Weekend in Bandon

A trip last fall up the southern Oregon coast introduced me to the wonderful town of Bandon.  I stayed overnight and fell in love with this quirky little place.  Having only a limited time to explore, I knew right away a return visit was in order.

Seagull in flight at Seal Rocks

The dark winter months are a good time to plan future adventures.  One February evening, I impulsively chose a weekend in late April, and made yurt reservations at Bandon's Bullards Beach State Park.  Months later when the date rolled around, it wasn't the best of timing.  I sucked it up and went anyway.

And you know what?  Turned out to be a great time to explore this lovely stretch of the Oregon coast.

Gorse

I left Portland on a Friday, under gray clouds and heavy rain.  But a wonderful thing happened on the way south.  The precip dried up, and the dark skies began to lighten.  By the time I took a pit stop at Seal Rock State Park, the weather had vastly improved.  I made a quick ramble to the ocean overlook, and had fun capturing seagulls doing flybys.

Gorse was in full bloom

Timing my arrival at Bullards Beach State Park to coincide perfectly with 4 pm check-in, I was unloaded and on the beach by 5:00.

Boardwalk trail to the beach

The campground host, a gruff retired lady, warmed up a bit when she realized I was traveling alone and wasn't about to have wild parties or house a bunch of pets in my yurt.  She then proceeded to give me lots of great beta about the local trails.  She especially recommended taking the new boardwalk to the nearby beach.

Wild rhododendrons

The trail was a great way to stretch my legs after nearly five hours of driving.  I passed through a coastal forest brightened by colorful yellow gorse flowers.  And further ahead were a large bunch of pink wild rhododendrons. 

Coastline at Bullards Beach State Park

The beach was nothing too remarkable.  Lots of driftwood and crashing waves but not much else.  It was peaceful, though.

Old float that washed ashore

And I did find an old fishing float that had washed ashore.  Nothing I'd take home, but it sure made a good photo subject.

Sea cliffs in Bandon

Returning to my yurt, I downed a quick dinner, and then set out to explore the town of Bandon itself.  Bandon's city limits pushed right up to the ocean beaches where I'd heard there was a fabulous state park with lots of scenic seastacks.

Sea stacks from Face Rock Wayside

Boy did I choose the right time to visit!  The spring wildflowers were at their peak.  Huge swaths of golden gorse carpeted the beachside cliffs. 

Staircase at Coquille Point

And colorful flowers (I think they were sweet pea) lined parts of the grassy meadows above.

Beach near Coquille Point

I stopped at Face Rock Wayside and marveled at the fabulous ocean views from on high.

Crashing waves

Then, exploring some more, I drove over to Coquille Point wildlife refuge, and parked in their lot.  An extensive trail system meandered out onto a peninsula.  A sturdy wooden staircase accessed the beach below, complete with a covered observation platform.

Photographers at the Wizards Hat

I wandered down to the water's edge.  Some uniquely shaped seastacks anchored the beach's southern end, so I meandered that way to check them out.  One of the tall pointy seastacks was appropriately named the "Wizard's hat."

Golden sunset

I noticed a couple of photographers had tripods set up here.  One guy waded right into the surf, tripod and all, and attempted to get some up-close shots of the Wizard's Hat.  The other person lingered at the waterline.

Lovely evening light on the beach

Watching those photographers in action was great entertainment.  I couldn't believe the man in the water was risking getting his camera doused.  The tide was coming in, and some of those waves looked big.  It appeared he managed to keep it dry though.

Sundown by the Wizard's Hat

The sunset caught me totally off guard.  Thinking this would just be a short walk, I'd left my tripod in the car.  But noticing the sun's orange ball quickly dropping towards the horizon, I knew there wasn't time to fetch it now.  So I did what any lazy photographer would do - simply held my camera as still as I could, and fired away.

Setting sun reflections

As the sun sunk lower, a couple other photographers (with tripods) joined the two gathered at the rocks.  Standing there, cradling the camera in my hands, I felt like a real tinhorn.

Last light of day

It was a spectacular sunset.  I thought the clouds might mask the setting sun, but instead, they glowed in lovely shades of orange and pink.  I even captured the sun's sinking orange ball reflecting on the wet sand.  I was very glad I'd ventured out here!

Pink hues in the sky

Finally the vivid colors giving way to dark skies, I left the chilly beach for my cozy yurt.  The weekend off to a good start, I snuggled in my sleeping bag, looking forward to another day of exploring this charming part of the Oregon coast.

Check back for the next post - a recap of day two!

Mother's Day on Marys Peak

(I want to thank everyone for their kind comments on my last post.  Losing our beloved family dog was tough, and the outpouring of support from all of you really meant a lot.  Truly, blogging buddies are the best!)

I have a Mother's Day tradition.  When that special Sunday rolls around, I gather my family together, and we all go for a hike.  My son was busy that day, but since my daughter had just driven up to Portland two days prior, I decided to travel her way and try a trail nearby.

Where's the summit?

