Thursday, January 29, 2015

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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