Hikes and Family

On a cloudy and somewhat smoked-filled day, we “Walked Between Two Lakes” on a 10K volksmarch along the shores of Woahink and Cleawox Lakes.  This is an area of dense foliage where the trails runs between tall hedges.  It is a lovely area for picnics, camping and enjoying the lakes. 

But the walk was not is well-written.  Without familiarity with the park, we frequently did not know which path the directions meant.  It would have been easy to get lost if not for the frequent crossing of bridges over the road into the area.

But, as we said, it was lovely.  The parks were developed as a Depression Era Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) projects.

 From hikers to boaters and kayakers, we saw what a treasured destination this is for the town of Florence.  

Before dinner we drove up to the local casino for Rods and Roadies, where some really good looking hot rods were on display. 

These two are replicas from American Graffiti

And even autographed by the stars.

They even had Ron Howard's shirt.

This may sound redundant, but we had another great seafood dinner, cioppino for Jerry and halibut for Anna Lee. 

 Next we drove to Brookings where Jerry’s cousin Don lives with his daughter Shelly and her family.  We were able to catch up on news both good and sad and enjoyed another tasty seafood dinner at Sebastian’s. 

I know the menus may sound boring, but along the Oregon Coast, Washington bays and riverfronts, fish is fresh, delicious and irresistible (except for you total meat eaters).  We can’t remember having anything but fish when we have dined out this trip.

The next day, we drove the car across the stateline into California to hike in Jedediah Smith Redwoods State Park.  These amazing trees grow to 350 feet tall with a base diameter of about twenty feet.  They can live more than 2000 years.  Some are big enough to go into and stand upright.

 And when they crash to the ground, new offspring grow from the decaying tree.   

 One of the first trails we took had a slight problem.

 Some of the dead trees are hollow inside

and others have formed intriguing branch, root and bark formations.

Anna Lee could nor resist.

Roots twist and bend into knots.

Walking beneath the canopy is truly breath-taking.

As we turn toward home, we found this park a special finale to another travel adventure.

Newport

We returned to the beautiful Oregon Coast.  Newport has two outstanding marine facilities.  The Oregon Coast Aquarium is well presented but commercial.  Divided into different areas they tell the historical and biological story of being a Pacific Ocean seaport.

We walked under massive tanks with sea life swimming around and above us. 

In the Orford Reef Northern sharks, manta rays swim through schools of  anchovy

and sardines.

In a separate tank is this sea pen, actually a colony of tiny polyps each with its own function.

Along the Rocky Shores star fish clump together.

while anenomes like this Giant Green one stand alone.

We enjoyed touching the rough texture of the star fish, sticky tentacles of the anenomes and the grasping of the sea urchins.

This lovely jellyfish swims in the Coastal Waters.

This tiny comb jelly floats like a tiny bubble through the water.

We watched the training session with Jojo, a brown pelican.  His eyes change from blue to brown during the mating season.  He weights about seven pounds.  In the wild, pelicans migrate 4000 miles along the Pacific coast.  They can plunge 65 feet for food.  Jojo is in captivity because of an injured wing.  They train him for management for such times as when a veterinarian needs to examine him.

It was late breeding season in the Seabird Aviary so some of the birds like this tufted puffin

still had their colorful plumage while the feathers of others were more black, white and grey

Seals and sea lions swim in tanks surrounded by these rocky coves.

The Hatfield Marine Science Center is part of Oregon State University and its emphasis is to educate visitors on the environment, sustainable fishing and the study of the oceans.  Like the aquarium, the Center uses appealing displays to educate visitors.   Much of the center is dedicated to hands-on activities to teach children and adults about the waterways and ways of water.
This doesn’t mean that beauty takes a back seat, instead the exhibits are beautiful and as well as informative.

As to beauty, we share this starfish.

 This sandbox with layers of color reflecting down on it, is an example of creative topography.  It is used to see the effects of erosion on the ocean floor. 

 This coral (looks like a crochet cap) is from a display on restoring reefs by coral farming or fragging.

There were actual skulls that we could get close to, wouldn’t want to get close to the creatures.
This is a killer whale jaw

a grey whale

and a walrus.

This sea cucumber is surrounded by green anenomes.  The colors look artificial. 

The Rumbleometer measures the differences in water pressure due to volcanic activity.  Yes, those are hardhats modified to travel the deep ocean.

Ardis DeFreece is an artist in residence.  Her “Cabinet of Curiosities” is a combination of trompe l’oeil, photographs, painting, collage, etc.  It is made from collected items from the seas or representations of them.

All along the coast we see signs telling where to go in event of a tsunami.  This concern was brought home to the Oregon coast in 2011 when a dock that was torn loose in Japan landed on these shores.  The dock was quickly covered and its surface examined and cleaned for fear of invasive creatures coming ashore.  It is now a memorial to those who died in the tsunami in Japan.

Both of these ocean centers are excellent and we look forward to return visits.

Billy Frank Jr. Nisqually National Wildlife Refuge

Wanting to again be outside but avoid the Mt. Rainier crowds, we took a lovely stroll through the refuge on a 10K volksmarch.  This nature refuge is a popular destination for all ages and ethnicities, yet has enough trails for everyone to share without stepping on each others toes.

We walked along trails through the lush riverside past estuaries for fish and invertebrates.  A few flowers were even around.

These frogs were the only ones who were visible for photographs.  Look carefully for the outline of the whole frog.

The wooden boardwalk took us out toward Puget Sound, an area of extreme tidal changes.  The tide was low as we walked along.

This heron was feasting on whatever was in the water.

Further along another heron stood on a branch preening.

This walk was a great way to start a drive to our next location.  We had smoke almost to the coast.  At one point we saw about six fire vehicles headed east toward the forest fires.  We noted in our travels through the state that yards and fields were brown.  In an area that normally has a lot of rain, this is most unusual and a great contributor to the fires that are in the area.