The Sandpipers Have Returned

It is spring on the Oregon Coast and the sandpipers have returned.  

Delightful.  Playful.  Charming.  Amusing.  Entertaining.  Captivating.  Enchanting.

 

Sandpipers on the Oregon Coast.

Whale Watchers, Kite Fliers, Surfers, Dog Walkers, and Sand Castle Builders

It is spring break!  The tourists have descended on our quiet little beach town.  The traffic has slowed to a crawl along the one major thoroughfare through town, restaurants have long lines of people waiting to sample clam chowder, and the shops are crowded and noisy, and Safeway runs out of milk, cereal and donuts.

Our seven miles of pristine beaches are the main reason people visit our little tourist town, though.  Many times we can walk a mile or more on our beach and never encounter another human.  But during spring break week, the beach comes alive with whale watchers, kite fliers, sunbathers, dog walkers, smash-ball players, surfers, sand castle builders, hole diggers, rock hounds, and shell seekers.  I love it.  The people watching just doesn't get any better!

Donning my earmuffs, gloves, coat, and beach shoes I head for the beach looking the part of a local--someone who knows how to enjoy the beach even with the bite of the wind or an occasional spatter of rain.  Ready for people watching during this spring break week.

The tourists (kids, teenagers, adults) also look their part-- exposed legs and arms bright red after a screamingly cold dip in a 45 degree ocean or a brief moment of sunbathing, beach gear galore from buckets and shovels to umbrellas and towels, rented wetsuits with boogie boards or surf boards dutifully strapped on ankles--all ready for a day at the beach. 

Then there are the dogs.  I think for a dog the beach is like Disneyland--one of the happiest places on earth!  There is so much room to run and run and run and run and splash in the ocean and roll in the sand!  Dogs of every shape, size, and color chase balls and frisbees of every shape, size, and color. 

Won't you join us?  It is spring break on the Oregon coast!  The best place on earth!

White On White

After nearly two days hurricane force winds, blistering hail, and relentless rain pounding our little house by the sea while watching the ocean become a ferocious force 

with 25' swells and pounding surf, 

suddenly 

all was totally and perfectly still.  

Even the ocean 

quieted itself.

Dropping from the sky were heavy perfectly formed white flakes of snow.  Snow that covered every wind-battered branch of every shorepine, snow that covered every beaten down blade of grass and struggling daffodil and primrose, snow that covered every piece of mighty driftwood and every smooth and shiny rock on the beach.  Our wold was covered perfectly and evenly by five inches of the gentle beauty of snow.  Even our favorite seagull sitting high on his snow covered perch was unable to dodge the snow.  

White on white.  

God's "rainbow" after the storm.