WHAT HAPPENED?

What happened was that we packed our bags into a little red car

that we rented from a place called enterprise

and the little red car went south, south past Portland and

down to the sea. Pretty enterprising.

We paused in Newport, but it wasn’t really Newport, it was down a rutted road where

elk browsed unphased by our open mouths and clicking shutters.

The rutted road was back behind everything,

by a slough wet with rain.

After a few days we traveled on, gathering sights and sounds and smells and

the air of places we’d never seen: Cape Perpetua,

Yaquina Head,

Humbug Mountain.

Gold Beach, Beverley Beach, Hiouichi. Stout Grove and

Prairie Creek (now we are in California).

Arcata. Eureka, Ferndale.

Ferndale, the slow, friendly, easy little town we came to love.

Then Willow Creek, Hawkins Bar, and Burnt Ranch as we headed east into the mountains.

Yes, it’s a litany, and there’s more:

Weaverville, Helena. Horse Mountain, Red Crest.

Myers Flat, Briceland, Shelter Cove. Shelter Cove, the place of crashing surf, black sand,

and triumphant hikers emerging from lost days on the Lost Coast.

When it was time to head north again there was Bald Hills, Patrick Creek, and Cave Junction.

We’re back in Oregon now: Corvalis, Portland. Then Washington, a blur of highway,

and home. Home to fat inboxes, piles of snail mail, and thousands of pictures

to take us back

and carry us

onward.

***

1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

7.

8.

9.

10.

11.

12.

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14.

15.

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18.

19.

The photos (and there will be more!):

  1. The muddy, pot-holed, hairpin-turned, steep and long road to our airbnb on a slough outside Newport, Oregon. A road that held wonders, once you could relax your grip on the steering wheel.
  2. A forest of Port Orford cedar trees on Hunter Creek Road outside Gold beach, Oregon, where fellow blogger Gunta of Movin’ On lives.
  3. This tiny tree frog makes a big noise, but not when he’s in hand; at our Ferndale, California aribnb.
  4. Lovely, spring-blooming Bleeding hearts (Dicentra formosa) along a quiet back road outside Newport, OR.
  5. Looking up into the Redwood trees at Redwood National Forest, California.
  6. The tide’s coming in at Shelter Cove, on California’s Lost Coast. One road in, one road out, and be ready for 45 minutes of winding, steep, rough road.
  7. A local combing the beach, for what, I don’t know. Beverley Beach, Oregon.
  8. At Myers Beach in southern Oregon, a sea stack and the distant headlands are reflected in the shimmering water of low tide.
  9. The black sand at Shelter Cove is mostly smooth black pebbles streaked with white.
  10. A sea squall rushes towards land at Cape Perpetua, Oregon. It got very cold, very fast that morning.
  11. A hiker rests and takes in the view at Shelter Cove. It’s the end of a three-day backpacking trip up California’s Lost Coast for this admirable man.
  12. Shelter Cove residents erected this sign to warn tourists like us about the dangers of their beach. We were careful!
  13. An old, rusted cleat on a pier in Newport, Oregon, with the town’s iconic 1930’s bridge in the background.
  14. California sea lions try to get shut-eye on platforms built just for them on the Newport waterfront. Tourists can stroll out onto a short pier and watch all day.
  15. One of Ferndale’s many pristine Victorian buildings.
  16. Our little red rental car at Myers Beach, on the southern coast of Oregon.
  17. Alder trees and ferns line a section of the road to our Newport airbnb.
  18. The uncommon Brook wakerobin, a diminutive trillium relative, found in southwestern Oregon and northwestern California.
  19. Redwood trees dwarf the cars on the Avenue of the Giants, in northern California.

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This entry was posted in Further Afield (travel), Nature Studies, photography, Road Trips and tagged , , . Bookmark the permalink.

