FALL SPLENDOR ON THE OREGON COAST

Fall is my favorite time of year on the Oregon Coast.  Daytime temperatures rise to the upper 60's and nights drop down to cool, crisp 30's and 40's.  Winds become light to non-existent, which makes for comfortable walks on the beach and calm waters for crabbing & fishing, and fog develops over pastures each night creating delightful sunrises over the coast range.  The Real Estate market it humming right along, just as I would expect in September and October, but I have been able to make some time to catch quite a few sunsets, take a walk in the woods, watch the sunrise over the coast range, find some tiny little mushrooms (and some big ones) and watch the pelicans swirl around the Three Arch Rocks and the Netarts Spit. Here are some pictures from my September and October outings....

 Netarts Bay the night before our first storm of the season in September -- early for this area.

 Mushrooms growing out of a tree stump along the Cape Lookout trail leading to the tip.

 Sunset over the Netarts Spit.  The sky looked like it was on fire!

 A delicate spider web in the woods of Netarts sagging under the weight of the dew from a cool night.

 Mushrooms growing from a lush bed of ferns in the woods of Netarts.

 Chanterelle popping up out of the lush groundcover in the woods of Netarts.

 Sunrise over the coast range taken from Netarts.

 These mushrooms were barely two inches tall -- so delicate and perfect!

 Pelicans swirling around the Three Arch Rocks in Oceanside at sunset.

 Gorgeous sunset over the Three Arch Rocks

 Another beautiful sunset in Oceanside

 Gulls taking in the sunset in Happy Camp.

 Reflection of the clouds in Netarts Bay.

 Blue Heron enjoying dinner in Netarts Bay. 

 A gull flying into the sunset over Netarts Bay.

We have sun in the forecast for the last 15 days of October.  Many photographic opportunities are in my future, which I look forward to very much!

See you at the beach!
~Wendy

GREAT THINGS TO DO....EVEN WHEN IT RAINS!

We had friends and family in town last week, which was a good reminder of all things great to do within just a few minutes of home!  When I asked them how they spent their days here's what they said:

1 - Went to the Cape Meares Lighthouse (the shortest lighthouse in the world) and the Octopus Tree.

2 - Hiked down the stairs to Short Beach between the lighthouse and Oceanside.  Hunted for agates.

3 - Crossed the creek at Short Beach and got their shoes wet.

4 - Ate at the newest restaurant in Oceanside -- The Blue Agate Cafe.  LOVED the food.

5 - Walked on the beach in Oceanside at low tide x 3...rain or shine =)

6 - Stopped in to Lex's Cool Stuff on Crab Avenue in Netarts.  Touched and tried on all kinds of things.  Purchased a fantastically decorated witch hat, a pair of velvet pumps that look like they've never been worn and turquoise snake-ish skin looking boots.   I have actually never been into the store.  I'm feeling a blog post coming on about her cool stuff in the future =)

7 - Headed into Tillamook: Destination: La Tea Da for a light fair and tea.  They couldn't say enough about this place.  All very good things, including plans to return in the future.

8 - Returned to Netarts for "Happy Hour" and appetizers on the bay with family and friends.

9 - Drove back into Tillamook for First Friday at the Blue Heron.  September's Event: Grape stomping!  It sounded like they had a great time enjoying wine, food, music, the works!  Lucy and Ethel even made an appearance and apparently fell out of their bucket onto the concrete!  Ouch!  That's gonna hurt in the morning!

10 - Made appointments at Chez Belle Salon in Tillamook for manicures and pedicures.

11 - Had an amazing seafood feed back at the house -- Fresh caught local salmon and fresh Willapa Bay clams cooked in white wine and garlic.

12 - Went to the Tillamook Farmer's Market Saturday morning.  Ate breakfast at the La Mexicana Cart.  Returned with fantastic fresh veggies and flowers.

13 - Picked up fresh oysters from Pacific Oyster in Bay City for their farewell Oyster BBQ.

14 - Spent an afternoon on the deck at the Schooner enjoying wine and a spectacular view of Netarts Bay!

15 -  Headed into Tillamook for lunch at La Mexicana.

16 - Returned to the beach in Oceanside, but went through the tunnel this time and checked out some tide pools.  Waded in to the tide pools to get pictures of starfish...got their shoes wet again!

17 - Ate breakfast at Roseanna's in Oceanside.  Enjoyed fantastic food and watched the fog lift revealing the magnificent Three Arch Rocks.

Not to bad for a four night stay, especially considering it rained two of those four days!  I loved hearing of their adventures each day and enjoying seafood feasts each night.  Really there is so much to do here and truly just not enough time!  Thank you, Teri, Carolyn and Donna for coming to Netarts for a visit.  It was a ton of fun and we can't wait until you come back!

See you on the beach!

~Wendy