By far one of our favorite hikes to date in Oregon was to the beach at Cape Lookout. We parked in the day use area and looked at the map for the three different trails that originated from there. Decided the South Trail to the beach was the one for us….why?? Agates of course. A steady mile and half climb, down gentle switchbacks led us to the rocky beach. We spent the next few hours exploring the tide-pools and searching for agates. The sound of the waves crashing on the rocks and then gently pulling them back out to sea was mesmerizing. It also uncovered beautiful large agates. It was another amazing day on this journey of our. A slight cool nip to the air and a gentle mist overhead. The hike back up wasn’t as bad as we thought it was going to be - just took it slow and steady. We put this one on our list to do again if we had time while here in Pacific City.
Cape Lookout, OR
Cape Meares Lighthouse
Our first venture up the coast from Pacific City found us in search of Cape Meares Lighthouse, the farthest north we could go on the Three Capes Scenic Loop. The lighthouse is the shortest of all of Oregon’s and was built in the 1890’s. We did a couple hikes in the area, including to the Octopus Tree and the largest Sitka Spruce in Oregon, and then backtracked to Short Beach in search of agates. The tide was already coming in so we didn’t get as much time there as we would have liked but we found some amazing agates and the tide-pools were filled with sea stars. Ended the beautiful day with a nice fire and ciders on the beach at sunset.
Cape Meares Interesting History
Pacific City, OR
A few days after the boys flew home we moved up the coast 100 miles or so. Long travel day :} Pacific City was a new town for us to explore and the camp area we choose, while slightly challenging for Bob due to the small windy roads, and the size of our bus, was super spacious and private. We lucked out and got a spot right next to the trail down to the beach. In the afternoon when I would sit outside to read I could hear the ocean as the waves broke onto shore. I closed my eyes and was transported back to our days of living on the coastline of South Carolina and Hawaii. Can’t think of a more peaceful way to read, fall asleep and wake.
Pacific City also offered us the chance to unplug for a couple weeks. There was no cell service to speak of, and even with the booster that we have, we couldn’t pick up any internet. I actually was loving it, as it gave me a chance to get caught up on some reading and explore the coastline. When needed, they had a lovely little library in town with super fast download/upload speeds. It was the perfect spot to catch up on some work and emails.
Located on the Three Capes Scenic Drive, Pacific City is at the southern most point, right where we also found Pelican Brewery overlooking Cape Kiwanda. Over the next couple weeks we ventured north to see what kind of trouble we could get into. We had done some research on the Ipad at the library and screenshot some locations where agates could be found. Yep, we were on the hunt again.
And….as luck would have it, right off the bat I found a couple bricks to mail to Michelle. Mossy and vivid green they will find their way to her garden soon. Little side story for those of you that don’t know about how we keep the USPS guessing some days how one medium FLAT RATE box can weigh so much. Flashback to ten years or so ago when my dear friend Michelle and I were traveling to Chicago for a work/play trip. We had rented bikes at the Navy Pier to get around downtown for the week. We found a brick on the shoreline of Lake Michigan. It had floated up just for us - all the way from the other side and was stamped with Ohio??? if memory serves me correctly. We carted the brick back on our bikes to the hotel, and it joined another we later found in the downtown area. These two heavy pieces of clay and sand started a tradition for my travels. Michelle had decided that she would use them to help form a brick pathway she wanted to wind through her garden. I started to search for a brick from different places along our travles. I wish I had kept track of all the locations that now make up part of her path in the garden, but Duxbury, MA, Grand Tetons, Death Valley, McConnells SC, Jacksonville FL, Jerome AZ, Suwanee River, FL, Sedona & Williams AZ, and now Pacific City OR are just some of the finds. She says her path is almost finished, but our travels aren’t. May need to convince her to keep adding onto her garden.
