PACIFIC CITY, OREGON VIEW HOME..LAUNCH AREA PARKING
TIERRA DEL MAR, OREGON ...BSEACH FRONT HOME
TIERRA DEL MAR A-FRAME HOME...POPULAR IN THE MOUNTAINS AND ON THE BEACH...RATHER EASY TO BUILD
TIERRA DEL MAR...FRIENDLY HORSE CAME FROM ACROSS THE FIELD TO SAY "HI", BUT WOULD NOT COME CLOSER...LOOKED AT ME IF TO SAY...YOU THINK I'M DUMB...A BIT FURTHER ALONG THE FENCE I DISCOVERED A SIGN "ELECTRIC FENCE"...YEP...HORSE WAS NOT DUMB.
TIERRA DEL MAR...YES, I FINALLY WALKED A BEACH...EVEN GOT MY SHOES WET...BEAUTIFUL VERY HARD SAND...CARS WERE DRIVING ON THE BEACH
AND ANOTHER WAVE CHASING ME
A VISITOR FROM ALASKA...DID NOT KNOW HER NAME, BUT WE CHATTED A BIT.
SEAGULLS TAKING A BREAK ON THE BEACH AT TIERRA DEL MAR.
ROAD LEADING TO TIERRA DEL MAR FROM PACIFIC CITY, OREGON
ROAD SIGNS
A GROVE OF ALDER...THE WOOD OF CHOICE FOR FIREPLACES AND STOVES...GIVE OFF GOOD HEAT, BURN SLOW, AND DO NOT COAT THE CHIMNEY WITH PITCH...A DANGER WHEN BURNING CONIFERS (FIR, PINE, ETC), WHICH PRODUCE LOTS OF TANNIN. -OIL
NETART BAY ON THE RIGHT...PACIFIC OCEAN ON THE LEFT...TAKEN ON THE WALK UP TO CAPE LOOKOUT...LOOKING NORTH...MEARES LIGHTHOUSE IS ON DISTANT CAPE
WHAT A 10% ROAD LOOKS LIKE...NOT MUCH WITHOUT 3-D
CAPE LOOKOUT SIGN
LOUSY PICTURE...LOOK CLOSELY...THAT BIG HORIZONTAL TREE IS SITTING ON A NEEDLE OF A STUMP - THE WHITE VERTICAL LINE...A SMALL JIGGLE, AND DOWN IT COMES.
CAPE LOOKOUT TRAIL...THE EDGE IS AT THIS VERTICAL DROP...ABOUT 600 FEET I WOULD GUESS
THE SURF 600 FEET BELOW MY TOES...AWESOME PLACE FOR A TRAIL
ANOTHER SHOT OF THE STEEPNESS...ACTUALLY DIFFICULT TO GET PERSPECTIVE
FROM CAPE LOOKOUT TRAIL...NOT QUITE AT THE END...CHICKENED OUT WHEN IT NARROWED TO 18 INCHES WITH A 85 % DROP...THANK YOU...NOT FOR ME...I GINGERLY TOOK HOLD OF A ROOT, CAREFULLY TURNED AROUND AND RETREATED.
CAPE LOOKOUT TRAIL IN THE WIDER SPOT...IS FULL OF VERY SHARP ROCKS AND LIVE TREE ROOTS EVERYWHERE..NOT MY CUP OF TEA, THANK YOU
TRAIL INTERSECTION...HEADING DOWN TO THE BEACH...SURFBOARDERS TOOK THE TRAIL TO THE RIGHT
WALKING BACK DOWN FROM CAPE LOOKOUT...FERNS CARPETING EVERY INCH OF THIS CURVING HILLSIDE...SURE CAUGHT MY ATTENTION
PACIFIC CITY, OREGON BEACH...FAMOUS "DORY" BOATS WERE CREATED AT PACIFIC CITY BY FISHERMAN ...DOUBLE ENDERS WITH FLAT BOTTOMS...FOR LAUNCHING INTO THE OCEAN SURF.
PACIFIC CITY, OREGON...LOOKING BACK TO TOWN FROM THE BEACH
HUNDREDS OF SUCH HOMES SIT EMPTY...AT PACIFIC CITY, OREGON...ON THIS BEAUTIFULLY SUNNY FEBRUARY 10, 2011
PACIFIC CITY, OREGON BEACH
MAP OF PACIFIC CITY, OREGON AND NEARBY TOWNS -PLEASE DOUBLE CLICK THE PHOTOGRAPHS...FOR MORE DETAIL.
EPILOG: Found a Pull-off for SPIA on a small country road East of US 101. No one bothered us during the night. Now 6:45 am...Blog is complete...breakfast eaten...SPIA motor produced electricity for the Mini; now to post it all, get properly dressed and walk BACK to Pacific City...then return to SPIA and walk South on US 101 for a while...