83 comments

  1. Sounds like a wonderful trip, recharging the batteries. I’m used to seeing the expressions “litany of complaints” and “slough of despair” (basically, Boston in the winter 🙂 ) but this is litany of great stuff, part of invoking all these beautiful sights you’ve seen. At home, they’re still waiting for trilliums, this little wakerobin (what a great name!) is beautiful, and what fun to go from a diminutive wildflower to those giant trees in the next shot.
    I admire every shot, of course, but I love bridges, and that cleat in #13 makes a terrific Viking longboat or one of those solar ships they find in the pyramids.

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    • Your comments are always such a pleasure to read, Robert. We have the “regular” trilliums on the west coast too, dare I say, in abundance, and I’ll be posting photos of those soon. The cleat is thanks to Joe, my partner, who made the photo first. I asked if he minded if I shot the same thing and of course, he said it was fine….then his camera was ruined a few days later. Long story. It was a very nice object in any case. Have a good weekend!

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    • That’s interesting because I was thinking about what a pleasure it is to give gifts that aren’t objects, just this morning. You must have sensed it….thank you, Yetta, I’m glad you enjoyed yourself!

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    • The thing about those waves is that the sound is so powerful, and we tasted the salt spray on our tongues when the wind blew the waves over to us. It’s a multi-sensual experience; wish you could be there. I like the notion that the sea lion’s having a great dream,and who knows what’s going on in those minds?

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      • I would love to have been there! I can just imagine the smell of the ocean air, the sound and the taste.The whole trip sounds like a wonderful experience. Thanks for sharing it.

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    • Ah, such kind words, thank you. That road is tough to drive but it’s worth it. Two pages of directions, about 45 minutes from point A to point B, and so much to see along the way. The frog suffered a spectacular fall when we pulled on an outdoor shade – seems that’s his private meditation space. He revived though, after a minute’s rest, and made his way back up there Thanks for being here, Lynn.

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    • I was very excited when I saw how #5 turned out – the redwoods have an interesting branch – or should I say branchlet? – structure, and after seeing this I wondered if the back and forth of their structure allows more light to filter down through to lower limbs. Thank you, Ken! I’m looking forward to seeing what you’ve been up to the last few weeks. Just beginning to catch up….

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  8. What fun to go along on the rest of your journey. It is quite a drive though. The variation in scenes and themes hopefully made it all worth it. Love the framing of the Newport bridge. Sorry to hear Joe’s camera was ruined!

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    • This is an overview, and I’m beginning to think about how to post more – what the connections are, etc. So, just dipping toes in here. Hunter Creek Bog was surely a highlight of the trip, so thank you again for that (but the Pitcher plant photos are not so great, oh well!).

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      • Knowing your style of capturing and posting, I expect some surprises yet to come! So sorry to hear the pitcher plants disappointed, but the Bog has been a thrill even if it doesn’t capture well. It certainly IS in a difficult location and the lighting wasn’t perfect. For me, just seeing these amazing plants has been a thrill. Returning periodically (an advantage I am determined to take full advantage of) is a huge bonus. It seems a miracle to have landed in this spot so close to all this botanical diversity. Wishing and hoping I can use it to some advantage.

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  10. Wow, what a collection of pictures – and places too, needless to say leaving my very fragile geographical knowledge of America far, far behind. For me, the main photo here has to be the one you’ve started with, number 1, which really gets to me. Then 8 is very serene, and 10 is simply minimal and perfect. I like 14 too, and love the framing in 16. And 19, well I’ve heard of these trees of course, but their size against that of the car is simply stunning – I’m a big fan of trees, but have never seen anything on this scale. Thank you for a wonderful visual experience. A 🙂

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    • Regionally speaking, we didn’t QUITE leave the pacific northwest, and most of the trip was on or near the west coast. We south for several hours – maybe 4 – before turning to the coast, in central Oregon, then followed the coast through to California, but that’s a big state, and we were still far away from San Francisco, the northernmost big city in California. The redwoods are very close to the coast, so you can see both widely different habitats the same day, easily. We returned on a more inland route, for variety. We were 700-800 miles away from home at our southernmost point. I love road pictures, so I’m glad you like #1, and it can be hard for me to forsake the beautiful spring greens for monotones, but I knew that one would work well in Silver Efex. 🙂 Glad you like #10 as well….it would be fun to print it big. There will be more sea lions – they were SO much fun to watch. And the redwoods – everyone says it, but it’s true, you cannot begin to get the feeling across in two dimensions. Being with them is powerful.

