Reason 1: I had my surf lesson this morning
Reason 2: Oregon is so beautiful it brings me to tears (really)
Surfing was as awesome as I remembered it being. I had a private lesson with a chick (from Calgary no less) who owns Oregon Surf Adventures (that's her in the picture on the website). We went to Short Sand Beach in Oswald West State Park for a 2.5 hour lesson in the morning. The tide was way out and the swell was enormous (apparently 8 Ft!) so the conditions were really difficult. The intention was to teach me how to turtle-roll and get past the break so I could start surfing clean waves, but the swell was so big it was not possible. So, I practiced my turtle-rolls, surfed the white-water for a bit, and tried not to get washed away. I feel confident enough to rent gear and go surfing on my own now, so I'm going to try going here in Lincoln city tomorrow morning, and a few more places in California.
After surfing I starting making my way down Highway 101. I stopped at a few lookouts along the way, each one more breath-taking than the last. I also stopped at Cape Meares State Scenic Viewpoint, which has two very interesting things. First is the Cape Meares Lighthouse, which happens to be both the tallest and shortest lighthouse in Oregon. They pull this off by its physical stature being quite small, but the fact that it sits upon a 217 Ft cliff makes it the tallest. Tricky stuff! The other interesting thing, which prompted me to say "that's messed up!" was the Octopus Sitka Spruce, with eight limbs growing out and then up. The trunk has a diameter of 50 feet! That's messed up!
I made it as far as Lincoln City today. I am currently writing this from my tent in the KOA Kampground. I made friends with my neighbour, who is also doing a solo trip but in the opposite direction. He gave me advice on a single-track bike ride through the old growth in Redwood National Park, and also some good campgrounds there. I'm looking forward to it!
Tomorrow's plan is to possibly surf, but I'm also getting anxious to keep moving, so we'll see. Hopefully I'll make it to California before the day is through.
I forgot to mention in my other posts... keep checking for my panoramics on my flickr site.
Uhhhh... I just heard 5 gun shots, a burst of 3 and then 2 more in rapid succession. I would think that it was a hunter, except that it's 10:30 pm. If you hear anything in the news about someone being shot in Lincoln City, Oregon, I heard it. Oooooh, and there were just 5 more. Okay, this is weird. It must be someone trying to kill a can or something. Anyway, just thinking out loud (or through my fingers).
I have already forgotten where exactly this was, somewhere along the Oregon Coast
Me at Cape Meares (looks like happy-me is much fatter than depressed-me... oh well, I'd rather be fat and happy than skinny and sad!)
The Cape Meares Lighthouse
Octopus Tree... friggin' weird!
My current home-away-from-home,with horsies in my back yard. I could hear them running a few times through the night.
1 comment:
Kate I envy you! You are so brave, I wish that I had the courage you do. It sounds like you are really having a great time. I can't wait to read your next post. Keep on rolling with Rolly.
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