Three Capes Loop (not technically a loop as part of the road washed out)
Pacific City Info
Another Day, another Agate or two
We started the day cruising up the coast about 40 miles in search of a different beach to hunt for agates. Along the way we found a great spot for lunch, and a small - but nice Farmers Market in Yachats, but no gravely beaches. We have learned through trial and error over the last couple weeks what types of beaches to search for. Sandy beaches, like the picture above, while beautiful to walk along and listen to the surf - will not be successful for agates. They are found in the gravel areas, usually around other large volcanic rock formations. Headed this way? There is some great info here on locations; Oregon Beachcomber
Turning around in Yachats, we started back south towards the area where we were with the boys last week. Decided to try a little turn out called Stonefield Beach. Sounds promising right? We wandered around for a bit and then settled in to start digging. Sometimes the larger agates can be spotted by just walking along, but to really enjoy the process, you have to get down and dig. Especially during the summer months as you don’t have the big winter storms to help stir the stones to the top. They get covered by the sand and this is where the “digging” comes in. Bob likes to use a large shell to scrape the sand and gravel, while I am a “piece of driftwood” fan. Gently moving the sandy gravel from side to side, the agates will “pop out” to your eye because of their translucent color. I find it so incredibly soothing to sit and listen to the waves pound against the shore while slowly moving my piece of driftwood back and forth across the sand. My thoughts flow about everything…and nothing. When an agate pops up, it’s just the cream on top of an already beautiful moment.
What seemed to be an hour, was actually closer to four as we packed up our finds and headed for the car. This was our last day on the beaches near Florence. Tomorrow we start north towards Pacific City, our next camp for a couple weeks. If the map I reference below is correct, we have many more days of agate searching ahead. I for one, can’t wait.
Oregon Rockhounding Map
Always a sad day...
With the kids move to Belle Chasse (New Orleans area), we lost the ability to fly the boys as unaccompanied minors. Southwest Air doesn’t allow it unless the flight is either a non-stop or there are no plane changes to contend with.. Luckily Travis had some time off, and we had some extra points, so he flew in to Portland and met us there. Quick turn-around for him and they flew home the next day. At least we got to see him - we will take any time with him we can get.
It’s always a sad day when we send the grands home, but the memories we made will stay in my heart forever.
Strawberry Hill
Agate hunting, swimming in tidal pools and picnicking on the beach - what could be better?
Oregon Dunes
The Oregon Dunes National Recreation Area is a short mile from where we are camped here in South Jetty. I had wanted to take the boys on a sand rail tour of the dunes, but after Bob’s research, and the $300.00 price tag, he decided that we could do our own thing in our Jeep. Packed a picnic, purchased an OHV permit, mounted a flag on the back as required - and we were off.
I am not a big “thrill-seeker”, and I only had to close my eyes a couple times, ok - maybe a few - and we made it over the multiple 200ft+. dunes to safely arrive down at the beach.
The boys climbed and rolled on the dunes, had a picnic and I walked the beach in search of shells. Slight feeling of “we’re lost” getting back out -but trust Bob, we made it.
Cape Perpetua
The drive north, up the coast from Florence where we are camped, to Cape Perpetua takes you past the mountainous Oregon Dunes, Sea Lion Caves and Heceta Lighthouse. There are many turn offs that take you down to the beach, and on the return from the Cape we take a couple of them in search of tidal pools, sea lions, starfish and agates. We found them all.
First stop is the Visitor Center at Cape Perpetua. Bob and I had hiked our way around the area last year and we wanted the boys to see the view from this highest point on the Oregon coast. We watched for whales and Carson spent quite a bit of time at their agate display, noting that we weren’t finding any as large as theirs. As we took a moderate couple mile hike up through the old growth forest I tried to wrap my thoughts around the fact that Native Americans lived here 6-8000 years ago. Stopping to climb on trees and study strange fungal growths, we made our way along the brilliantly green path. Cash is usually the leader on the trail, and this day was no different.
Next stop was the tidal pools at Cooks Chasm and a visit to Thor’s Well. It was low tide so we didn’t get the full experience of this spouting hole but the boys enjoyed hunting for crabs.
Stonefield Beach on the way back south was a big highlight of the day. Tidal pools, starfish, huge rock formations to climb on and easy agate hunting. A relaxing and beautiful way to end the day.
Busy days
There are not a lot of quiet minutes when you have three incredibly brilliant, fun loving and challenging boys in your life 24/7. Yep, three…. I am finally back with Bob also. I have missed his strong and reassuring presence in my life. Two months is a long time apart when you have been together for 46 years, and I finally feel like all is right with my world once again. The big kids, Sara & Travis, are safely setting up their new home in New Orleans, and Bob and I have the grands for another week or so before we send them east. I will miss them, a lot.
While there is not a lot of down time to get caught up on my writing, I do manage to whip out the camera quite often. Hopefully when life slows down again in a couple weeks I can go back and add some stories to the pictures I’ve taken over the last couple of months. For now I just plan on spending my days trying to keep up with all three boys and enjoy every moment.