Marys Peak had been on my radar for several years.  The highest spot in the Coast Range, this 4,097 foot mountain was reputed to boast expansive views, from the ocean to the Cascades.  I'd also heard the summit wildflower meadows weren't too shabby.

So my hubby and I picked up my daughter and drove west from Corvallis, up an extremely windy Forest Service road, until we finally reached its end.  The higher we climbed, the thicker the clouds became.  Imagine my disappointment when we reached the parking area, only to find it cloaked in a thick fog.

Mother's Day photo op!

From the parking lot, a short but steep trail leads hikers 0.6 mile to the summit.  Sadly, our tough uphill slog brought no rewards that morning.  Everything was shrouded in a thick, white mist.  Oh well, I made my family pose for photos anyway. 

Photo with the hubby

I posted this photo of my hubby and I on Facebook, and someone commented on the fact that I was bundled up, while Roger was in shirtsleeves.  Don't let my husband's lack of jacket fool you - the wind was blowing up there, and it was freezing!  Roger just has a high tolerance for chilly temps (we joke that he's part Alaskan!)

Heading towards the Meadow Edge Trail

Disappointed by the lack of views, my family and I decided to try another trail.  We left the summit, and located the nearby Meadows Edge Trail.  My hiking book said this short two-mile loop wound through an impressive old-growth forest.

Gigantic tree

And indeed it did!  This path climbed along a margin between a rare grove of gigantic noble fir and a lovely mountain meadow.

Hidden lily

At the meadow's edge, eagle-eye Roger spotted this gorgeous off-white lily.

Mossy woods

Beyond the huge firs was another grove of smaller trees, all draped in fuzzy lichens.

These yellow flowers were plentiful!

The surrounding forest floor was full of wildflowers, especially this tiny yellow specimen (I have no idea of its name).

Forest floor green with Oxalis

Further downhill, the hillside vegetation changed to a vibrant green carpet of Oxalis.

Water droplets on Oxalis leaves

These plants look like large clovers - but with three leaves, instead of four.  (Didn't stop Roger and Denise from looking though!)

Little white flowers

There were even tiny white flowers blooming in some Oxalis patches.

Roger trying for a trillium photo

Deeper in the woods, we spotted a bunch of beautiful trillium flowers.  The first ones I'd seen this year, I spent a lot of time trying to get that perfect shot.  Roger took out his cell phone and joined in the fun.

My trillium shot

This was the best of my trillium images.   Not too bad!

Lotsa lichen

For all you lichen lovers out there, here's a close up of the wispy green and beige lichen that covered most of the trees.  (You're welcome)

Lovely green woods

As my family and I walked through the woods, we began to notice the sky clearing.

Bleeding heart flowers

By the time we'd finished the Meadows Edge Loop, the fog had vanished, replaced by high clouds and partial blue sky.

Road to the summit

Having missed seeing views the first time, I was game for a return to the summit.  Roger said he'd join me, but Denise opted to wait in the car (she'd recently rolled her ankle and it needed a rest)

Summit wildflowers

By this time, quite a few people had arrived, and they all seemed to be taking a gravel road to the top.  Instead of taking the trail, this time Roger and I followed everyone else up this alternate route.

Fantastic views we'd missed the first time

Although the woods had a few good wildflower displays, I was kind of disappointed thus far by the lack of flowers.  But as I got close to Marys Peak summit, that all changed.

Phlox

Boy was I glad we'd followed the road!  It wound right past an enormous flower field.  The steep, rocky uphill slopes were covered with purple Phlox and a smattering of orange Indian Paintbrush.  Taking the trail this morning, we'd missed all of this.

Summit meadows were a carpet of wildflowers

At road's end, the summit meadows were covered with tiny, yellow blossoms and deep purple larkspur.  It was simply wonderful!

Larkspur

And now I could finally see those wonderful views.  Although not a very clear day, the adjacent hills and farmlands were a great sight to see.  I was so glad the weather decided to cooperate!

Glad I climbed back up again!

I lingered up top for a long time, snapping photos and taking in the vistas.  But a grumbling tummy finally convinced me to head back downhill.  It was long past lunch, and my family had promised beer and burgers at a brewpub in Corvallis.  A perfect end to this wonderful day!

Although it was great to explore new trails and see grand sights, spending time with my family was by far the best part of this Mother's Day.


Sharing with:  Floral Friday Fotos and Through My Lens

Goodbye Bear

 Oh, this is a difficult post to write....

Last Thursday, my beloved dog Bear made his final trip to the vet.

A rainy day in Indian Heaven Wilderness

I knew it was coming.  Bear was over 14 years old.  His hips and back legs were failing, and the doggy ibuprofen he'd been taking for several months wasn't keeping pace with the pain.  He couldn't make it through the night without pooping in the house, so we had to sequester him in the bathroom (which he hated).  But those of you who've had pets know how much they become members of the family.  I just couldn't bring myself to make that final appointment.  Finally, my kids and husband convinced me it was time to say goodbye.

On Hamilton Mountain

It all began back in 2003.  My daughter, spotting a cute puppy in the local pet store, asked me if we could have a dog.  Not wanting to be the bad guy, I told her to "ask your father," thinking my hubby would nix the idea.  My bluff was called when Denise posed this question to her Dad, and surprisingly he said yes.

