Bandon Sunset

Sun setting behind the rocks, with the light filtering through.

Beautiful ending to a beautiful day.

Linking to Weekend Reflections.

Footprints

Change of pace for today, something more abstract. 

This was from our first evening at the beach, walking to Face Rock just before sunset. 

The sun was so low in the sky that the light sand ripples looked like zebra stripes. 

I think the tracks are probably from a playful pup, maybe even my own dog Clover. 

The Legend of Face Rock

This section of the beach in Bandon is named for Face Rock, which comes with a legend: Many tribes had gathered at the beach for a big potlatch to honor the gods. The visiting tribes were warned of an evil spirit in the ocean. But the daughter of a mountain tribe didn't listen. By the light of the moon, she snuck to the ocean with her dog, and her basket of baby racoons (I've also heard kittens, but I like the idea of a basket of racoons).  She was enticed into the glimmering water, swimming out further and further in the moonlight, her dog barking frantically.  Suddenly a black shadow passed over the moon, and the evil spirit of the water grabbed hold of her, her basket of racoons, and her trusty dog. The next morning the tribes looked in vane for the girl. As the mist cleared, a series of rocks became visible in the water: the daughter, her face gazing toward the setting moon, the basket of racoons (there is a rocky outcropping just to the right of her, I hadn't heard the legend when I took this shot or I would have included it), and her dog barking on the shore (I'm not sure which rock this would be, but it doesn't looks like I got that one either). It's a good legend, I think, with all the proper lessons: healthy fear of the water, listen to your wise elders, and the moon has something to do with the tide. That's it in summary. If you're interested in reading more detailed (and better written) versions, an online search should provide you with some entertaining reading.

Linking to Weekend Reflections.

Doorway to Cathedral Rock

Cool passageway through this rock, with a glimpse of the much larger rock outcropping called Cathedral Rock. My son found a web of tunnels and passages through Cathedral Rock and had fun mapping it out during low tide. So much to explore at this beach in Bandon, Oregon.

Tide Pools

It was a half mile walk down the beach from our hotel to Face Rock, and because the labyrinth drawing always coincides with low tide (and we were heading to the labyrinth), we got to see lots of interesting tide pools along the way.  The biggest tide pools form around the rock formations, but these little pools had such an interesting pattern and texture that I wanted to include them in a beach scene. 

Back to Bandon

Just returning, relaxed and refreshed, from a family vacation in Bandon, Oregon. 

Warning: at a photo a day, this could be a long series!

For starters, Friday's beach labyrinth washing away with the tide.

As the Tide Comes In

Bandon, Oregon on the southern Oregon coast is known for its otherworldly rock formations and also its wonderful sand. I blogged yesterday about an early morning photo just before low tide. Today's photo is from later in the morning when the clouds were clearing out. The tide started coming in by mid morning, creating the great reflection I love so much on the wet Pacific Northwest sand. I was just starting to hone in on the photo I was looking for when I lost this good light. It's hard to get a good reflection when the sun is too high in the sky. Still, a fabulous morning on the coast! This water felt so refreshing. Wish I were still there!

Linking to Weekend Reflections.

Circles in the Sand

Here's the overhead view of the sand labyrinth in Bandon, Oregon that I blogged about yesterday.  When I got to the beach in Bandon early Friday morning I had to make the classic beach choice, walk to the right or the left.  I picked left because it was still very overcast early in the morning, and the light was better to the left (photographer criterion) even though the rocks did look more interesting to the right.  I think the labyrinth was probably under construction when I started my walk, because it would have been just before low tide.  And the labyrinth was, of course, to the right.  So it goes.  I would have loved to see the construction.  Still, it was really such a fun surprise to happen upon later in the morning when I made my way to this side of the beach.  One update I want to make from yesterday's post though.  I said that they create a labyrinth everyday, but that's not correct.  Sand conditions have to be right, and there might be other factors that determine dates as well, perhaps low tide timing.  So today, I'm including a link to the same website, but this time to the schedule page.  The next labyrinth constructions are scheduled for August 5th and 6th. 

 Labyrinth schedule

Deception Pass

View from the fence line of one of the beaches at
 Deception Pass State Park north of Seattle. 

Linking to Good Fences

Ocean Shores

We got away for a few days over Veteran's Day weekend.  A short trip to Ocean Shores, Washington.  This town hosts several kite festivals during the year.  No festivals during our visit, just a few kites flying in the wind.  This particular kite was up both days.  I wish I'd talked to the owner, barely visibly at the back of his SUV.  I wonder if he was just out for the weekend, or if he flies the kite daily.  And I wonder how big this kite measures.  When we arrived on Sunday he was just finishing up, so we got to see him packing up the kite which was quite an ordeal, folding it just so with a strong wind blowing.  I was glad when he returned on Monday so I could get a photo. 

Doing Beachy Things

We got out to the coast today for a relaxing day, touring the Tillamook Cheese Factory, and exploring the beach.  Someone in my family (hint: he's wearing orange) didn't want to have any fun at the beach, but I caught him "doing beachy things" in spite of himself.

It's summertime and you know what that means. Gonna head down to the beach, gonna do some beachy things.          

    -Summertime Loving, Loving in the Summer (Time), Rigby and Mordecai, Regular Show

Shorebird Flyway

Flocks of shorebirds were all over this beach in San Francisco.  We're lucky to live in the Pacific Flyway; so many birds pass through here on their migration.  I'm not that familiar with shorebirds but maybe these are dowitchers.  They were walking along the beach, and I was following them with my camera in front of my face, until I stubbed my toe on a brick sticking out of the sand.  Not my smoothest move!  But whatever noise I made sent them all into flight.

Heading up to Seattle today to take Eric back to school.  I have already uploaded photos, so hopefully I will be able to post from my hotel.  If not, I'll be back posting on Saturday. 

Making Tracks

Day 23 in black and white.  These tracks led us along the beach just off the Great Highway in San Francisco; not sure what the name of the beach is though.  Despite the haze in this photo it was sunny and in the 70s at this point, and the sand was the perfect temperature.  I don't know where these tracks came from.  We didn't see any vehicles driving around down here, something that is common up in Washington.  But the tracks caught a nice amount of shadow for a photo in this direction.