friends in Ashland, OR., catching up on how things have gone for each of us, since my visit there last July. Jody, Philip and their faithful guard dog, Stryker, are still hanging tight.

From Ashland, I continued up I-5 to Winston, then cut over on Rte. 42. Coquille has Uncle Randy’s, with hearty diner fare. Randy has a pay-it-forward option, mainly for locals: A regular can pay a certain amount towards a meal for one who is known to be less fortunate. The limit is one person paying for one meal, once a week. This is a fine example of faith-in-action-and compassionate conservatism. The food was marvelous, in my palate’s opinion.

I will spend a few minutes checking out Yachats further, in the light of day, then head onward up the coast, completing a journey that I interrupted in 2012, and be in Hoquiam by mid-afternoon.

Action, rest, heat, cold-it’s all about balance.