Denise and Bear

By then, the cute puppy had already been adopted, so my kids and I visited the Oregon Humane Society on a quest for our new best friend.  At first, I was less than impressed.  Most of the dogs were barking furiously as we passed by, and I didn't want a loud barker.  But then Denise discovered a black and white dog huddled in the corner, looking sad.  A tag on the door said his name was Bear.

McNeil Point, above the shelter

After taking him out to the exercise area, Denise and Bear connected instantly.  A week later, we were loading him into our minivan.

Bear loved his Frisbee

Over a year old, Bear had already lived a hard life.  His former owners surrendered this wonderful dog because they couldn't afford to care for him (the shelter staff also hinted that divorce and domestic violence were involved).  Bear was dangerously thin, filthy dirty, and suffering from Kennel Cough (he'd never been to a vet for vaccinations).  When we brought him home, Bear was also recovering from being neutered (the Humane Society "fixes" all their animals prior to adoption).

"C'mon mom, put down the camera and let's go!"

My daughter instantly bonded with Bear.  She took him for daily walks, was responsible for feeding, and even cleaned up the poop!  She taught him to do tricks, and he slept in her room every night.  A shy, skittery dog, it took Bear a little more time to connect with the rest of my family.  But once he realized this was home, Bear opened up to us all, and took his job of keeping track of us seriously.  We became his "pack."

Enjoying the flowers

We never determined Bear's exact lineage, but always assumed it was mostly Border Collie.  A little research discovered this breed needed to have a "job" or they started causing mischief.  By accident, we discovered Bear loved to play fetch, and found he was a great Frisbee catcher.  Playing Frisbee every day became Bear's "job" and he did it well.  In his prime, Bear could jump and catch a Frisbee in midair.  He was deadly accurate, and rarely missed.

Ready for another Frisbee throw!

Never have I seen a dog who loved his Frisbee as much as Bear.  He'd carry it in his mouth on walks to the park, and soon was known in our neighborhood as the "Frisbee dog."  Bear's way of greeting someone new was to drop a Frisbee at their feet, and look hopefully up at them.  Little kids were his favorite playmates, and Bear didn't care if their throws were short - he'd faithfully fetch the Frisbee and return it to their feet.

Classic "Border Collie crouch"

During the day, when Roger and I were at work and the kids at school, we'd leave Bear in our fenced backyard.  Bear, who took his house watching job very seriously, didn't like being someplace where he couldn't see out front.  He was such a smart dog, Bear figured out ways to escape from our backyard, and gained his freedom countless times.  He never wandered far - we always found him sitting on our front doorstep.  In the house, he'd stare out our living room window, keeping an eye on the activity in our front yard.  A knock or chime of the doorbell brought out a round of ferocious barking - that is, until the person walked inside, where they were greeted with a Frisbee dropped at their feet.

Bear demonstrates his amazing jumping abilities

Bear and I bonded over our love of hiking.  After taking him on a few quick rambles in the Gorge, I discovered Bear was happy bounding down a trail.  But he never traveled far, always keeping his "people" in sight.  When hiking with a large group, his herding instincts kicked in.  Bear would run back and forth on the trail, checking on his "herd," making sure everyone stayed together.  We always joked Bear traveled twice the distance of anyone else.

Near Dollar Lake, Mt. Hood

I often hike by myself, and Bear made a great companion on those solo trips.  I can think of a couple instances where I'd lost the trail, and Bear was the one that found the way.  I never worried about wild animals, or creepy people.  No was was going to mess with someone who had a dog.  Bear would normally run ahead of me a short distance, and then look back as if to say "are you coming?"  I have many photos of him staring back at me as if to say "put down the camera and let's go!"

Flower field, Grassy Knoll Trail

Bear and I have hiked a countless number of trails both in Oregon and Washington.  He's had many trips to the coast, where Bear would run and run along the sandy beach, wearing a big doggy grin.  He's come camping with us, and made several trips to both Montana and South Dakota.  Roger even tried to take Bear fishing, but that didn't go so well.  All Bear wanted to do was fetch the line after it was cast into the water.

Final beach trip New Year's Day 2015

The funniest thing about Bear was his obsession with bubbles.  He absolutely loved to jump up and pop them.  Bear was a very smart dog and knew what a bottle of bubble stuff looked like.  He'd get so excited when someone brought out a bottle.  Going through my photos, I discovered this video of Bear showing off his finest bubble-popping moves.

Sadly, over the last two years of Bear's life, the hiking, bubble-popping, and finally even the Frisbee catching came to an end.  When Bear stopped climbing the stairs to our bedrooms and stumbled going in and out the back door, I knew his days were numbered.

A gray, old dog

Our house seems so quiet now.  There's an empty spot in the bathroom where his dishes once resided.  I already miss Bear's tail-wagging greetings when I come through the door.

He was the best hiking buddy a gal could ever ask for.  RIP Bear.  I know you're in a better place, but I'm sure gonna miss you.