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  11. Marvellous pictures, all, but I especially love the ones with that clear depth to pull me into the landscape.
    It must have been a wondeful journey for you. Thank you for taking us with you.

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  15. Love the dark around the edges, light in the middle of number 1. That is some beckoning road. Does look treacherous. Hope you never met anyone coming the other way. . . .Sweet frog; hands a great way to show size. . . . Like the layers in 5. . . . I can hear that wave breaking on the rocks! Lovely composition, all the water in perfect position. . . . Those pebbles! Beautiful! . . . Number 10 is breathtaking. So. Very. Nice. with the dark water and bright spots in the cloud cover. Like the ripples, too. . . . I like the framing in number 16! . . . Wonderful perspective in your last photograph. Thank you for the trip; it was a good time, especially with your narrative naming all the towns along the way. I look forward to seeing the rest of your trip photos.

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    • You must know by now that I cannot refrain from taking photos of the roads as we travel….and sometimes I take them when we’re stopped. No, no one else lives back there except one man who only drives a motorcycle, apparently. Our airbnb host only goes into town once a week or so, it seems. It was quite an interesting place, and he had some wonderful art collected over many years, including original Durer prints. I’m happy to hear you like #10 – as you’d imagine, I could have gone with a lot more contrast, or less, and it’s tough to decide where the balance is. I’m glad you enjoyed this overview….there was so much more, I’m going to have to think hard about how to post it. Particularly fascinating to us was a very, very old, ornate, still in use Chinese temple up in the mountains, founded during gold mining days. And a small town in northern California that has successfully remained much the same for fifty or more years, and makes you feel like you’re back in your childhood, without any cutsiness, self-consciousness or pretension.

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    • The man on the beach? Really? I MADE myself take more photos this time of people. It’s not at all my comfort zone. That one worked! 🙂 It has a New England feeling, I think. I hope you’re well on the way towards a gorgeous spring, and having a good weekend yourself. Thank you!

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  18. Oh Lynn, I love your poem so much, filled with whimsical place names and the gathering of “sights and sounds and smells.” Of course your photos are always wonderful, but the poetry really adds to the post. I love the tiny frog, the view to the redwood trees, the alder and ferns.

    I’m starting a new poetry invitation on my new blog. The first post will be on Friday, May 4, and every first Friday of the month thereafter. I’d love to link this post to that scheduled post, if you’d like. Let me know. It would be great to have your poetry as inspiration for us all!

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      • Lynn, I think you’ve created something more than just “stringing those place names together!” They work their way into poetry for sure. I’ve started using lists in my own prose recently, and I like how it turns out. Sometimes, I’ll find random lines from poetry, and interweave them into a prose piece. It’s fun to play around with creativity. 🙂

        Great Lynn! I’ll link up your post to my May 4 piece. I’ll be traveling by then but the post is already written and scheduled. My blogging interactions will be limited while I’m traveling, but I’ll catch up again after May 25, when I return. I hope to continue to be inspired by you and by others, and hopefully to do the same in return. Thanks for allowing me to link this beautiful piece. 🙂

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  21. I do appreciate your words…like earlier ‘colour returns, indifferent to all’…thank you for reminding me of having a second spring…and to see the beauty and details/patterns you capture…wonderful compositions…enjoy your adventures Lynn…smiles hedy ☺️💫

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  23. Back in the day folks used to go west to do some prospecting. Looks like you’ve followed that lead and struck gold. I can only imagine what other goodies you’ve got buried in that stash of trip pics.

    That opening shot has a lovely mood. I’ve always had a weak spot for the Newport bridge since getting a great shot when I first visited Oregon, your interpretation with the cleat and the mix of color and B/W is unique. The seals are fun, and the Avenue of the Giants is one of those special places that are almost like nature’s church.

