THE Trip, THE Encore' :: Simpson Reef, near Coos Bay Oregon

Copyright 2015, CABS for Reflections From the Fence

From June 7, 2013, Oregon.  We are NOT in Oregon today.  

A few posts back I shared our first visit to Simpson Reef, a bit foggy. remember??

Two days later, Man and I made a repeat trip out to this area, the sun was shining, oh, was it shining! Picture postcard perfect shining.  (Note:  Most of these photos have only been re-sized for posting to the blog.  I'll tell you when I did more.  Yes, picture perfect!)

Let's put Sony Too to work:

Zooming:

Yes, elephant seals, lots of em, oblivious to all of the humans and the cameras snapping their photos.  

The next two photos are from Sony Too with assistance of the photo editing program,  a bit of sharpness and contrast added.

Just love how these two are so relaxed, one totally on it's back, balancing on rocks.  

Telling the world of all your issues, elephant seal style.  Magnificent, isn't it?

Yes, I took many more photos of the seals, which I know you will thank me for NOT sharing.  So, finally I turned to look south, glorious, and no photo-shopping here either, this is how Sony Too saw the view and how I remember it - - gorgeous - - breath taking.  

Next we will visit the Shore Acres Gardens which are nearby.  Oh, my!!  Previewing the photos, that might have to be two posts, one for flora and one for coast line.

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THE Trip, THE Encore' :: Umpqua Lighthouse, Douglas County, Oregon

Copyright 2015, CABS for Reflections From the Fence

June 6, 2013.  Months ago, nope, we are NOT in Oregon today.

We made a stop at the Umpqua Lighthouse and took a tour.  There are 10 campsites for rigs nearby, and more for tents. Even yurts!  There is a museum, which you can tour, and we did.

Inside the lighthouse:

Man went all the way to the top and captured these fabulous photos of the red and white lenses and such.

And, this is why Man was taking the photos.  I could not go up the steep, and I mean STEEP, ladder.  So, I checked email instead!

It is a nice lighthouse. Construction started on the new light in 1892, and it was first lit in 1894. It was a replacement for one originally built in 1855 and lit in 1857, which had collapsed in 1863.  The lighthouse was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1977.  

Yes, I enjoyed the tour, even tho I had to stay on a lower lever.  I was not born to be a lighthouse keeper with ladders.  Just not.

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THE Trip, THE Encore' :: Every Campground Needs a Whale

Copyright 2015, CABS for Reflections From the Fence

From June 2013, Near Lake Marie, Oregon.

Yep, every campground needs one of these, just sayin - - 

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THE Trip, THE Encore' :: Of Sun, Sand and Bridges, Oregon Dunes area of Oregon

Copyright 2015, CABS for Reflections From the Fence

Day trip from June 6, 2013.  We are NOT in Oregon today.

On June 6th, Man and I wandered around the Oregon Dunes National Recreation Area.  The sun was abundant, the skies blue, the sand dunes and bridges beautiful.

The Conde McCullough Memorial Bridge.  It is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.  Per the WIkipedia page, the bridge was finished in 1936, having a 793-foot main span with 145 feet of vertical clearance.  The bridge was damaged in December of 1986 when the Swedish ship, the Elgaren, struck the bottom of the center span.

Oregon dunes, seem to be swallowing the pines.

Walk the dunes via boardwalk.

You can ride here, OHV heaven.  Camping too.

Beach, sandy beach as far as my eyes can see.

Oregon is known for bridges, Sony Too clicks away - - 

McCullough Memorial Bridge, once again, as we are going back south towards camp.

We also did a tour of the Umpqua Lighthouse.  Coming next - - 

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THE Trip, THE Encore' :: Bandon, Oregon

Copyright 2015, CABS for Reflections From the Fence

Note, we are NOT in Oregon today.  This is the rest of our day trip from June 5, 2013.  Almost 2 years ago. Indeed, that long ago.  

After we left the South Slough National Estuarine Research Reserve, we were tired, but, still wanted to wander down to Bandon.  So, we did.  As you can see, it was still foggy, err, a day of sea mist.

Bandon has interesting entrances.  The other side says, "We hope you are enjoying Bandon."  Very clever.

Of course, I found purple flora:

Bandon has sea creatures:

And:

Information on these can be found here.  Washed Ashore: From Beach Trash to Ocean Art.  Ingenious.  By the way, in the fish's mouth, trash, even a busted up frisbee.  

We drove around to get a photo of the lighthouse.  Lots of sea mist, err, fog.  It is officially known as the Coquille River Light.  It first opened in 1896.

(I edited that photo, took out some of the fog.)

We had a wonderful and long day.  I took over 200 photos.  We skipped around in the sea mist and fog and sun all day long.  So typically Oregon.  Loved it!

* We still have over 2 months of this tour to report on.  We returned home on or about August 20, 2013.  Wow, just WOW!

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THE Trip, THE Encore' :: South Slough National Estuarine Research Reserve, Near Coos Bay Oregon

Copyright 2015, CABS for Reflections From the Fence

Still working on June 5, 2013.  Read that year.   2013.   We are not in Oregon today!  Please note, this post is a bit graphics heavy.

After our lunch we decided to investigate the South Slough National Estuarine Research Reserve.  

There was a very nice visitor center/interpretive center to get you started.  Then, came the walk/hike.  Downhill, a long way downhill.  Then, by golly, we had to come uphill.

For a while the path was nicely and deeply covered in fresh wood chips.

Then came dirt:

I was enthralled with this large plant, which I think is the skunk cabbage.    Enthralled by the size, as it was huge - - see photos below.  If this indeed is the skunk cabbage, I am thankful that we did not visit while it was in bloom.  Just saying - - 

Down hill we continue.  A few very sharp turns are involved.

Just what IS around that corner Man??  More downhill, more curves.

As we came closer to wet lands, we walked a board walk.

There they are again, large, those skunk cabbage:

More along both sides of the boardwalk.  See how large they are??  I hear the Jurassic Park theme playing in my head.

We break out into the open marsh lands:

A viewing stand:

At the end of the boardwalk, from the viewing stand, the estuary:

Not far from here, on our way back to Jolly, I found these red ?fungi?.  

And, a snail, strolling along the path:

We really enjoyed the South Slough.  It was quite the hike, good exercise.  The day ended with a drive and a short stop at Bandon, a quirky fun place.




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