Lighthouses, Whales and Amazing Roads

Cape Meares Lighthouse.

The last two days have been full of hiking, whales, lighthouses and amazing scenery.  We are loving our time along the central Oregon coastline.  We've traveled many of the small roads that closely follow the water just West of Highway 101.  As usual the small roads are the best.

We are South of Newport at South Beach State Park.  Yesterday we visited Depot Bay and Newport and all the wonderful sites between those two towns.

Inside the lenses of Cape Meare Lighthouse. 

A short lighthouse on a very tall cliff.

Yaquina Bay Lighthouse.

Our third lighthouse for the day was our favorite.  Yaquina Head Lighthouse is at the end of a beautiful peninsula that provided an amazing view of the migrating Grey Whales.

There are whales out there.

Around and around.  142 steps to the top.  An interesting discovery was that the lenses in a lighthouse also reflect heat inward, it was like being in a sauna.  The ocean breeze was a big relief when we came down.

Panorama of Yaquina Head. 

We followed Otter Road coming back from Depot Bay and I rate it as perhaps the best 8 miles of roadway I have ever driven.  Breathtaking would be the best word to use when describing this stretch of backroad.

Otter Road

Crashing waves 100' up the cliff.

Devils Punchbowl.

 

 It was another very good day so I can confirm..... life is good.