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    • Clever, yes, and mining reference is apt….we took a side trip up into the mountains a bit, east of Eureka – to Weaverville, which has a long mining history. Found a fantastic “museum” there that’s a still-functioning Taoist shrine. More later on that. Thank you! (We had little time in Portland, as it turned out, not stopping there at all on the way down and feeling worn out on the way back, when we did stop; sorry we coudln’t get together).

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  24. Hi Lynn, What a trip! Your unique perspective is a joy to view with your excellent framing and details. Love your lead black and white landscape, the seal!, the hiker, the wave. The whole set is full of terrific work. That’s a gorgeous part of the coast.

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    • The hiker is at LEAST partly inspired by you, Jane. You’ve talked about including people in your photos, and you do it so beautifully. I made myself try harder to do that this trip, and was rewarded with a few decent shots, so I think you. 🙂 (Yes, what spectacular scenery, and the vibe! 😉 We just loved it).

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  26. If you had framed the last photo vertically, Lynn, you might have gotten the tops of the trees in the picture (just kidding).

    Some say the journey is the destination so maybe that’s why I like the road images so much, including the terrific framing in #16.

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    • I think you need like a4mm lens or something to fit those guys into the frame, Alan. 😉 It’s impossible. I’m glad you like the road pictures….there are more. I’ll have to think about how many I post. 🙂

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  28. #7 shows that gorgeous color the Pacific has, something that is a big plus, especially when you’re so far away from a decent slice, or a good egg cream. 😉
    Yes, it was great. Refreshing. No TV to speak of, almost no radio, no blogging, almost no computer or online time, for 12 days. Mostly used the phone to find a place to eat. That was good. There were a few times when I wanted to see and work on my photographs, but by and large, I was content to take it all in. And there was a lot to take in.

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  30. An impressive array of imagery here; the Sea Lion photograph is like a welcome pat on the back.

    My favorite — (#10, and you probably suspected as much): a lush, brooding ocean image which, for me, seems to pull away from the pack asking to be viewed in isolation.

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    • I know,, #10 has a different look than the rest. As you know, I always post multiple images but if I were to post a single image, that would be the one. Thank you for noting that, John, and for being here….

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  31. Wonderful pictures and perspectives! I love the first one, it is so poetic! Nr. 17 is great. Nr 5 – beautiful patterns 🙂 Frog and lions are so cute (I would love to hear the frog, hihi). The hiker – a beautiful portrait – and the last picture with the Redwood trees is magic – how small we are. It relativises everything. Very very nice….I can’t wait for the next photos to come 🙂

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    • That road was difficult to drive, but certainly is lovely and poetic. The branch structure of redwoods is interesting, and that’s part of what I liked in #5, so I’m glad you liked that one, too. And I’m glad you got the feeling that we’re small, compared to the redwoods, but really, the photograph does not begin to convey the feeling. Maybe some day you can travel to the US west coast and see for yourself. 🙂

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      • I believe it! There are things one has to see for himself, but I think I can get a tiny! impression here. There is a smaller redwoodtree(?) here in the Botanical garden. It is not that big yet, but big enough to see, how small the other trees are 😉 Well, it would be great to visit the US and see it for myself!!

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  32. Pingback: poetic journeys: fountains abbey – ~ wander.essence ~

  33. What an incredible journey this must have been. You touched on names of places from my youth, “Cape Perpetua, Yaquina Head, Ocean Dunes, Humbug Mountain … Brookings.” And then your photography brought it all back to me ~ the stunning work of the West Coast. Excellent post, Lynn.

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    • It was fun, and it’s cool that you’re familiar with those places – when we were up at Cape Perpetua, a small storm rolled in, what an experience – it was so cold and windy and wet all of a sudden. Thank you for your generous comments, Randall, and have a good week!

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  35. Words and images. Alone, each can win our attention. But together? A perfect combination drawing us into your world and seeing it through your eyes. Thank you!

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  38. Pingback: Further Afield: Northern California « bluebrightly

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