This morning we headed to the local RV supply place to order a new outside cover for our water heater. Ours flew off while doing 70 mph on I-5. No..these RV’s do not have the quality they use to. So hopefully we can get one close to the color of the graphics.
After that we were off.. First place was the South Jetty area of the Oregon Dunes.
“The Oregon Dunes National Recreation Area is a special place. One of the largest expanses of temperate coastal sand dunes in the world, the stark, mist-shrouded views of dunes, forests, and ocean in such close proximity to one another are rare and hauntingly beautiful. Many plants and animals, including some found in few other places, call this area home. In 1972, Congress designated this 31,500-acre portion of the Siuslaw National Forest as a National Recreation Area in recognition of its unique values.”
The dunes stretch for 40 miles with the northern end starting in Florence. More info here:
https://www.fs.usda.gov/recarea/siuslaw/recreation/recarea/?recid=42465
https://www.fs.usda.gov/detail/siuslaw/learning/nature-science/?cid=fsbdev7_007155
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oregon_Dunes_National_Recreation_Area
Our first glimpse of the dunes:
They are HUGE and go for miles:
A view of the plain and back dunes:
The European Beach Grass has now spread all over. Their roots can go up to 100 feet. There are areas where they are trying to eradicate it because of the harm it is doing to the dunes and the ecosystem it supports.
I just had to see the ocean. It was really difficult climbing the dunes in this really soft sand.
Beautiful!
Walking back to Andy:
This area is for those with dune buggies and ATVs:
Leaving Florence – a view of the dunes:
The dunes end and the mountain start!
Every turn has these incredible views. This is the Heceta Head Lighthouse.
In 1981 I took a picture of this and had it enlarged, matted, and framed and actually won a contest.
We will be back tomorrow to tour the area.
This is one of the beach access areas. We parked our car and traveled this path:
That opened to this – WOW!
Some marine fog rolling in:
This is the exit of that path:
WOW!:
Lots of driftwood:
It was cold and windy – Brrrr:
Another beach – this one was rocky:
We stopped at the Cape Perpetua Overlook. The tide was coming in so we were able to see the Spouting Horn (middle of the picture):
Cool! We saw it happening a couple times. The sound of the waves crashing against the rocks was incredible.
The Bridge Builders:
We continued our travels to Yachts – a cute little coastal town. We both got an ice cream and found a place to watch the tide come in.
Our way back:
Last look at the dunes:
I just love this area.
Tomorrow we continue to play tourist so stay tuned and enjoy today!
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