Here we are at the last post of my trip to Washington State last summer. To easily catch up, click on this awesome link!
I got up fairly early to drive back because I wanted to spend some time driving down the coast, which is a longer route. I made a brief stop by the Grays Harbor light station hoping for a cool pic.
It actually wasn't at all as expected. When I think of a lighthouse/lightstation, it's usually on a rocky beach somewhere. Here the harbor is about 3-4 blocks down the street and the lighthouse is surrounded by trees and grass.
As I was heading back threw town, I passed Blackbeard's brewery where we had eaten a few days before. If you are ever in Grays Harbor County, this place in Westport is definitely a must! Delicious pizza and excellent beer!
The pic above is of the more family-oriented pizza/bar and the one below is their second building across the parking lot where they have a stylish brewery.
Okay, I really can't post these long road trips so late. Too much is going on in life and now I can't remember what river this was! I know it was between Westport and Astoria because of the sequence, but even a long look at a map isn't refreshing my memory. Wah, wah.
Oh well, it doesn't make the scenery any less amazing!
I just loved this old, decrepit boat. Such character!
And now we interrupt this road trip for an art break.
Now you know art is subjective, but I definitely love these two photos! In a town along the road, whose name goes unremembered, I stopped at a Safeway to use the restroom and buy a sandwich.
Scattered throughout the main part of town were these cool art installations of metal people doing various things and poses. I decided to shoot this happy woman out for a walk in the sun's bright rays. She protects herself and blocks the sun. Meanwhile...
This man soaks in the sun's golden rays.
And, finally, I reached the mouth of the Columbia River!
Next stop was Cape Meares on the outside of Tillamook Bay, Oregon. It's a lovely drive and I saw lots of deer! So many that I really had to drive a lot slower than I normally would.
It's a cool place to walk around, which I took advantage of to stretch my legs. One of the very interesting things on this site is the Octopus Tree. This is a 250 year old Sitka Spruce and no one really knows how it came to look so odd.
And of course this site, which hosts the shortest lighthouse in Oregon, sits on a cliff high above the beautiful Oregon Coast.
It's situated in a fairly heavy pine forest with a downhill path (on the way to the ocean) which views the top of the squat lighthouse with it's beautiful red glass.
One of my favorite shots is this black and white/sin city edit.
The ripples on the ocean look amazing.
The sun was beginning to set into the Pacific, which made the glass gleam. I just love this photo with the sun directly behind the tip top.
Did I mention this lighthouse is short? It's only 38' tall, but I assume that the brilliant Fresnel lens with it's alternating red and clear glass surround made up for it's lack of height. And the cliff too, of course.
The crescent moon was high in the sky behind the lighthouse which I thought looked pretty cool even though it's not that clear.
From the south trail (which has convenient benches for catching your breath on the hike back to the parking lot) there is a gorgeous view of Three Arch Rocks National Wildlife Refuge.
Just past Lincoln City, the sun was almost set so I decided to stretch my legs one last time and then head inland to I-5 to cut down on some driving time (hopefully).
Similar, but two different photos with different lighting settings and editing technique.
I like them both.
FLASH FORWARD!
Approximately 10 hours later, the sun was rising somewhere to the East in Northern California!
And I was just about home after a wonderful trip filled with family, nature, music, fun, and happiness.
Can't wait for the next long trip!
xoxo