DAY 28 – CAPE LOOKOUT IN THE MORNING
Had a comfy night at CAPE LOOKOUT STATE PARK. Up at 5:30…the usual until 6:45 am. Stars were overhead, so guessed it would be sunny. Dressed lightly and started out. The road out of the Park is nearly ½ mile to the Cape Lookout Road.
Decided to walk up the Cape Lookout instead of BACK to Netarts Bay.
Road started out just fine for a mile…then up we went. Later checked with Park Rangers, who estimated the Slope to be at least 10%...never did I ever SEE let alone walk a 10% Slope.
I set a quick pace, keeping my stride short to avoid over stressing muscles in my upper thighs (hamstrings?). I knew new muscles were working, but they did just super.
Reached the top of the Cape Lookout Road and just to see the other side – just like the Bear in the Nursery Rhyme - WOW, it was even steeper…went down a half mile or so, turned around and climbed back up.
There is NO Lighthouse at Cape Lookout…just a great view – especially on a day like today with again, not a cloud in the sky – even though out over the Pacific Ocean, massive clouds were gathering…a sure sign of a weather change within hours.
Three trails lead West out of the Trail head Parking Lot (NO PARKING BETWEEN 11 PM AND 5 AM). One trail lead about 2.5 miles out to the Cape Lookout Viewing area. Another trail lead DOWN the Mountain (and it IS a real Mountain) back up another steep section, coming out at the Park (where SPIA is parked). The third trail drops directly DOWN the South side of the Mountain to the beach.
Two Surfers with Surf Boards went DOWN that trail…must have 50 switchbacks as the slope is at least 75%...they said the waves down there are worth the climb back up.
I walked out the Cape Lookout Trail. It skirted the 75 degree slope to the South, until coming to a section where the trail narrowed to about 18 inches and the Slope increased to just about 85 degrees…nearly straight down to the water.
I continued with great care along that cliff-face trail for another 600 feet or so and stopped to take a picture…to my horror, there was no place to even turn around without getting dizzy…I grabbed a tree root, slowly turned around, and carefully…very carefully started back…the sun directly in my eyes.
The trail is littered with sharp stones, live tree roots, and very slippery clay.
I really do enjoy walking. Mountain Climbing is not the best of decisions…especially when I cannot afford ANY injury.
Arrived back at the Trail head Parking, and started back down to the Park. Because of the steepness of the road, the many curves were steeply banked, making it hard on my ankles and knees. So, I continually crossed over the road to stay on the “high” side. Traffic was not a problem…not a half dozen vehicles…no ride offers.
Back at SPIA, decided to complete this Narrative in Word. Will now empty SPIA waste water and be on our way…
Will drive up and over Cape Lookout, rejoining US 101 about 15 miles out.
Walked at least 10 miles this morning…all demanding…count 5 so far for the day.
Now 4:00 pm...parked in the Pacific City Public Beach lot...just finished some yummy Fish & Chips at the Pelican Pub, and am ready for Bed.
After returning to SPIA from Cape Lookout, drove over the top of Cape Lookout and into the estuary below...parked and walked to a small river where two fishermen were spending a sunny afternoon on the water. Walked back to SPIA and drove to TIERRA DEL MAR, OREGON, a small community on the beach. Walked the beach for a bit...then South for 3 miles to PACIFIC CITY, OREGON, and back to SPIA. Then drove into Pacific City, where we are now.
A town of 1,500, there are many hundreds of upscale homes lining the beach and inland for 2 blocks...all empty. Stopped in at a local Real Estate to ask about that...simply Winter Season and the middle of the week. Homes are selling from $150,000 to $1,000,000. Most are in the $250.000 range. The Real Estate lady offered me a Gift Certificate for the Pelican Pub, which I was pleased to accept...; i.e., Fish and Chips.
A big problem in this part of Oregon. No parking is allowed on any highway parking or pull-offs from 11:00 pm to 5:00 am. This means NO ONE is out and about after 11...also means SPIA cannot pull off the road anywhere...one must find an RV Park or a State Park...very difficult for me as limited $$ prohibit such expenditures.
Appears I must leave the Coast Area in the evening to find a place to park SPIA...then return in the morning for my walking...it is OK to park just about anywhere during the remaining hours.
As it will be dark in 45 minutes, must move SPIA now to find a home for the night...pics later.
p.s.: I am VERY tired this evening...that early morning walk up the Cape Lookout Mountain and back down took a lot out of me...might consider taking a day off from walking...we shall see in the morning.
Had a comfy night at CAPE LOOKOUT STATE PARK. Up at 5:30…the usual until 6:45 am. Stars were overhead, so guessed it would be sunny. Dressed lightly and started out. The road out of the Park is nearly ½ mile to the Cape Lookout Road.
Decided to walk up the Cape Lookout instead of BACK to Netarts Bay.
Road started out just fine for a mile…then up we went. Later checked with Park Rangers, who estimated the Slope to be at least 10%...never did I ever SEE let alone walk a 10% Slope.
I set a quick pace, keeping my stride short to avoid over stressing muscles in my upper thighs (hamstrings?). I knew new muscles were working, but they did just super.
Reached the top of the Cape Lookout Road and just to see the other side – just like the Bear in the Nursery Rhyme - WOW, it was even steeper…went down a half mile or so, turned around and climbed back up.
There is NO Lighthouse at Cape Lookout…just a great view – especially on a day like today with again, not a cloud in the sky – even though out over the Pacific Ocean, massive clouds were gathering…a sure sign of a weather change within hours.
Three trails lead West out of the Trail head Parking Lot (NO PARKING BETWEEN 11 PM AND 5 AM). One trail lead about 2.5 miles out to the Cape Lookout Viewing area. Another trail lead DOWN the Mountain (and it IS a real Mountain) back up another steep section, coming out at the Park (where SPIA is parked). The third trail drops directly DOWN the South side of the Mountain to the beach.
Two Surfers with Surf Boards went DOWN that trail…must have 50 switchbacks as the slope is at least 75%...they said the waves down there are worth the climb back up.
I walked out the Cape Lookout Trail. It skirted the 75 degree slope to the South, until coming to a section where the trail narrowed to about 18 inches and the Slope increased to just about 85 degrees…nearly straight down to the water.
I continued with great care along that cliff-face trail for another 600 feet or so and stopped to take a picture…to my horror, there was no place to even turn around without getting dizzy…I grabbed a tree root, slowly turned around, and carefully…very carefully started back…the sun directly in my eyes.
The trail is littered with sharp stones, live tree roots, and very slippery clay.
I really do enjoy walking. Mountain Climbing is not the best of decisions…especially when I cannot afford ANY injury.
Arrived back at the Trail head Parking, and started back down to the Park. Because of the steepness of the road, the many curves were steeply banked, making it hard on my ankles and knees. So, I continually crossed over the road to stay on the “high” side. Traffic was not a problem…not a half dozen vehicles…no ride offers.
Back at SPIA, decided to complete this Narrative in Word. Will now empty SPIA waste water and be on our way…
Will drive up and over Cape Lookout, rejoining US 101 about 15 miles out.
Walked at least 10 miles this morning…all demanding…count 5 so far for the day.
Now 4:00 pm...parked in the Pacific City Public Beach lot...just finished some yummy Fish & Chips at the Pelican Pub, and am ready for Bed.
After returning to SPIA from Cape Lookout, drove over the top of Cape Lookout and into the estuary below...parked and walked to a small river where two fishermen were spending a sunny afternoon on the water. Walked back to SPIA and drove to TIERRA DEL MAR, OREGON, a small community on the beach. Walked the beach for a bit...then South for 3 miles to PACIFIC CITY, OREGON, and back to SPIA. Then drove into Pacific City, where we are now.
A town of 1,500, there are many hundreds of upscale homes lining the beach and inland for 2 blocks...all empty. Stopped in at a local Real Estate to ask about that...simply Winter Season and the middle of the week. Homes are selling from $150,000 to $1,000,000. Most are in the $250.000 range. The Real Estate lady offered me a Gift Certificate for the Pelican Pub, which I was pleased to accept...; i.e., Fish and Chips.
A big problem in this part of Oregon. No parking is allowed on any highway parking or pull-offs from 11:00 pm to 5:00 am. This means NO ONE is out and about after 11...also means SPIA cannot pull off the road anywhere...one must find an RV Park or a State Park...very difficult for me as limited $$ prohibit such expenditures.
Appears I must leave the Coast Area in the evening to find a place to park SPIA...then return in the morning for my walking...it is OK to park just about anywhere during the remaining hours.
As it will be dark in 45 minutes, must move SPIA now to find a home for the night...pics later.
p.s.: I am VERY tired this evening...that early morning walk up the Cape Lookout Mountain and back down took a lot out of me...might consider taking a day off from walking...we shall see in the morning.
EPILOG: Found a Pull-off for SPIA on a small country road East of US 101. No one bothered us during the night. Now 6:45 am...Blog is complete...breakfast eaten...SPIA motor produced electricity for the Mini; now to post it all, get properly dressed and walk BACK to Pacific City...then return to SPIA and walk South on US 101 for a while...
Have a good day, all
now 5:30 am...slept SOUNDLY for 13 hours...guess I WAS a bit bushed. Too dark to see the potential weather...expect a storm front to move in sometime soon.
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